If you talk to men in green uniforms, they can tell you that the key for survival in a jungle is to not get overwhelmed by the immediate sorroundings. If you look a little beyond the greens, you can observe the range of colors and shades of light, and can sense the contours which define the landscape.
To fight the jungle is a futile exercise. A much better mode of action is to adapt and learn the tricks of the trade. If lady luck likes you, you may even thrive on the rare opportunities the jungle throws at you. Remember though that it is a risky life in there. If you see something move more than it should, you know you are in danger.
The jungle is unforgiving. There is no mercy and there should be no shame; taking risks is the only option. If you slip, make sure you slip from a height which will allow your back to recuperate in future.
If it doesn't, well, that is why they say it is important to know your prayers. Which language do you pray in? Silence doesn't count.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
no caps
i just learnt that the ex-ceo of yahoo, jerry yang never uses cap sized letters in his memos. it may be the only thing we share common love for. only that he gets to live with his love and i don't. atleast for now. i hope.
am no psycologist but the way people write does indeed reveal a few distinct snippets of their personality. especially in work environments.
i see a lot of this in the emails from offices based in india. "please find attached, please let me know, please **** my brains off, etc"
you don't have to think too far to realize the state of affairs in thirld world corporate. bosses are usually 100 feet longer than the rest.
brings me back to the age old puzzle i often get into a tussle with. what is more important for an individual in his life? get there first or get there in strength?
oftentimes, people think acting sophisticated in life is a sign of strength. well, it is like a donkey trying to paint its body to finally be a tiger. it may be its only theoritically possible route to success but the key is to know that it won't work either. sophistication is an outcome of strength and not the other way round. a true test of strength, for example, is when you miss the flight because of an attendant's error. if you fail to see humor in pityful situations, you ain't that sophisticated.
yeah, too much preaching! but, i thought i should write it down so that i don't forget it myself. oh yes, it has happened before.
am no psycologist but the way people write does indeed reveal a few distinct snippets of their personality. especially in work environments.
i see a lot of this in the emails from offices based in india. "please find attached, please let me know, please **** my brains off, etc"
you don't have to think too far to realize the state of affairs in thirld world corporate. bosses are usually 100 feet longer than the rest.
brings me back to the age old puzzle i often get into a tussle with. what is more important for an individual in his life? get there first or get there in strength?
oftentimes, people think acting sophisticated in life is a sign of strength. well, it is like a donkey trying to paint its body to finally be a tiger. it may be its only theoritically possible route to success but the key is to know that it won't work either. sophistication is an outcome of strength and not the other way round. a true test of strength, for example, is when you miss the flight because of an attendant's error. if you fail to see humor in pityful situations, you ain't that sophisticated.
yeah, too much preaching! but, i thought i should write it down so that i don't forget it myself. oh yes, it has happened before.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Frozen
Of all the things that stay with us, a broken pencil;
the smell of the fog at three a.m
when you were waiting
for the bus on the street corner
a slight whimper
when you tied the shoe lace for one last time
what is that really stays beyond?
the smell of the toasted coffee
grows on and swallows you;
you are reminded of the innocent smile
behind the scorn on the face
the only face you ever knew
and the sweetest kiss you never had.
the smell of the fog at three a.m
when you were waiting
for the bus on the street corner
a slight whimper
when you tied the shoe lace for one last time
what is that really stays beyond?
the smell of the toasted coffee
grows on and swallows you;
you are reminded of the innocent smile
behind the scorn on the face
the only face you ever knew
and the sweetest kiss you never had.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Oh my Angels
“If you have come to help me you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us struggle together.”
- Lila Watson, Aboriginal Activist
- Lila Watson, Aboriginal Activist
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
New Beginning
Paradigm shift is bound to occur.
Below is a list of most likely events of change. Yes, We can:
1. Legalization of Marijuana
2. Zero or Negative take home pay
3. Black ain't an excuse
4. Pamela posing with her ex-terrorist pals on the cover of Vogue
5. Law becomes a lucrative profession. Again.
6. Hedge fund companies re-sized to popcorn stores
7. A new trend of ex-presidents joining Hollywood
8. Sarah Palin makes new russian friends. Naughty ones. In the neighborhood.
9. John Mccain goes back to Vietnam
10. Obama throws off his mask and winks at the mirror
Yes, We can.
Below is a list of most likely events of change. Yes, We can:
1. Legalization of Marijuana
2. Zero or Negative take home pay
3. Black ain't an excuse
4. Pamela posing with her ex-terrorist pals on the cover of Vogue
5. Law becomes a lucrative profession. Again.
6. Hedge fund companies re-sized to popcorn stores
7. A new trend of ex-presidents joining Hollywood
8. Sarah Palin makes new russian friends. Naughty ones. In the neighborhood.
9. John Mccain goes back to Vietnam
10. Obama throws off his mask and winks at the mirror
Yes, We can.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Horizons
None of us is perfect. We all have flaws and some are more amusing than others.
I often face this predicament: In the middle of a serious meeting where a client is articulating his thoughts around the dwindling market share, I tend to go back-packing onto the terrain of a mountain in an amazon forest. This is a pure and simple case of day dreaming and is one of my consistent flaws.
Well, as Plato might have agreed, boredom is one of the key causes of day dreaming. So, I write to keep myself amused and interested.
How often do you have this urge to explore new hinterlands? If the answer is "a lot of times", did you ever ponder why you have that urge? My sense is that what we really crave for is not new post-card locations but newer and broader horizons. The ability to understand the beyond.
Marcel Proust famously said,
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eye"
I often face this predicament: In the middle of a serious meeting where a client is articulating his thoughts around the dwindling market share, I tend to go back-packing onto the terrain of a mountain in an amazon forest. This is a pure and simple case of day dreaming and is one of my consistent flaws.
Well, as Plato might have agreed, boredom is one of the key causes of day dreaming. So, I write to keep myself amused and interested.
