Some Best Moments in Life

Some best moments in life

1. To laugh until it hurts the stomach
2. To wake up and realize its possible to sleep a couple of hours more
3. To write the last paper of your last exam
4. To see an old friend again & feel that things haven't changed
5. To hear a song that makes you remember a special person
6. To have somebody who tells us "I Still Trust You"

Enjoy your life :)

Perk-me-up tips

Some Perk-me-up tips when you feel no energy to work

• Grudges leave you tense and tired - Let go
• Boredom depleted energy; take up volunteer work, work in a group; enjoy time with friends
• Stay clear of negative people
• Take Power naps

(As published in The Hindu - Metro Plus on 15th Feb 2010)

PMSMT Blah.....

Its been long time since i wrote a blog post, but the recently released Phir Mile Sur Mera Tumhara (PMSMT) pushed every cell in my body to go ahead and publish a post.

I will just stick to criticizing the entire effort of re-creating Mile Sur as Phir Mile Sur (Whats with our directors, a Phir can re-create the magic of the original? Phir Hera Pheri, Phir Mile Sur??) right from the name they have used to the last frame in that video.

First off, Its completely Bollywood dominated. Just hoped that it wasnt directed by the Johars or the Chopras !!

ARR in the first scene, Good, But why Solar panels in the background with a view of a crowded terraces? - To show that whatever we do, we still remain Jugaad?

Shankar, Ehsaan Loy - Right from the moment they entered the scene, i found something was amiss, the tune, the pitch, the variations Shankar Mahadevan was trying, Everything! and they ended their piece I thought the song is getting to completion

Vikram - Why r u overacting in this! Accepted that you are a national award winner that doesnt mean you can over act coz you have been given only 10 secs

Abhi-Ash - The eternal question, Abhi is there only because Ash is there ?

Mahesh babu - Probably the only guy who isnt interested in Andhra-Telangana politics hence available hence smiling continuously!!

Rohit Bal - I guess the reason he is there in that is because probably he designed the costumes everyone in that video has worn

Zakir Hussain - Probably the only person who can sing thro his tablas!

Bhupen Hazarika - Atleast the editing guys should have maintained the tempo for his piece & why have the cameramen continuously zooming on his face? For us to know how big his mush is ??

Shilpa Shetty - For Rajasthan, Is there any actual reason or its just my feeling that she is doing this because she is a owner of 'Rajasthan Royals' IPL team ??

Salman Khan - a small prayer before i write something for him 'OH GOD PLS DO SOMETHING FOR SALMAN KHAN TO GROW UP. HE IS 44 AND ACTS LIKE A 4 YR OLD IN THIS VIDEO'. Wearing only a vest & torn jeans, lifting a kid to show his biceps and supposedly playing with hearing impaired kids!

Kavitha Krishnamurthy - Pls do leave some lines for others to sing too. They are waiting to sing and you are pouncing on them to snatch lines

Deepika Padukone - She must have sang for Karnataka, Thanks to her Bollywood links, she sings in Hindi. Looking at her dress, I guess she directly came from some Bollywood song shoot.

Priyanka Chopra - Wants to show the reason why she won the National Award, fails miserably!

Sudharshan Patnaik with his Sand sculptures in Puri beach - Good one

Mamooty - I find no reason why you took the screen space reserved for Vijay Yesudas

Shiamak Davar - You screwed up the Mile sur song big time. Broke the pace with your dance steps

Shobana - Elegant @ the backdrop of Thanjavur temple

Aamir - Guess he chose school children to drive home the point that his last few films are based on education and the education system. But Why Ae, Kya bolti tu tone? He is even driving the children into the trance of singing and doing a gig with it.

Sonu Nigam - It took me few minutes to identify its you who is singing there and not some street chap. Whats with your new look and unnecessary hand movements?? Right behind you people are pushing your body guards.

Shahid Kapoor - He is yet to come out of his 'Kismat' mode. He is a singer here, but something told me he could have been there instead of Shaimak Davar

Ranbir Kapoor, SRK - Is something pricking your back? Why are you giving so much emotions ?

Karan Johar - Guess you told the director and cameramen of this video to come and meet you at your office itself and they thought thats where you are really free.

Last minute Sports-person inclusions - Guess our cricketers told they are busy shooting for MNC Colas, Cars and Bikes that they dont have time for National Integration

Inclusion of Defense forces in the last sequence instead of a set of a children running in with their dresses in Saffron, White & Green Colors - A Good Thought

Behind the Scenes - heard the director of this video is the same as the director of original mile sur. Sir, pls do accept some knowledgeable assistant directors next time or if possible leave the director's mantle to some one else who can handle our Bollywood-First-For-Everything mindset

What lies ahead ??

