Suhana Safar

RIP Ritchie, Dennis: Hope you know him!

2011-10-14T21:31:00.002+05:30

Steve Jobs, an unmatched achiever has got the tributes from all over the world. However, in this information Era, did the other monk of programming get any comparable attention?

http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2011/10/thedennisritchieeffect/

The C language is one of the major breakthrough in the programming history. Its the bridge between machine oriented languages and user oriented languages. It is C in which major part of the system code is written in. C code is the backbone of most of the devices, gadgets, operating systems and many tools and services.

I used to have a feeling like cover page of the book decides the worth of it, for most of the naive people, though in principle, it should not be the case. Steve Jobs was an Icon, a showman. Most of the people knew him, most of them knew his products and they mourned for his demise.

Now about the guy who gave us the C language. Almost all engineers know this programming language. Almost all engineers have coded in this language and they would have prepared for the viva question, 'who invented C language?'. But most of them would have not known that Dennis has passed away just after few days of Steve's Death.

Lets take a moment to realize the contribution of Dennis to the world of computers and all the developments in this world of Gadgets. RIP, Dennis.

Jagjit Singh lives in my music files

2011-10-10T21:39:00.007+05:30

A very wrong reason to break the silence. One of my favorite singers has passed away. I am feeling very sad to write the RIP note, since I last wrote. However, I can't sit peacefully without writing anything about Jagjit.

For me Jagjit is a voice which I could rely on, when I felt down, alone or sad. Even on a rainy evening, when it brings in a pleasant relief. I used to feel the magic in his voice and exceptionally well written gazals which come to life with his voice.

I generally indulge in the meaning of the song as I listen to it, and I feel lost in the light music associated with such gazal. Always they have been my favorite genre.

"Jagjit,
Ironically one of your touching song, I would like to think of, in your memory...

Chithi Na Koi Sandesh,

Chithi Na Koi Sandesh

Jaane Woh Kaun Sa Desh

Jahan Tum Chale Gaye"

Acheivers have a blessing of living in their deeds even after their death. Jagjit lives in the numerous music records, documents of those gazals and hearts of his admirers. I will keep listening to his voice in my collection.

2011-04-21T17:02:00.005+05:30

Ansu jo tere yaad mein gire, unka mol chukayega kaun?
Hum tadapte, dil thaam ke baite hein, manayega kaun?
Tumhe itni laaparwahi hai toh,
Tumne jo gham diye, use bhulayega kaun?

Straight from Heart

2011-03-20T08:49:00.001+05:30

They have started drilling mother Earth in the next lane.
I feel the pain, she would incur as they drill through her skin.
For the little water she may have inside her, deep down in her veins
They want to dehydrate for today's thirst
She will bear the pain for today, But not forever.
Just watch it out.
She is a patient mother who has been tortured by each of us.
How many more days, will she hold her breath?
How many more scars she can take?
The vibration of the machines, reminds me of her wrath
She will retaliate! She will, one day shake you with her move!
In front of her, no mortal can stand!
That's what we had seen in Europe, Indonesia and Japan.
More to come! Be prepared for it, as you drill her
As you make her a dumping ground!
As you pollute her with your thoughts, deeds and action!
Just watch it out, everything is going to ruin one day!

Street Photography

2011-03-09T22:18:00.003+05:30

Today I was looking at photographs taken by one of my friends. He is better informed, better equipped photographer than beginners. So, his photos portray better composition, better angle and better light. His favorite space is 'street photography'. Since other friends also had a look at the photos, they were discussing about it.

Most of the comments were 'he takes pictures of unknown people', 'off-focuses on main objects' and things like that. I started explaining what is street photography to them in my own words.

I began my photography once I got my basic Kodak camera. This camera I had bought for small outing purposes. The time was end of film-based cameras, however my first camera was film based. There we have disadvantages of knowing nothing about the capture till you get it developed.

Till recently my interest in photography was handicapped, as I was not in a mood to choose my first digital camera. Last year, I got one, and then I started in different areas of photography. I too like to capture life moments and street concept. I am doing better in portraits than before. Nature photography is promising. Haven't tried much on capturing motion.

I feel street photography can give you varied subjects. It is a really colorful one and most dynamic one. If you have a keen eye, you can capture hundreds of shots over a simple street. I am not telling every of those shots will be great. Definitely every of them have potential to be a great shot.

Main hurdle in street photography is hesitation. It is in the photographer. Anyone who is interested in street photography has to move freely in crowded road, in unfriendly environment. He has to have no hesitation for directing camera towards any random person, thing or event. Not many gadgets he can carry. He wouldn't get all time to focus and plan his shots. Its a quick and spontaneous photography. A minutes delay will result in a lost scene!

I had a though of capturing some street moments, and that time, I didn't have my camera with me. One day, I went out with camera, thinking that I will capture some street moments. When time came to take out my camera and click, I hesitated. For that mistake, I still repent. Not only for the lost scenes, but for the opportunities to overcome the hesitation. I hope, I will learn the techniques of street photography and overcome the road-blocks!

iThought

2011-01-30T11:19:00.000+05:30

Don't show all of your talents, before you get the best platform!!

Looking back...

2010-12-31T19:24:00.004+05:30

Again a year has passed since I wrote 'Looking back...'. This is the time when I recollect major events happened in that year, and experiences.
From a quick look, this year had been the year of travel. One day trek to Shivagange was the first in list. Later, I had visited places in Tamilnadu and Kerala in late February. April was the time I visted Tibetian Settlement in Bailuguppe. In July it was Wayanad trip. Later trekked to Siddharabetta. Recent visits were Bisile, Mankana halli and today early sunrise I saw on top of Nandi Hills. Quite happening and colorful year it was.
In other fronts as well, it was indeed a happening year. It had seen me, changing Jobs. I changed my career path.
Explored myself to a new extent in this year. I found clarity in my views and expression. Faced lot of challenges and support from friends was exceptional.
Collectively 2010 was a really amazing year, which had brought so many surprises and thrilling experiences. Hope to see more of trips and treks in the coming years. :).

Nujood

2010-11-28T12:59:00.003+05:30

This is an article, my friend has blogged about 'Nujood'. I felt this is a very interesting and inspiring article, so I am sharing this. Please read on.
Nujood, a ray of hope

iQuote

2010-11-28T12:45:00.004+05:30

'When someone has an accent, it means he knows one more language than you do'
-Fernando Lamas, to ones who ridiculed his South American accent

Nazar

2010-11-22T22:52:00.002+05:30

Khamosh nazre hein, aapki, hazaro baten karti hein.
Unginat sapne hein, meri, pal mein pigal jate hein.
Aapko taras ati hogi, mujhe dekhke,
Magar na jane kyun,
Aapki ankhe toh pyar ka bayan karte hein.

Aung San Suu Kyi

2010-11-14T22:51:00.004+05:30

During high school days, I had known this name for general knowledge purpose. As the one who won the Nobel Peace Prize, as a lady fighting for democracy in Myanmar, as a political leader. Yesterday the news flashed that, she has been released from decades long house arrest by the Military Rule.

Now, if I think, she seems much more than a leader. She is another name of perseverance. No normal person can withstand the torturous house arrest which just allowed her doctor's visit. she couldn't receive the Nobel prize, neither see her terminally ill husband. It is the guiding principle, the attitude, the will power that has lead her to this stage.

At this point of time, in Myanmar, the democratic government has been institutionalised. This can be seen as a victory of people like Suu Kyi. Hopefully this Asian country develops better, under the new leadership.

Today Suu Kyi is a global leader. There are many world class leaders who are taking inspiration from her. There are many supporters for her, across the globe. She is a real inspirational hero in the recent times and in our neighborhood. My salutations to her.

Know more

ಬದುಕು ಪಾತರಗಿತ್ತಿ...

2010-10-12T22:23:00.002+05:30

ಕಂಡೂ ಕಾಣದಂತೆ, ಎಲೆಯಡಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅವಿತ ಮುತ್ತಿನ ಮೊಟ್ಟೆಗಳು
ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ಶತ್ರುಗಳಿಗೆ ತುತ್ತಾಗಿ ಸಾಯುವವೋ, ಮುಗ್ಧ ಕನಸುಗಳು
ಅದೃಷ್ಟವೇ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಸೂತ್ರಧಾರ, ಜೀವವಿದ್ದರೆ ತಾನೆ, ನಿನ್ನೆ-ನಾಳೆಗಳು

ಕಂಬಳಿ ಹುಳವಾಗಿ, ಯಾರಿಗು ಬೇಡವಾಗಿ, ತನ್ನ ಪಾಡಿಗೆ ತಾನ್ ಕರ್ಮಯೋಗಿಯಂತೆ
ತಿನ್ನುವುದೆ ಬದುಕಾಗಿ, ಸಿಕ್ಕಿದ್ದೆಲ್ಲವ ತಿಂದು, ಅರಗಿಸುವ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಯಂತೆ
ಮನ ಬರಿದಾಗಿ, ಮೈ ಜಡವಾಗಿ, ಆಧ್ಯಾತ್ಮದೊಲಿವು ತಾನಾಗಿ ಬಂದಂತೆ

ಮೌನವೇ ಸರಿಯೆಂದು, ಬೇರೆಲ್ಲ ಬೇಡೆಂದು, ತನ್ನ ಕೋಟೆಯೊಳಗೆ ತಾನೆ ಬಂಧಿ
ದೀರ್ಘನಿದ್ರೆಯೋ ಅಥವಾ ಆತ್ಮಾವಲೋಕನವೋ, ಎಂಥ ವಿಶ್ರಾಂತಿ
ಪರಿವೆಯೇ ಇಲ್ಲ, ಜಗವೆಲ್ಲ ಕೂಗಿದರೂ, ಅಧ್ಬುತವೀ ಪ್ರಶಾಂತಿ

ತಪಸು ಸಾರ್ಥಕವಾಗಿ, ಮುಕ್ತಿ ಆಹ್ವಾನಿಸಿದೆ,
ಪರಿವರ್ತಿತ ಕಾಯ, ಹೊರಹೊಮ್ಮಿ ಹಾರಾಡಿ,
ಜೀವನಚಕ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತೆ ಸಿಲುಕಿ,
ಶೂನ್ಯದಲೇ ಲೀನವಾಗುವ, ಈ ಬದುಕು ಪಾತರಗಿತ್ತಿ...

iQuote

2010-10-12T21:34:00.002+05:30

'Everything that is created is first a thought, so let your Thoughts be Good, good thoughts are those that are in harmony with nature. Thoughts not converted into words will be forgotten so convert only your good thoughts into Good Words. The result will be Good Deeds good products, and a heavenly earth.'
-Zarathustra

Dard

2010-09-23T21:27:00.002+05:30

'Dard hum kisi se yun baantte nahi hein.
Dil kabhi roye toh, batate nahi hein.
Kis se kabhi kya kahen, jab,
Koi dusre ke liye aansu bahate nahi hein.’

Siddharabetta Trek

2010-08-31T21:50:00.009+05:30

I had registered for the soft skills training on Saturday, I didn't know my weekend will be so packed. After I had registered for it, long pending trek gets scheduled for Sunday. I agreed for this program as well.
On Sunday, 29th Aug 6:00AM I leave home in hurry for Jayanagar 5th Block, from where we were supposed to leave at 6:30. I didn't get the auto in the beginning. After sometime I get an auto, but he drops me only half way. Then again I walk a kilometer and get picked by my friend who had arranged this trip. We finally start at 6:45 from 5th Block and when the last person is picked from Mysore road, it was around 7:30.

Then we take the NICE road which connects it to Tumkur road, when we reach Tumkur road, it was as usual cluttered with vehicles. We had breakfast of Tatte Idli in Dabaspet. Via Koratgere, we reach the base of Siddhara betta. After parking the vehicle, my friend negotiates with a guide for trek and cave exploration.
With him, we start our trek. On our way through small shrubs, he shows us some plans and tells us about them, their particulars and medicinal values. I get busy with my camera capturing flowers, wild fruits and the beautiful scenes.
We come to a point where there is a slant rock, which we had to climb. Guide insists us to remove shoes as they would be having grip. I remove mine, tie them with the laces, and hang them along with back pack. All the trek was with barefoot, and it was the first experience of this kind. In the beginning, it was due to slipping rocks, near the temple it is anyways not allowed.
There is one huge flat base rock which has a chamber like space beneath it. The rock forms the roof of the chamber. Guide informed us that, this space is used for some meditation camps which get organized.
We get near the rock base, which forms foundation rock of the natural cave temple. There are carved steps to reach the temple. We leave the footwear near one bajji vendor and get near temple. There were many pilgrims in the cave temple. The water that flows out of the spring inside the cave was so cold and refreshing. Inside the cave temple, the crowd was getting holy water bath with water from cold spring inside the cave. Water is fetched in buckets and it will be poured on the persons head.
Inside the naturally formed caves, there are couple of Shiva Lingas which are worshiped by the aborigine tribal people. The only source of light is oil lit Deepas. This was creating really good, close to nature feeling. The way of worship is simple and the temple is very humble one. There are some vendors who sell dollars, chains and rudrakshis in the temple space.
Near the place of worship, there is a passage which leads to the next cavity. Here, most of the chambers are formed due to inter boulder space. There are many moderate sized boulders which are arranged one above the other and in between there are many cavities which make the cold, dark chambers of secret!

As we were about enter the passage, thereby beginning our cave exploration, we had to crawl with four limbs, our belly and head held low. Once we pass this, we get into another cavity, dimly lit with the sparingly available sunlight, which comes in through some space between the boulders. The cavities are joined through passages which are narrow and challenging. We were crawling, climbing, leaping in an unknown maze formed by these rocks and cavities in between.
There is one Ashrama where in there is one Sanyasi is residing inside this complex. Guide showed us some flat ground inside one more big cave, in which there is a small linga, and a kalyani nearby. The flat ground was said to be used by nine thousand Siddhas for meditation.
We were just following our guide. None of the directions were evident, we didn't have over-all big picture of this maze. There were roots of trees in the spaces between the rocks, and they were looking like entwined snakes sometimes.
In some passage, where the mud was soft, I slipped and fell as I crawled. My foot got hurt a little. But, again with adventurous attitude of mine, I kept my spirits high. Once out of that passage, guide showed us the creeper of wild grapes and a tree which he called wild mango. The leaves of that tree smelled like mango leaves, though the shape of the leaves wasn't like that of mango. Not sure, if the fruits resemble.
By the time we ended our exploration, we were tired. Then we headed to temple, and my companions had holy bath. Till they came, I and another guy spent our time talking to one sanyasi who was talking about facets of spirituality.

After we came out, we settled the amount to be given to guide. Then we started moving along the path which took us to the top of Siddhara Betta. There we had some eatables we had taken with us. Spent around an hour there, and started back at 5:00 PM. As we reached temple on our way back, it started drizzling. It was difficult to descend due to slippery steps, though we had to return at the earliest. So we continued our walk.
At 6:00, we were at the bottom of the hill. We started our journey back to Bangalore, after a hot cup of tea in the humble village hotel. The day was well spent and really an adventurous one. I thank my friend who arranged this.