How often do you have this urge to explore new hinterlands? If the answer is "a lot of times", did you ever ponder why you have that urge? My sense is that what we really crave for is not new post-card locations but newer and broader horizons. The ability to understand the beyond.
Marcel Proust famously said,
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eye"
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Up Close and Personal.
When you hear those three words, the last thing you might think about is an MBA.
But, if you are aware of the Josh Kaufmann's brain-child "The Personal MBA", you won't be disappointed at the word association.
http://personalmba.com/
A personal project which evolved into a pioneering solution to bridge the gap between advanced business knowledge and ever increasing number of aspiring students.
The tools used are surprisingly simple. A recommended list of business readings - that is all! Ofcourse there are discussion forums for members to enable discourse and intellectual exchange. The really strong chord though is that there is no $ 150,000 fee and a grand saving of more than a year's worth of time.
The course doesn't promise to offer a complete experience which is the hallmark of Harvard and Stanford. However, it may still be a better choice than the experience than most of the other schools have to offer.
On a slightly different note, Oscar Wild had a wise thing to say many decades ago:
“If you meet at dinner a man who has spent his life in educating himself - a rare type in our time … you rise from table richer, and conscious that a high ideal has for a moment touched and sanctified your days. But Oh! my dear Ernest, to sit next to a man who has spent his life in trying to educate others! What a dreadful experience that is!”
But, if you are aware of the Josh Kaufmann's brain-child "The Personal MBA", you won't be disappointed at the word association.
http://personalmba.com/
A personal project which evolved into a pioneering solution to bridge the gap between advanced business knowledge and ever increasing number of aspiring students.
The tools used are surprisingly simple. A recommended list of business readings - that is all! Ofcourse there are discussion forums for members to enable discourse and intellectual exchange. The really strong chord though is that there is no $ 150,000 fee and a grand saving of more than a year's worth of time.
The course doesn't promise to offer a complete experience which is the hallmark of Harvard and Stanford. However, it may still be a better choice than the experience than most of the other schools have to offer.
On a slightly different note, Oscar Wild had a wise thing to say many decades ago:
“If you meet at dinner a man who has spent his life in educating himself - a rare type in our time … you rise from table richer, and conscious that a high ideal has for a moment touched and sanctified your days. But Oh! my dear Ernest, to sit next to a man who has spent his life in trying to educate others! What a dreadful experience that is!”
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Take Or Give
Should we as humans rejoice the gifts we have or constantly flex our muscles to concentrate only on giving?
I hear "give and take". Never hear "give or take". But, it looks like that is a constant choice we make. How can we give AND take? Isn't it self-contradictory?
If we watch TV for sixteen minutes, should we be guilty that we didn't spend those minutes trying to solve the hunger of the kids in somalia? Did the globe warm up by a tenth of a degree before you finish watching Joe stick his head into a turkey? Did the carbon release from that TV help the ordeal?
Should you be worried or should you not.
Choice is constant. And, it is anything but binary. The third and most common form is not to choose.
Collective subconcious of the humankind may be the single most potent force available to mankind. If we can alter it, we can possibly achieve anything we need.
I hear "give and take". Never hear "give or take". But, it looks like that is a constant choice we make. How can we give AND take? Isn't it self-contradictory?
If we watch TV for sixteen minutes, should we be guilty that we didn't spend those minutes trying to solve the hunger of the kids in somalia? Did the globe warm up by a tenth of a degree before you finish watching Joe stick his head into a turkey? Did the carbon release from that TV help the ordeal?
Should you be worried or should you not.
Choice is constant. And, it is anything but binary. The third and most common form is not to choose.
Collective subconcious of the humankind may be the single most potent force available to mankind. If we can alter it, we can possibly achieve anything we need.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Joe the Plumber
A good replacement for the palin if she decides to undergo a long term rehabilitation to cure the severe lack of intelligence.
Monday, October 13, 2008
World in a book shelf
Lately, my favourite bookstore has been a small shop called 'Raven' in harvard square.
It deals only in used scholarly books. The quite and dark non-confronting landscape of the store makes you feel immediatly at home. Unlike the other large commercial stores I mostly make my purchases at, this is a very small 'mom & pop' store with freshness and novelty.
They play interesting non-conventional music and everytime I have been in the store, I got delightfully introduced to an interesting new artist. Try 'Manu Chao' and you won't be disappointed. However, please be informed that it is all french and spanish.
I can't think of a place other than Harvard where such a store can survive.
The bookshelves are diverse and yet, structured at the core. As you browse through the sections of India, China and other parts of the world, you can't help but notice the distinct difference among the varieties of books.
Books on India mostly deal with the wounds of the age-old civilization and the challenges related to economic liberation. The narratives are often deep and critical of the government and the elite alike. The books are a testimony to the democratic values of the country.
This feelings becomes more sharp as you look at the section on China. The books about China all have a mystic title. As if the authors are trying to explore the unknown and the content always falls short of comprehensiveness. This speaks a lot about the role of individual and the freedom of expression in this famously oppresive state.
The section of Asia is also dense with books about the darkness of Afghanistan. The pain is described in poetic eloquence by intense american authors. How ironic that much of that pain is caused by their own country men.
As you move to the books on Germany, you can't miss the sub-section of Holocaust.
The imagery becomes to too heavy by this moment and if you are still man enough to be in the section, you can give me an advice or two about how to control emotions.
The other shelf I found is of great value is the one on 'media and society'. I ended up purchasing a book from this section titled 'Self-Help, Inc'. The book deals with many doubts you always harbor about Stephen Covey and other authors who sell the idea that it is possible to shift to an alternate reality. The author does a fine job of dislodging the claims of all the semi-bogus authors.It may be the one book I want to gift to my cousins in teenage if they should ever ask me any questions related with "before and after".
