Randomness Unlimited

On Death

2011-11-19T19:49:00.001+05:30

RIP Varunie. We'll miss you. What follows is something I wrote at the beginning of this semester three months ago, on the occasion of another death. I think this is a good time to read it again.

Dear First-Year Student,

Two weeks into the semester and I’m sure you feel like hell. I know I did. Worry not. This will pass. And if it doesn’t, you will learn to push the feeling down into a locker which is rarely opened. But I will come back to that. Let me begin by telling you why I am writing this letter to you.

A little while ago, I heard that one of your friends was found hanging from the fan this evening, his body limp and his neck broken. I was standing with some classmates when the news was broken to us. After the initial period of shock and asking for details, there were a few seconds of awkward silence. Everyone tried extremely hard to appear solemn. Then someone cracked a joke and there was nervous laughter. The tension eased. Conversation filled the silence. Someone took out a cigarette and in a few minutes, we were all sitting in Village Cafe, a hookah parlour just outside the main gate. Everything was so normal that it was hard to believe that anything of significance had happened in our lives for a long time.

I started writing this letter after I got a call from a friend. She had just heard the news and was sobbing uncontrollably into the phone. Her voice was hollow and filled with disbelief. As I tried to calm her down, she kept asking me one question: why did he do it? Why, indeed? It’s possible we shall never know. And it was at this point that I was suddenly filled with revulsion at myself and decided that this letter had to be written.

Every year, lots of students like yourself join this institute. Many have dreams. Many have ambitions. Many have hopes for the future. They look ahead to the next four years hungrily and with enthusiasm. Having finally reached the hallowed land, they have every right to feel pleased with themselves. I was like that and if you are like that, I hope you remain this way. Because the years ahead are going to be difficult and fraught with choices which will determine your opinion of yourself.

A lot of people will tell you what to do here. Not all of them will have your best interests at heart. Human beings are a competitive lot but always remember that at the end of the day, the race is long and only with yourself. Do not follow the crowd. It usually degenerates into a mindless stampede with everybody running at top speed without knowing where the finish line is or what the reward is. Before you do anything, spend a couple of minutes to think about why you’re doing it because a human being who doesn’t think is a machine. Machines. You’d think that at an engineering college, they would play an important part in your life. They do. But alas, not in the way you think. Emotions are often what define a person and it is these very emotions that to-be-engineers seem to lack, thus giving them the appearance of machines clothed in human skin. I’ve been as guilty of it as many others and I hate myself for it. As I cruelly discovered today, most people don’t care about anything that doesn’t affect them. Hardened to all external pain or pleasure, we plod on through life oblivious to the many wonderful and terrible things that go on in this world.

Please do not aspire to become like us. Please do not create the locker I mentioned earlier. Be open and free with your emotions. If something hurts you, react angrily. If something pleases you, react happily. Don’t just see the world around you, look at it. There’s so much to do and learn and enjoy and feel that it’s really quite a wonderful place. All you have to do is keep your head in the right place and be proud of your heart before you realize they’re both gone.

Welcome to IIT Delhi.

Third-Year Student

The Warmest of the Four Temperate Seasons

2011-05-20T00:34:00.004+05:30

Five months have passed since I last visited you. There were times when I didn’t think of you for days on end. There were times when I longed to see you again. But now that you’re in front of me again, it’s as if time has stood still all along. The good ol’ days that were come rushing back to me. Maybe there’s a few more yet in store for us. When all of Them left me, one by one, you were there. Now all of Them have long been replaced and you’re still there. You are my comfort zone, my sense of security and the rock on which I shall build my magnificent edifice. Ah, home.

It’s been a funny semester, one upon which I can fully reflect only from a distance. I could try writing a oh-so-nice-I-had-so-much-fun-with-all-of-you recollection (a la Abhilasha or Suyash) but that wouldn’t do justice to the subtleties and nuances of the moments that mattered and so I shall contain myself to a few lines. Feel free to sigh in boredom, disregard them completely and click on the little X sitting pretty in the top right corner of your screen.

I’ve always said that even semesters can be neatly divided into seasons: cultural, political, party and oh-my-god-I-need-to-study. For better or for worse, I was actively involved in all of these and consequently, time flew.