Blind Love

2010-08-14T22:23:00.006+05:30

I and my roomie had been to the ice-cream joint little far from my residence. While returning, we saw the board of 'Blind love' and it was impressive. As we were gazing at it and walking, I saw the broken slab over the drain. I told my roomie, 'careful, otherwise there is a chance that you fall in Blind love' pointing my finger towards the broken slab. And that's when we named the path holes/ footpath holes(due to broken slab over the drain) as 'blind love'.

The game was so funny. Our one liners were, 'Beware of blind love', 'Blind love is dangerous', 'Bangalore roads have lot of blind love(s)!', 'This happened to be a blind love, once upon a time', 'This is a future blind love'. We didn't realize the distance we walked back home!

ದುಃಖ

2010-08-12T00:12:00.004+05:30

ಈ ನೀರವ ಕಾರಿರುಳಲ್ಲಿ,
ಬೀಸುವ ತಂಗಾಳಿಯೊಡನೆ,
ಒಬ್ಬಂಟಿಯಾಗಿ, ಕಣ್ಣೀರು ಸುರಿಸಬೇಕು!

ಕಪ್ಪನೆಯ ಆಗಸದಲ್ಲಿ,
ಮಿನುಗುವ ತಾರೆಯೊಡನೆ,
ಒಮ್ಮೊಮ್ಮೆ, ಮನದಲ್ಲೇ ಬಿಕ್ಕಬೇಕು!

ಕಣ್ತುಂಬುವ ಕನಸೊಳಗೆ,
ಮೇಲ್ನೋಟದ ಖುಷಿಯೊಡನೆ,
ಸೇರಿರುವ ದುಃಖ ಹೊರಹಾಕಬೇಕು!

ಕಣ್ತುಂಬಿ ಬರುವಾಗ,
ಮನವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಬರಿದಾಗಿ,
ಜಗವನ್ನು, ಒಂದು ಕ್ಷಣ ಮರೆಯಬೇಕು!

Lipstick

2010-08-10T21:46:00.002+05:30

I am not sure if this is unusual, but I can assure you this doesn't happen usually with others. I wanted to buy a lipstick. That's so simple, right? I too agree, for a girl, its very simple and any high school girl will effectively do the job. But for me, oh God, it was hell tough.

It was comparable with the college guy who, for the first time goes to wine shop and waits to be attended. He looks around for the faces, that might be seeing him. I went to nearby 'Health an Glow' shop, to get it. This shop I had visited for some other things. But, cosmetics are kind of far from my reach. I somehow, don't like to be with added colors (and permitted flavours?).

I reach the place where there are all lip colors and related stuffs. My head is little inclined as my eyes gaze down. A thrilling experience it was. The girl in the counter asks, 'May I help you mam?' I look at her. Decently dressed in Western formals, she is little darker in complexion. She smiled beautifully, and her face is nicely made with range of products they sell. I was little sweating now, partly because of 'first time' partly because of poor air condition. I said in a low voice, 'I wanted to check some natural shade lipstick' as if I was going to do some sin. She smiled and took out a test sample and applied it on backside of my palm. It looked pale. I said, it looks 'glossy'. She told, she will apply it on my lips and let me have a look. She asked me to smile and she started applying it on my lips, with a brush. Her colleagues were talking to her in signed language and I was more embarrassed with this. Slowly I peeped in mirror and said, little darker one I would need. She again smiled and applied second color on my hand first and then on my lips. While doing so, she started telling, 'Mam, this looks beautiful on you', I guess her try worked. I was flattered and decided to go with that color. Another color, though I tried, which was similar to the second one, I decided on the second one. More over, third one she didn't find sealed pack to give me. Finally, I bought the second one and came home.

On the way I was thinking, I do so many things without any issue, face courageously so many issues in professional life and in personal front, why was I so conscious to buy the first lipstick of my life!

Tusharagiri Trip

2010-07-11T14:35:00.011+05:30

I was very actively looking forward for my monsoon trip to Kozhikode. In 2008 December I had been there, and seen some places around. While returning from that journey I had made my mind to visit these places again. When my friend informed about the trip, I was more than happy.

The preparation had started two days earlier, charging batteries for camera, packing things etc. What I left out was Septilin, medication for my anytime throat infection. (This cost me really bad!)

The day of the journey our bus was at 4:00PM from Mysore road bus station. I had requested for half day leave and it was approved. I left office at 1:00PM, without having lunch. I met Jas in Majestic bus stand and then we moved to Mysore road station. There I had a quick snack and a coffee.
Once we boarded the bus, we talked for long hours. On so many topics, about so many common friends, their whereabouts. Only after we reached near Gundlupete, my throat gave signals of infection. I asked Jas to tell her husband over phone, to check if he can fetch Septilin. In Sultanbattery, we had Kerala Parota with stew for dinner. It was around 9:30PM.

Then road was descending through Wayanad pass. A very beautiful one, if you happen to see it during daytime, especially within hours of sunrise. Night view is also equally interesting with numerous light sources from distant town/villages glowing like stars spread over the ground. We were little slowed down because of the block caused by trailers in the ghat road.

Reached Calicut at 12:00AM. Murali and his friend Rashmi had come to pick us. Then we realised that Murali had forgotten about the Septilin. We went around the city searching for one or two open medical shops, but didn't find the medicine in any of them. Finally returned home, had chapatis for late night dinner. I gulped Paracetamol and slept off. Night was more or less refreshing, expect for the one or two breaks in sleep due to my cough and irritating throat.

I was up by 8:00 in the next morning. Nobody was up by the time. So, I took my camera out, went out and photographed a fern in macro mode, it had come somewhat satisfactorily. By 9:30 everybody was up. After having morning chai, we got ready for the days program.

First stop was at Chechi's. My long pending dream came true, as I had 'Puttu, Kadala curry'. Again we boarded car and journey was unveiling beautiful countryside. Terrain was similar to villages around my native place, though roads are in excellent condition, reminding every time that, I am not in my own state!

We reached Tusharagiri, parked the car in the space available. Forest department has developed this area and maintains as plastic free zone. It is really plastic free, and you will love it. As we reached, it started raining. We got the parking ticket and started walking towards waterfall. On the way, there is a tourist ticket counter. From here we got our tourist passes, as well hired a guide.

We walked to the point we could see the first of the three waterfalls. To give a brief background, there are two streams which constitute 3 waterfalls, here. Both streams make one waterfall each, then they combine to Chalippuzha, and for the bottom most 3rd waterfall. We were looking at this. This one is the one with highest amount of water among the three.

Water falls from about 25 meters high point. As it was raining, the experience was incredible. Rain was towards heavy side, photography was a challenge, as there was all probability of camera getting spoiled. Here we stand on one of the banks of the stream, to our right there is the waterfall and to left, the stream falls further and flows more generously in the thick green valley down. Here across the stream, there is a hanging bridge whose construction has completed, but is waiting for inauguration. So, to get to the points from which we can have closer view of the waterfall, we need to cross the rushing stream.

We crossed the stream, here there is a chain put across the stream which can be held for support as needed. With help of Thomas uncle, our guide I managed to cross the stream. Then we walked a bit to the right of the path, to get a better view of the fall. Water droplets from the the fall were all around. Rain was pouring as usual. Our umbrellas added difficulty to our walk. No photography was possible due to rain.

We walked a bit to left and had a look at stream's course leaving to the valley further. From here it is a steep climb. Rain water was rushing along the path. Path was running between heavy rain forest. Ground was covered with rotting leaves. Somewhere it was damp red earth, somewhere else, it was rocky. I was getting really exhausted. Partially due to the climb, partially due to the infection within, partially due to rain, which was fighting with my body temperature, partially due to the shoe which kept on biting me. With all these factors I was feeling as if I am a soldier, walking in the Brazilian forests, with wounds due to fierce war before. Thanks to Hollywood war movies I had watched.

Now, second degree difficulty comes affront. The stream which after forming first(top most) fall, is with energy rushes towards meeting the second stream. Here the force of the water is high. We have to cross this to see the top water fall! I was really afraid. I kept asking Thomas uncle, are we really going to cross this! He said with a smile, 'Yes!'.

I crossed the stream only because of Thomas uncle's will power and not mine! Two times I was gauging the pull of the water, by allowing my leg flow along!

We went ahead on our path. Here Thomas uncle cautioned us about leeches. Wow! that word broke the otherwise order! There was hurry to get fist full of salt and cover our feet. My condition became worse. Now salt over my shoe bite! And leeches competing to get a juicy drink of my blood! I kept walking with a soldier's wit :-).

Murali had dropped his spectacles somewhere on the way. While returning we had to look for it! After walking very crude path, crossing small flows of rain water, we came to the place which opens up to the large rock which extends till the waterfall. Due to constant exposure to the moisture, the rock is slippery. I was not courageous to step on this. Murali, Jas and Rashmi had gone further, I was standing cowardly in the back and taking some photos. Thomas uncle was calling me to join them. I was telling, 'No, I would slip'. He didn't listen, he came back and carefully made me walk till the point where others were standing. I captured few more photos. By this time, I had started feeling weak within. Infection was working against.

We started tracing our steps back. Now, there was additional duty, to find Murali's specs. He had to drive back home, which would be difficult without them. Again, leeches, wound and infection. Was getting the thrill of the trip. Crossing the stream back was one more MI, achieved one more time!

Really struggling with path where it was slippery, I was relieved when I was down at the point we started. One leech was successful in drinking my blood, to its fill. Rest five had tasted, but failed before they could drank enough!
With all damp clothes, I was shivering badly. Took photos of the team and we bid bye to our guide.

Hot cup of tea in the nearby restaurant definitely helped a bit. By the way, we didn't find Murali's specs. So, we had to drive with caution, all the way. We headed towards Wayanad pass. No definite plan was ahead, as we had to eat something as well. On the way, we had our so called lunch. I couldn't eat much, I had started feeling feverish.

Then we drove along Wayanad pass, stopping in good viewpoints for photography. Otherwise very enthusiastic about photography, I was not doing that with energy either. It was night by the time we started back from wayanad. One more tea on the way, was refreshing.

By the time, we reached home, I just had enough energy to change damp and cold clothes. To my surprise, scar done by leech was still bleeding. I collapsed on the bed and was feeling giddy all the while. My friend prepared Tapioca and was really filling that night. After eating, again I continued to feel giddy in my bed!
Rest of the story about my sickness is better untold! :-)

iThought

2010-06-15T21:15:00.001+05:30

We ignore those people who run behind us. But, get annoyed when people ahead, ignore us. That's life!

Hoax and Fiction!

2010-06-14T21:54:00.005+05:30

Another form of 'Mars Hoax' is in circulation. I guess, this time, it is originated in India , by a jobless fellow, eating up network bandwidth because of many people who without thinking twice forward such mails.

Here goes the mail.
"NO ONE ALIVE TODAY will ever see it again.
21st June - the Whole World is waiting for.............

Star Aderoid will be the brightest in the sky, starting 10 June. It will look as large as the sun from naked eye. This will culminate on 21st June when the star comes within 34.65M miles of the earth. Be sure to watch the sky on June. 21 at 12:30 pm. It will look like the earth has 2 suns.!!
The next time Aderoid may come this close is in 2287"

Compare it with Mars Hoax:
"This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide.

Mars will look as large as the full moon. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10 p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m. By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30 a.m.

That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.

Share this with your children and grandchildren. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN"

Same '2287', same 36.65M miles, same 12:30, same 'NO ONE ALIVE TODAY will ever see it again'!!! Even if one thinks little scientifically, can easily find what is hoax and what is real.

1. The planet Mars has its own orbit, on which it is happily going around Sun. And so is Earth. Usually Mars appears with the size of any other moderately bright star, to the naked eye. To become as bis as moon, it should be 100-200 times its now apparent size. Means, it should come tremendously close to Earth, this even is not possible till both of these planets are going in their usual orbits.

2. The story of a new star, (check for this name, you won't find any references than in this hoax. I think it is deformed version of Android!) is more fictitious. No star is in such a drastic motion to come so close to solar system. If it comes(In someones weirdest imagination!), solar system can fall in its gravity and can be pulled into it.

But, always it amazes me, when people with multiple degrees and few years of so called cutting edge technology experience feel that these hoaxes are worth propagating and do so without hesitation.

Next time on, if someone forwards a hoax, please reply to them saying it's a hoax and please not to push it over other's mailboxes!

Naxalism is Internal Terrorism

2010-05-28T15:18:00.006+05:30

We had enough heard of Jihad, cross border infiltration and other attacks on our society. Now why are we killing ourselves in the name of Naxalism? Every week almost 10-30 people are killed in Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand. Naxalism has taken stronger base in Andhra Pradesh, and has limited activity in Karnataka, Maharastra. There must be something radically wrong. What is it? Can we ever root cause this problem? Are we really working towards understanding this issue?

Media is all about sensationalising issues, than really leading people to a thought process and thereby acting as a catalyst for the solution. Governments are all in blame game, center blaming states, and states blaming center. All the three worst hit states have ruling parties, which sit in opposition at center. This explains some part of the equation, no cooperation between the entities, all bad politics in place.

Did we ever hear/see some valid action from central home minister about this? Day by day the number of lives lost in hands of these murderers is increasing. Friends, do you realise the heat? Indians are killing fellow Indians. There is only one solution for the mass agitation or revolution. We, the people, every one like you and me, should feel the heat. We have to take responsibility to kerb this bloody revolution.

Whatever the cause is, killing innocents is injustice. It is crime according to every law. Can't we, as a nation of 100+ crore people stop the revolution of just thousands of (many a times), "misguided fellows"? What is that, making them thirsty for the blood of our own people? In here, 'they' are also our own people.

Let me share another thought, revolution can reach capital and take the ruling into their hands, as it happened in Nepal. Did that event solve the problems in Nepal? No, the great Maoist leader became just another bureaucrat. Will the similar thing, ever solve the problems of common man in Bengal, Bihar or Jharkhand? Definitely not.

People, please wake up; Every educated of you. Take a look at our Nation. We are not doing anything which we should be proud of. We are committing mass suicide, in the form of naxalism. That is not a solution for any problem, rather adding one more big problem to internal security.

Also see: 'Deep Red' out of 'Red' is eating up all colors

Matter, Energy and Void!

2010-05-19T11:26:00.004+05:30

When I was reading some articles about West, I saw a reference to four elements(air, fire, earth and water - Aristotelian theory). Suddenly I recalled Indian concept of 'Panchabhoota', which says everything is made of five elements(air, fire, earth, water and sky). I started thinking on the difference and tried to reason, which is more complete, more accurate. Western philosophies have seen only four elements. Sky is missing there. Sky or the void(I thought Sky corresponds to absence of every known concept, so I call it void) cannot be expressed in other elements. I guessed Panchabhoota was more complete as it has the concept of sky.

Then I had a thought, is Panchabhoota more fundamental? I started associating my own meaning to the elements. Water might be all liquids, Air might be the atmosphere, Fire might be energy, Earth might be all solids and the Sky is void. Can it not be more simplified? Now a new line of thought passes, Could that mind which came up with the concept of 'Panchabhoota' be so knowledgeable, that it considers all possibilities? I guess not, there might be more possibilities of elements, which are out of our senses. There may be less of them, simplifying the divide between the element classification.