An other interesting book I found was titled 'Forbidden Knowledge'. A philiosphical exploration of the dark side of human ingenuity and imagination.
I quote from an analytical passage of the book:
"SARA: Axel! [He is pensive]. Axel, are you forgetting me already? The world is out there. Let's go live!
AXEL: No. Our existence is already fulfilled. Our cup runneth over. All the realities, what will they be tomorrow compared to the mirages we have just lived?"
It deals only in used scholarly books. The quite and dark non-confronting landscape of the store makes you feel immediatly at home. Unlike the other large commercial stores I mostly make my purchases at, this is a very small 'mom & pop' store with freshness and novelty.
They play interesting non-conventional music and everytime I have been in the store, I got delightfully introduced to an interesting new artist. Try 'Manu Chao' and you won't be disappointed. However, please be informed that it is all french and spanish.
I can't think of a place other than Harvard where such a store can survive.
The bookshelves are diverse and yet, structured at the core. As you browse through the sections of India, China and other parts of the world, you can't help but notice the distinct difference among the varieties of books.
Books on India mostly deal with the wounds of the age-old civilization and the challenges related to economic liberation. The narratives are often deep and critical of the government and the elite alike. The books are a testimony to the democratic values of the country.
This feelings becomes more sharp as you look at the section on China. The books about China all have a mystic title. As if the authors are trying to explore the unknown and the content always falls short of comprehensiveness. This speaks a lot about the role of individual and the freedom of expression in this famously oppresive state.
The section of Asia is also dense with books about the darkness of Afghanistan. The pain is described in poetic eloquence by intense american authors. How ironic that much of that pain is caused by their own country men.
As you move to the books on Germany, you can't miss the sub-section of Holocaust.
The imagery becomes to too heavy by this moment and if you are still man enough to be in the section, you can give me an advice or two about how to control emotions.
The other shelf I found is of great value is the one on 'media and society'. I ended up purchasing a book from this section titled 'Self-Help, Inc'. The book deals with many doubts you always harbor about Stephen Covey and other authors who sell the idea that it is possible to shift to an alternate reality. The author does a fine job of dislodging the claims of all the semi-bogus authors.It may be the one book I want to gift to my cousins in teenage if they should ever ask me any questions related with "before and after".
An other interesting book I found was titled 'Forbidden Knowledge'. A philiosphical exploration of the dark side of human ingenuity and imagination.
I quote from an analytical passage of the book:
"SARA: Axel! [He is pensive]. Axel, are you forgetting me already? The world is out there. Let's go live!
AXEL: No. Our existence is already fulfilled. Our cup runneth over. All the realities, what will they be tomorrow compared to the mirages we have just lived?"
Banyan tree
Slight twinge in the ribs reminds me of the afternoon many years ago
When I lay down in the grass waiting for the rainbow
Sparkle in the eyes and spring in the knees
Waiting to jump ahead and run.
As the dry page flutters at the turn of the decade
The banyan tree doesn't have the same shade any more.
When I lay down in the grass waiting for the rainbow
Sparkle in the eyes and spring in the knees
Waiting to jump ahead and run.
As the dry page flutters at the turn of the decade
The banyan tree doesn't have the same shade any more.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Singular Drift
It is a striking thing to note that the primary goals of humankind are profoundly misplaced. Capitalism may have given us great gifts to savour but it robbed us of our basic identity as humans.
Everything is Hollywood now. If something is not, it will soon be.
Fast-food consumerism and late-night drudgery are fashionable and considered the traits of the intelligent segment of the society which is going to lead us into the future.
The drift appears so natural that anything which contradicts the stream of mass flow is visualized as an aberrant and soon weeded out by a cohesive effort of all moving parts of the system.
We live for our culture and inspite of it, we don't.
Everything is Hollywood now. If something is not, it will soon be.
Fast-food consumerism and late-night drudgery are fashionable and considered the traits of the intelligent segment of the society which is going to lead us into the future.
The drift appears so natural that anything which contradicts the stream of mass flow is visualized as an aberrant and soon weeded out by a cohesive effort of all moving parts of the system.
We live for our culture and inspite of it, we don't.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Blood-Bath
At the far end of the horizon,
Sun is glowing red and ready to set with purpose
As history is written on the walls of the street
Wolves cry out loud and run over the edge
Paper weight stops and looks at the glass window,
Wonders what the fat lady is staring at
At the other end,
opposite a small mud hut in Kabul
the kid covers his face with little wet hands
he doesn't want to go to school
"why?", he asks.
Sun is glowing red and ready to set with purpose
As history is written on the walls of the street
Wolves cry out loud and run over the edge
Paper weight stops and looks at the glass window,
Wonders what the fat lady is staring at
At the other end,
opposite a small mud hut in Kabul
the kid covers his face with little wet hands
he doesn't want to go to school
"why?", he asks.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Just walk!
One of the complex emotions we experience as city-dwellers is when we return to normalcy from a break at a beautiful forest. It brings with it such a roller coaster ride of emotions. As the miles turn to blocks, the daunting concrete skyline of the city looms on us like there is no tomorrow. At worst, it takes on the look of a devil ready to consume us head on. At best, the devil is asleep.
These may not be the most eloquent phrases to describe the feeling. Well - not any amount or style of language can even attempt to aptly represent the gigantic amount of loss.
The experience of the aching bones trying to grab the handle on the subway is nothing less than a heart break. Such a huge contrast from the day before, where everything you could lay hands on was either green in color or gold in heart.
Streets full of people look like someone sucked the wine out of life and left the mundane coke exhibit.
It pains to see that men have no option but to carry on with their normal lives. Even after they know that the joy of life lies not in what they do but desire. Beauty, as they said, may still be in the eye of the lucky beholder.
Or, as, the holy birds' excuse for staying at home goes:
"The owl loves it's nest in the ruins
The huma revels in making the king
The falcon will not leave the king's hand
And the wagtail pleads weakness"
Each bird to his own!