Its been long time since i wrote a blog post ... That because, i really didnt know what to write .. but today morning, a small conversation triggered me to write my latest blog post ...



Today morning, after a small warm-up badminton match with one of my friends, we struck a discussion about future in general and higher studies( a common buzzword among college student and young software engineers with just a few of years experience in the industry alike) in particular.

Most of us ( including me :-) ) keep thinking about Higher studies and try advising our juniors to 'finish education first and then step into the industry'. This is the same advise which a lot of seniors, parents, personal advisers gave me when i was about to graduate out of college but said to myself and to everyone who advised me .. " I want to work for sometime, want to come out of this constant stress" the stress, which generally colleges presses on most of its students. This answer looked convincing to most and they allowed to me go forward with my plan of working for a 'Few' years in the industry then looking forward for a masters degree, one which surely catapults you into the future where you see yourself.

But, what most of us don't see is when elders/seniors/parents are advising, they are doing it with their own personal experience and they themselves have gone through the phase, where it was literally a herculean task for them to work and study parallely for any competitive exams to get admission into any good post graduate institute. But, we with our own decisions ( which are often good, and 'Not good' the other times) have taken important path breaking decisions and have faced the consequences, either good or bad.

What really struck me today morning when i was having a small converation with my friend is that, the reasons he is not looking forward to doing anything different, either moving to a different company or studying towards a competitive exam to get into a full-time course is that he didn't feel like leaving the organization he is in now because of the sole reason that the 'Friends' or Colleagues to be politically correct are very good and he feels that he is still in college. He said the pulse he feels sometimes with them is something out of the world and difficult to find it elsewhere.

There were 2 things that immediately struck me, one, that everyone of us are looking for something like that, a happy bunch of people around us and a happy surrounding, a congenial atmosphere that makes our heart come out and speak ... and i felt happy that my friend had got it. But the other thing that struck me is, How long will this atmosphere he has today be with him? Whether he wishes or not, people will start moving on. Sooner or later few of his colleagues will find a better job outside his organisation, or will start their higher studies or move to a differnt country for some project tasks there. He will no longer have 'his' crowd around him.

I immediately told him what were the two sides of the same coin, one, the happy feeling, but the other one , people wont be the same, they will start moving ahead. He immediately felt that yes, once life takes over, there are no 'Congenial atmosphere' except the one in which you will slog day and night. There are no better 'Friends' except you family and the only one who will think about you is YOU alone!

This is the state of most of us, the sooner we realize, the sooner is our 'Enlightment'. Some get it the moment they are out of college, some ..... a decade after they graduate!!

Face to Face with Swalpa Adjust Maadi!

This particular incident happened when i went to BBMP office to get my Voters card moved from another constituency to the present one.

Time : 0915 hrs
Place: Bangalore South BBMP Office ( Dont remember the ward), Banashankari

Situation:
About 10 ppl are already waiting to speak to one over burdened lady with a computer in front, but still checks all the names in printouts!, who has been given the task of checking the names of ppl who come asking for a new voters card or check the names of ppl who have already applied and waiting for their names to be enlisted in that ward.

As I reach the venue, i see there are 2 queues, both leading to the same room and as a matter of fact, one is not at all a queue, just a crowd of ppl waiting for an officer to sign on their forms. I ask a person, which queue to follow, he asks me to stand behind him as thats the queue i have to be in. the one with about 10 ppl waiting.

few minutes pass by, more people come in, and more people join my queue, and within 15 mins, the queue is very long almost 50 people standing in the queue. Now starts out true INDIAN-ness!!

A guy comes and tries to join the queue almost very close to that lady,
Few people right away say "Sir .. Join at the back, we are all waiting for about half an hour now"!
Man: 'Sir, i was here, went out to get some documents"

Crowd: 'May be yes, we arent denying, but we are all waiting, each one of us have come here atleast 2-3 times. Please join at the back'

Man: 'How can I, I was here!!, right before this lady'

Crowd: 'We dont know about all that, Please understand, join in the back of the queue'

Man: :'Please understand sir, I was here, I will join here, I have wasted 1 hour'

Crowd: 'Sir, if you start joining, everybody will start joining in the middle, we really cant accept what you are doing, Join at the back'

by this time, the crowd's volume has grown higher. The presiding officer sees there is a fight brewing up here and comes to resolve it!