So, I thought of coming up with my own elemental theory. This might look lame, silly or rude. Anyways, I have one of mine! For me there are three elements, Matter, Energy and Void! Matter includes Earth, Water and Air concepts, everything that has mass is included here.. Energy is all manifestation of energy like light, heat and every of that kind, also force and work which are related to Energy.(Here I might be overlooking Physics a bit! I guess I have to think more on these lines). And there is Void, which is absence of these. Interstellar space, void between the inter-electron orbits(?) can be of this kind!

Hmm, finally a cross thought which is already leading me to the newer version of my theory. Guess what, yes, E= mc2. As mass and energy are convertible, first two concepts merge and I come up with a duality. 'Matter and Energy' and Void!

Dare to Bare?

2010-05-17T21:43:00.002+05:30

I have a dream of writing something substantial. Something which is worth reading. Something which I will be remembered for. So, whenever I read something, whether it is a story, an article, a news item or a biography, I would look at it from many point of views. Even if I watch movies, of late, I watched many of them, I will look at from the facts, the story line, the nurration points of view.

Yesterday I started reading 'ನನ್ನ ಭಯಾಗ್ರಫಿ', the autobiography of ಬೀChi. What a dangerous stuff that is! Amazing courague he had. He talks of truth in each point. He is not ashamed to put his thoughts into words. He is not covering his views with colorfull material. He speaks of bare truth.

Expressing such bitter and bare truth in a novel or a story, in the form of a role, its behavior, its views, is the path usual writers take. They are not courageous to tell that, they have done something like that. They won't admit, their inner being has a perticular view point. When comes to their own autobiography, they won't express the same. But, ಬೀchi is amazingly brave. He doesn't fall short in opening up his own mistakes(experiences) to the world.

I wonder, even if I write, can I dare? If I can't, what is the point in experiencing so many different things in life and looking at each experience as a good material for self development. If I can't put my feelings, the events that I happened to be part of, into words and take responsibility for the things I have done, in front of this world, what's the beauty of being 'something else'. I guess it takes more courage to express what we are, in plain words, than any adventure. I hope, my adventurous attitude will guide me to put forward the absolute 'me'!

Astro'logy'

2010-04-28T19:14:00.003+05:30

A nice article about astrology. Hope people realize its true worth and start to think rationally and scientifically.
Astrology
Personally I have a problem with the name 'Astrology' which makes it seem like its a science.

'La vita è bella'

2010-04-07T17:09:00.003+05:30

Recently I watched many movies. I had been looking out for some really good movies and there I found couple of Russian movies of 50's. They were good, but looked too much of drama in there. Both stories revolved around wars.
Then I found this one. 'Life is beautiful' originally Italian 'La vita è bella'. What an amazing movie that is! I guess most of the people would have watched it, but if you haven't, please do it.
It's all about how attitude and the creativity inspired by that attitude can really transform life into a beautiful one. And it takes courage to have that attitude, never know if it makes your pain any less, but it seems as if life is really beautiful.
The plot is about the life of a Jewish man, married to an Italian lady, with his kid taken to concentration camp. Must see for its inspiring script, strong cast and touchy theme. I am sure such movies are made once in decades.

Life = f(t)!

2010-04-07T16:46:00.003+05:30

Life is a function of time. Life is a series of events, which take place in certain time. If you can express a feeling with respect to an incident, it is bound to the time that event had occured. If you love somebody, you love them at some point of time. If you wanted to be something, it was your dream till you became what you wanted to be. If you don't become what you wanted to be, it is the memories, so again tied to the time. Sometimes, time looks so awkward, and it makes things possible, which we one day thought to be impossible. With time, the way things look, the way things make us feel and the way we think about the things changes!

I wanted to own a camera, when I started earning. It was the time when digital cameras were just creeping in.(at least in India). For a thousand rupees analog camera, I thought 100 times, should I buy. Finally I bought it, there were 3 roles of film, free with the camera. I finished them, bought a new role and finished that too. Thats it, from that day the camera is idle. After the fourth role, I had bought a mobile phone which had 0.3MP Camera in it. I kept capturing using that phone, however bad the photos looked when transferred to PC. Till recently it was the only camera, I used. I started planning for a Canon Digital Camera, may be from last two years. Now I have my Canon Camera, which, I like for its capabilities. I already started dreaming of SLR Camera most probably from Canon! My point is my camera object has been changing with time. I liked my Kodak analog camera, my Moto L7 Camera(however lame it is!) and now the Canon one. I have transformed, my priorities have changed, my outlook has changed. I change with time, I change for good. Once upon a time best seemed things, become useless with time. Time is the amazing concept!

Last bit, once upon a time I was laughing for what I had got. Today world laughs at me, for I don't have the same. Tomorrow I will laugh again, because I will have more than what I have today or I had yesterday.

Do the unobvious!

2010-04-03T10:06:00.005+05:30

To follow what most of the people do, is easy, and low risk involved. Try to be little different, and the questions follow. The suggestions pour in. The remedies, the direction you have to look at it, everything will cross your way. After your twelfth, take up Engineering, nobody asks any further question. Take up BSc, people ask some. Take up BA, Psychology, they laugh at.

Doing the obvious thing and emerging as a performer in that, is what is everybody looking for, in you. You do the obvious and be a non-performer, they don't care. If you do unobvious, they point finger at you.

But, if you are different, don't ever listen to these suggestions or bend to the questions. Being different in any sense is an advantage. It makes you stand out from the rest. It gives you new opportunities, that had never been there for others. Struggle is for being different and to maintain that, till you prove being different is indeed great. So, hold on your spirits. Keep them alive and nourished. One day, you will be proud of being different and of bringing some change in the world. Definitely you are born to make an impact. Dare to make a move, on the way you feel right.

Lunch Time

2010-03-09T10:09:00.003+05:30

BT Brinjal Vs. ನಮ್ಮ ಗುಳ್ಳ

2010-02-09T13:25:00.007+05:30

ಅವ್ವೊಂಜಿ ಜಾತ್ರೆ. ಗುಳ್ಳಗುಲೆನ ಜಾತ್ರೆನೇ ಇಪ್ಪೋಡ್. ನಮ್ಮ ಮಟ್ಟ್ ದ ಗುಳ್ಳ met our esteemed ಬಿ.ಟಿ. ಗುಳ್ಳ ಅಲಿಯಾಸ್ BT Brinjal, who had recently changed his flashy name to the former, to make an entry to local market. ನಮ್ಮ ಮಟ್ಟ್ ದ ಗುಳ್ಳ ಭಾರಿ ಕುಳ ತೂಲೆ, ಈ ಘಟ್ಟದ ಬದ್ನೇಕಾಯಿ, ಉದ್ದ ಬದ್ನೇಕಾಯಿ ಪೂರ, ಮಟ್ಟ್ ದ ಗುಳ್ಳದ ಎದುರು ಉಂತೋಂದ್ ಇಜ್ಜಾಂಡ್. ಇತ್ತೆ ತೂಂಡ ಈ BT Brinjal, ಭಾರಿ ಗತ್ತ್ ಡ್ ಆರೆಗ್ threat ಕೊರೋಂದುಲ್ಲೆರ್.

'Man, I am shiney, I am sweeter and tasty. I give profit to the farmer and I am the happening one! Above all, Ramesh promotes me!' (ಓ, ಮೇರ್ ಪುದಾರ್ ಮಾತ್ರ change ಮಲ್ತಿನ. ತುಳು ಬರ್ಪುಜ್ಜಿ ಮೇರೆಗ್.) 'ಗುಳ್ಳೋಗ್ ಕನೆರೇ ರುಚಿ, ಮುಳ್ಳೇ ಭೂಷಣೋ' ಮಟ್ಟ್ ದಾರ್. Mr Brinjal, goes away saying he has got some self marketing presentations. He doesn't seem to care for our ಮಟ್ಟ್ ದ ಗುಳ್ಳ, who mutters 'ಏತ್ shine ಇತ್ತ್ಂಡ ದಾನೆ, ಕುಡಿಯಾಂದ್ ನ seeds ಉಲಾಯಿ ಇಪ್ಪುನಗ.'

'Love' Story

2010-01-22T22:57:00.016+05:30

'Shyam, tell me what is love?' I am in his arms. He stares at my eyes, the trust is conveyed. 'Hmm, well.... a difficult question to answer, but definitely most frequently asked. In my view, it’s a feeling... Can't really get ahead of this, sweetheart'. I don't break the eye contact, for I am too eager to ask this. 'So, feeling towards somebody you don't know much about.. Is that sin?' My guy is little confused, eye balls roll around a bit. 'Well, certainly not. Moreover, we know each other bit well. Why this question?' Now, I change the view, as I am sure, I might not be in a position to look at his eyes all the time.

'I am pretty aware; this is not the matter to be discussed in the first week of marriage. But, I don't want to keep you in dark.' A quick look at Shyam's face reveals that he is kind of drifting from comfort. I continue.

'If you hadn't observed, I have tried to know your outlook towards relationships and social behavior. I had questioned you times. I was cautious enough that you wouldn't notice the motto behind.' Shyam grows little more uneasy. Looks at me, as if he feels I am a spy in guise. Now, I take his hands in mine, and with a hold that is quite assuring, I tell, 'Honey, I wanted to finish this as soon as possible, for that I had a definite plan. Otherwise I am not the suspicious spy kind. You can trust me!' For the time being, he looked half convinced. After all, how would he know the person, with whom he is talking just from last six months and started living together from a week? I thought, I have to give him time and win his trust.

Big question on his face was evident. 'When I was doing my engineering, there was an Ethiopian guy in our class. He was very shy and nobody in the class ever interacted with him. He was dark and his accent was funny. He wasn't that brilliant as well. But, he had a pleasant smile always on his face. Though he would have had couple of supplements each sem, even on the day of results, he was never frowning. This attitude was making him out of the stock. I used to always wonder what wonderful attitude he has got.

I was the studious kind, and none of the girls in our class liked me. They used to tease me 'Gandhi'. I never cared. Any conversations I had with my classmates was about studies. I was in great demand near the exams and in usual term days, they used to make fun of me! I knew things going on behind my back, but, I never hesitated to share the knowledge.'

Shyam is listening patiently. He is receiving each word with care. 'One day, I wasn't aware that the class was cancelled. So was he. So, he started talking to me. At first, I found very difficult to follow his accent. Later my brain got accustomed. He was telling the story of war infested area, the poverty, lack of infrastructure, lack of educated citizens. From the stories, I was growing empathetic towards him. He was a window of knowledge for me. It was for the first time I was introduced to a very different culture than mine.'

'After that day, we used to talk for a while, every day. He used to ask me questions on technical stuff and I was keen to know more about his country. Life went like this, and we departed as any other friends. He went back to Africa. I got the job and started working here. Now, I realise that there was a strong feeling towards him. I am being open to you, so that there is nothing that you don't know about me. I am telling this only after knowing that you have a nice heart to accept this and be a nice partner to me, going further. I didn't ever talk to him after that day. So there is no continuation for this story, you have to understand this.'

I was feeling very light and healthy after this confession. After all now, the bond between me and Shyam is crystal like. He looked little confused, may be thinking how to react. Though, he turned my face towards him, held my face with both hands and kissed my forehead. 'Love you for the frankness, honey. I know you are a gem of a person. I trust you.'

--------------------------------------------------------------

That happened five years back. After that incident there was no mention of that guy in our life. I had some questions for my wife, if at all that guy had appeared in any conversation, I could have asked her. But it didn't happen.

Now, situation has changed a lot. Sheetal had a difficult labour session. Post delivery, she was told to be under observation for a week. And under clinical care for one more week. The day she was back in home, she was still weak. Boy baby was healthy, but for her it took a little more time to recover. She had a minor depression as well. As a result, she had to put an end to her career. She was busy at home with house hold things and looking after the kid.

Later sometime, I started observing her to be little upset many times. Always she appeared tensed, as if she is head of some top secret project. She kept thinking with a blank facial expression. If I ask, she told, 'I am not thinking anything', and she would get out of the scene. I observed one more thing. Whenever our phone rang, she would run and pick it in a hurry. I wasn't sure what was happening, and whose call is she waiting for.

I enquired her family and other friends, if there is any tension in their home. Always they told, nothing of that sort, why are you asking so. I couldn't tell the reason being my wife's behavior, I had to give some answer to save me at that point of time.

That day Sheetal was very upset. I saw her face showing up the fear. I asked her what was really going on. After a long discussion, she said 'I should have told you this earlier. Shyam, I am really sorry. But I feared that if I tell about this, you would feel bad. Or even start distrusting me. But now I am getting more involved in this, so I have no way out than telling you.' I looked at her face; worriedly ask 'What the hell are you talking about? Why is your hair undone and why you look distressed?' She turned her face away from me, may be she couldn't match my eyes! With a low tone, she said, 'Phil had called me.' 'Who Phil?' 'The Ethiopian guy. He is in trouble. Every day he calls me and pleads me to save him. The UN soldiers are back of him. He said he was educating the tribes there, and later there was a civil war. UN soldiers think that, Phil is making them attack civilians. But Phil isn't guilty. He is a good person. He doesn't have many friends. I have to help him, Shyam. I have to help him. I am scared, scared for life of my friend'.

I don't really know what I told her at that point. I was out of mind. My head was bursting. 'This is it!! This is it!! Who the hell is he, spoiling my life! Let alone saving him, I would like to kill him if possible. I had forgotten my wife's crush, thinking its all common in the college days and until it comes up again, it’s OK to forget the silly crushes. I too had a crush or two. It’s not a big deal. But, but... do I remember those now? No. Do I call those women up? No. My wife has maintained the contact behind my back.'

A week has gone now. I am not talking to her normally. She has grown more pathetic, keeps talking about that !@#$%^. She asks me, 'is not there a way in which we help him, Shyam?' Her eyes show an innocent fear. Does she not feel, how intolerant I am on this matter? How can she be so careless about her own husband? How can she be so indifferent to my feelings? At this point, she overlooks kid as well. That's more annoying! I can't take this. Times she behaves so nice to me. She becomes the ideal partner. She shows up all those care towards me and the kid. What should I believe?

----------------------------------------------------------------

Finally they came to me. They had been to a family counselor, who after some discussions, felt this is a case to be taken up by psychiatrist. In the beginning the information was kind of messed up.