These may not be the most eloquent phrases to describe the feeling. Well - not any amount or style of language can even attempt to aptly represent the gigantic amount of loss.
The experience of the aching bones trying to grab the handle on the subway is nothing less than a heart break. Such a huge contrast from the day before, where everything you could lay hands on was either green in color or gold in heart.
Streets full of people look like someone sucked the wine out of life and left the mundane coke exhibit.
It pains to see that men have no option but to carry on with their normal lives. Even after they know that the joy of life lies not in what they do but desire. Beauty, as they said, may still be in the eye of the lucky beholder.
Or, as, the holy birds' excuse for staying at home goes:
"The owl loves it's nest in the ruins
The huma revels in making the king
The falcon will not leave the king's hand
And the wagtail pleads weakness"
Each bird to his own!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
JobYantra
So, You want a job change? You got sick of the glass ceiling and too much of caffeine or worse, nicotine in your blood. A resume in hand, you made up your mind.
What do you do next? If you are in India, you may probably think of naukri.com and monster.com. Or, work with a placement consultant.
Irrespective of all the hype around them, the fact is they are mere images of an oasis. It is much more powerful and realistic if you have friends in the employer ranks to refer your application. What if you have no friends at your dream company?
A stalemate!
You have a unique skill set and you want employers who meet your unique needs. It so often seems like all the right doors are never open. Believe it or not, the right employers love you more than you realize. In the knowledge economy, the right employee is more precious than a bag of gold.
But, let's be realistic. It is so very impossible to find the right kind of job. Nothing seems to guide us to the right team or company. I emphasize on team because the quality of your life boils down to the quality of your team. The brand equity of a company accounts for zilch if the teammates are a sorrow to work with.
All this makes job search appear like a hunt for the wild goose. A fool's errand, perhaps.
Yes, but not after Job Yantra came to the party. It is a focused job platform accesible only via select partners. It means a far higher probability of the right employers screening your application.
The big elephants in the room are not laughing.
Read more at http://jobyantra.com/
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Ramayan 3392 AD
I recently discovered this fantastic comic strip, courtesy of a friend. A product of Virgin comics, it surely ranks among the best portrayals of the epic.
It also is a big relief after the popular trauma caused by Ekta Kapoor's (mis)adventures with things best left untouched.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Tigers and the Streets
I am currently researching to collect graphical stories of radically fresh human beings.
Below are the requirements to qualify for the study:
1. Should have broken atleast one of the major rules by which normal people live e.g., Drop out of college, Spend time alone for a couple of years in Siberia, etc.
2. Currently engaged in something really productive but unthinkable by an average mind. Should atleast have a surprise element which stretches the meaning of surprise.
3. No criminal history
4. Open to sharing personal story with the world
5. Free time for atleast a couple of weekends
If you meet the above requirements or know people who you think fit the bill, please write to me at sureshg3@gmail.com
Below are the requirements to qualify for the study:
1. Should have broken atleast one of the major rules by which normal people live e.g., Drop out of college, Spend time alone for a couple of years in Siberia, etc.
2. Currently engaged in something really productive but unthinkable by an average mind. Should atleast have a surprise element which stretches the meaning of surprise.
3. No criminal history
4. Open to sharing personal story with the world
5. Free time for atleast a couple of weekends
If you meet the above requirements or know people who you think fit the bill, please write to me at sureshg3@gmail.com
AMZ*Prime Club 866-557-2820 US
I just got charged $79 on my debit card and I can't recollect if I asked for anything!
No, It is not Internet Fraud, but, most people may chose to call it so.
I signed up for the free trial to Amazon Prime and after the trial period has lapsed, Amazon automatically enrolled me to an annual paid membership. When I checked back at the free trial and the fine prints that follow, they did say they would charge!
Don't worry if it happened to you too. You ofcourse don't want to pay Amazon for something you never wanted!
Just do this:
Go to
https://www.amazon.com/gp/subs/primeclub/account/homepage.html
and click cancel account. DONE! You will be refunded in a couple of days.
------------------------------------
p.s: This post is only to educate the fellow victims. Others, please do not judge me to be a miser. I am anything but that!
And, do remember to read everything which is in print when you buy something on internet!
No, It is not Internet Fraud, but, most people may chose to call it so.
I signed up for the free trial to Amazon Prime and after the trial period has lapsed, Amazon automatically enrolled me to an annual paid membership. When I checked back at the free trial and the fine prints that follow, they did say they would charge!
Don't worry if it happened to you too. You ofcourse don't want to pay Amazon for something you never wanted!
Just do this:
Go to
https://www.amazon.com/gp/subs/primeclub/account/homepage.html
and click cancel account. DONE! You will be refunded in a couple of days.
------------------------------------
p.s: This post is only to educate the fellow victims. Others, please do not judge me to be a miser. I am anything but that!
And, do remember to read everything which is in print when you buy something on internet!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Rabbits
It took a Fibonacci to see the beauty in arrangements of mother nature. To expect it of mere humans is equivalent to buying an empty cone of ice cream in hot summer!
Hope is too expensive to be wasted in black holes.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Monday, June 09, 2008
Commentary
Are you one of those who are fascinated by sports commentary? I definitely am one. The impressions of all my favorite sport moments are undoubtedly influenced by the commentary around the seconds.
As a teenager, I was in awe with the amazing comments of Harsha Bhogle and Tony Greig but always discounted the feeling. I never gave commentary the credit it deserves. Few commentators like Sidhu and Gavaskar are really discountable by any scale.
But years later, I realize that they all did have their strong influence on my cricketing mind (if I have anything like that). Off late, I have just come to love the commentators of Cricinfo. I almost read word to word of their comments on all key matches.
I should say the television commentary on the just concluded French open was of high standards but the NBA commentary sucks for the most part. It is blaring into the ears and is often too dumb in context. Very unfair to the game which is so brilliant in the nature of play.
