Month of September.... ;(

Let me recall...

Sep 2005 : Ran away from Pune University.... Leaving my PG Diploma in between. Parents had high hopes for me.. proudly said to everyone that their son got selected for PG.

SEP 2006 : After joining Infy in June 2006, suffered Stone in my right kidney.... cant forgot that killer pain......admitted in Hospital....celebrated my birthday over there.... :)

SEP 2007 : Worst time of my life..... (Frnds knows about it....for others I will take it offline.....)

SEP 2008 : Again boring period... Short Days....Seems winter going to start.... :9.. Hate this season.....No frnd to talk.... just routine work... Even no plan for bday...

Dont know what will happen.....

lets see...fingers crossed....

Finally Gold for India After 28 years...... :) :)

Abhinav Bindra won India's first-ever individual Olympic gold medal when he claimed the men's 10m Air Rifle shooting title here on Monday. The medal is India's first-ever individual gold, and the first gold medal the country has won since 1980, when the hockey team emerged triumphant in Moscow.

Musical Tag!!

Below are some songs which I co-related with various stages of my life...try this out...its fun :-)

My Childhood
Is there a doubt about this?? It has to be
“Jungle Jungle baat chali hai, pata chala hai!!
Chaddi pehen ke phool khila hai, phool khila hai” from the Jungle book cartoon series:DD )

My First Crush
It was in the 11th std. At that time I was totally into this Boyzone cassette that I had. “Picture of You”, “You’re the air that I breathe” were the songs I tried to associate her with:D:D ah it was a magical period.

My First Best Friend
“Yaaron” by KK, koi shak??

My School
“Yahaan ke hum sikandar” from the GREATEST school flick ever, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar.

My Teenage Years
WWE Superstars’ entry music, specially Stone Cold Steve Austin’s bursting glass music and The Rock’s “If ya smelll what the Rock, is cookin’”

My First Cassette
“Thanda Thanda Paani” by none other that the great Indi-pop rapper Baba Sehgal:D

My Reason to Dance
“Brazil” by Vengaboyz, “Let the music play” by Shamur, “Ishq tera tadpaave” by Sukhbir (pity anyone who dosent feel like dancing to this number)

My Best Friend Always
“I’ll Be There For You” by the Rembrandts aka the OST of F.R.I.E.N.D.S!!

Bike/Car rides
“Dhoom Machale” by Tata Young

Song for Rainy Day
“Dekho Baarish ho rahi hai” by Anu Malik =))=))

My first love
“Pehla Nasha”, no other song can descibe first love better than this one.

College
“BC Sutta!!!” by Zeest,
“If Ya Smell, what the Rock, is cookin’?” The Rock entry music,
“Dil chahta hai” from DCH,
“Woh Lamhay” by Jal,
and above all “Tum To Thehre Pardesi” by the Guiness record holder Altaf Raja

My School Gang
WWE Themes. We were majorly into

A song that brings a tear to my eye
“Ye jo desh hai mera” from Swades. It kinda chokes my throat. And also “Earth Song” by Micheal Jackson.

My current state of mind
“Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” by Green Day. “I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known, Dont know where it goes, But its home to me and I walk alone” powerful lines those!!

My All time favourites
“Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You” by Glen Mederios,
“Pehla Nasha” from JJWS,
“Pal” by KK,
“Careless whisper” by George Micheal
“Last Christmas” George Micheal and
“Lose Yourself” by Eminem!!

Same Question........

.....from nowhere she sprang to the windshield of my car and started wiping the glass. i tried hard to ignore at first but couldn't. i looked at her and my hand searched for some thing to give to her instantly but i was not able to find anything to give to her . time was running out as the traffic signal seconds read 9,8,7.....then i got hold of a pen in my car . i gave it to her without thinking any further. she looked amused ,she hesitated for a moment and then she accepted just before i spode off. i looked in the back view mirror and found her looking at the pen holding in front of her eyes . just hope that one day she makes a good use of it and inspires herself to study . i just hope . i know i have done nothing for her and in those kind of fleeting moments , i will never be able to do anything except just thinking and feeling sorry for them and boring my friends on net with these posts about street children but i hope for myself that i would be able to do something solid for them , rather than just plain wish, one day.

Time, please....

It’s now 5:30 pm as I write this article. The clock keeps ticking, time keeps running. Day in and day out it moves ahead with one purpose in mind – to reach the next moment. Time never tires up. Time never sways from its path. Time is a great teacher, isn’t it? It teaches us never to look back – “Jo beet gayi, so baat gayi”. It teaches us a great lesson in determination and constancy of purpose. Learn from your mistakes and move ahead. Never deviate from your path. Always be aware of your target.

Time has another unique quality- it waits for none. We got to keep up with it or we will be left behind. There will be incidents which will cause a dent in our hearts; there will be times when things won’t go according to our plans. It is in these very moments that our true character is tested. If we learn to smile at troubles and deal with them with a valiant heart, we will lead a life of honour, a life of contentment; in other words, a happy life.
So whenever things go against us, we shall shed a tear, even cry our hearts out, we shall be gloomy for a while, and that’s it. If we spend too much time glorifying our sorrow, time will flee and we will spend our lives trying to catch up with it. So let’s try it friends. From now on when something bad happens we will cry, we will be sad for a while but before time goes out of sight we will be back on our feet ready to enjoy our lives once again. Even if we have a hundred reasons to smile we tend to view our sorrows with a magnifying glass and forget that life is to be enjoyed, it’s not meant to be spent in tears. So from now on we will use that magnifying glass to view our happiness instead!

China, Olypmics, Free Tibet.............. Whats GoingOn?

Nazi Germany hosted the Olympics, a segregated America hosted it, a divided Korea hosted it, so why not China? It is appropriate reward for their sporting achievements.
On the other hand, India's participation will make no difference except to some poor hardworking, unsung athletes.
And as far as Tibet is concerned, all we need to do is look at our own "backyard" read Kashmir, Assam, Mizoram etc.
So why don't we separate sport from whatever our political beliefs may be, and just support the spirit of the games.

Life Is a Bitch...

A common answer among friends when we ask each other how’s life? I say life is certainly a bitch and she sure has a lot of puppies. Each with a color and personality of its own. No one knows which puppy is gonna turn around and nip at you when you least expect it.

Some say life is beautiful. Agreed, for those of you who don’t have to deal with the daily grind of trying to make ends meet or who have nothing to worry about but what to wear to the next high profile page three party, life certainly is beautiful. The ugliness is hidden behind the tinted screen of your car windows which block the view of the child from the slum dying due to hunger.

The myriad hues and colors akin to the reflection of a rainbow in a puddle of water seem meaningful to those freshly in love. Life to ‘em lovers is certainly rosy, holding a promise for a tomorrow full of joy and love.

Then there are some of us living on the borderline of sanity and insanity, cynical about most things, trying to portray a facade of all being hunky dory while loneliness and uncertainty gnaws at our soul softly and steadily, just like the winter creeping in leaving one cold and numb. We laugh and smile ensconced in our glass houses, careful not to let our weaknesses seep through the cracks lest someone notices them. We refuse to bend down to what life throws at us knowing fully well it is going to get harder, tougher and lonelier. But that’s what keeps all of us going. Our attitude to life n her puppies; love ‘em, hate ‘em, kick ’em or pet ‘em, you get only what you think you don’t deserve!