I wanted Shyam to do some homework. I checked with him, if he had some unrealistic points to make out, in the story. He said 'Phil never calls, when I am around.' I ask him, 'Did you ever think how Phil got your land line number?' Then Shyam is a bit angry. 'So, my wife had his number and initiated this all. oh God! How much trust I had on her'. 'Hey, hold on. As per my analysis, there is no Phil' 'what did I hear just now, Doctor?' 'She is suffering from hallucinations along with depression. Phil doesn't exist physically. He is an image created in her mind' 'You mean to say, she is cooking up all these?' 'Shyam, you should be little more empathetic towards my patient. Check her background from any of her classmates from intermediate or high school level. You might catch up something. Also check with her Engineering classmates, if there was any Ethiopian in the class'

Shyam meets me sometime later 'Doc, it was little tough to get help from her friends. But, she was very studious and a knowledge freak. She used to read a lot of books. She was interested in learning about different cultures, geographies and societies. This was the only useful stuff I got from them’, he continues 'You were right, there was no Ethiopian in their class'

'Well, that really helps. I can't reason, how the girl at her graduate level, suddenly falls for hallucinations. But it is very much possible that for some strong reason she wanted to have a special friend. He is Phil. Her mind gave her Phil. May be, since she didn't have any close friends, she would have been spending time alone, and at one such moment Phil was created. And he comes to life when she is alone and not occupied. It also explains why calls do come only when you aren't around. No need to worry, antidepressive medication should be given on regular basis and you should be more helping. In the counseling sessions, we will make her understand about the illusions. She will be able to lead more or less the normal life in few weeks. Medication and counseling shouldn't be stopped for any reason'

Sheetal is recovering fast. I wish the couple all well!

Dark, the Princess

2010-01-16T21:57:00.005+05:30

Stare at my eyes
There is a beauty that mesmerise
Stare at them; Stare at them!

There is a pain of memories
Fairy tales and stories
There is a scare of fears!
Humble warmth of tears
I am princess of Hell,
I am born to kill;
Stare at my eyes
Those mesmerise and chill..
Chill you, out of your fears
Drown you, in your tears
Hell bent on my dream;
I wanna hear your scream!

I am princess of Hell,
I am born to kill;
Stare at my eyes,
They hypnotize..
There is a beauty that mesmerise
Stare at them!

ಗ್ರಹಣ

2010-01-15T12:56:00.003+05:30

ಗ್ರಹಣ ಹಿಡಿದಿರುವುದು, ಸೂರ್ಯನಿಗಲ್ಲ,
ಸೋಮಾರಿ, ಅಜ್ಞಾನಿ, ಮಂದಮತಿಗಳಿಗೆ
ಸೂರ್ಯನೋ ನಿತ್ಯಶುದ್ಧ, ಕತ್ತಲೆ ಅವನಿಗಲ್ಲ,
ಸುತ್ತಲಿನ ಕತ್ತಲೆ ನೀಗಲಾರದ ಮನಗಳಿಗೆ

ದಿನದಿನವು ಉರಿದುರಿದು ಬೆಳಕ ನೀಡುವ
ಆ ದಿವ್ಯದೈತ್ಯನಿಗೆಲ್ಲಿ, ಛಾಯೆಯ ಭಯವು?
ನಮ್ಮೆದೆಯ ಅಳುಕನ್ನು, ಅವನಿಗಾರೋಪಿಸಿ
ಕಳ್ಳ ಜ್ಯೋತಿಷಿಗೆ ಕೈಮುಗಿವೆವು

ಕೆಲಕಾಲ ಕಂದಿದರೂ, ಅವನ ಕಾಂತಿ,
ಮತ್ತೆ ಪ್ರಖರಗೊಳ್ಳುವನು, ಸಂಶಯವಿಲ್ಲ
ನಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆಗೆ ಹಿಡಿವ ಭ್ರಾಂತಿಗೆ ಶಸ್ತ್ರವೇ ಇಲ್ಲ
ಸೂರ್ಯ ಬೆಳಗಿದರೂ, ಅದಕೆ ಮುಕ್ತಿಯಿಲ್ಲ

Looking back..

2009-12-31T20:47:00.003+05:30

A new year is again at the door step; bringing new hopes and promises. Passing year has brought more challenges. Somehow, managed overcome those. There are unfulfilled dreams, there is scope for betterment. At times I feel, 2009 could have been better, if I had planned it more cautiously.

As per general observation, stock markets came up and attained quite high. Job markets improving towards end of year. Untimely rain ruined crops and prices went skywards. Inflation seemed under control for couple of months, now again going high.

Just want to welcome the new year with new dreams, new plans. Always working on betterment.

ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾಂಜಲಿ

2009-12-30T10:44:00.006+05:30

A very sad situation, back to back posts mentioning 'RIP'. Yesterday, I got the news of C. Ashwath's demise, today morning started with news of Vishnuvardhan's.

Unique voice of Ashwath has istilled life in most of 'Kannda bhavageethegalu'. I used to listen to them over kannadaaudio.com. I am no fan of Kannada film songs, though I really like bahvageethe. As the name suggests, they have 'bhava' in them. Touching lyrics is the main characteristic. When sung in passionate voice, they become live. They make you smile, they make you cry. C. Ashwath's voice is coupled with many such songs, which is comparable with Mysore Ananthswamy's voice coupled with K S Narasimhaswamy's lyrics. 'ಹಿಂದೆ ಹೇಗೆ ಚಿಮ್ಮುತಿತ್ತು, ಕಣ್ಣ ತುಂಬ ಪ್ರೀತಿ..' 'ನೀ ಹೀಂಗ ನೋಡಬ್ಯಾಡ ನನ್ನ' 'ಆಕಾಶದ ನೀಲಿಯಲ್ಲಿ..' are few of my favorites. These songs will be forever and lively tribute to him. Link

ಹೇಳಿ ಹೋಗು ಕಾರಣ, ಹೋಗುವಾ ಮೊದಲು.., Sir, you departed us, without telling the reason. :-(.

Vishnuvardhan is the only actor I liked till date in kannada film industry. I liked films like Nagarahavu, Bandhana, Nishkarsha, Muttinahara to name some. I liked 'Laali' than any other of his movies, due to its unique story line. As refered in some blog, "Vishnuvardhan, the Decent Star", a right title given. I feel he was never given the respect, he deserved. All was taken by the overacting family number one of Kannada film industry. And people of Karnataka never realized the difference between overacting and decent acting. Thats why we are still short of good movies.
Vishnu, people who have realized your worth, will ever consider you as the greatest actor and a respectable human being. May your soul rest in peace.

'Compounder'

2009-12-27T22:10:00.004+05:30

I have grown up seeing this man; I had always seen him with a smile on his face. His voice was so soothing, it had healing power. I was wondering if he had aged at all. From the days I was a kid till recently, in my eyes he was the same guy.

He was helping my family doctor. He used to stay in Doctor's home. I never knew his name, as every other person in my village probably. He is 'Compounder'.

I remember almost all the situations I had met him in the clinic. I used to go and report symptoms of illness of any member of my family and get the medication. That’s how it works in villages. So, from mom's fever to niece’s stomach upset, I used to run to doctor's clinic. I had done enough adventures as well ;)

Once at age of 6, I had developed big sore in my right hand's little finger. It was bulged and filled with pus. I was crying with pain. My father took me to the doctor. Doctor told the compounder to dress it. My father was talking to the doctor. This guy started talking to me, asking me about my school and other things. He made me laugh, and while I was laughing, he had peirced the sore with the needle. I then realised what had happened. I started crying now. He squeezed the wound and removed all the pus while telling me that, it wouldn't pain anymore. Finally he dressed it. In two days, there was no trace of pain; sore had reduced to a dry mark.

Once I had stepped on glass piece while I was running bare footed. So, had to get it bandaged. As I remember, this guy only had bandaged it. I was a warrior walking with bandaged foot. ;)

Other time I got hit by the door frame resulting in a bleeding wound in my head. While it was bleeding, I was crying not because of pain, but because of the fear that something had happened to my head, after all, head is a vital organ, you see!! I complained to compounder that it is a big scar. He just saw it and said, 'hey, it’s a small one' and applied just boric powder nothing more for that head injury ;)

So many such little incidents line up in my mind, as I think of this guy. All these memories uncurled, when my mom told me that the compounder had passed away. Hereby I am doing my part, by writing a small note on him. May his soul, rest in peace. I am expressing my tributes to him.

This note doesn't end without this. Recently I had faced a situation, while I was boarding to bus from my native to Bangalore. My parents had come with me, to bid bye. I had to make a quick call and my mom hadn't got the cell phone with her. My service provider doesn't cover that area. So my phone was useless. I couldn't find any public booth there. This guy had come to the bus station to drop somebody. Learning the tension at my side, he offered his phone and it was of a timely help. I was out of my words to thank him. When my mom told about his demise, she also related the incident.

I am sure; the residents of my village would miss his charming personality. I would definitely miss him as a sweet medico, with whose care, I had grown.

Contradiction

2009-12-08T10:28:00.003+05:30

There is a divide in the world. Some part of the world is flashy and bright, in the same time other part is conservative. Some part is filthy rich and some other is extremely poor. Every part looks at itself as the complete one and ridicules the other. None of the part gets along with the other, seamlessly. Whenever the two distinct parts meet, there is contradiction! This photo shows an Arab woman watching an Israel-Arab fashion show. In the foreground, the high heels representing the flashy world!

ಹೇಮಂತದಲ್ಲೊಂದು ಸಂಜೆ

2009-11-26T18:12:00.002+05:30

ಹೇಮಂತದಲ್ಲೊಂದು ಸಂಜೆ, ಖುಷಿಯಾಗಿದೆ ಯಾಕೋ ಮನಸು
ಬಿನ್ನಾಣವಿಲ್ಲದ ಚಳಿಗೆ, ಹಿತವಾಗಿರೋ ಒಂದು ಕನಸು

ಪಶ್ಚಿಮದಂಚಿನಲಿ ಸೂರ್ಯ, ಕೆಂಪಾಗಿರುವಂಥ ಗಗನ
ಹಾರಾಡಿ ಸೋತ ಹಕ್ಕಿ, ಚಿಲಿಪಿಲಿಯಲ್ಲೂ ಕವನ

ಕಪ್ಪಿಡುತಿರುವ ಬಾನು, ಪ್ರತಿಬಿಂಬದಂತೆ ಭಾವ
ಬೆಳಕಿನ ಜಗಕೀಗ ನಿದ್ರೆ, ಕತ್ತಲ ಲೋಕಕ್ಕೆ ಜೀವ

ನೆಟ್ಟಿರುವ ಗೆಳೆಯನ ದೃಷ್ಟಿ, ಹತ್ತಿರವಿದ್ದರೂ ಮೌನ
ಗರಿಗೆದರುತಿರುವ ಪ್ರೇಮ, ಪ್ರೀತಿ ತುಂಬಿರುವ ನಯನ

ನನಗಾಗಿ ಅರಳುತಿದೆ ಎಲ್ಲೋ, ಕಂಪಿನ ರಾತ್ರಿಯ ಹೂವು
ಗೆಳೆಯನ ಎದೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒರಗೆ, ಮರೆಯಾಗಿದೆ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ನೋವು

iThought

2009-11-25T11:53:00.003+05:30

Life takes us in the least expected paths. We meet with pathetic shocks that make us panic. We also meet with pleasant surprises! Every now and then when a happy moment passes by, I can't but think what will be the next challenge?!

ಒಂಟಿ ಪೆಲಿಕನ್

2009-11-20T10:05:00.007+05:30

ಒಂದು ಸುಂದರ ಸಂಜೆಯ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ, ನಾನು ನೋಡಿದ ಒಂಟಿ ಪೆಲಿಕನ್ ನನ್ನ ಮನಸ್ಸು ತಟ್ಟಿತು. ಆ ಪೆಲಿಕನ್ ನಿಜವಾಗಲೂ ಒಂಟಿಯಾಗಿತ್ತೋ ಅಥವಾ ಊರಿಗಿಂತ ಮುಂಚೆ ವಲಸೆ ಬಂದ Team lead ಆಗಿತ್ತೋ, ನನಗೆ ಗೊತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ. ಅದರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಒಂದು ಕವನ, ನನ್ನ ಕಲ್ಪನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ...

ನೀಲಿಯ ಬಾನಿದೆ, ನಿರ್ಮಲ ನೀರಿದೆ
ಸಂಜೆಯ ತಂಗಾಳಿ ಬೀಸುತಿದೆ
ಇಳಿಯುವ ಸೂರ್ಯನ ಕಾಂತಿಯ ಕೆಂಪಿದೆ
ನೀರಲಿ ಹೊನ್ನಿನ ಛಾಯೆಯಿದೆ

ನೀರಿನ ಅಲೆಗಳ ಮೇಲ್ತೇಲುವ ನಾನು
ನೆನಪಿನ ಕನಸಲಿ ಮುಳುಗಿರುವೆ
ದೂರದ ನಾಡಿಂದ ಪ್ರವಾಸ ಬರುವಾಗ
ಸಂಗಾತಿ-ಪ್ರೀತಿಯ ಅಗಲಿರುವೆ

ಬೆಳಕಿನ ಕೆಂಪು, ಗಾಳಿಯ ತಂಪು
ನನಗೆ ಸಂತಸ ತರಲಾರದು
ಸಂಜೆಯ ಮತ್ತು, ರಾತ್ರಿಯ ನೀರವ
ವಿರಹ ಬಿಟ್ಟೇನೂ ಕೊಡಲಾರದು

ನೆನಪಿನ ಆಸರೆ, ಕನಸಿನ ಗೂಡಲಿ
ಬದುಕ ಕಳೆಯುವೆ ನಾನ್;
ಸುಂದರ ಸಂಜೆ ನನಗಲ್ಲ ಗೆಳೆಯರೇ,
ನಾನೊಂದು ಒಂಟಿ ಪೆಲಿಕನ್.

ನಾನು?

2009-11-05T09:33:00.002+05:30

ಯಾವುದೋ ಸಂದರ್ಭ, ಯಾವುದೋ ಯೋಚನೆ... ಯಾವಾಗ, ಯಾವ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಈ ಶಬ್ದಗಳ ಉತ್ಪತ್ತಿಯಾಯಿತೋ ನೆನಪಿಲ್ಲ. ಕಾಲದ ಕಣಿವೆಯಲ್ಲಿ, ಅಗೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವಾಗ ಸಿಕ್ಕ, ಈ ಪದಗಳು, ಮನಸಿನ ಮೂಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಸಂವೇದನೆಯನ್ನು ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಾಕಿದ್ದೇ, ಇದನ್ನು ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ತಂದಿದೆ...

ನಿನ್ನ ಕನಸಿನ ಹುಡುಗಿ ನಾನಲ್ಲ,
ಆದರೂ, ಕನಸಿಗೆ ಬಣ್ಣ ತುಂಬಬಲ್ಲೆ.
ನಿನ್ನ ಕಲ್ಪನೆಯ ಸ್ಪೂರ್ತಿ ನಾನಲ್ಲ,
ಆದರೂ, ಕಲ್ಪನೆಗೆ ಜೀವ ತುಂಬಬಲ್ಲೆ.
ನಿನ್ನ ಮನಸಿನ ರಾಣಿ ನಾನಲ್ಲ,
ಆದರೂ, ಒಂದಿಷ್ಟು ಪ್ರೀತಿ ತೋರಬಲ್ಲೆ.
ನಿನ್ನ ಒಲುಮೆಯ ಸಂಗಾತಿ ನಾನಲ್ಲ,
ಆದರೂ, ನಾಲ್ಕು ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಜೊತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯಬಲ್ಲೆ...

Money: Will it solve every problem?