My all time favorite piece of commentary is this: (note that unnecessary elements like names are removed)
"Look at this guy. He never walks away from the pain. I think that is what the measure of a man is. When faced by the choice between grief and nothing, he always chooses grief!"
Wow! so much better to hear anything like this than having to sip beer in a bar and watch Eurocup with no commentary!
As a teenager, I was in awe with the amazing comments of Harsha Bhogle and Tony Greig but always discounted the feeling. I never gave commentary the credit it deserves. Few commentators like Sidhu and Gavaskar are really discountable by any scale.
But years later, I realize that they all did have their strong influence on my cricketing mind (if I have anything like that). Off late, I have just come to love the commentators of Cricinfo. I almost read word to word of their comments on all key matches.
I should say the television commentary on the just concluded French open was of high standards but the NBA commentary sucks for the most part. It is blaring into the ears and is often too dumb in context. Very unfair to the game which is so brilliant in the nature of play.
My all time favorite piece of commentary is this: (note that unnecessary elements like names are removed)
"Look at this guy. He never walks away from the pain. I think that is what the measure of a man is. When faced by the choice between grief and nothing, he always chooses grief!"
Wow! so much better to hear anything like this than having to sip beer in a bar and watch Eurocup with no commentary!
Monday, June 02, 2008
Shivaji
There is a 300 feet statue of Shivaji being built on marine drive. People like me who do not belong to mumbai but belong to mumbai(!) are slightly irritated at the idea.
Why such mad love for Shivaji?
I spent three hours researching Shivaji and his influence on maratha society in particular and hindu society in general. At the end of the research, I realized that the 300 feet is just a spec of dust compared to what the man deserves.
Shivaji is not great because of the things he achieved in his lifetime. This is inspite of the grand scale of events which is much higher than the reach of ordinary humans. His real genius is revealed after his death. All the small steps he took in his lifetime were really his building blocks to empower the Maratha society with character and courage. The code of honour and the visionary defense strategy developed by Shivaji was what helped Marathas defeat Mughals in a war of 27 years post his death.
A real king who served his people with great kindness or simply a genius at his work. India needs many more of his statues to remind us of what we can be if only we can believe in the possibility.
Why such mad love for Shivaji?
I spent three hours researching Shivaji and his influence on maratha society in particular and hindu society in general. At the end of the research, I realized that the 300 feet is just a spec of dust compared to what the man deserves.
Shivaji is not great because of the things he achieved in his lifetime. This is inspite of the grand scale of events which is much higher than the reach of ordinary humans. His real genius is revealed after his death. All the small steps he took in his lifetime were really his building blocks to empower the Maratha society with character and courage. The code of honour and the visionary defense strategy developed by Shivaji was what helped Marathas defeat Mughals in a war of 27 years post his death.
A real king who served his people with great kindness or simply a genius at his work. India needs many more of his statues to remind us of what we can be if only we can believe in the possibility.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Why is Obama Good for the World
Imagine when you were a kid.....running around the folks of your family in the backyard of your home.
Now imagine this: Everybody in your family was white except you. You were black!
Obama had a unique problem.
Being black in America is very different from being black anywhere else. It has very different connotation and an overwhelming load of baggage associated with it. The best way for any black kid to deal with it is to have a cushion of black family which can completely absorb and distill his or her apprehensions about society.
Obama never had this luxury. He never really understood why things were the way they were.
All he could do was play basketball and smoke pot to appear as tough as any other black kid.
Fortunately or Unfortunately, he wasn't really good with the ball or pot or the girls.
Later in his life, he travelled to Kenya to discover his own roots. Reminds me so much of the epic stories of Abdul Kalam traveling to meet a Monk to understand why he could not become a pilot and Steve Jobs hiking across Himalayas with a dollar in pocket to discover the purpose of life. Somehow, great minds think alike and i wonder how!
Great leaders are born when extraordinary self inquiry results in a mental framework where they finally realign the inner self with the outer. Most of the times, it is a great thing to do.
So, Obama was born and the whole world is now waiting to see what does it really mean for the planet.
Whites in Texas, Blacks in New York, Africans in Kenya and Mullahs in Afghanistan may have a thing or more to worry less about. Hillary and McCain have everything to worry about.
Hopefully, this relief will last for more than a single term of US presidency.
Harvard Law is surely an interesting program. I Like.
Now imagine this: Everybody in your family was white except you. You were black!
Obama had a unique problem.
Being black in America is very different from being black anywhere else. It has very different connotation and an overwhelming load of baggage associated with it. The best way for any black kid to deal with it is to have a cushion of black family which can completely absorb and distill his or her apprehensions about society.
Obama never had this luxury. He never really understood why things were the way they were.
All he could do was play basketball and smoke pot to appear as tough as any other black kid.
Fortunately or Unfortunately, he wasn't really good with the ball or pot or the girls.
Later in his life, he travelled to Kenya to discover his own roots. Reminds me so much of the epic stories of Abdul Kalam traveling to meet a Monk to understand why he could not become a pilot and Steve Jobs hiking across Himalayas with a dollar in pocket to discover the purpose of life. Somehow, great minds think alike and i wonder how!
Great leaders are born when extraordinary self inquiry results in a mental framework where they finally realign the inner self with the outer. Most of the times, it is a great thing to do.
So, Obama was born and the whole world is now waiting to see what does it really mean for the planet.
Whites in Texas, Blacks in New York, Africans in Kenya and Mullahs in Afghanistan may have a thing or more to worry less about. Hillary and McCain have everything to worry about.
Hopefully, this relief will last for more than a single term of US presidency.
Harvard Law is surely an interesting program. I Like.
Monday, May 12, 2008
A long turn
At the end of the tunnel
Distant from the far
The page turned
A squirrel walked up
It said:
"How are you?
"Want some tea?"
I replied
"Why not?"