Make a difference

After long break I am here again with some of my thoughts. We all have read/hear this thought and somewhat way we appreciated it also…
“Measuring our life by, what others do for us, may disappoint us. But if measured by, what we do for others, will add meaning to it. Make difference in others life.”

Have we ever think more than our expectation……..answer comes yes & no, am not pointing anyone but I am just evaluating myself…..I feel blessed to have nice family loving parents & caring brother. Last week during free hours I was thinking that we feel happy when we get the treatment we want and when things would not, we feel sad/unhappy. What my concern is why we have limited ourself in such boundaries?? Because what are our expectations would not be satisfied 100% when it is incomplete you may not feel that peace, these will brings complains and stressed into you. But if you think other way; what you did for other, even if you have not did all your attempts then also you will get the satisfaction of doing something for someone. That will give you satisfaction of your being on earth and this will give opposite person a sign of support & care that someone is there for him/her when they need.
You & I are small human being not a great saint, do at your level and feel the difference in other’s life as well as in yours. Nothing much but internal peace in soul will surely comes……..I experience this and share with you.
Wish you all the happiness & peace

Put 'me' first

I recently realized that life does not have to be this complicated. It is like that because that’s what we make of it, we are so busy worried about what people think; we are worried about our responsibilities towards our parents, our kids, our spouse etc that we have forgotten how to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. We forget to put ourselves first. Friends, love etc have taken a back seat to what society demands of us.

I have realized that when I am happy my behaviors towards the people who are linked to me is different. After all how can I be sweet to anyone when I feel deprived? How can I love the world when I don’t feel loved?

‘Put me first’ is my new motto. If you don’t have time for me, no problem! I have lots of time for myself and I will use it doing the things I love doing and generally making myself happy.



My destiny is in my hands and its time I started shaping it.

May I know the answer!!!!

Yesterday I asked my cousin brother what his dream.........
He replied "to be very rich"

Its not an odd answer even if you ask anybody - what their dream?
answer is invariably-
Great career success
Name
Fame
Good at work and liked by colleagues....
list goes on mostly on the professional frontier
Why?
Why we don't have goals like
I want be a great brother
I want to be a great sister
I want to be a great husband/Wife
I want to be a great father/mother
I want to be a great lover
No consideration for emotions
Why we don't have any personal goals in life
We have goals which are totally professional?
Why?

Please let me know the answer.......

Friends

I enjoyed these lines and thought of sharing the same with you all....

You come to me from the darkness
With no voice, but many a word
You help to fill these empty hours
With friendship that's unheard.

Although sometime I cant hear you
I can see your caring soul
And thank you for the times we've shared
Into my heart you stole...

So take these words of friendship,
With my thoughts and hold them near
Cause friends like you are hard to find
And very, very dear....

It is for you all ... my dear friends. Life would not be same without all of you...
Gaurav Aggarwal..... Geetanjali...Srishti..... Gauri.... Gaurav Luthra.... Garima.... Girish... Gurpal..... Ratika..... Ankit... and many more....

Have you noticed that most of them are G's :)

Rahul Dravid -- 'The Logical Wall'

People asking why Sehwag is in the team..? and everybody knows becoz of Dravid. I will tell you the logic behind Sehwag inclusion in the team.

Generally, a weak player will be under scanner (right now sehwag is under scanner). After Sehwag's name, next name comes Dravid who is not performing well (either cap or player). If Sehwag is removed then next name is Dravid who will be under scanner. So, Dravid knows very well that as long as Sehwag plays Dravid is safe.... This is called logical wall...


Thanks to rain God now the ODI series is over. :)

Search is ON.....

What is it that I am here for? For quite some time now, I have been thinking about my purpose of life.

I am a very practical and scientific person. Because of that, my rational thinking brain (hope it is somewhere there and still working) says that I can search provided I know what I am looking for.

Alice asked the Cat, “Which door should I take?”. The Cat replied, “That depends on where you want to go”. (You guessed it right. From Alice in Wonderland)

When I don’t even know what I am searching for, it is near impossible to know the outcome. But then, the mystery of life is what keeps the (wo)mankind kicking.

I haven’t given up. I will try once more than the number of times I feel like giving up. The Search is ON…

Finally got the answer....!

Here to Blame for India's Ugly Exit from World Cup..............!



Refreshing the history,


Two most powerful personalities one from past history and other from recent history,



Indira Gandhi ( for creating Bangladesh) and Hanuman .... (Not destroying Lanka completely):D:D:D:D:D

Mr. Lonely

Date : 23-Feb-2007
Swiped-In time in office.: 8:00 AM
current Time : 9:00 PM
Work Load : Not Much
Place to go : No where
Person To talk : No one

Was just browsing and found this :


When Christ said: "I was hungry and you fed me," he didn't mean only the hunger for bread and for food; he also meant the hunger to be loved. Jesus himself experienced this loneliness. He came amongst his own and his own received him not, and it hurt him then and it has kept on hurting him. The same hunger, the same loneliness, the same having no one to be accepted by and to be loved and wanted by. Every human being in that case resembles Christ in his loneliness; and that is the hardest part, that's real hunger.

ONE EXTRA BEDROOM !!

Hi, a friend of mine has sent this article to me, which i found worth reading and thought of sharing with you all. Hope you will enjoy reading this.

One Extra Bed Room !!! This is worth reading


As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in software Engineering and joined a company based in USA the land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the USA, it was as if a dream had come true. Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about Five years in which time, I would have earned enough money to settle down in India. My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat. I wanted to do some thing more than him.

I started feeling home sick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at Mac Donald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate, getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down. Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days off and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying shopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be talks.

After reaching home I spent home one week going through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate. In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after them, we returned to USA. My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing. After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their Grand-children. Every year I decide to go to India. But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream.

Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India. The next message I got was my parents were passed away and as there was no one to do the last rights the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents were passed away without seeing their grand children. After couple more years passed away, much to my children's dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA. My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India. My 2 children and myself returned to USA after promising my wife I would be back for good after two years. Time passed by, My daughter decided to get married to a American and my son was happy living in USA.

I decided that I had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India. I had just enough money to buy a decent two bed room flat in a well developed locality. Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode. Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this? My father, even after staying in India, had a house to his name and I too have the same nothing more. I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.

Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing. This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture, dressing sense because of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me. Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be performing my last rights. God bless them. But the question still remains, 'Was all this worth it?' I am still searching for an answer.

Life is short so live one day at a time.

New Year -- Time for resolutions

In 2007 I resolve to:
- Save money!
- Clean my closet… and not wait for spring.
- Stay at home whenever I am in Home .
- Exercise regularly!
- Be nice to people, even the one’s I can’t stand.

In 2007 I resolve not to:
- Watch more than 2-3 movies a month.
- Be rude to people.
- Have impossible crushes!
- Over work myself and be mindful of the fact that there is life outside work.
- Eat junk, but eat a whole meal.