2009-10-29T13:41:00.004+05:30

I guess there are people who think money solves any and every problems. Otherwise, how would anyone explain this?
"US set to pay Taliban members to switch sides" - News
This will only help for US to some charity on these Taliban criminals. Once they get money, they will utilize the same money to sponsor more cruel attacks. Fundamental issue here is of the mindset. The mindset will not change for the sake of money. Had it been the case, rich and educated guys wouldn't have joined hand with Taliban or Al-Qaeda.

1984

2009-10-27T16:26:00.006+05:30

Definitely that was not an information era. There were no 'Breaking news' channels. It was the time, death danced in the roads of Delhi. I don't know how the rest of the Nation had reacted to the event. Definitely, Nation had mourned for the assassination of prime minister. Did it cry for the lives that were burnt, just because of the madness of the followers? Did the human right activists bloom then? Were there NGOs who hurled petition over petition? Was there the opposition which walked and walked out of the parliament, every time it met to discus some other thing? 'NO'.

Definitely, not the nation cried for those poor souls. Was it not communism, when a specific community was attacked? Was it not worst than what we blame Australia for? Only questions, Even after 25 years we don't have answers. Even now, we couldn't give the families of the victims, a decent life. Till today, they have been denied justice.

It is the example of what can result out of the society which predominantly worships the King, the Neta. We can still see the same patterns of blind worship. It's the idol worship, not the worship of ideology. When Dr. Raj died of natural reasons, couple of lives lost in Bangalore. Tens of people died for various reasons, when YSR died in an accident. Will there be an end for this? Are those Netas Godly and unquestionable humans? When will the common people get educated on this? When will they stop spoiling their lives and stop the bloodshed in the name of so called Netas?

1984: A year we must never forget

Global Day of Service: A way to pay back

2009-10-15T12:49:00.003+05:30

From the year I joined this organization, I wanted to participate in the Global Day of Service event, a global initiative from our organization. This is the day, volunteers from all our branches come out and do some service to the society which, we are integral part of. It may be planting trees, helping in a school or old-age home, cleaning a lake or cleaning a part of village. The motto is to show our responsibility towards the society and the Eco-system in the midst of which we function.

This time, without fail, I enrolled in a project as part of GDS. Our project was to create environmental awareness in the students of Parikrama school, Sahakar nagar. As an environment enthusiast myself, I was very eager to join this program. The agenda had planting some saplings for the school's garden and then conducting some events for the children. Theme of all events were to create some awareness about environment. I was a part of the team which had to conduct environmental quiz.

I along with the teammates compiled the question paper for the written test, collected questions for oral round. Bought some books, which were to be given as prizes. Preparations were going hand in hand with our daily work. Other people in the project planned for some video rendering, painting and essay writing competition.

We were supposed to start from the office premises, to the venue, at 8:00. But because of all quotable reasons, we did leave office only at 9:00. This kind of things are expected even in well arranged events in India, forget about not so well arranged GDS. We reached the school at 9:30 and interrupted the assembly of children a bit!

They asked each one of the volunteers to light the lamp, and then followed the self intoduction. After assembly was over, with couple of skits by children, we were ready to start with our agenda. First came the planting part. We arranged the pots in rows of five. Mixed red soil with sand and a portion of manure. This was then filled in the pots. In the process Vinod and Vishvanath were explaining the steps of planting and their importance. The students were learning and taking part in the activity with all energy. Then the saplings were planted in the pot, followed is the filling it with some more mud. Vinod and Vishvanath made children aware of types of plant saplings we had. We finished planting.

Each team started their activity, like sketching competition, quiz and essay writing. Vinod teamed up with 'Asteroids' (Parikrama school has named the classes with planet names. Students join 'Sun' and pass out as 'Neptune') who had helped us in planting for a pledge. The activity was interesting and colorful. It was to paint one's hand with colors and take the print on a paper. Along with this they make a pledge that they will do all that could be done from their part to save Nature. I am moved by this idea of Vinod.

We started our quiz competition. We had prepared the questions for eleventh graders. But, realized in school that eighth and ninth graders will take part in it. We were not sure if they can handle the questions. But for our astonishment 30% of them had done really good in the written test. Rest were also quite alright. Then followed the oral round. We had to select the winner with a tie breaker! Then there was prize for best team name and we selected 3 teams.

I went with Vishwanath to get the cake for the guys who were celebrating their birthday on the day. When we returned all other team members had finished their lunch. Lunch for the children is provided by ISKON's 'Akshaya patra'. I and Vishwanath finished the lunch in hurry. I found myself lucky to taste the 'Akshaya patra' food, as I had heard lot about this campaign.

After lunch, prizes were distributed. Students had drew some greeting cards for us. They gave us those. It was really cute and touching. We celebrated Nagaraj and Shashi's Birthday in a simple manner. Then we started back to office. On they way we shared our learning with each other.

All in all it was a great day out. I am happy that I was a part of it. After many days going to a school and befriending with children, who have lot of dreams in their sparkling eyes, is a good energy booster. I am happy about the NGO, which is giving quality education to the underprivileged students. The quality of education they were getting and the confidence that they had gathered due to education was evident. I am inspired by the work being done in these NGO's and have made up my mind to help such ones with whatever I could. I am lucky to be a part of such a great event!

Trip to Hogenakkal

2009-10-13T16:06:00.013+05:30

9th October 2009,
I get a call from Suri. 'Hey are you sure, you want to come with us. Final count of the team is just 4 now; Vissu, Vamshi, you and me!' I replied, as I was hoping for an exciting journey next day, 'No issues. I will join, lets not take the step back'. So, the plan for a trip to Hogenakkal next day was intact.

10th October 2009,
5:30AM, my alarm rings, I call Suri, tell him to wake up others. I get ready by 6:30 and Suri calls me that he is waiting to pick me. There we start the journey. Suri calls Vamshi to find out, he will take fifteen more minutes to get ready. Vissu is already at Vamshi's place. I and Suri reach the designated synch-up point and wait for the guys. We waited for near about 30 minutes and then they came. We finally were on our mission.

Journey was exciting with a maintained a pace of 50-60-70kmph. Vamshi and Vissu drove one bike alternatively. Other was subjected to a marathon driving by Suri, because, I didn't know how to. We stopped at a restaurant, somewhere after Hosur for the breakfast and a break! We filled our stomach with pakka tamilnadu dosa and vada. We stopped to take photographs when we found a serene spot. Then on the way we found some colorful statue that might be attributed to some local God-like figure. And we took photographs near those.

When we almost reached Dharmapuri, we found out from some local people that we should have taken a deviation much earlier. We had to go 40-45 more kilometers, because of this. We corrected our path, and on the way we found some more interesting statues. We took photos in one more spot. Enquired in a dhaba for parceling food, thinking we might not get it in Hogenakkal. But its menu didn't interest us. Vamshi bought four apples from a vendor on the way. We were nearing the destination, each reducing kilometer, (though the stone was painted in Tamil, we could make out, it was Hogenakkal) our enthusiasm was going high. Time was 11:30 and we were just ten or so kilometers away from our destination. The road gets curveier as and when we approach, and give a feel of challenges. Our bike was at many points lagging Vissu-Vamshi's.

One point, ooops! What I see is a fallen bike, beside the road. Suri exclaiming! And suddenly stops the bike. Then I see Vamshi coming from the place off road, and I realize they have met with an accident! Gosh! I don't really know how to react. Clearly I can see Suri is in a stressed out state. Vissu slowly moves towards parapet wall and sits over. Vamshi is shocked, and I see he got some wounds. Vissu got a couple of wounds with a numb toe! Suri get the first aid pouch just to observe the ointment there is outdated. I wasn't sure, what can I do in the situation. Suri gives water to Vissu. Consoles Vamshi, lifts the bike and examines it.

I get the antiseptic out of my bag, and try to help the guys. Vissu gets a piece of crepe bandage from Suri's kit for his foot. Vissu needs some energy; a guava and a small bar of chocolate help him. We run out of water. We stop a car, and ask for water. Those guys give water and also jump out of their vehicle asking 'what happened? Do you want us to carry you to hospital?' They fix the bike to manageable state while we watch. They were of timely help, thanks for those unknown guys!!

We then rest of couple of more minutes, Vamshi rides the bike for some distance, and we are set to start. We reach Hogenakkal and first thing we do is visit a lone medical shop; its owner is the only medical aid there! He dresses the wounds the guys had, (Vamshi screams in the process!), gives a shot of Tetanus injection, an ointment and couple of tablets. Once we are out, we go to have lunch; everybody is hungry and stressed out. We go to CM Hotel. Also nearby cycle repair shop is ready to give some SOS sergery for Vissu's bike. That would happen as we have lunch! Lunch tasted good!

Cycle shop guy as fixed the bike to quite good shape, in whatever ways he could do! Again a real thanks to him. Suri and Vamshi park the vehicle as we wait for them near the hotel. Once they return, Vamshi negotiates with boatman (Teppa!) for the ride. Boatman starts with 800Rs for the ride, we fix for 500 with 50 extra, if we enjoy it! Finally we were taken to a point where the ride begins, in a jeep like vehicle along with teppa! We paid 100Rs to the jeep.

We are set for the Teppa ride. A guy collects 50Rs for the ride. May be this is for the person who would have bid for it and won the contract; or for the government! It’s a nice experience to float on fresh waters of Kaveri, with heavenly views of hills lining her. Dense forest covers those hills, with one or two outstanding rocks emerging from the woods. It is a definite home for chital, elephants, variety of birds and leopards. We were taken to the other bank, and boatman asks two of us to get down and wait for him. He would take two at a time, to the 'Karnataka falls' as the river is rocky and dangerous for a heavy ride. I and Vamshi get off the Teppa, and walk towards the point from where he will pick us. It’s a walk of some hundred meters, our steps on rocks which have been shaped by the river flow. Caution must be practiced, as these are slippery smooth!

He drops Suri and Vissu near the view point and returns to take us. Finally we join them. Lot of photography followed. The beauty of this falls cannot be expressed in words. Real visit would be the greatest of the experience, while photos will help in keeping those experiences green. Water falls from all possible places through beautifully carved boulders, while creating numerous minute (micro) droplets of water in the process. These droplets appear as a white smoke, hence the name 'Hoge-na-kal'.

We resume our ride to Tamilnadu falls nearby. This part of the ride takes us over fast currents and Teppa gets light jolt, now and then. Then we pass under big trees, reminding us scenes form movies, where people on a boat in Amazon and that great forest! (What’s wrong in comparing, though they are hugely different?)
We walk the curvy paved path that leads us to another falls. This path has a pair of wooden bridge that creaks when you walk. We again take photographs and enjoy the beauty of nature, in the divine (If not religious point, as a nature's part) presence of Kavery!

Then we were dropped to the other bank, from where we have to walk into the town (Half a kilometer). We give 500Rs to the boatman, as were very happy for his patience while we took little more time at each of the falls. In between Vissu and Vamshi had snacks of fresh baked fish! Time is 6:00PM
Our next point of visit was our medico! Vamshi and Vissu get a second round of cleanup followed by bandaging. We thank him and bid a bye to Hogenakkal at ten to seven. It was getting dark and we were on wheels. May be 30 minutes after we started, police stop us in the middle of forest with a lone dim torch with them. They ask many questions like drunken driving and stuff, our whereabouts, why were we making a late journey back! We were left to go, once they checked the documents.

After this the journey went on, we had stopped at some place for an ice-cream, as an energy booster! We reached Hosur by 9:30PM and had dinner in Victoria Hotel. When we came out, there was a gentle rain. We decided to move, and me and Suri were first to start. Just after 2-3minutes, it started raining heavily.
Then we stopped and waited for other guys to check 'what to do, whether to wait or go on?' But they weren't in the view. So, we decided to continue with the journey. It was a heavy rain, chilling night and on a fast pace. Oh, goodness! It was extreme. I was shivering like hell. My palm was feeling as if it has frozen. After sometime, the rain became less; however chills didn't stop as breeze was making the wet clothes still cold! There was no rain till we neared Electronic city. By the time cold was less. Then the rain started again. It was quite heavy and there was lot of water in the road.

An interesting and exciting journey came to end, when I was dropped to home! I heard from Vamshi that, they stopped when it rained and continued journey when it was less. So, they were really late reaching home by 2AM.

Route:
Bangalore - Krishnagiri - Dharmapuri - Hogenakkal ... 179 km
Hogenakkal - Denkanikottai - Hosur - Bangalore ... 159 km

H1N1 Lessons and Second wave

2009-10-09T10:12:00.002+05:30

H1N1 virus had given enough time for Asian countries to prepare for it. It had created havoc in US, Canada, in the second quarter of the year. And it reached India only in third. Educating people about the expected virus and opening up of clinical facilities could have been done before it took over. But, things didn't work that way and when finally H1N1 out-broke in India, it was in a panic state.
Sooner, experts started predicting the second wave of the flu. So, the West was all set for extensive research and now, they have the vaccine for that. Awareness is at the high in those societies. All in all, they will be in a position to face the second wave in a better manner.
Now, first phase of H1N1 has reduced in India. People are back to their 'Chalta hai' life. Now, is it not better if we prepare for second wave? Second wave has started in US and WHO has confirmed this. At least now, India should watch out for the virus more keenly, right? May be there is a little difference in its structure, May be it has a different strength now. So, Is it not the right time to be aware, and to be prepared? Should we wait till it comes to India, may be after a month and then panic?
All the efforts at the last moment, takes a heavy toll. I am sure, if we start working on the second wave right now, we will be in a better condition to combat the virus, when it reaches us.

Destiny?

2009-10-07T12:53:00.004+05:30

Thoughts ponder in my mind
Why my fate is of this kind
When it gifted, I hadn't asked; indeed
It took away, when there was a need

Destiny we call it, when we can't fight
Perseverance seems stupid, against plight
Everybody needs an easy answer
Less they struggle, happy they are

But success doesn't come that way
Its not for those who cry on the bay
Jump, swim and never say die
You strain, you cramp, as you go by

For the losers, destiny is to cry
or to give up before they try
Warriors form the path as they go
Others don't even dare to follow

Left to us, to be a brave warrior
Who revolts, rebels and breaks barrier
Or to surrender and call it fate
And cry looking at Heaven's gate

iThought

2009-10-05T15:58:00.005+05:30

Some thoughts which come to mind as a beautiful string of words, with elegant feelings associated and a touchy meaning. One such thought, which came to me recently. "I am strong enough to walk those paths alone, on which we had once walked together; However neither without tears nor without a lump in my throat"

Pak gets new aid

2009-09-25T14:42:00.001+05:30

Recently a report said that, Musharraf had agreed that, the financial aid got from US was used for attacks against India. After few days, while getting warnings from America, forcing it to fight against extremism, Pak asks 1.5 Billion Dollar aid per year. If US wants us to fight extremism, give us money, for we don't have any to fight it, was the tone of Pak Prez Zardari. Now US Congress has agreed to give 1.5 billion dollars per year for next five years. Question to be asked is, will this time Pak use it for the cause? Or will it sponsor more and more attacks on India with new money? How will US ensure that, Pak wouldn't use the money against India? Should not India always on high alert state, as there is a threat from Pak?

Security threat?