"It smells good here already!"
Distant from the far
The page turned
A squirrel walked up
It said:
"How are you?
"Want some tea?"
I replied
"Why not?"
"It smells good here already!"
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Surface
Much awaited Surface was recently launched at AT&T stores. One of the few microsoft products which may make life a little easy.
But, now it is almost proverbial that Microsoft stands for unreliability. Surface can very well turn out to be an ugly face! If you are a regular user of office 2007, you know what i mean.
The worst thing that can happen is at a Vegas poker table. Imagine the system going down right on the brink of you winning a million dollar pot!!
You can run but cannot hide from Microsoft.
We need more of you Google. You ain't doing enough.
Not Yet.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Harold, Kumar and Global Food Crisis!
George Bush finally nailed it last week. He now has an answer to the conundrum of raising food prices. It is the dark, thin Indians who are causing the mess! All this outsourcing and other diseases have put enough money into their pockets. Voila!
As Indians eat more rasgullahs and jilebis , the fat fagots in Texas need to shell out a few extra dollars for a bag of rice. Is it a case of shortage? No! It is just plain increase in prices.
Harold and Kumar know better. They smoked pot with the master. Kumar also knows the burden of having to live up to the legacy of a father, successful or not.
All that pot blinds ones eyes to the ethanol being grown on rice fields.
Or may be, it is the burgers of white castle who are the real culprits.
As Indians eat more rasgullahs and jilebis , the fat fagots in Texas need to shell out a few extra dollars for a bag of rice. Is it a case of shortage? No! It is just plain increase in prices.
Harold and Kumar know better. They smoked pot with the master. Kumar also knows the burden of having to live up to the legacy of a father, successful or not.
All that pot blinds ones eyes to the ethanol being grown on rice fields.
Or may be, it is the burgers of white castle who are the real culprits.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Paradox of Venice
many long walks
slow but sharp turns
the big man
entered the church with his head down
the little fellow on the shoulder
stopped giggling
there were blood stains
and wild whispers
the eyes looked up
it was hard to say
who looked bigger - the roof or the chair?
altitude
was incomprehensible
emotion was
well, dried
folded papers and torn wallet
that's all was left
where did he come from
where was he to go
whispers got louder
eyes closed
the last i saw
the kid was giggling
i am not there
yet, i am there
it is a paradox
- and, it is not.
slow but sharp turns
the big man
entered the church with his head down
the little fellow on the shoulder
stopped giggling
there were blood stains
and wild whispers
the eyes looked up
it was hard to say
who looked bigger - the roof or the chair?
altitude
was incomprehensible
emotion was
well, dried
folded papers and torn wallet
that's all was left
where did he come from
where was he to go
whispers got louder
eyes closed
the last i saw
the kid was giggling
i am not there
yet, i am there
it is a paradox
- and, it is not.
Friday, April 11, 2008
O negative
How strange is the fact that inspite of being termed negative, O -ve humans can donate to anybody but can receive only from an other O -ve?
Is giving to everybody not positive enough to account for the negativity of not taking from anybody?
Who has the authority to change the names of blood groups?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Food for thought
If in an infinite chain of things, a few links can be explained, by the same method all can be explained!
-Vivekananda
-Vivekananda
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Jihad
Ali bin Abu-Talib, the first Imam of Islam said this about Jihad:
"Jihad is divided into four branches: to persuade people to be obedient to Allah; to prohibit them from sin and vice; to struggle (in the cause of Allah) sincerely and firmly on all occasions and to detest the vicious. Whoever persuades people to obey the orders of Allah provides strength to the believers; whoever dissuades them from vices and sins humiliates the unbelievers; whoever struggles on all occasions discharges all his obligations and whoever detests the vicious only for the sake of Allah, then Allah will take revenge on his enemies and will be pleased with Him on the Day of Judgement!"
I will wear Denims for my day of judgement. What will you wear?
"Jihad is divided into four branches: to persuade people to be obedient to Allah; to prohibit them from sin and vice; to struggle (in the cause of Allah) sincerely and firmly on all occasions and to detest the vicious. Whoever persuades people to obey the orders of Allah provides strength to the believers; whoever dissuades them from vices and sins humiliates the unbelievers; whoever struggles on all occasions discharges all his obligations and whoever detests the vicious only for the sake of Allah, then Allah will take revenge on his enemies and will be pleased with Him on the Day of Judgement!"
I will wear Denims for my day of judgement. What will you wear?
Monday, March 03, 2008
OLPC
"One laptop per child"
If you have not heard of this already, you do now! A brain child of Nicholas Negroponte, the program plans to donate a laptop to every child who needs it. Some versions of these laptops have in-built hand-driven mechanical generators of electricity!! These low-cost laptops have amazing design features which can create envy in any product designer. They are network enabled and an entire village can be potentially made digitally alive through sponsored satellite-driven infrastructure.
There are pros and cons and there are social challenges in the process. But, the fact is that all kids have the propensity to imagine the impossible. Every kid has fearless dreams and ambitions. Giving them a laptop may be the smallest help you can offer to help them be where they belong!
http://laptopfoundation.org/
If you have not heard of this already, you do now! A brain child of Nicholas Negroponte, the program plans to donate a laptop to every child who needs it. Some versions of these laptops have in-built hand-driven mechanical generators of electricity!! These low-cost laptops have amazing design features which can create envy in any product designer. They are network enabled and an entire village can be potentially made digitally alive through sponsored satellite-driven infrastructure.
There are pros and cons and there are social challenges in the process. But, the fact is that all kids have the propensity to imagine the impossible. Every kid has fearless dreams and ambitions. Giving them a laptop may be the smallest help you can offer to help them be where they belong!
http://laptopfoundation.org/
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Dark Matter
Stretching across 270 million light years. Three times larger than any other know structure and 3000 times larger than our galaxy. Just filaments and sheets.