Making a lot of resolutions so that I can keep atleast some of these.:D

Looking back

Looking back when I think of my childhood, I feel those were the best days of my life. I was so happy, playful and so innocent. Life was so easy too...studies and games, life revolved around those mainly.I enjoyed my studies, loved my school and scored the highest...what more could i ask for. Well, i did ask for somethings occasionally...i wanted to grow fast..so that i wouldn't be scolded anymore, so that i would have a say too,on where to visit during family trips and most of all i wanted to become a fine engineer.
Time passed and soon i was no more a child. But along came the responsibilities, the realisation of harsh realities and a few broken dreams in the path of life.And soon enough a realisation dawned on me. I felt life always look at its best in retrospective.
When we are little ones... we dream of growing up, when we are at college.. we dream of passing out and getting jobs, when we are single.. we dream of meeting our dream persons, when we are married..we dream of being parents, when we are parents..we dream of seeing our children reaching new milestones...and so on life goes on.

Then one fine day when we are old, and we look at our old photo albums and think of those old memories..we wish..we could have it all back..we wish we could go back and be a child once again, we wish we could be young and carefree once again....and hence Life always looks so pretty and nice in retrospective. We live on each day, and the feelings and emotions which come along do not jolt us enough as they do when we look back and find them locked in our memories...Life! Oh what a strange Life..!

First Onsite Call

I'm going to take my first onsite call today. I'll be the only one developer attending it. Being a fresher, this is giving me the creeps. I have jotted down the questions that I want to ask. Hope everything goes well. Keeping my fingers crossed. :)

Weekend Ahead

Finally the week has come to an end..and that too a three day weekend.
what else can u ask..
Simply put, staying alone and enjoying oneself in the calm and serenity is nice, but, enjoying it with friends and family doubles ur fun.
I hope u all have a nice weekend and come back rejuvenated.
May we have many more long weekends

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all fellow bloggers.
May the spirit of season fill your life with joy and smiles...
May peace, hope and love be with u today, tomorrow and always.....

Its Friday!!!!

Another much awaited weekend..some may have plans for the weekend and some may take it as it comes..for all , have a nice weekend..I am going home and so excited abt the same..C u all on Tuesday..Bye.Enjoy

Stick works...

I loved the jig Sreesanth did in the face of Nel yesterday. It sure made my day :) I wonder why didnt the team display such aggression and confidence in the One day series? Was it team work to bring Dada back or are we working towards being a good test match team that is miserable in the One Day events?

It's just 'Give & Take'

A holy man asked the Lord one day, "Oh Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like".
The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be dying. They were holding spoons with very long handles. Each could reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but the handle was so long than their arms, that they could not get the spoons back into their mouths! The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "Son, you have seen Hell".
They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man's mouth water again. The people were equipped with the similar long-handled spoons, but here surprisingly, the people were well nourished and plump, talking, laughing and so cheerful. The astonished holy man said, "My Lord, I don't understand. Same scenario in both the rooms, but what makes this Heaven and the other Hell ?".
It is so simple said the Lord, "it requires just one skill. You see, they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves".
Moral:
It's our attitude that makes our place of work, a hell or heaven!! 'Help and Seek Help' - makes all the difference to each individual's life...and makes our lives hell or otherwise.
Success and happiness is all about effective team-work... Together Everyone Achieves More - That's what a TEAM is!!!

Solutions please!!!

They say that the best way to escape a problem is to solve it... but how do u solve it? By escaping???

Boring Weekend....

This weekend of mine has been very uneventful. Oh well, next weekend I am going to my home after 4 months. So that should be fun!

Lagey rahoo maamu :)

Yep.......this is wht i felt like saying after watching this movie.."Lagey Raho Munnabhai".There r various types of movies :cheap comedies, stupid action movies, movies that hav no reason for their creation and then their are masterpieces..those which entertain u and convey a message that sinks into ur heart..i hav rarely come across such superb ones..one ws Page 3 (simply luv this one for the truth it potrays..i ws literally clapping at the end of the movie..in mid of the hall), Rang De Basanti and then LAGEY RAHO MUNNABHAI.
The way Gandhiji's message has been embedded in such a marvellous way..wow..hats of to everyone who ws involved in the creation of this movie.
But wht do we learn from this..does this influence our lives in any way..did i learn something...hmmm..no i wont say that this movie made a difference to my life or showed me a new direction..but it strengthened my belief..in TRUTH, SIMPLICITY AND PATIENCE.....ihav always been true 2 my parents, my frends..its been harsh..sometimes very hard.. 4 me 2 speak it..4 others 2 listen 2 it..but now i realise it worked..It really did. And i truly believe that wht mahatma said..does make a difference..yes the path is not at all easy 2 follow, but as Gandhi ji said..VICTORY IS 4 SURE.
Rightly said..BANDEY MAIN THA DUM..VANDEY MATRAM!

Aaja Dhoom machale Dhoom

If there is one movie I have no views to share on, it's Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. Contrary to what the title begs, I prefer to do just the opposite. And for good. Why? All I'll say is you expect to see a Hailey's comet and end up watching an inflated balloon in the sky.Yeah so what if it has all these fantastic actors, gorgeous locations, dressy sets, peppy songs and a dying-to-be-different storyline? It’s still an inflated balloon. So we’ll let it stay in air and proceed to fresher pastures – the B-I-G-G-I-E-S!

Have you seen the promos of Dhoom 2? They look absolutely swashbuckling. It looks like the kind of movie that gives popcorn a good name. I hope that’s the case.

And then there is Don. Man, Farhan Akhtar is sure in sticky spot. It’s a no-win situation for the man who made Dil Chahta Hai and Lakshya. See, it’s very simple. If he remains faithful to the Big B classic, he’ll be under attack. If he strays too much, he’ll be under attack. But thanks to Shah Rukh Khan and good luck Chopra, Priyanka not Prem, a promising opening is already in the bag. The trailer looks all right, I thought. It sure looks glossy if nothing else. Will it work? What do you think?As for what I think?

Lage Raho Munnabhai is where my bets lie. I love how the word ‘hope’ springs up at the mention of every forthcoming flick. But I truly hope the jolly good duo of Munna and Circuit regales us yet again with their tapori brand of masti and banter. And it won't echo of the Phir Hera Pheri disappointment.So which one is it going to be for you? Dhoom 2, Don or Lage Raho Munnabhai?

A new day has come!

Life has not been the same for the past two months or so.
I quit my old job and got a new one.
I quit my favourite city and came to a new one too!
Yes, after years of pondering and fretting about moving out of the house and living alone for a while, I have finally found the guts and the right opportunity to move out of my home and shift from my home town to Hyderabad.
For me, moving out of home, and into a new city, where I have to adjust with a new job, make new friends, find a decent place to live, and take care of myself (food, clothing!) and keep my expenses and finances in check is a huge thing!
I have always lived a very protective, pampered life and I am sure managing everything by myself is going to come as a very rude shock to me, sooner, rather than later.
But I am excited and I am nervous. I know I am not going to find it easy to adjust to a lifestyle so different, but I suppose, it’s high time I learn to do that! Everyone I know said, we grow up really fast when we live by ourselves. And I can’t help but agree. Thinking of so many different things at once is no joke after all.
Today, its been two months at work, and well, considering I am sitting here blogging, it is obvious that I didn’t have muchwork to do.
Lots of new things are happening and lots of new experiences around too. Should be a fun few months to live through. I know it is going to suck, but I am going to love it!