2009-09-18T15:34:00.002+05:30

When will be Indian Intelligence agencies get as serious as Israel? Israel has issued a warning stating, LeT and related terror outfits are planning more attacks on India. It has also mentioned, the attacks may happen on concentrations of Western or Israeli tourists, thereby cautioning its citizens who are out to India. Its internal security threat on India, and a third Nation gets a hint and that warns about it. There are two points here. One, appreciation for the reach of intelligence of Israel, they are always good at this. Second Is India aware of such threats, independently, if not, guys! you are going to screw the Nation!
In internal security, I feel Israel has a best model. Their defense system, intelligence and strategies, are good to study and good to learn from.

Not binay, there are intermediate

2009-09-11T14:02:00.001+05:30

It's a controversial matter to talk, I know. But, predominantly, we oversee the aspect of this third or forth dimension when it comes to gender. All physiological, psychological and social issues are debated keeping in view, the binary: Male and female! There is no scope for feminine male or masculine female. Also, these variants are ambiguous. Whats primary, genetic gender(chromosomes) or apparent gender. However, a good informative piece written on the above issues. Some physiology

ಅಡ್ಡಾದಿಡ್ಡಿ ಸಾಲುಗಳು

2009-09-08T12:23:00.002+05:30

ಸೋಂಬೇರಿ ದೇಹವನು ಎಬ್ಬಿಸುವ ರವಿಕಿರಣ
ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಸಿಹಿಕನಸ ಮುರಿದೆದ್ದ ಬೇಸರಿಕೆ
ಕನಸನ್ನು ಯೋಚನೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಂದುವರಿಸುವ ತವಕ
ತಯಾರಾಗಲು ಉಳಿದಿರುವ ಕೆಲವೇ ನಿಮಿಷ
ಇಸ್ತ್ರಿ ಹಾಕಲು ಹೊರಟಾಗಲೇ ಕೈಕೊಡುವ ಕರೆಂಟು
ಇಸ್ತ್ರಿ ಇಲ್ಲದೇ ಹಾಕಲೆಂದು ಮೀಸಲಿರುವ ಕಮೀಜ್, ಸಲ್ವಾರ್
ಆಫೀಸಿಗೆ ಬಂದಾಗ ನಿದ್ರಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಡೆಸ್ಕ್ಟಾಪ್
ನನ್ನಂತೆ ಕನಸುಕಾಣುತ್ತಿದೆಯೇ, ಅದೂನೂ?
ಮಾನಿಟರ್ ಆನ್ ಮಾಡಿ, ಪಾಸ್ವರ್ಡ್ ಕೊಟ್ಟಾಗ
ನಿನ್ನೆಯ ಹಳಸಲು ಕೆಲಸದ ಅಪ್ಡೇಟ್
ಹತ್ತು ಗಂಟೆಗೆ ಜೀವಗೊಳ್ಳುವ ಶೇರ್ ಬಜಾರ್
ನಿದ್ದೆಯ ಹೊತ್ತಿಗೆಂದೇ ಇರುವ ಬ್ಲಾಗ್ ಸ್ಪಾಟ್
ಬೇಜಾರಾದಾಗ ಗೀಚಲು, ಪೆನ್ಸಿಲು, ನೋಟ್ ಪ್ಯಾಡ್
ಐ ಎಮ್ ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಟಿಎಲ್ ಹೆಸರು ತೇಲಿ ಬಂದಾಗ, ನಿಟ್ಟುಸಿರು
ಮುಗಿಯದ ಲಹರಿ
ಭಾವನಾಹೀನ ಮೆಶೀನ್ ಗಳ ನಡುವೆ, ಕವಿಯ ಚಡಪಡಿಕೆ

Did they cheat us?

2009-09-01T12:32:00.005+05:30

If at all, Pokhran II was a fizzle, Indians can't forgive NDA government or Dr. Abdul Kalam, who was the coordinator of India's nuclear program. Government spent crores of Rupees on this, failure if at all true, it should have admitted it. I know it is a security threat to India, if it admits that, its nuclear power is fake. But again, whats happening now? Whats the point in making it public now? Everybody knows, now we can't anymore test nuclear weapons. So, going around the world saying we had done some fake claim that we are nuclear power now, will it not cause damage? Will not China and Pakistan(At any moment, China can provide all its nuclear technologies to Pakistan) have an upper hand on us? Do we have a face to defend ourselves in the current situation?

Dr. Abdul Kalam got everybody's support for becoming President of India, just because he was coordinator of Pokhran II. Success of Pokhran II made him so popular, that he never looked back afterward. If at all it's fake, it's the full and final black mark on Kalam, who otherwise considered almost flawless.

We know, most of our defense and our space research is all conceived in other countries and bought for high price from them. That too if we can't execute with a sure-shot success, we don't deserve the titles like 'emerging super power'. Everything seems fake!

Reinvent BJP

2009-08-27T12:07:00.003+05:30

I guess the fall of BJP is apparent now. And it has no reason to be called a national party anymore. Because of the local reasons, its breathing in Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhyapradesh. Top think tank of the party has run out of ideas. As per my observation, its fall started with General Elections in 2004. From that point, they didn't have any main point to raise as an opposition. They were always been in wrong part of the argument and never raised a good enough issue. Though terrorism and security issues were good enough, they weren't made to reach people. And just that point is not enough to win people's support.
Now, only congress has appeal in more states than any other party, which is a good situation, till congress makes into center. Once congress loses power, we don't seem to have a good large party to be at center and it will make it mandatory to have a bunch of parties to be forming government. This kind of governance has always been a failure, till now.
The need of the hour is to reinvent BJP, and dissolve all stale leadership that's ruining it. It should be reformed with young people and then it can dream of its existence.

Morality: Indians are no holy!

2009-07-31T15:07:00.002+05:30

'Sach ka samna' or 'Savitha bhabhi', Indian mindset is not yet ready to accept how rotten underlying system is. So, even if we are living in murky, muddy environment, we are in denial, when we say our culture is stable, strong and all crap. Though I am not into the brigade who always paint our country as only of poor, underprivileged, uneducated and uncultured, there are some truth in the all those claims. Its true to say Hippocratic behavior is in our blood.

Almost all want to watch porn given a chance. Everybody has access to it, in one or the other way. Every college going boy/girl wants to 'try it' in depth of his conscious. Almost all want to experience the fantasies, if they are not at risk. But, but.. when it comes to a show, a cartoon, they all see it as degrading the culture. All those who say so, please ask yourself, didn't you do your part, in degrading the culture? Then we don't need any lie detector to find out the truth. Everybody has an answer within.

We are afraid of truth. We are afraid of how will we face, if the bedroom fantasies uncovered in day-light, how will we maintain our prestige! No culture is above human cravings for basic things like food, shelter and other facilities, of course sex. If it is not given in the normal way, animal inside us will grab it. If a husband is not satisfying the needs, his wife will turn here and there. If a wife is not, her husband will turn everywhere! This is quite normal. And in the name of culture, we are acting as if we are so divine and out of all these. I am not telling that, we should be boasting about the irregularities we have, instead we should accept that Indians are also no holier, but earthen humans. Then let us work on morality, and teach ourselves a lesson of integrity and morality. It should be an individual effort to come to an upper moral level, not pointing fingers at others.

If each individual understands his responsibility towards, himself, a group, a society then the nation as a whole, there will be no place for moral police on Earth. Till the time we are Hippocratic within, there will be all kind of immoral things, and we will be concealing them and never will get opportunity to raise to upper level.

ಮಲೆನಾಡು

2009-07-29T12:15:00.003+05:30

ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ದಿನಗಳಾದವು
ಪ್ರಶಾಂತ ಪ್ರಕೃತಿಯ ಮಡಿಲ ಸಲಿಲದೊಳು
ದಣಿದ ಕಾಲಿರಿಸಿ
ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ದಿನಗಳಾದವು
ನಿಬಿಡ ಸಹ್ಯಾದ್ರಿಯ ವೃಕ್ಷಗಣದೆದುರು
ಮಣಿದು ಮನಸೋತು

ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ದಿನಗಳಾದವು
ಹೆಸರಿಲ್ಲದ ಹೂವಿನ ನಸುಗಂಪಿಗೆ
ಆಹ್ಲಾದಗೊಂಡು
ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ದಿನಗಳಾದವು
ನೋಡಿಲ್ಲದ ಹಕ್ಕಿಯ ಹೊಸಹಾಡಿಗೆ
ಖುಷಿಗೊಂಡು ಬೆರಗಾಗಿ

ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ದಿನಗಳಾದವು
ನೀರವ ಪರಿಸರದಿ ಅಜ್ಞಾತ ಮೌನದಲಿ
ಸ್ವಲ್ಪವೇ ಭಯಗೊಂಡು
ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ದಿನಗಳಾದವು
ಪ್ರತಿ ಗಿಡ, ಪ್ರತಿ ಹೂವ ನೆನಪಲ್ಲಿ ಸೆರೆಹಿಡಿವ
ಪ್ರಯತ್ನದಲಿ ಸೋತು

ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ದಿನಗಳಾದವು
ನನ್ನ ಚೈತನ್ಯದ ಸಹಜ ಉದ್ದೀಪಕ
ನನ್ನ ಗೂಡಿಗೆ ಮರಳಿ
ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ದಿನಗಳಾದವು
ನನ್ನ ಕಲ್ಪನೆಯ ಸದಾ ಹಸಿರಿನ
ಮಲೆಯ ನಾಡಿಗೆ ತೆರಳಿ

iThought

2009-07-23T19:13:00.003+05:30

Still water gets infected with algae. Still water entertains mosquitoes. Slowly it looses its clarity and gets murky. Those who are open to changes need not worry of getting stale.

Those who are adjustable, those who are adaptable need not worry for the difficulties in life. Those who are courageous, need not worry about the challenges. They are built to face, fight and solve the problems.

Changing policies

2009-07-15T18:16:00.001+05:30

Whether it is cost cut or environment awareness, if it is social health or convenience, these organizations end up in changing the policies so often and conflicting interest of each of the goals. Also in spending much more than required.

First paper cups were being used for coffee in our company which were disposable. They introduced steel coffee cups in the place of paper cups, in the name of environmental concerns over paper usage. Well, they would have distributed individual coffee mugs, instead they had just introduced a pool of general usage cups. They had to clean it every now and then. House keeping staff was busy collecting the cups after use, cleaning them all the time. There was always a scarcity of cups near coffee vendor, and a queue of people waiting for the cups.

Now the concerns on hygiene came up, may be outbreak of various stains of flu would have added some weight. Now they are planning to distribute individual mugs, and they say, its individual responsibility to maintain the hygiene of their mugs.

In the process, they have twice invested money. Also, they would have paid more for the house keeping guys, as more and more people were deployed for this cup business. All these things would have been one time investment on individual mugs.

I wonder, what the guys who take such decisions on policies have in their head. LOL.

Mind-speak

2009-07-09T12:14:00.001+05:30

Human mind is very powerful. It has been proven again and again. Still, most of us are not aware what can be achieved with our mind in place. It is not gender dependent, nor dependent on the race.
Our mind can design our ascent or descent. It can make us feel sick or feel great, irrespective of the situations we are in. There are ways we can tame our mood. Smiling at the face of difficulty, fear, uncertainty, need not be fake. We can achieve a genuine smile, with the causes behind that smile. Just if we do some digging within, we get thousands of reasons to smile, to be happy about.
I have been working on introspection from many days. I have seen myself doomed, myself dull. Now a days, more or less I am happy. Though I do nothing great. Nothing I have achieved. But, I am happy the way I handled many situations. I feel I am better than many others, who feel they are losers, for no reason.
I have not reached the position to preach, still I am sure, I am in right path. I am just working on these subjects. I know I have a long way to go.

Innovation

2009-07-07T17:45:00.003+05:30

This is one of the images I captured in my attempt to capture weird, rare and most informal images. Most of them were destined to be deleted. This one came up well, thanks to the intelligence of my phone, which chose to capture this frame ;-).

Bail out point:

2009-07-03T11:25:00.000+05:30

Now that gay sex with consent is legal.
Will we hear of 'a man raping the other' shortly? ;-)

How many more Rajiv Gandhis to come?

2009-07-02T09:54:00.001+05:30

In Past:
Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) also known as Arunachal University, established in 1984, is the premier institution of higher learning of the State of Arunachal Pradesh.
Rajiv Gandhi Technical University established by the Government of Madhya Pradesh
Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, centered in Bangalore, India, is a unitary university set up in 1996 by the government of Karnataka

Recent ones:
Hyderabad Airport is named after Rajiv Gandhi
New sea link in Mumbai named after Rajiv Gandhi
How many more Rajiv Gandhis to come?
And Would these structures be named so, in case Sonia and Rahul weren't in the active politics or If they weren't the decision making part of Congress.

iThought

2009-06-25T16:34:00.002+05:30

Hope is like the very thought of hot and nice coffee, with the perfect blend of milk slightly sweetened and rightly conditioned coffee beans. The thought itself removes the fatigue provokes dreams and thoughts.
Reality is like, after the hope, you meet the real coffee which is neither nice nor hot. Its just some blackish drink with a bitter taste and in aroma that resembles coffee.

PETA wishes Obama hadn't swatted that fly

2009-06-19T18:01:00.000+05:30

"PETA wishes Obama hadn't swatted that fly". I am feeling disgusted to see this issue.

"The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) wants the flyswatter-in-chief to try taking a more humane attitude the next time he's bedeviled by a fly in the White House.

PETA is sending President Barack Obama a Katcha Bug Humane Bug Catcher, a device that allows users to trap a house fly and then release it outside."

Sighs coming one after the other. PETA activists include models appearing nude wherever they like and say 'Better to be nude than wearing fur, leather apparels'. Its all publisity stunt for them, because next two days most of the channels will be showing these models for free, and the model's reach becomes more vast. Ok, killing animals for fur and leather, mass slaughter of birds and beasts for food industry are sometime in-humane. By the fuss these PETA is making, it should have persuaded all enlightened people to take only veg food. PETA would have converted KFC to KFF(Kentuki French Fries) and McDonald to only server Veg.

"We support compassion even for the most curious, smallest and least sympathetic animals," PETA Spokesman Bruce Friedrich said on Wednesday. "We believe that people, where they can be compassionate, should be, for all animals."

Well, yes. Why don't these people extend their support to cockroaches, mosquitoes. Going further they should ban vaccination, as it uses live but weakened or inactivated forms of pathogens. After all pathogens are forms of life. Though they are not animals, they are primitive animals. They should remove the parasites and export them to Amazon or African forests, and let them live there.

Anything, whether it is care, love or affection, when it reaches extreme, it is called madness. Live for a cause is fine, but extremity is madness.

'Deep Red' out of 'Red' is eating up all colors

2009-06-19T10:31:00.003+05:30

Maoists or Naxals, whatever you call them, have an extremist view of socialism. They are ready to take it to bloodshed, robbery or whatever for their cause. When it comes to taking the bullet on the chest, they are more of cowards. I am sorry to say this, but, that's how they are executing their war. They explode land mines than getting into one to one war. When they are surrounded, or when they face huge threat from the security forces, they use human shield of women and children. For a cause, morality or social responsibility are never an issue for these. How can any human respect these?