Dark matter. Invisible. The only way you can detect the presence is to check if anything in the vicinity is affected. How i wish i was there instead of here. May be i am really there and not here.
Amidst the mildly squeaky noise of the little birds, the first ray of sunlight from the window pierced my eyelids and forced me to stop the line of thought.
Should i be glad it is sunshine and not the dark matter i live with?
Or may be it's just the window i should close.
Dark matter. Invisible. The only way you can detect the presence is to check if anything in the vicinity is affected. How i wish i was there instead of here. May be i am really there and not here.
Amidst the mildly squeaky noise of the little birds, the first ray of sunlight from the window pierced my eyelids and forced me to stop the line of thought.
Should i be glad it is sunshine and not the dark matter i live with?
Or may be it's just the window i should close.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Path
Blind Orion Searching for the Rising Sun. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
The real question is: Does creativity help you to withdraw from the world or re-enter it?
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Analyst Life Crisis
1. Is the intellectual slavery worth it?
2. Does my social life exist?
3. Where’s the remote?
4. Would I be happier doing “what I love”?
5. What do I love?
6. Analysts are the only people who can one day become rich Partners
7. Do I need to upgrade my socks?
8. Things are probably far worse back in India
9. What I do is exciting
10. Life without clean roads … life on Mumbai public transportation … shudder
11. Will a 250K$* MBA be of any use?
12. If I make less money I might deflate
* Estimate includes pay loss
Five years down the line, I want to re-visit this list. Am sure the list will not be any shorter but i hope it stays as interesting.
2. Does my social life exist?
3. Where’s the remote?
4. Would I be happier doing “what I love”?
5. What do I love?
6. Analysts are the only people who can one day become rich Partners
7. Do I need to upgrade my socks?
8. Things are probably far worse back in India
9. What I do is exciting
10. Life without clean roads … life on Mumbai public transportation … shudder
11. Will a 250K$* MBA be of any use?
12. If I make less money I might deflate
* Estimate includes pay loss
Five years down the line, I want to re-visit this list. Am sure the list will not be any shorter but i hope it stays as interesting.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Is Borat stupid or wise?
"There is my neighbor Nusultan Tuliakbay, he's pain in my *******. I get a window from a glass, he must get a window from a glass. I get a step, he must get a step. I get a clock radio...he cannot afford. Great success!"
I think wise.
I think wise.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Looking Good
It is often said that wars happen because of clash of cultures. Because people don't know the folks across oceans or land masses. Men fight to eliminate other men, ignorant of the fact that they both need each other. Women fight too, but they don't often take part in the wars as much as they cause them.
If you look at it closely (but not close enough), men wage wars all the time. Any economic function we are part of requires us to out-beat and often kill opponents in a surreal way. If your company's value proposition is to be the market leader in some vague paradigm, it essentially means that the company wants to make several smaller companies go bankrupt. It is as much a war as anything else. So, why is a big fuss made out of the so called wars? May be because of the graphics involved. You know, red and other colors. Not to mention the sound. I would love to see a silent war before I die. I just can't bear to imagine the noise that is associated with a typical war. It's high time technologists focus on building weapons which don't make any sound and kill the victim before he knows he got hit. Mankind certainly deserves a nobler death than getting shattered by mortar shells.
Strangest part of the wars often is that nobody knows who the real enemy is. It is often a country or a militant group which is an enemy but nobody really knows what they are fighting against. For a recent example, Americans thought they were fighting Iraq. Well, Iraq still exists and people often get confused why does it still exist if everybody agrees that the war was won. The real problem was that Saddam Hussain got killed by the time most people realized there was a war. Talking about Iraq war, a recently published book called "Curveball" argues that it was a taxi driver of Iraq living in Germany who caused all the mess. It is a pretty interesting tale but as useless as most other interesting tales. Things which are useful are often not interesting. Do you remember the "boring" spectacled girl from kindergarten who always gave you her notes when you needed to "use" them?
So, why do men wage wars? Historically, they did so for wealth, wine and women. Alexandar waged several wars and so did Ghazni. They did so because they knew of nothing else to do. They wanted glory and power. Did they get what they needed at the end? Yes, but the only catch was that their needs changed. It took Uncle Bob around 2000 years to figure out the cleanest way to attain glory and power. He chose to call it Capitalism while he was picking his nose in a bathtub.
What's all this got to do with looking good? War is not a topic which fits under a title like "looking good". Yeah, but only if wars could have looked good, I wouldn't be such a worried man. Blood hurts. And so do all the other things you don't want but happen to you.
If you look at it closely (but not close enough), men wage wars all the time. Any economic function we are part of requires us to out-beat and often kill opponents in a surreal way. If your company's value proposition is to be the market leader in some vague paradigm, it essentially means that the company wants to make several smaller companies go bankrupt. It is as much a war as anything else. So, why is a big fuss made out of the so called wars? May be because of the graphics involved. You know, red and other colors. Not to mention the sound. I would love to see a silent war before I die. I just can't bear to imagine the noise that is associated with a typical war. It's high time technologists focus on building weapons which don't make any sound and kill the victim before he knows he got hit. Mankind certainly deserves a nobler death than getting shattered by mortar shells.
Strangest part of the wars often is that nobody knows who the real enemy is. It is often a country or a militant group which is an enemy but nobody really knows what they are fighting against. For a recent example, Americans thought they were fighting Iraq. Well, Iraq still exists and people often get confused why does it still exist if everybody agrees that the war was won. The real problem was that Saddam Hussain got killed by the time most people realized there was a war. Talking about Iraq war, a recently published book called "Curveball" argues that it was a taxi driver of Iraq living in Germany who caused all the mess. It is a pretty interesting tale but as useless as most other interesting tales. Things which are useful are often not interesting. Do you remember the "boring" spectacled girl from kindergarten who always gave you her notes when you needed to "use" them?