Each one on his own road

Akash : Kitni khoobsoorat jagah hai!
Sameer : Hmmm. Beautiful.
Akash : You know what, hame har saal me kam se kam ek hafte ke liye Goa aana chahiye.
Sameer : Definitely! Kyun Sid?? Hey Sid kya soch rahe ho??
Sid : Dekh raha hu wo jahaz, jo zara der baad dikhai nahi dega. Jante ho hum tino us jahaz ki tarah hai, jo aaj nahi to kal apni apni manzilon ko dhundte hue niklenge. Aur ho sakta hai, hamari manzilein alag alag ho.
Sameer : Tu ye sab kyun keh raha hai meri samaj me nahi aa raha. Hum dost hai, zindagi bhar ke liye.
Sid : Ofcourse hai!! Lekin kiski zindagi kise kahan le jaati hai kya pata? Kabhi socha hai?? Har saal yahaan aana to ek taraf, 10 saalon me milna bhi mushkil ho jayega!!

And thus went the conversation between 3 friends Akash, Sameer and Sid in the cult hit Dil Chahta Hai.

When I first heard this dialogue, I thought it was good, but a bit dramatic. 5 years down the line, I feel there is nothing remotely dramatic about it. Its pure fact. Bitter to digest, yeaah, but a fact. And offlate, I keep drawing parallels in my life.

2001. The year I started my engineering life. I wasn’t expecting much in terms of relationships. The only thought on my mind back then was to study hard n get done with the 4 years.

Its 2006 now. And the above attitude has definitely changed. I am a changed person. 4 years, 8 semesters and then 8 months in job. Like 8 wars fought and still standing strong. 4 years have passed by in a jiffy. Now when I see things from Sid’s perspective, I realize that whats said in his dialogue is indeed so profound!

Five years back I along with several of my school friends joined engineering. For 4 years now, we have been together
copying assignments,
proxying attendance,
bunking lectures,
teasing the hell out of each other,
getting mad at each other,
abusing boring profs and their equally torturing lectures,
sharing lunches,
passing crappy comments from the last benches,
promising treats on clearing all subjects before results (ofcourse, giving none later),
giving actual treats on birthdays and independence day (last day of written exams),
trying to get our dream gals (and without doubt, falling flat on our faces), cursing the Director of the college for crappy attendance schemes and stupid restrictions during fests,
dancing our hearts out during the Informals event (during college fests), preparing wildly for each presentation,
banging our heads during project days,
helping each other (in our typical styles) with pre exam blues,
supporting and comforting and motivating each other whilst vivas,
studying our butts out for exams and having a BLAST post exams!!

And now all this is over!

Of course we are in touch now and will remain always. Thanks to the advances in science and technology, the world has become a smaller place. But nothing like being together as we were in college. Nothing like arriving in college together and spending almost half of the day in our second home.

One day whilst working on our project, one of my close buddy and me were talking about life after college. He said, “Now we are so occupied man. We are so busy. What is going to happen after college ends?? I mean we are going to be so bored. Even though the college work is like hell, still it keeps us together all the time and we work, we fool around and have a blast! How boring life is going to become post college man!!” so true!

Like DJ says in the latest blockbuster Rang De Basanti,

“Gullaboo, ik din ye sab nahi rehna hai. Fir to sab life de isharo pe nachte jayenge. College ke gate ke is paar hum zindagi ko nachate hai, aur gate ke us taraf, life hame nachati hai!”

Bottomline is : Each one on his own road!!

Protests Everywhere.

Just go through any Newspaper or News Channel, you cant ignore News about Protesting Indians.
Hindustan Times Correspondant Vir Sanghvi writes that Indian Loves to protest. And its true upto some extend. Some high profile protests includes Medha Patkar led Narmada Bachao Andolan in which Aamir Khan's entry has done the work of adding petrol in fire. Then 'Anti Reservation' by medical students all over the country joined By IITians also. And latest in this series include protest to Ban release of Da Vinci code.

Lathi charge on medical students in Mumbai was an unfortunate incident. But in most of the place they have right approach. Instead of shouting slogans here and there, they met the right people and when they realised that their demand didnt fulfill they go for Hunger strike.
Doctors knows very well that Government have to bend down as country cant moved forward without them.
I heard a radio show yesterday in which 3 YFE(Youth For Equality) members were participating and two things they said made real good sense. One thing is that they are not against reservation but they want the reservation to be economic need based and other thing is reservation in job Government can increase number of seats in colleges but what about job. Government cant pressurise private sector to take reserve jobs for backward class people.

It may affect you – so speak out about it.

Wanna Be millionaire!

THERE are a million ways to make a million. Here is one. If any one would have invested Rs. 10,000 in buying shares of Infosys in 1993 when it floated its initial public offer, today your money would be worth, hold your breath, Rs 14.7 lakh (or Rs 1.47 million). Not bad.

While I was going through Sunday Business Times, headline read as "Infy net up 33.2% at Rs 2458 cr". So finally Mr. N.R. Narayana Murthy , Chief mentor Infosys Technologies has lived upto its old habit again. I was watching a clipping on a news channel in which while inagurating the new corporate headquarters in 1994 Mr. Murthy Chairman and CEO at that time announced "We will be a globally respected corporation that provides best-of-breed software solutions delivered by best-in-class people".
It took them 23 years to cross the first Billion Dollars of annual business and then within next 23 months another 1 Billion Dollors. So its good to celebrate 25 th anniversary in this way. Infosys is the first listed Indian company with this distinction (TCS crossed its Billion Dollars but it was NOT listed in 2003).

Interestingly Microsoft crossed its first Billion Dollars in its 16th year (Infosys did in 23rd year). Microsoft took another 2 years to cross $ 2 Billion; Infosys did the same!

So considering that Dollor has much more weight than Indian Rupee and Infosys has bulk of the employees in India, this is indeed nice performance!

Days Ahead

Over the next few days or probably next 1-2 months I am looking for following things :

FIFA World Cup 2006 : Its exactly 50 Days to Kick-Off. World Cup 2006 is starting on 9 June 2006 in the Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany. World Cup 2006 will be worth 24.5 million Swiss Francs ($18.75 million) to the winning team.
I am looking forward for Brazil taking on Croatia, Australia and Japan as the defending champions are looking solid this time also. Brazils 3R's Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Ronaldihno are going great. I think the Brazilian national football team is the most successful national football team in the world, with five FIFA World Cup victories, including the most recent tournament in 2002.

OnHollywood 2006 conference : OnHollywood conference will focus on the challenges, opportunities and business models of the digital era, showcasing the leading private companies that are revolutionizing the way media and entertainment is created and distributed. The event will be held at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, CA from May 2-4, 2006. Tony Perkins, editor and founder of AlwaysOn mentioned that OnHollywood will feature an impressive line-up of speakers as well as pioneering private companies, giving the media a rare opportunity to be exposed first hand to material and interviews with top executives, VCs and other key industry leaders within digital media.