I didn’t eat very much. I became thinner than before, leaving my family utterly puzzled. I participated. I won. I lost. I learnt that neither is entirely in your hands. I met some new people and made some good friends. I read and talked and thought and philosophised and debated and brooded and reflected and questioned. I dreamt. I stood for what I believed in, but what I believed in didn’t always stand for me. I reached a new level of calm, even as storms raged and subsided. I didn’t study very hard and I’m thankful for that. I should have written more. I partied. I distracted myself with the details, so as to ignore the picture itself.

Life’s been good to me since college closed down for the summer. An impromptu trip to Rishikesh was an encouraging experience because it upheld my faith that if you try hard enough, you’ll get what you want (for those who don’t know, I’ve been trying to organize such a trip for months now). The rafting there was fun, although I found Taos more challenging. It was my first encounter with that enchantress, Ganga, and her charm worked till I reached Haridwar, at which point I decided that she wasn’t my type anymore.

One of the highlights of the trip was a session of long-awaited fun called Pushing Random Buttons On Shrey’s Camera And Hoping To Get A Classic Picture. No seriously, that is what you did the first time you held a ‘professional’ camera too. Professionalism notwithstanding, it was very enjoyable and very importantly, it convinced me to spend the extra bucks and finally invest in a good camera of my own. It should be here this weekend and I'll tell you more about it then.

My idea of a still from 'Waiting for Godot'

Two lost souls, Swimmin' in a fish bowl

The summer ahead looks so promising I’m scared the expectation will let me down at all the wrong times. I have a lot of travelling lined up – Singapore, Delhi, Ladakh, Bombay – with a few more impromptu trips in the pipeline (No, it’s not an oxymoron). I’m also working on a couple of literature papers, about which I’m really excited! And so, I’m doing a lot of reading and that suits me just fine. Trust me when I say nothing in this world beats the combination of a good book, a free afternoon and something to munch on. Nothing.

Aside from all of this, being a member of IIT Delhi’s SIFE team, I’m looking ahead to the SIFE Competition on June 25th. I’m also on the marketing team for Rendezvous 2011 (our annual college fest) and hopefully, I will be able to make a useful contribution or two!

So that’s that. With any luck, this should be the Best Summer Ever.

An Odeling

2011-05-12T10:29:00.000+05:30

Tamater, Tamater
Be my alma mater
Better you shall be
Than the IIT.

Of Conscience

2011-05-11T00:47:00.001+05:30

Suppose you owned a little grey marble, the size you can keep in your pocket at all times. When you bought it, you played with it, got bored of it and tossed it into a drawer rarely opened. Many weeks later, you open that drawer again to find that there's now a white marble sitting there. You know you put a grey marble there, but put down the difference to a faulty memory and since you have bigger things to attend to, the marble is absentmindedly slipped into your pocket again. At a party that evening, you get very drunk and in this inebriated state, you say a lot of not-so-nice things to lots of people, most of them good friends. When you wake up the next morning and empty your pockets, you find a black marble. Puzzled, you keep the marble with you the whole day and keep checking it at different times to find that its color keeps changing. Sometimes black, sometimes white and sometimes a shade in between. This continues for a few days before it hits you. The little marble mirrors your conscience. When you do something good, it turns a brighter shade and when you do something not-so-good, it turns a darker shade. This way, a white marble indicates a highly virtuous act, while a black marble just the opposite. The grey areas are still the grey areas.

Now, ask yourself a question. If you owned such a marble, would it change anything about you? Would it affect your behavior or the way you lived your life?

For most people, I think the answer to the above question would depend on the nature of the morality of the marble. If it changed color by judging my actions on the basis of my virtues, I would pay heed to it. But if the judgement was based on an external set of virtues and vices, chances are that it would remain in that drawer, dusty and forgotten.

I think of this after reading Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. The book is wonderful and it's a pity Wilde never wrote any other complete novels. It quite brilliantly raises some very interesting questions about morality and conscience. If one knew what one's conscience felt, would it matter?

Of Preachers

2011-02-06T21:45:00.004+05:30

Preachers. I never did like them. They talk too much. And refuse to listen. Get off your soapbox and open your eyes.

I have nothing against opinion. Opinion is good. Opinion is necessary. Opinion leads to awareness and vice-versa. It's a good circle which should be run through several times. And it's a circle which gets more refined through good debate and dialogue. An open-minded person stands to gain the most out of a conflict of opinions. The problem starts when the mind starts to shut its doors and resort to the comfort of familiarity. Any unfamiliar thought or belief is hurriedly diverted away from the doors, lest it enter and move the slowly-gathering-dust furniture.