So, why do men wage wars? Historically, they did so for wealth, wine and women. Alexandar waged several wars and so did Ghazni. They did so because they knew of nothing else to do. They wanted glory and power. Did they get what they needed at the end? Yes, but the only catch was that their needs changed. It took Uncle Bob around 2000 years to figure out the cleanest way to attain glory and power. He chose to call it Capitalism while he was picking his nose in a bathtub.
What's all this got to do with looking good? War is not a topic which fits under a title like "looking good". Yeah, but only if wars could have looked good, I wouldn't be such a worried man. Blood hurts. And so do all the other things you don't want but happen to you.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Zero
Indians are driven by numbers. Life has never been the same for us ever since Aryabhatta invented the zero. Not less than 3-4 lakhs of math and engineering graduates are churned out of colleges whenever someone sneezes in palem. It is just but a small proof of the structure of an average Indian brain which has more mathematics in it than neurons. Ever heard of the story of the grand father of a friend who never went to school but could multiply two 4 digit numbers before the calculator does it? Well, it could very well be the gift of your own grand father!
So, what does this innate love for numbers really mean? It is statistically proven somewhere in madagaskar that people who are really good at math are not really good at sex. Ah, it may just be a forceful agenda of the west. (You know, "They" always want to bully "Us") It's no real secret that an average american has lesser abilities with numbers than Andrew. By the way, Andrew is the name of the monkey of my Norwegian friend. No, Andrew is not the pet. It is the petter, if thats even a word! Well, who really cares what statistical research really proves? They even proved that cigarette is harmful. Come on, are you kidding? There are lies, more lies and then there are statistics.
Actually, there is a bigger point i need to make. It is not about zero but it is definitely about India. It is about our statistics in the game we all love. Cricket in India is bigger than football in UK or basketball in US. It is the sport which makes a 80 year old jump out of his deathbed. So, what do statistics say?
Country Win % in Test Matches Till Date
Australia 46.6%
England 34.7%
SouthAfrica 33.6%
WIndies 32.3%
Pakistan 30.7%
Source: Cricinfo
Well, India is not in top five. Even Srilanka is ahead of us. Only Newzealand, Bangaldesh and Zimbambwe are behind us.
Yes, Love is Blind!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Breeze
He dreams. Walks long into the night. Wind blowing at 45 degrees to his face. He sees smoke erupt from behind the trees. He choses to walk away. Light scares him. Darkness is his abode. Silence breaks into two. One part leaves his shadow empty.
He is wide awake. Walks down the street in the snow. Wind chill blowing straight into his face. He hears shouts from inside a house. He choses to walk away. Noise scares him. Good mood is his abode. All of a sudden, he slips and the ipod breaks into two. One part leaves the other empty.
He is wide awake. Walks down the street in the snow. Wind chill blowing straight into his face. He hears shouts from inside a house. He choses to walk away. Noise scares him. Good mood is his abode. All of a sudden, he slips and the ipod breaks into two. One part leaves the other empty.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
4 AM
A duck is staring at the sky
It wants a last cup of coffee
Or a golden key to unlock the air
It wants to listen
See what is missing and put it back there!
May be it's not the key and the coffee,
All it really needs is
a
It wants a last cup of coffee
Or a golden key to unlock the air
It wants to listen
See what is missing and put it back there!
May be it's not the key and the coffee,
All it really needs is
a
hello!
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Kabul Express
A movie released in 2006 based on an Indian journalist duo's adventure in Afghanistan. A very tightly knit screenplay which leaves no room for the audience to catch a breath. The actor who played the Pakistani army officer turned taliban terrorist is the best part of the movie. Having said that, it is impossible to imagine the movie without the silly humor of Arshad Warsi. A strongly recommended watch for people who want do a quick 101 course on the reality of life of Afghans.
My favorite dialogue of the movie:
Pakistani/Talib Terrorist: "Hum to kabse keh rahe hain, Madhuri Dixit do aur Kashmir Lo"
Indian Journalist: (breaks into laughter) .."arey woh toh shaadi karke america chali gayi"
Pakistani/Talib: "hmm...yahi hota hai....humara jo bhi acha hota hai woh ghoom fir ke wahin chala jata hai"
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Truth and Silence
Aldous Huxley said this in 1959...
"And it seems to me perfectly in the cards that there will be within the next generation or so a pharmacological method of making people love their servitude, and producing … a kind of painless concentration camp for entire societies, so that people will in fact have their liberties taken away from them but will rather enjoy it, because they will be distracted from any desire to rebel by propaganda, brainwashing, or brainwashing enhanced by pharmacological methods."
Heard of the Outsourcing? Yeah, Aldous also said this about opinion-building...
"Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth. By simply not mentioning certain subjects... totalitarian propagandists have influenced opinion much more effectively than they could have by the most eloquent denunciations."
Strange how human thoughts at certain part of space and time can very well be iconic reflections on some state of affairs they were never part of!
"And it seems to me perfectly in the cards that there will be within the next generation or so a pharmacological method of making people love their servitude, and producing … a kind of painless concentration camp for entire societies, so that people will in fact have their liberties taken away from them but will rather enjoy it, because they will be distracted from any desire to rebel by propaganda, brainwashing, or brainwashing enhanced by pharmacological methods."
Heard of the Outsourcing? Yeah, Aldous also said this about opinion-building...
"Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth. By simply not mentioning certain subjects... totalitarian propagandists have influenced opinion much more effectively than they could have by the most eloquent denunciations."
Strange how human thoughts at certain part of space and time can very well be iconic reflections on some state of affairs they were never part of!
Wish
Wish you a wonderful new year.
Hope you achieve all your goals. If not, there is always next year! :)
For all the creative professionals trying to have a credible year, i wish you have an incredible year!!
Hope you achieve all your goals. If not, there is always next year! :)
For all the creative professionals trying to have a credible year, i wish you have an incredible year!!
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