Krrish & Fanaa : As the trailer opens to Hrithik's stomping footsteps pulsating the Dolby Stereo, the screen flashes with lines that define his character. He was born with a gift. He was special like his father. Krrish, the sequel to the biggest blockbuster of 2003, 'Koi Mil Gaya' will also be Hrithik's first film since 'Lakshya'.
Fanaa: I was overwhelmed by a trailer for a film barely a month away. The film is highly anticipated as it marks the end of Kajol's four year sabbatical from the film industry. Also is features her first time pairing with Aamir Khan. According to sources, Aamir Khan will don the role of a terrorist whilst Kajol will play a Kashmiri girl, though this is not confirmed.
There are few other things to mention but I am running out of time time now.
I will update this post soon.

Reservation

General Elections are due in four states of India and just before that the Govt. of India has decided to increase the percentage of reserved seats in institutions which are under central govt. This will include prestigious institutes even IITs & IIMs. I think Reserving 49% of seats in every discipline is a complete disgusting idea.
Suddenly raising percentage of reserved seats from 22% to 49.5% (plus seats reserved for foreign nationals) will left near 50% seats for general category. The competition to get into IITs will become more brutal now.
A lots of people group are coming forward to condemned this move saying that it will dilute the brand name of these prestigious institutes. Well yes it would. If diluting the brand is good for the country - especially for its poorer sections then I can favour that.
But I think that govt. have not bothered to argue how reserving seats in IITs would lift OBCs out of poverty. In order to even appear for the IIT entrance exams, you need to have completed 12 years of schooling. How many poor OBCs will get that far? Now what will happen that poor OBCs will continue to drop out of school to support their families. Middle class and upper middle class OBCs who have all the opportunities that every other middle class person in India has will get a back door entry into elite institutions. Since they won't have to go through the rigorous competition that everyone else has to go through, the quality of these elite institutions will suffer.
If the Govt had real interest in doing good for OBCs it would have created conditions to allow poor OBCs to get educated till the high school level. And then introduced this reservation to give them a leg up into elite institutions.

Match of a Life-time -- 100 overs, 872 runs

Cricket is a funny game. It, however, turned out to be hilarious on Sunday as records tumbled by the hundreds as South Africa won the fifth and final One-Day International against Australia by one wicket and a ball to spare to win the five-match series 3-2.

Chasing an improbable world record score of 435, South Africa got home thanks to an inspired knock of 175 (111 balls) from opener Herschelle Gibbs. His second wicket partnership of 187 runs with skipper Graeme Smith in 20.5 overs provided the early momentum for the hosts. But South African wicket-keeper batsman Mark Boucher (50 off 43b), who hit the winning runs, and Johan van der Wath (35 off 18b) gave the vital thrusts at the right time. "Chasing 434 is a bit surreal for us," South Africa captain Graeme Smith said. "But it was an unbelievable wicket and the batsmen were all able to play their shots."

Out of the box thinking

Out of the box thinking is the oft repeated sentence,you come across this jargon from most of the so called management gurus.....and also the bosses who have attended those innumerable management seminars......but no one has any clue of inculcating this in India where we are conditioned to follow a set path.The set path starts from the very childhood....kindergarden,LKG,UKG,school...attending tution classes...TV viewing in the evening...some enterprising parents take their kids for either swimming or tennis coaching...thus school days pass of..I am not including the out of box frolicking with the other sex in this blog..then joint entrance exams..entry in some professional college...those who dont get into these colleges go for degree courses in science or arts ...barring for a few who dont appear in these entrance exams but the majority of those who score good mark they follow this route...then a professional course and land up a job via some interview..the conditioning started at an age of 3 and completed by the time he or she is 21/22 yrs of age.Now in the job this person has to do out of the box thinking and be innovative....thats a tall order...Our definition of the out of the box thinking is that I must do better than my neighbour or my parents.

In this age of cubicle culture we are once again putting them in a cage and binding them by the company culture...Toyota way , GE way, or may be some other way..we are good copy master so instantaneously we follow those..so the challenge to bring a paradigm shift remains a dream..

I read that in USA some parents have stopped sending their kids to the school...they take turn in teaching them...they take help of the community..the kids are encouraged to learn things through practicle experience and of course computer...thats a great idea...breaking the age old shackle of class room study...

I think our system of education requires a serious look......let the kids enjoy their childhood...let them be with the nature..let them mix with people of all social strata ....this will help in developing their mind and that will lead to observation power...once they observe closely then only out of the box thinking can come...it can not be taught..

Board Examinations And Suicide.

I read it in newspaper few days back that a boy of class XII committed suicide because he could not handle pressure. He thought he would flunk again like last year and therefore, he ended his life. This is nothing new for any of us. Everyday we find such news in the newspaper. Every year such suicide rates increase but I wonder why?

I feel that taking your own life because you cannot handle pressure is the worst thing one can do. Who gives us the right to hurt our parents like that. When people die like that, we cant even imagine how their parents will live rest of their lives. They live like dead people. Noone can even imagine the agony they face. On top of it all, they keep blaming themselves for their children's action. When children succeed, then they are so happy and for the world, the children succeed because they had it in them. So, when children commit suicide, they did not have it in them, it is not your fault, parents.

I think one should always learn to fight the pain. Committing suicide is no solution to anything. Do you think you have any right to take your life just like that? Who gave you that right? Your mother who kept you in her womb for nine months and then went through the entire pain of conceiving a child? Or your father who spent his entire earning to give you a better future? Or your loved ones who loves you for what you are and not for what you could be?

Your parents do not only love you when you succeed in life, they love you still when you fail,

Your parents do not only love when you come home with a trophy, they love you when you come home empty handed,

Your parents do not only love you when you earn money, they love you when you dont,

Your parents do not only love you when you bring fame to them, they love you even when you bring disgrace to them,

Your parents do not only love you in your thicks, they love you equally in your thins!!!!!!

We should never forget this..............

No matter what people may think about us, no matter what we might do, no mtter how rude we become to them, they are the only one in this entire world who will still love you unconditionally and noone gives us the right to end our lives because we are not happy with it. Our life is just not ours, we owe it to our parents and the only gift that we can give to them in their entire lifetime is being their children always. This much they definitely deserve.

If you feel you have no meaning to life, then talk it out. Seek help. Go to a counsellor. Speak to your friends. Tell them what is really affecting. Try changing things around you but most importantly seek help. Dont just end your life like that. Please dont.

If after reading this, I am able to make even one person realise that it is wrong to end their life, I shall feel that my life was worthwhile.............

Jessica Lall Case

For once, Delhi's not ok with insensitively letting things being as they are. The Jessica Lall case has left not just the city but the whole nation angry. Protest marches, SMS campaigns and petitions to the President for re-opening the case continue.



There are many dimensions to the story. Is it that we do not bother to stand by the truth, or is that the system works against those that wish to do so? What is it that makes witnesses go back on their statement - inducements, intimidation or the fact that the cases drag on for years?