Officer: 'Sir, join at the back, everyone is asking. I cant help'

Man: 'Why should I sir, I was here, I had asked someone to reserve the place for me, now they have left, so I dont have proof, still I will join here'

Crowd: 'Even he is saying, join at the back'

Offcr: 'If you dont obey, I will call the Police!, all they will do is pull you out of the queue and make you stand at the back'

Man: 'I will tell them the same thing too'

The officer feels there is no use of he being in the mid of this fight, so resumes his work of signing some papers

Crowd: 'So are you joining in the back or not'

Man: 'Sir, Please understand, SWALPA ADJUST MADKOLI, just one person'

The crowd has given up the hope of making him stand at the back, they think its just a guy, matter for few minutes, lets leave at that!!

But, Few minutes later, few more join the queue, not at the back, but near the computer lady. Again few from the crowd rebels against that, but each have their own reason, each have their own answers for questions asked by the crowd.

Few minutes later, there is actually a circle full of people in front of that computer, each putting their arms out with chits of papers and old cards, asking for clarifications.

The Queue is still there, but may be its for the 'More Equals' who think they can make a difference to this great country!, But what they dont know is, the country ISNT READY FOR THE CHANGE!!!

We IT Guys!!

This is an excerpt from a conversation between 2 guys working in a big IT MNC.

Time 1930 hrs on a weekday, the office is almost 90% empty!

IT Guy 1 : Hows life ?

IT Guy 2: Going on.. You tell me?

IT Guy 1 : Still in office ?

IT Guy 2: Yeah, almost starting back.

IT Guy 1: So Where do you stay ?

IT Guy 2: Close by .. Actually next signal!

IT Guy 1: Wow Thats gr8!.. So how do you come to office ? Do you walk daily to office, your place is surely walkable distance from here

IT Guy 2: Sheeesh!!! .. I am not CHEAP!! .. I have a bike, I drive to office daily and once in a while I come by car!


If this is how 'Well Educated' people in big MNCs react to all these 'Save Petrol, Cycle/Walk to office' calls, .. I wont be surprised if others hardly care to these calls!

Irony: IT Guy 2 was talking to a guy, who takes these calls very very seriously and even cycled 38 kms once every week in the last two weeks!!


GOD SAVE INDIA!!

The Day None could stop Me and My Ranger!!

History:

It all started on Feb 22nd ... when i went to a neighborhood cycle repairer and got my cycle refurbished.

There were a few things that were plaguing my cycle .. for a long time .. ( I hadn't used it for about 8 months), brake wires, levers, oiling free-wheel and few more things, got all of them replaced


Then did a small ride near my place itself, things looked fine.

Preparation:

Hmm, this was a very important part as i really wanted to know if i really had the fitness and stamina to actually ride at least 19 kms one way and the actually aim, ... cycling 38kms in total.
38 kms isn't something very big, people cycle a lot more .. but i wanted to know if people like me .. who work in software firms, eat, work n sleep in cool environments and sneeze and catch cold for slight weather changes can actually do that ...

So, trial runs were the answer .. Where would i go to test my fitness ..??
Where else other than to see my guru .. Hanuman!! .. RAGIGUDDA!! ..
its about 6 kms away from my place .. so each trip to that place and back will be 12 kms. Surely a good start to check my stamina.

So the trial runs started :-).

26rd February, Thursday

supposedly my Birthday according to South-Indian Tamilian Almanac. :-). Came back from office around 1820hrs. Decided that that day is my day to test, things will surely fall in place, as it was my birthday (at least one calendar in this world says it is). Started to Ragigudda at around 1945hrs. Reached R'gudda @ 2010 hrs. Took 25 mins to cover about 6 kms.
After having darshan in R'gudda ..and taking blessings from Him, I started to Sai Baba temple, some 1km from Ragigudda, as it was Thursday and its supposedly special and auspicious for Sai baba temple visits :-)
After Sai baba temple, Next stop, another temple :-) Rayara Mutt in Jayanagar 5th blk, why ?? .. Its Special and Auspicious for Rayara Mutt visits too :-)

So after all these visits, it was about 9:30. One of my college friends too had come to Mutt. So after that we both went to eat road side Gol-gappas, opp SN resturant, JP ngr :-). Looks like i got back all the calories i spent in cycling just by eating a plate of Gol-gappa. But who cares ?? .. I wanted to test my fitness thats all. No one is worrying here about weight!!. Then after some chit-chat over chats for some time, i started back home @ 9:45. reached @ 10:07.