Earlier, when the Maoist problem was in infancy, it could have been cleared off, by mixture of force, education, awareness and more proactive problem solving. But, it wasn't done as political parties, especially CPM was reaping the fruit, of coming to power again and again. A cheap strategy of using agitation and aggression to come to power has been used by all political parties more or less. To take a look, BJP used ram mandir, Shivsena used Bombay blasts, Congress used onion scarcity, Trinmul used Tata Nano and so on.

The Maoist movement actually branched off from the CPM in 1967. Slowly Maoist aggression started getting more and more support. They have now grown to oppose any governance in Lalgarh. All laws apply there are in hands of Maoists. They boycott elections, they don't allow police to that region, its just a parallel government there.

Does the rest of India feel any heat. Of course not. We have become more resistant and don't learn from others mistakes. For sure, now Naxals are problem of almost every state. If the states ignore them in initial stages, definitely it will turn cancerous soon and eat up the order. If not attended in time, definitely this 'Deep Red' will eat up all colors let alone 'tricolor'.

5 investing lessons from the T20 loss

2009-06-18T10:43:00.005+05:30

A nicely written article. I liked the comparison here, especially the manner in which two distinct concepts are compared. If you are not interested in finance, investment market, apologies, you might not appreciate this post.
5 investing lessons from the T20 loss

God must be definitely crazy!!

2009-06-15T11:35:00.001+05:30

All is not fair in the deals that Mining Kings of Bellary do. They are hereby involving so called God, into their deal as well. By taking such a heavy gift, I am not sure to where Lord Venkateswara will escape, now being benefactor of their sins.

Australia: 'Racism'? May not be!!

2009-06-08T11:48:00.002+05:30

I am not sure if events happening in Australia can be termed as outcome of racism. To much of extent it could be a 'mania', a spreading psychological phenomenon. Each independent event should definitely have some background and it could be as a result of underlying fear about any possible thing about immigrants. As it happens with all 'flashy' words, 'racism' is overused, that's what I guess.
Oppressed feelings, frustration and emotions have tendency to outburst in any apparent fashion. It could turn into mobs or attacks. One such attack, can trigger the other one, and it can spread like a forest fire. Not overreacting for any situation is the only solution for this. This patience should be cultivated by both native and immigrant community.
Governments of Australia and India have more proactive roles to play here, trying to bring the temper down. But, from the situation looking like, both of them aren't yet there on spot.

World Environment Day

2009-06-05T10:12:00.001+05:30

For me, June 5th is very meaningful day than days like friendship day, valentine's day, women's day or mothers day. Because world environment day is about the place we live, we live as a community, a society. This day reminds me, I have a great responsibility towards keeping this planet green. Every small thing I do, can improve or spoil the environment. A small plastic bag I carry home and forget about it when I stuff it in my dustbin. I forget a water bottle I bought, the moment I crush it and throw. I forget about the number of trees it would take, while I wipe my sweat or tears in tissue paper. Convenience has been the driving force for consumerism.

I forget to close the tap, when I am not using the water. I forget to switch the mains of electronic or electrical equipments, when they are not in use. I forget to turn off the TV. I don't turn off monitor or shutdown the PC when they are not used. Laziness and lack of sense, are the reasons.

I, as other people, conveniently forget my duties, when it is about the environment, nature or ecosystem. I never realise the harm I impart towards these, when I do my day-to-day activity.
Yes, thinking of ecosystem, every now and then doesn't give you any returns. Of-course might not be in your lifetime. But, again, responsibility should never be seen as investment. Like, we pay tax, it is our responsibility to care about the ecosystem. To do every small thing that could make the situation better. Everybody has their own lifestyle, their own way to harm the environment. So, if we tune one or two good habits as per environment is concerned, each time we see our lifestyle that can be changed in a small way, let us do it. I keep looking for betterment of my way of living. I expect, everyone is with me and you will support by changing the little things in your life, wherever possible.

Is it an indicator of change?

2009-05-29T13:36:00.006+05:30

She looks pretty and quite younger than she is. She looks to be inherited all that energy her father had. According to me, he was the most active speaker Loksabha had ever seen.

It's good to see a very youthful person is made to sit in the responsible chair of central minister. Hope the coming governments will also follow the footsteps of congress and give more and more opportunities to young people.

The future of the Nation is predominantly over the shoulders of youth. If youth can vote, if youth can guard the country against enemies, if it can form a major chunk of taxpayers, if it can produce much of the knowledge, so it can rule. We need young politicians as well. Hopefully things get changed and we get more and more youthful leaders in most of the parties and more young people as active members of government.

LTTE: Unanswered questions

2009-05-20T11:01:00.002+05:30

With LTTE top leaders killed and infected area was combed by Lankan army, a chapter of separatist movement seems to have met an end. Now the relief activity in Srilanka should take a lead and provide the sufferers of war should be rehabilitated. Agreeable rights of Tamil people in Srilanka should be upheld and a constitutional change is required in Lanka.
As far as India is concerned in this chapter, many questions go unanswered. Why were some people in India supporting a separatist movement and a terrorist outfit, while India boasts its foreign policy as 'Peace loving and not interfering in other Nation's interest'? If India as a Nation supports LTTE, why Pakistan supporting separatist movement in J&K is a sin? If India as a Nation doesn't support LTTE, aren't people who support LTTE conflicting the national interest? Is not government supposed to investigate on who was supporting and helping a terrorist outfit and punish the same? If India cannot do this, Is 'state within state' active in India as well?

High time for 'Fun'!

2009-05-19T14:24:00.001+05:30

Following up politics has always been fun. Sometime it frustrates, but in entertaining the enthusiasts, Indian politics has never been fallen short.
During hung parliaments, assemblies, we see lot of making and breaking of allies. Backstabbing, horse trading, changing faiths all will be at their highs. Also, politicians never adhere to what they talk.

Now that good thing has happened, UPA has secured 262 seats in parliament which is 10 seats shortage for the majority. Independent from Ladhak has extended his support to UPA making it, just 9 seats from majority.

Now the drama begins. Lalu extends his support to government, who had been part of third front when the election was fought. Congress has clearly said, there will be no Lalu in cabinet. Now, the former Railway minister cribs 'Don't humiliate us' and claims congress members are humiliating them.

Mulayam Singh has announced support of SP to UPA, though nobody sought it. He says, his party is being humiliated by congress, still he is supporting them. What a better joke could we ask for?

Though always SP and BSP have been identified with rival tents more often, this time they are in same. UP Chief Minister Mayawati's BSP, which was part of the Third Front in the Lok Sabha elections, on Tuesday announced unconditional outside support of its 21 MPs to the Congress-led UPA government.

Situation would have been completely different, if it was a hung parliament. UPA and NDA would have been busy in picking and choosing parties to support them. Then the regional parties would have played all their cards and listed their conditions for the support. Good amount of fun in watching these 'soul' less politicians.

Post-Election Hope

2009-05-18T14:40:00.001+05:30

Finally the general election has come to an end, and Congress led UPA has secured more or less majority in the parliament. Many good things are expected to follow.
As Left would not be part of government this time, it would turn good for the economy. Not any offending partners in the government, will add to stability.
Moreover, this is the right time for Advani to take rest from the active politics. He can enjoy his few left over days with family. Ideal would be, he resigns from his MP post for he is too old to lead his party/opposition.

Would a stable governmenrt be formed?

2009-05-15T12:15:00.001+05:30

Though logic doesn't work most of the times with politics, we have a fine situation this time with the loksabha elections. As the D-Day awaited desperately by all the politicians, media folks and curious citizens, heat is in the air. Every passing minute is building pressure.

Funny but curious situation around with lot of predicates. Left wants to keep BJP off rule. SP doesn't want to see BJP at power. TRS is with NDA. DMK is with congress. AIADMK is not yet clear about its position. JDS is supporting both 3rd front and UPA(?!). JDU is most probably with BJP. RJD is with Congress. ...

Whoever comes to power, I just hope they stick there for five years. Need a stable government at this point as most of the other things around are far from stable.

Deceptive Relationships

2009-05-11T17:45:00.000+05:30

Sometimes people inflict such a low spirits in you, that you think 'Am I really the way they see me?' If same repeats from ten people, there is a chance that you tend to disbelieve yourself and believe the false things, others cooked up. So, we should be careful while choosing friends. People, by calling themselves good friend to us, can cause quite a lot of damage in our self esteem.

They would have a good symptoms. Even when you are quite sure and logical in your claims, they will try to prove the otherwise and reach new lows in morality whenever they fear failure. Ultimately you have to give up fight, as you can't go so low.
Had they been your enemies, its easy to keep them at bay. Sometimes they disguise as friends and you should fear these, as these are dangerous to your self esteem.

Once you find them, you have to take strict measure to not feeling for them and wipe them off from your friends list. Realizing before a new low is attained in your life is always better. Any relation that might take you lower, is the forbidden relation. Its not worth keeping in your life. Remove it.

ಬೆಳಗಿನ ಗೆಳತಿ

2009-04-17T10:16:00.006+05:30

ಮುಂಜಾವಿನ ಸೂರ್ಯನ
ಮಬ್ಬಾದ ಬೆಳಕಿಗೆ
ಕಣ್ತೆರೆಯುವಳು

ತಿಳಿನೀಲ ದಳಗಳನು
ಮೃದುವಾಗಿ ಬಿಡಿಸಿ
ನಲಿನಲಿಯುವಳು

ಸೂರ್ಯನ ಕಿರಣಗಳ
ಕಾಂತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮೆಲ್ಲನೆ
ಹೊಳೆಹೊಳೆಯುವಳು

ದುಂಬಿಗಳ ಆಡಿಸಿ
ಚಿಟ್ಟೆಗಳ ಓಲೈಸಿ
ತಾನ್ ನಗುವಳು

ಮಧ್ಯಾಹ್ನ ಬಿಸಿಲಲ್ಲಿ
ಕೆಲಸವಾಯ್ತೆಂದು ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ
ಮುದುಡುವಳು

Metro Pier on Fire!

2009-04-14T15:01:00.005+05:30

Yesterday evening, a pillar(Metro Project on CMH road) getting arranged for molding, caught fire. While casting the cement piers, a 50-mm thick rubber lining is used to get smooth notches on the pier.The rubber lining caught fire while workers were welding a joint at the bottom of the pier. Couple of fire Engines and a crane were used to extinguish the fire.

ಮನವಿ

2009-04-02T10:54:00.003+05:30

ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರೇಮದ ಕಥೆಯ, ಹೇಗೆ ನಾ ಹೇಳಲಿ,
ನಿನ್ನಾತ್ಮದೊಳಗೊಮ್ಮೆ ಇಣುಕಿನೋಡು
ನನ್ನ ಚಿ೦ತನೆ, ನನ್ನಾಲೋಚನೆ, ಹಾ! ನನ್ನ ಪ್ರಾಣವನೆ
ಬಿಡಬಲ್ಲೆ ನಿನಗಾಗಿ, ಹೇಳಿನೋಡು

ನಿನ್ನ ಕಣ್ಣಿನ ಮಿ೦ಚುನಗು ನಾನಾಗಿದ್ದೆ,
ಅಗಲಿಕೆಯ ಭಾಷ್ಪವಾಗಿರುವೆನೀಗ
ನಿನ್ನ ಮಾತಿನ ಮೃದುಲ, ಮಧುವಾಗಿದ್ದೆ,
ಭಾರವಾಗಿಹ ನಿಟ್ಟುಸಿರು, ಈಗ

ನಿನ್ನ ಪ್ರೇಮದಲೊ೦ದು ಜೀವವಿದೆ, ನರಳುತಿದೆ
ಅದು ಸಾಯುವ ಮುನ್ನ, ಕೈಗೆತ್ತಿಕೋ
ನಿನ್ನೊಲವಿನಾಸರೆ ಸಾಕದಕೆ, ಗೆಳೆಯನೆ
ಪ್ರೀತಿ ಅಳಿಯುವ ಮುನ್ನ, ಎಚ್ಚೆತ್ತುಕೋ

ಒ೦ದು ಸಿಹಿಮಾತಿನಲಿ ವರ್ಷಾ೦ತ್ಯ ಬದುಕೀತು,
ಒ೦ದು ನಗುವಿ೦ದ ನಲಿದೀತು, ನಮ್ಮ ಪ್ರೀತಿ
ಚುಚ್ಚುಮಾತನು ಕೇಳಿ ಕೆಣಕುನೋಟವ ಸಹಿಸಿ,
ಕೊರಗುತಿದೆ, ಹೋಗಲಾಡಿಸು ಒಮ್ಮೆ, ನನ್ನ ಭೀತಿ

iThought

2009-03-26T12:12:00.003+05:30

Fear of failure hinders trial. Without trying you can't succeed. So, if you want something, try hard to get it. It needs guts to overcome failures and try to win with every try.

Good work from EC

2009-03-24T10:07:00.003+05:30

As general election is coming closer, politics is at its high. Good norms from Election Commission has to be appreciated, otherwise, by this time it would have been havoc everywhere. EC has strict rules on the money that can be shelled out by a candidate and so on. Besides the norms, there are things happening in dim light and money being spent to woo voters, though the amount has reduced drastically.
Environmental concerns of EC banning the usage of plastic buntings is one of the great move again. I always used to hate people using such a crap buntings all over, be it a Ganesha festival, Uroos or Election campaign. After some days the buntings fall on road and get into soil, creating a mess in suburban areas. Not sure, how EC will enforce this rule in rural areas, all over India.
Also, EC is doing a policing on the candidates, their spending pattern, the way they carry out the campaign, any inflammatory speech, all are good from the health of society point of view. Sometimes, EC's behavior has also seemed to be biased. Members of certain coalition are being targeted and certain other are left with out a warning. Always a constitutional body should be unbiased, but in India, it will not happen by any chance. This kind of issues, always comes as a black mark on, otherwise doing good EC.

Joke of the day!

2009-03-03T17:01:00.002+05:30

Pak minister blames India for attack on Lanka team

IBNLive Report

Pakistan is failing

2009-03-03T11:34:00.001+05:30

Pakistan is a joke in the otherwise serious international politics. The way they are responding to the 26/11 issue, itself a comedy. After giving lot of opinions on terrorist's nationality, they had lost the value for their words in the international community. Every other day, there was a new theory about terrorist's origin.

After about 90 or days, they replied to the dossier by India. The next day, that country was shouting SOS, Taliban is taking over us. So, there is all probability that, Pakistan is failing.

Unmanly act of attacking the Srilankan cricket team is one of the symptom of the cancer that is eating up Pakistan as a whole. India should be in high alert for its neighbor's failure poses serious danger on its security.

To the gal, who's story seems mine!

2009-02-26T19:22:00.003+05:30

I don't know why you are living in my thoughts, hey gal.. I want to tell you aloud, don't make the mistakes I have made. I want to tell you how cruel life can be and it takes real long to come out. I want to tell you, I see you as my own image may be 3-4 years back. I know, I am nothing to you and you are just a thought in my mind. But, please don't do the mistakes I have done.