Apni to paathshaala, Masti ki paathshaala

IT WAS GREAT – the movie RANG DE BASANTI.

Its one of those movies that carry a subtle message and goal us to dig a little bit to find it and imbibe it. Taking a shot at the politicians, the movie allows us to take cue from great, extra-ordinary giants of our glorious past. And while doing so, it raises ordinary men and women out of the crowd, for the crowd, for something which we never cared or gave a damn to. But who is then to take care of that something, if we are not? Who’s gonna wear Saffron?

A beautiful take on the prevailing sociological aspects which is done in a subtle manner and it’s done well. I hope it is successful – the take on the matter that is, coz am sure the movie’s gonna be successful.

Though I am tempted to put about what all’s there in the movie but then it will be bad of me to let the cat out before any of u may go and watch the celebration of life for yourself.

Celebration of life? Yes, though the movie hits hard where it could pain a lot, it celebrates the phenomenon called life and the value of life. The use of life. It’s meaning. The choice between easy and the right. The choice between being an onlooker and being a part of it for the good of it.

It attempts to give an answer to the great giants that assured us a future. It attempts to search for alter-egos of those giants who set standards in living life – well, in celebrating life. In donning the saffron.

It attempts to call on us to don the color of saffron. Will you? Will we?

Do we have among us, today, a reflection of our giants?

I loved the movie – not because its shot in Delhi, not because I can relate myself to one of the protagonists but because it indeed colors u in saffron – the color of Joy and sacrifice both.

Rang de basanti chola

Mera, rang de basanti chola,

Maye, rang de basanti chola.

OR if u want it the latest way,

Apni to paathshaala,

Masti ki paathshaala

ARE WE WATCHING BLACK EPISODE OF INDIAN CRICKET

1991, India tour Australia : A young man named Saurav Ganguly made a disastrous
debut..... to follow it up, some articles here and there in the media regarding his failiure
....... and the selectors on there part do the predictable......drop him from the national side.
At this time most would have thought that this young kid would ever show up in the
indian line up.

1996, India tour England : A matured young man Saurav Ganguly selected for the Indian
test team makes his sparkling test debut, brilliant batting display studded with breathtaking
drives in the offside becomes an instant star in a nation mad about its cricket and cricketers......
to follow it up delivers consistent performances throughout the tour..... and the selectors on
there part do the predictable again, gave him a chance in the ODI's where he soon becomes
the king of the offside.... one of the most dangerous opener... the maharaj of indian cricket...
with Sachin Tendulkar he formed the best opening pair of there era. Saurav Ganguly is a suprstar.

2001, Australia tour India : An Ambitious Saurav Ganguly is now the indian captain and had
a dream in his eyes..... to conqour the world, but infront is the challange of facing the world
beaters the world champions Australia, the optimistic few gave india an outside chance, in the
3 test series, india are 1-0 down after the first test, most predict a walkover by the world
champions yet again..... but a new indian team has just got its saviours, heroes are born out
of people whose selection in the team was doubtful, indian team has got over the world
champions, and the world, the leadership shows the team is a unit to contend with....
indian teams success was credited to Saurav's aggressive attitude with reflected on indian
team....Saurav Ganguly was an instant star again as indian Captain... India Loves Saurav
Ganguly.

From 2001 to 2004, Saurav Ganguly was a captain of the indian cricket team which
seemed hungry for success, had some of the senior players - best in the business Sachin
and Rahul, and the young brigade which Ganguly had very carefully built- Sehwag,
Bhajji, Yuvraj, Kaif, Zaheer, Pathan. India performance shows in beating Pakistan in
Pakistan, beating England in much hyped Natwest final, winning champions trophy,
and reaching the World Cup 2003 finals.

2004-2005, A Desperate Saurav Ganguly was now more of a Captain than a performer,
his performance had started dipped some of the so called experts found glitches in his
batting technique (which evidently was there since he had started playing), this man
who gave up his opening slot in ODI's for the team, the man who persisted with some
of the current indian players in there not so good times and was critisized for the same.
The man was now under pressure to keep his place in the side, some of the so called
experts wanted him to step down...... One of them was current Indian Coach Greg Chappel,
who infact told him to step down and wrote a secret email to the BCCI to remove him
as the National Captain. In the mean time Saurav Ganguly had now become the most
successful indian captain and led india to its first overseas series win after 19 years. ......
despite this slectors give more importance to the email sent by the coach .... and drop
Saurav Ganguly from the Indian team.... despite some disappointment among some
die hard Saurav fans (i m not one of those) the nation takes this decision as a step forward.

Late 2005: A brave Saurav Ganguly, makes a comeback into the national team on
the back of some good performances, his performance in the second test after the first
was washed off was more than satisfactory considering the kind of resolve he showed....
but the selectors this time have done the unpredictable, excluded Saurav from the team
which will face Lanka in Ahemadabad.

The entire nation is in shock over this paethetic decision, only because this time around
Saurav did not deserve this the reasons for this decision are non cricketing... to me the
reason is that man called Greg Chappell who gave his 5 reasons, each of which could
be well debated and beaten, for ousting Saurav Ganguly at this point of time. A man
who himself does not have basic manners and dignity to respect the public in a democratic
country (the incidence where he made indecent gesture at a group of Saurav fans) and then
does not have the guts to accept his wrong doing (him denying making that gesture) was
given more importance than a man who gave the best 15 years of his life to this nation,
and brought home never before glory and success to the nation as far as cricket was concerned.

Now my intent in writing this is not that i am a die hard fan of Saurav Ganguly, but as an
Indian when i think and analyse this whole episode it raises this Question, that Is it a
Sin to be a Hero in Indian Cricket ?

.....I leave this Question to be answered by all u indians who felt proud everytime india
won in the last 5 years of Saurav's Captaincy.

-*-
a hurt Indian Cricket Fan

What will it take to root out Corruption

It is still amazing how we got this far in a short span of 15 years since privatization began in earnest. Our middle class has expanded dramatically during this period, the economy growing at 7% rate, one of the best in the world. The improvement is seen is various sectors, from Information Technology, telecommunications, media, high tech, Agriculture, manufacturing, natural resouce excavation and so on. The GDP has grown year after year. Regardless of those boring statistics and numbers what really matters is the improvement in average lives of our citizens. Having said that, imagine India with just two things gone

1. Corruption
2. hoarding money/gold and other valuables under the mattress

Man we can give some real fight to the Chinese who are clearly way ahead of us. I think we need the following

1. Instill a sense of real patriotism in all Indians. If you love your country more than your self interest, you would not steal from it. A large section of our people have become greedy beyond imagination and steal from the rest of us. The next question is how do we do that and that's where my next point comes in.

2. Cleanup the political system. The ultimate goal of this process is to allow well meaning leaders to emerge from the pack. Hey we have billion people and I'm sure there is no shortage of good leaders who would lead us out of this mirage. We need the kind of leaders we had during independence, selfless, dedicated to the well being of all Indians who can effectively communicate with our people, appeal to all those good men and women who have decency and instill that sense of patiotism for the larger goal. Band of leaders who have vision to compete at the global scale, work with our business leaders to grow the economy and so on.