After this, i wasn't feeling too tired, though my legs were aching, I cant deny that. After easily about 18+ months i have cycled 14 kms on a single day.

28th Feb, Saturday
Another trial run, another visit to Ragigudda but just Ragigudda and back home. 12 kms. Good. Was feeling OK. Wasnt tired.

2nd March, Monday

Another trial run and most probably the last among the trial runs. Another visit to Ragigudda and from there to 9th blk to get some fresh vegetables and back home with more luggage on my handle bars than before, ( I had to test this too, as i would be carrying my lunch box to office on the D-day). Things were fine. Got a lil late next day, coz .. leg pain :-)

End of Preperation :-)


5th March, Thursday.
D-DAY!!
Today was the day of all performances. I had done 14 kms on a day, but never continuous 14kms, leave apart 19 kms (the distance between my place and my work-place).

There were a few initial hiccups. viz

1. Prev day, 4th March was very tiring day. Played Lagari ( captained the team too), was in tremendous pressure during the matches in the afternoon. Was so tired that I thought i will go and sleep @ 7 itself!!, but didnt do :-), slept @ 10:10, with still not decided whether i will go by cycle the next day or go by office shuttle.

2. Got up @ 7:30 on 5th March!!, My plan was to start by 7 and reach office by 8!!... btw i had estimated that i wil take an hr at least and 1 hr 15 mins max to cover 19 kms!!. So getting up @ 7:30 was a major initial as i really wanted to avoid all the traffic . I had actually decided that i will go to office by office shuttle and will postpone this plan for some other day................. But things never have actually gone as u think!! :-)

somewhere between 7:30 and 8:10, i lost at least 20-25 mins sitting idle on the couch and reading newspaper!!. I suddenly realized it was 8:10, really late even for office shuttle as i am yet to take bath, do daily rituals and start, catch a public bus, travel 3kms and then catch office shuttle.

At that moment i decided, 'YES.. Today is THE-DAY for cycle!'. Then, took my own time to do all the chores. Went to bath, did all my daily rituals and then thought what all i have to carry.. a pair of dresses to change, water, my lunch box ( else my mom will kill me!!), cell fone, cash ( oops, i had forgotten my wallet the previous day in office itself). Could find only a 10Rs note!!, I said .. ok, have to manage with this 10Rs, though i dont have any expenses on the way to office. Breakfast... I couldnt have anything!! .. So left with 2 cups of milk.

Then .... STARTED!! :-).. 9:30!!

Started from my place, slowly.. didn't want to strain myself by cycling very fast initially and suffer later for not able to cycle. So started slowly, normal speed. Slowly crossed the initial milestone i had kept for myself, 'Family-mart' juncn, then Mandovi motors, then BTM-NS Palya Rd, then passing beside Madiwala lake, i reached silk board junction..., I checked my watch.... 10:05...... JUST 35MINS!!, Something which only 2-wheelers, which are familiar with all the roads in that area could achieve.

Then started the straight stretches. From Silk Board - thro HSR - thro Agara juncn - towards the final destination, Devarabeesanahalli. Roads were not bad at all. Few 2-wheelers speeding once in a while, else, very normal traffic. But after Sarjapur Rd- Outer Rind rd juncn, roads were slightly steep, as i could easily find this as my cycle was moving slow and i had put more effort to move.. then things again became ok.. By 10:27 i had reached Deverabeesanahalli juncn, rite opp to my workplace. Suddenly looked back and saw the same office shuttle i had to board @ 8:50 from a point 3 kms away from my place was standing behind me, I laughed to myself and cycled inside the campus!!. 10:30.

Peak hour morning Bangalore traffic - 19Kms - Cycle - 1Hr. :-)















<---------TILL HERE I WROTE B4 CYCLING BACK------------>

<---------FROM HERE I WROTE AFTER REACHING HOME BACK--->

Ride back home wasnt very difficult, very similar to the onward journey. Started office @ 1805hrs. Followed the same way which i followed in the morning. Reached home @ 1907hrs

Peak hour evening Bangalore traffic - 19Kms - Cycle - 1Hr 2mins. :-)


People might ask whats great about cycling. I do accept, i have 'saved' may be about 30-40 Rs, not more than that. But.....

The feel is as though i have trekked KP all alone and still made it to the peak!!, There are literally no words to describe the feel. 38kms cycling is not easy AT ALL!! and I made it!!


The Man - The Machine - Hero and his Ranger!! :-)