I remember the story which was repeated many times, by my Chemistry lecturer in PU college. Experience is a comb you get, by the time you are bald. And a bald father with a fine Jessore comb tries to impose it on son, and tries to comb his hair, saying, 'Come dear, let me comb your hair'. And son replies 'Messy hair is stylish, dad.'

A Valentine's day thought

2009-02-14T14:30:00.003+05:30

Everybody might have a story to tell on this day. Some are very lucky to be with their beloved and rest are definitely releasing a heavy breath for a moment thinking of their story that didn't work out. It is true that, the very special person in life would be special forever. If you deny it or you agree those failed stories will remain as a sigh in your life. One point of time, you will sit in a lone corner, listen to your favorite vintage song and your eyes would become wet. Throat will definitely lump out. I am lucky to get close to many people, and get to know their stories. It feels very annoying, times seeing them with moist eyes, when they talk to me. I try to make them feel better in every way I could. Though, the smile they give out after that, is very plastic.
I wonder, why Valentine's day comes and reminds all those moist eyes, the past they had!

Lilac Beauty

2009-02-13T10:41:00.001+05:30

Scary dream or fancy version of reality?

2009-02-02T13:08:00.002+05:30

I had an interesting dream yesterday night. Which goes:

"I and an important person in my life, had to visit a graveyard in night and fix some incandescent sticks in every corner of the place. It was supposed to be done by that person as part of some ritual, and I accompany him. At some point, we see two ghosts and they start accusing him and threatening him. I take a long stick and beat them till they vanish!(Oh! god! Can I really do that?) Then we continue our job and we are out of that place safe.

Next scene was, we are into some vast grassland in broad daylight. There we see a family of lions, which are about to notice us. We are a bit far from the safe enclosure, if we are out of it, we re really safe. And we dash, my friend running just past me. In the middle of out flight, I am shocked to see my friend just overtakes me and dashes without even warning me. I turn and just lose balance at the sight of leaping lion. Lion overtakes me in air towards catching him! By this time we are very close to the safe enclosure and we get some aid to rescue us from it (Happies ending!!). We are out safe, but leaves me with feeling my friend left me unwarned, in the mercy of lion, at the point of attack, while I was the person who saved him from ghosts!"

Sigh!

ನೀನು ನನ್ನ ಮರೆತಿರುವೆ..

2009-01-16T17:19:00.003+05:30

ನಿನಗನಿಸುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲವೇ? ನೀನು ನನ್ನ ಮರೆತಿರುವೆ..
ಸಣ್ಣ ಪುಟ್ಟ ಘಟನೆಯನ್ನೂ, ಓಡಿ ಬ೦ದು ಹೇಳುತಿದ್ದೆ
ಅರ್ಧ ರಾತ್ರಿ ತನಕ, ನನ್ನ ಕೂಡ ಮಾತಾಡುತಿದ್ದೆ
ಈಗ ಏಕೆ ಕಳೆದು ಹೋದೆ?
ನಿನಗನಿಸುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲವೇ? ನೀನು ನನ್ನ ಮರೆತಿರುವೆ..

Looking back...

2008-12-31T11:10:00.010+05:30

Well, 2008 was a great year. It had more tears than smiles, though it was a need of the hour. It brought us to the reality, from the dream land. May it be in case of economy, may it be case in my life. It is the year different from the all earlier years I had seen. I got more challenges in parallel, more back to back. I had spent worst nights of my life till here, which belong to 2008. But still I have seen best mornings as well. The year as a whole has increased my confidence. This has made me gain things, which I had lost because of various reasons. 2009 will definitely be a promising year. I can see the rays of hope at the horizon.

Religion is Fear!

2008-12-29T14:10:00.003+05:30

If fear is religion, whole of the world is follower of that. Though it is not, it is major contributor for the religion. Fear of God, Fear of unforseen future, Fear of words and curses, Fear of spirits, energies! No practical end for these fears.

I was attending one religious ceremony in my relation's place. The Purohit had all words of praise for himself! He was claiming because of his performance all Dusta Shaktis will vanish! And if Dusta Shaktis are residing in the place, they wont allow anything to progress. In his home, he performs pujas because of that, once a cremation ground area, turned all developed. My Goodness, I was laughing within.

Then he started off. "Vedic mantras have good stuff of power. And Brahmins alone have rights to chant them. Kshatriyas and Vyshyas have rights to listen to them. Shudras don't have even that. So, they shouldn't be chanted in Shudras home." Till which century we should live in such a world? If Vedic mantras are not allowed to be chanted by some sector of society, do we really need them? I don't think there is a least science behind denial of Vedic mantras to some categories. Future of Hinduism is a big zero if people don't take a look at equality.

He says going forward, Women should not chant vedic mantras. He has pseudo-scientific reasons for these, and making all women folk around left scared of their potential and vowing within, we don't need Vedic mantras! "Vedic mantras have intensive swaras, which have to be produced from belly not alone from throat. So if Vedic mantra is ever chanted by a woman, it will harm her uterus!" Excuse me. Sanskrit has set of vowels and consonants claiming their production from throat, nose, chest and belly. All are being used in normal way in the language. If you take a look at any Indian language, it will have many Sankrit words. So, if women can speak these words, they can as well chant Vedic mantras without any harm to their uteri, brain, kidneys, lungs or what so ever! Since the Vedic mantras have intensive swaras, one should make sure, he or she can produce those swaras without any error. But as we see most of present day Purohits lack this and they are just killing Vedas than any woman!

He adds one more thing. This is a final statement and this one is also without any evidence, as all of his claims, but has more lasting and scary effect on all. "The one who brought out the cassette of Gayatri Mantra has payed her dues. She can't walk, talk or do nothing good. She is almost a corpse as of now!" Guys, do you dare to chant Gayatri Mantra after this, if you have learned it by its own and it it was not been passed to you through Upadesha?
I doubt if we are in information age! People still believe in all these cock and bull stories! They don't seek any evidence. For the story of the playback singer, he doesn't say, what was her name. It is just a story of 'she'. Also, none of the people around asked if he knew the name of that lady. I didn't even. I had two issues with arguing with him. He is respected by the mass there. If I hurl questions at him, I would be colored dark. He will reply with a demoralizing tone and things like, "I don't know her name, but there is somebody with that fate!" For people the story is enough to believe and recreate when they get into similar talks next time!
So, till we do succumb to such baseless hoaxes, there is no future for goodness of our religion.

Mumbai issue haunts, still

2008-12-12T10:35:00.005+05:30

Take a look at sensational story: Even as Mumbai was under siege on the night of November 26, several media persons stood their ground even dodging bullets as they did their job.
Indian Express photographer Vasant Prabhu was among those who covered the terror attack right after the first gunshots at the Taj hotel. As the Mumbai police first rushed into the hotel's north wing, Prabhu chose to follow them in.
Prabhu says, "Unko laga main hotel staff hoon, aur staff ko laga main police ke saath hoon (The police thought that I was the hotel staff and the hotel staff thought I was with the police)."(IBNLive:Photo-journo puts life at stake covering Mumbai attack)

Let apart the bravery of the journo here! It is more of popularity driven coverage of sensational matter for media. But, do you see other side of the story? There is security flaw here. If an unidentified person can move along with police, where in police think he is hotel staff, and hotel staff feel he is police. Why can't he be an ally of attackers?
Our system is not yet as robust as it needs to be in this age of international terrorism affecting the world like spreading cancer.

Shouldn't the media think of the problems it is posing, when it floods all its journalists to the place of interest. Shouldn't the journos think before they bombard police, rescue brigade, relatives of victims and others with their silly questions? Don't the problems created by these weigh more against the sensationalizing of the matter?

Every 'dog' has its own day!

2008-12-03T18:24:00.004+05:30

What can we expect from the politicians who don't know how to react in a particular situation? CM of Kerala, didn't in first place send condolences to Sandeep Unnikrishnan's grieving family.
Then when media made it an issue, he dashed to their house, just to turned down by NSG martyr's father. Then our honorable CM made a comment 'If not for Sandeep's house, not even a dog would have gone there'.
It was again all over media. Next day, he told, he isn't sorry for the remarks, as Sandeep's father wasn't in good mental state. Then there came apologies from CM's party CPI-M, also their progressive allies were angry about Kerala CM. Then his statement was 'I never made dog remarks'.
The pressure on CM mounts and finally apologizes for his remarks in a press conference.

IBNLive chat with Hussain Zaidi

2008-12-02T10:24:00.001+05:30

Here is the chat IBNLive organized with Author of the book 'Black Friday', Mr. S Hussain Zaidi following the attacks on Mumbai. Well, not much popularity since this view is 'right winged' and the guy is not Arundhati Roy.
Chat with S Hussain Zaidi

What values resignations add?

2008-12-01T18:58:00.001+05:30

After Mumbai attacks, there is a cyclone in the central and Maharastra governing bodies. Central home minister Shivraj Patil has been the first target, and has quit according to high command signals. Then it was Maharastra deputy CM R R Patil. Mahrastra CM Deshmukh is almost ready to quit and will quit if he gets the signal. Point here is, if they quit taking moral grounds it is a different story. But again, if they quit, what change it would bring to the system as a whole? I am not saying they should be there. But, I think it doesn't matter who's in the office. They all do the same thing, may it be Shivraj Patil or any other person. Just to shift the debate from actual problem of terrorism and national security, the whole drama of resignations are plotted. Though they quit, important questions remain unanswered.

Terrorists strike again!

2008-11-27T14:33:00.002+05:30

Every time terrorists strike they come with a new warfare(?), with a new set of targets with a new set of means and methods, sometimes even with a new terror organization name.
In a very much unfortunate incident yesterday night, terrorists attack royal places of Mumbai, namely Taj Hotel and Trident. As immediate task forces poured in, three of the higher officials of police have been killed while they were on rescue operation. One of them being popular chief of ATS. Tribute to the officers and others died in the inhumane incident.
Will we get out of our cocoon of ignorance at least now?

I pray time to stop, but it cannot do

2008-11-25T18:23:00.002+05:30

Life is not enough, in front of you
I pray time to stop, but it cannot do

I am soldier, war is on, I have to go
To save the land, to save the lives and so

Better done, than said; better dead than lost
You know what I say, 'Be brave at any cost'

You are my little hope, O my sweet wife,
You are so great, more than my life

Never cry for my soul, live every day
You are my image, in every way

Leaving you with duties and brave heart
You have to continue what I didn't do at my part

Again, Life is not enough, in front of you
I pray time to stop, but it cannot do

With all the love, I am bidding bye
To my twin soul, who is a gift to me

A sad evening in rain

2008-11-20T17:34:00.002+05:30

I was walking alone, along busy street
It was evening, daylights retreat
Suddenly it flashed and thundered aloud
Sky was dark and filled with cloud

Within minutes heavens broke
Rain was pouring as heavy stroke
People scattered here and there
Dashing across, no time to spare

I held my umbrella tight and upright
Walked ahead, looking at people's flight
Their eyes were filled with care
For the rain was heavy and tough to bear

As I saw the couples with love in eyes
I started missing him, there were sighs
We had seen many such rains
With hand in hand, to face the pains

He always cared for me, day and night
Our love was sweet and pretty bright
Now he isn't with me, in this rain
Tears filled my eyes, 'hope we meet again'

Are ladies bad managers?

2008-11-17T19:40:00.002+05:30

When I was in my PU college, one of my juniors used to argue with me. 'Females don't do good teachers. If you take good teachers in physics, do you see any of the females there?, no. Take Chemistry, none there. (There was only one lady here in this Dept.)' I used to tell him, 'Yes, I don't see good ones in Botany or zoology as well. But Our Kannada teacher is really good, and she is an exception to your theory. So are lecturers in Hindi department.' Then we will continue our debate, none will give up, then it would be time to return to our studies.

Then when I was in my first team while I started working after my post graduation, I was being mentored by a hard lady. She was technically good and she was managing all well, though she wasn't managing much things. Then I had to report to one more lady. This lady was a difficult one to be with. Every task, she will ask update now and then, and certain times she used to feel, we the newcomers are not doing it right. I was feeling there is no much freedom and confidence there. In meetings, there were times, I had to defend my words. One of my friends in team, used to tell, 'females don't do good managers'. And she always used to tell me, never learn managerial characters from our manager! And after months, I got used to work with my manager, and now we get along very well.

Now, from couple of months I was working for another team. A new manager has come in. No need to mention, she is a lady manager. Again a wrong example to take, as she also is one of the bad managers. Now I feel the person in my old team was better manager than this lady. However, I have to adjust for couple of more weeks before I could move back to my old team.

I am hoping, I will get to see good female managers. Good in tactics, good at handling people and good at doing right things.

P.S: Nothing to do with biases or harassment. Please forgive, if it hurts any of the feminist feelings. It is just a recap of relevant incidents happened in my life.

'Headhunt'!

2008-11-07T12:36:00.001+05:30

I was busy with the work and I got a call from an unknown number and I picked it. Mr. ABC was calling me and he was asking my profile and updated resume for one of the reputed companies. He called himself working as 'Headhunt'. I cut the call that I wasn't interested as of now. Evening I got a call again, and he told he would call me again, when I told I wasn't interested. And he was telling things like the opportunities will be very good and it will be a great one when my career is concerned. And also the company which he was mentioning, just was looking for people like me! He also told he was aware what domain I work and stuff. I was very uneasy, how he could have got my personal phone number! Then I suspected, somebody has leaked the information from our team's internal site.
Then I thought of telling him about my friends who are really looking for job change. Then he again called and I told told him about one of my friend looking for job. He told he was already aware of my friend is interested. I was sure, that somebody has leaked the internal data.
Then I called my friend up and asked about this 'Headhunt'! Then I got to know one face of how these 'Headhunt's work.
He told me, he had got this number by one of his friends and he called and told this 'Headhunt' about his interest in job change. 'Headhunt' assured him of forwarding his resume to XYZ company and also told, it will be processed in XYZ if he gives mobile numbers of 5 people in his team. And this guy gave 2 numbers. 'Headhunt' called those numbers and got negative answer from those. Now 'Headhunt' calls my friend and asks for 10 numbers. And the worst thing my friend did is by giving my number and not informing me!
So, please beware of these 'Headhunt's, Consultants, Talent Searchers, whatever they call themselves. They are too much to handle.

Slowdowns

2008-11-05T14:17:00.002+05:30

While I joined engineering, it was high time in industry. And the same year slowdown begun. But, since we were in college, we were in our own world. Never bothered of the things happening in the industry. We enjoyed the days. Our seniors passed out and they didn't find jobs. Most of them became lecturers, tutors in different institutes. Our life was going on as usual.
Thank goodness, when I passed out, industry was still low, but there begun signs of it going high up. There was a momentum. I was lucky enough to find a descent job after my graduation.

Later, I perused my post graduation in the era of good market trend, and completed it, while there was still a boom. I found a good job. And life went on usual till recession in US started. Then people started foreseeing one more slowdown in industry. And once the US markets crashed badly, here we are. Fear of pink slip is around!
Sigh, I saw two industry slowdowns, was never serious, during the first one. Now, it is a bit hot!

iThought

2008-11-04T16:12:00.002+05:30

Pink is a lovely color, till one gets a slip of that color!