Our current political parties are broken beyond repair. It encourages patriarchical system where people with long history of being in politics are shuffled up the chain and become leaders. It needs to be dynamic and encouraging of newer blood. The parties need to be open and accountable.

*** In short, a refined, dynamic and forward looking political parties are key to promoting new breed of leaders who in turn can guide the country out of this mess. It will take time but it's got to be done.

REMEMBER TOGETHER WE CAN AND WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Why We Need A Non-Indian Mindset...??

Two of the most influential persons in the Indian scenario are those with a Non-Indian mindset !! I am talking about Sonia Gandhi & Greg Chappel. And are we glad it is so ?

Let’s see what they have done differently which does not match with the ‘Indian” way of doing things…….

Sonia Gandhi :

Ø Gives up the top post of the country. Where the post of a village panchayat head is enough to provoke murders, where self proclaimed sanyasins cry hoarse after power, it was a refreshing change !! Stayed away from Politics 91-96 period when her party was bent on making her PM after her husbands death.

Ø Did not thrust her son/daughter into prominence by force. The daughter steadfastly remains out of active politics, son starts at 32 and still not given any position of power in government or even the party. Preferring to let him learn the ropes in his constituency.

Ø Asks her party ruled states for austerity and ministers to give up perks & the flashing red lights on their cars. The very reason for Indian politicians to take up politics as a profession.

Ø Does not stoop to personal name calling while campaigning.

Ø Does not interfere into government affairs & limits herself to party & coalition coordination despite the knowledge of her own immense power.



Greg Chappel :



Ø A very professional approach to the game. Focus on discipline & training paramount in achieving the defined targets.

Ø Does not mind taking on the big names of cricket both on & off the field.

Ø Is away from regional / parochial considerations while selecting the team.

Ø Is not shy of experimentation even if it means taking cricketers out of their comfort zone.

Ø Making the cricketers understand the mantra “ Perform or Perish”.



The prospects of our country under the leadership of the PM ( with support from his party Chief) as well as the prospects of the Indian Cricket team are looking up. Some of their no-nonsense approach has rubbed of their colleagues which bodes well for us.

Cricket 2005 Awards

2005 has gone and it is time to relook at the whole year and give some awards to those who really deserve it.

Playing Truant all through the year : You guessed it right. No scope for argument here. The gold medal here goes to Dada.

Foot in the mouth champion : Who else but Kiran More. No need to explain why he is getting this.

Quote of the year : “Sourav is selected as all rounder and hence we decided not to select Zaheer”

Groundsman of the year : Prabir Mukherjee – for preparing a green top at Edens for the ODI against SA.

Newsmaker of the year : Well ! The honor goes to Sourav. Pages and pages of newspaper columns, blog after blog (even something as strange as 'I hate sourav ganguly.com'), hours of panelists pouring over for and against opinions and even figuring in corporate case studies of the firm run by Harsha.

Most sportive crowd in a cricket ground : You guessed it again. It is the Eden crowd that choose to cheer SA rather than India.

Master planners of the year : The BCCI brain wave that scheduled a Chennai ODI during rainy season and as if not to be outdone by this smart move, then shift the 3^rd test venue to the 1^st test venue so that falls right during hurricane season.

Most Consumer friendly : TNCA refusing to refund the money back to ticket holders who hardly saw a ball bowled for over 4+1 days.

Outsmarting rivals : The two rival groups in Delhi cricket associaton – one puncturing the sight screen tires and the other removing some useful screws from the Supper Sopper.

Reenact another sport in a cricket ground : This award goes to the rival factions of Himachal cricket association – for renacting world wide boxing championship, in picturesque Dhamasala.

Spring a surprise, when least expected : Emergence of Pondicherry cricket association, during BCCI election.

Leaving things ambiguous : This peculiar liking for grey color is a common trend thro’ the corridors of the erstwhile BCCI. The award is given for the splendid act of making the whole coaching staff of Indian team work for almost an year without a contract.

Maximizer : This award goes to Parhiv Patel. He hardly did a thing worth mentioning in domestic cricket and is currently down with viral fever but is still selected for the Pak tour (he kind of re-enacted his World cup act of amazing a fortune without lifting a finger in a single match).

Swiftest act This award goes to the new powers of BCCI for sacking the 3 selectors who backed Sourav, seconds after taking over the power.

Most boring commentary team : The verbal diarrhea during the whole SL series is forcing me to give this award to entire TV commentary team.

Life Is About Taking

The following is an article by Dayo Olomu is a UK-based motivational Speaker, Writer, Business/Life Coach, Trainer, Media Entrepreneur and Competent Toastmaster. His core belief is that we are all endowed with seeds of greatness, and his mission is to help individuals and organisations achieve their full potentials. He is the author of best selling "4 Indispensable Strategies for Success" and the President of Croydon Communicators Toastmasters.

“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new." Brian Tracy

Have you seen a successful person who is not a risk taker? I dont think there is any because one of the attributes that got them to the top is their ability to take risks.

What separates achievers from ordinary folks is their willingness to take optional as well as necessary risks. For example, lets assume I have a good job. I enjoy it and earn enough to get by. Im not rich, but comfortable. Suddenly I receive a new job offer. The job comes with much more responsibilities and a significant increase in salary. What shall I do? If I join the new company, how do I know I will like my boss and co-workers? What if I cant handle the responsibilities? What if Im found incompetent and fired? What if after losing my new job, I cant find another one? Should I risk my present security? Some people would say no. "No, it isnt worth losing your security. If you take the new job, lose it, cant find another one, and cant pay your mortgage, youll lose your house. And then, your wife will probably divorce you."

My own life is about taking risks. I started my career in the entertainment industry in Nigeria by gatecrashing into the launching of Tera Kotas album where I met the whos who in the entertainment industry when I was 17. Since then I have become a calculative gambler and a realistic risk taker. I have left many certainties for uncertainties and that has enabled me to grow very well. Life is all about taking risks; we should be willing to take risks every day. Whether you drive, take public transportation, or walk to work, you are risking getting into an accident. Every time you go to sleep, you risk not waking up! But you go ahead and do it anyway.

My role models are risk takers; they are common people doing uncommon and extraordinary things. They often sow the seeds of revolution - and not just once or twice but time after time. They dared to be different because they took the road less travelled. They are my inspiration and I get energy from them.

The reason why a lot of people refuse to take risk is that they do not want to move from their comfort zone. They love the security of their comfort zone.

People who think like that dont understand what true security is. Security can never depend on outside circumstances. It only comes from within. If I stay with my present job, wheres the security? Cant I lose it due to corporate downsizing? (Thats happened to me.) Even if Im indispensable, what if the company I work for goes bankrupt? (Thats happened to me too.) On the other hand, if I were used to taking risks, I would have built an inner strength, become resilient and learnt the ability to cope in tough circumstances. Those who refuse to take risks to protect their security willingly live in cages, trapped by their own fears. If we desperately want to fly, we will be willing to give up being a caterpillar. Turtles cant advance without sticking their necks out and we cant either.

As we try new things, we become more confident and develop a better self-image. If thats all there is to it - if a little step outside your comfort zone is all it takes to grow and improve- then why dont more people do it? What makes that little step so difficult? The answer is simple; we dont like pain.

The moment you leave your comfort zone, you experience pain and discomfort. Since all positive changes take place outside the comfort zone, change is painful. The very moment most people feel the pain; they pull back inside the comfort zone. The life in the comfort zone may become a life of regret. Perhaps, we may regret that we did not do the things we wanted to do. Regret is a killer.

The statement "no pain, no gain," has been perverted, criticized and labelled as nonsense. The people doing the criticising are almost always "comfort zoners" who havent achieved much with their lives.

Brian Tracy says, "90% to 95% of people will withdraw to the comfort zone when what they try doesnt work. Only that small percentage, 5 or 10 percent, will continually improve themselves; they will continually push themselves out into the zone of discomfort, and these are always the highest performers in every field."

You have to risk failure and try new things. I have met so many people who were always taught to play it safe. And guess what? They are playing it safe, leading, as the quote says, "Lives of quiet desperation." It is the people who risk failures and try new things that change the world and lead the lives they want to!

A BRAIN TEASER....

A man was walking along a road...till he comes to a fork.
One road leads to safety...the other to death.

Each road is guarded by an elf...a set of identical twins.
One twin ALWAYS says the truth...the other ALWAYS lies.
We dont know which twin is guarding which road.

The man is permitted to ask any one twin only ONE question...and save himself,
and choose the road to safety.

What would be the one question the man would ask...and save himself??

Readers...if any of you know the answers...could you guys
please hold your horses??

Will post the solution later in the day.....meanwhile ....hope you are
getting your thinking caps on??

Here cometh the SOLUTION guys:

The man walks up to any one twin...he still doesnt know who is who...asks...“If I asked your twin brother which is the road to safety, what wd he say?“

FUNDA: Supposing the twin addressed is Mr Truth...he will point to the road leading to Death coz he knows his brother always lies.

Supposing the twin addressed is Mr Liar...he ought to point to the road to safety...but u see...he always lies...so he too will point to Death.

If the man sorts this out...he takes the other road to Safety!!

Thank you '05

When i look back i can see, what the year gave to me.
There were moments of joy, there were moments of fear and
there were moments of tears.
Each special in its own way, with each passing moment i grew stronger,
with each passing moment i realized what i wanted in life.
With the ups and the downs, the highs and the lows.
The passing year taught me many lessons, of courage
determination and faith.
As await for a new Sunrise, bidding adieu and silently saying,

“ Thank you '05 ''

The Year that saw Tomorrow

Every year has a signature. And 2005 saw entertainment
turn interactive.

Small-town India’s untapped energy and suppressed ambitions
suddenly burst forth on small screans like Janet Jackson’s you
know what.

Programmes such as Indian Idol and fame gurukul turned viewer
into real articipant observers.

Thanks to moblile phones,the new empowered audience could
make or mar a contestant.

Ask Ludhiana’s former house painter –turned-singer Ravinder Ravi
who now charges over 50000/-.

But the audience is not changing other’s life only.

It was getting a slice of the money pie as well.

For millions, shows like KBC AND DIAL ONE AUR JEETO
held out that one despaprate chance to stop bothering about the
money pay cheque.

Operation majnu has scarred Meerut.

Multiplexes are the new entertainment parks for lovers who
don’t even dare speakto each other bin public .

On weeday afternoon , the nearly empty auditoriums often
turn into loveseats where teenagers do what the hormones
ask them to.

DINNER DATE

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another
woman out todinner and a movie. She said,
"I love you, but I know this other woman loves
you and would love to spend some time with you.
"The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit
was my MOTHER, who has beena widow for 19 years,
but the demands of my work and my three children had
made it possible to visit her only occasionally.That night
I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.
"What'swrong, are you well?" she asked.
My mother is the type of woman who suspectsthat a late
night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.
"Ithought that it would be pleasant to spend some time
with you," I responded."Just the two of us."
She thought about it for a moment, and then said,
"Iwould like that very much."That Friday after work, as
I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous.When
I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed
to be nervousabout our date. She waited in the door
with her coat on. She had curled herhair and was wearing
the dress that she had worn to celebrate her lastwedding
anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant
as anangel's. "I told my friends that I was going to go out
with my son, and theywere impressed," she said, as she
got into the car. "They can't wait to hearabout our meeting.
"We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was
very nice and cozy.My mother took my arm as if she
were the First Lady. After we sat down, Ihad to read
the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half
way throughthe entries, I lifted my eyes and saw
Mom sitting there staring at me. Anostalgic smile
was on her lips. "It was I who used to have to read
the menuwhen you were small," she said. "Then it's
time that you relax and let mereturn the favor,"
I responded.During the dinner, we had an agreeable
conversation - nothing extraordinarybut catching up
on recent events of each other's life. We talked so
muchthat we missed the movie.As we arrived at
her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again,
butonly if you let me invite you." I agreed. "
How was your dinner date?" askedmy wife when
I got home. "Very nice. Much more so than I could
haveimagined," I answered.A few days later, my
mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened
sosuddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything
for her. Some timelater, I received an envelope with a
copy of a restaurant receipt from thesame place
mother and I had dined. An attached note said: "
I paid this billin advance. I wasn't sure that
I could be there; but nevertheless, I paidfor
two plates - one for you and the other for your
wife. You will neverknow what that night meant
for me. I love you, son."At that moment,
I understood the importance of saying in time:
"I LOVE YOU" and to give our loved ones the
time that they deserve.Nothing in life is more
important than your family. Give them the timethey
deserve, because these things cannot be put off till "some other time."

Smart Little Girl !

One day a 6 year old girl was sitting in a classroom.
The teacher was going to explain evolution to the children.

The teacher asked a little boy:

TEACHER: Tommy do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Tommy, do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you can see the sky.
TOMMY: Okay. (He returned a few minutes later) Yes, I saw the sky.
TEACHER: Did you see God?
TOMMY: No.
TEACHER: That's my point. We can't see God because he isn't there. He doesn't exist.

A little girl spoke up and wanted to ask the boy some questions.

The teacher agreed and the little girl asked the boy:

LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yessssss (getting tired of the same questions by this time).
LITTLE GIRL: Did you see the sky?
TOMMY: Yessssss
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the teacher?
TOMMY: Yes
LITTLE GIRL: Do you see her brain?
TOMMY: No
LITTLE GIRL: Then according to what we were taught today in school, she must not have one!

"FOR WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT"

Are BPOs safe for women?

Pratibha Srikanth Murthy, an employee of the business process outsourcing arm of Hewlett Packard in Bangalore, was raped and murdered by the driver of the company-commissioned cab she was travelling in on her way to work in the wee hours of Tuesday.

This has sent shivers down the spine of BPO workers and the Indian IT industry.

Women account for about 40 per cent of the 350,000 call centres employees in India. IT sector bodies, politicians and the police have now urged companies to offer better security to BPO workers.

I dont think that women employees in call centres are given adequate security. Ther must be some better ways to ensure better safety of BPO workers.

Should women work night shifts? Or the Bangalore murder is just a one-off incident of crime?
Do comment.
Remember together we can and we will make a difference.