This situation is exacerbated when this person decides that the equilibrium inside has reached a level of perfection, because then he starts preaching. He starts enforcing opinion. He believes his is the only right. His debate becomes propagandist and his dialogue an overbearing string of words which seeks to overrun any who dare to defy. His rants become embarrassing to anyone with any modicum of sense, so he turns to the blind and claims to show them light.

Blind people, open your eyes because his light is dark. Don't borrow opinions, make them. Just like babies :)

The Darker Picture

2011-02-01T00:40:00.006+05:30

When you sit down to write something, blank space is very disturbing. It just sits there, waiting to be filled with the tangled mess you call your thoughts. And then, it pierces your consciousness and takes over until the blankness extends to you too. This is why I fail to write more than one post every fortnight.

Life has been a curious mixture of good, bad and ugly this semester. Good, because I've been keeping myself busy with lots of different things, which are superficially useful enough. Bad, because that's taking me away from doing things that I want to do and the places I want to go as a person. Ugly, because that's what I foresee in the weeks ahead...

Change and Reinvention. Twin concepts that have weighed heavily on my mind over the past week. You can't categorise them as uniformly good or uniformly bad. Context is very important. Or is it? As I see it, reinvention is changing your perception of yourself. As I've been memorably told, 'Life is a constant learning process'. You gotta keep exploring yourself. Push the limits. Never be in equilibrium with yourself. That's Reinvention. And that's good.

Everyone has a darker side, waiting to emerge from the shadows, including you. Let it come out. Play with it. Talk to it. Listen to it. It will help you more than a thousand sugary compliments from your naive well-wishers.

If dark it be

I help you see

Then you and me

Will set us free

Of Wishes

2011-01-09T02:44:00.001+05:30

Yesterday, I turned 19. As Dad reminded me, I now begin the last of my teenage years. He followed that up by saying that your twenties are the best time of your life so I shouldn’t despair about old age just yet. Then again, when I turned 13, he said that the teenage years were the best part of life. Looks like we just keep going uphill and then somewhere, the track starts leading downhill but we don’t realise it till it’s too late. On the whole, it was a low profile birthday although Karan and Mayank did give me a nice surprise at the stroke of half past twelve (that half hour was spent in the bathroom, because my system refused to listen to me and ignored all pleas from the upper body) with an array of gifts and a very colorful card, which doesn’t wish me a happy birthday anywhere, but the message it does convey more than makes up for that!

Birthdays (like everything else) have changed over the years. A lot of people treat birthday wishes as an obligation that needs to be fulfilled and when 127 people wish you on your Facebook Wall, you know that a lot of them are doing it simply because they have too much time on their hands along with an internet connection. The ones that make the effort to message/call are always much more appreciated.

It’s been a good week in totality – Shivalik finally got somewhere in a quizzing event (most of that has to do with the fact that for the first time, IIT saw a quiz where music featured prominently). I think this result is more motivating than the combined effect all of the discussions I’ve had with people over the past year! Even semesters are always more fun when it comes to extracurricular activities, so here’s hoping for more positive results…

Of New Year's Eve and All That Jazz

2011-01-01T02:51:00.006+05:30

All that jazz. A term which is suddenly popping up everywhere. I like it, so I think I’ll adopt it. Use it till everyone’s sick and tired of it before moving on to the next one.

New Year’s Eve must be the most hyped day of the year. If you have a hip-and-happening South Delhi/South Bombay party to attend, awesome! We’re then looking at a bunch of sophisticated, well-dressed (at least initially) people who act like each other’s clones but as the night progresses, the alcohol bottles get drained, the sophistication peels off and the dark underbelly of Urbania is revealed in all its glory. However, if you’re like me and didn’t have the chance to attend one of these show-off social gatherings, chances are you spent the night with family, either content and satisfied or hating every minute of it. I have strong childhood memories of the latter, but this time I opted for the former.

It’s been a strange year. I was supposed to learn Spanish, but I never got beyond the alphabet (which incidentally trumps the alphabet of any other language). I now have juniors, which is a little disconcerting. I made a CV for the first time and realised that there’s too much white space. I realised that neither engineering nor corporate life are for me. I met some new people, but lost touch with others. I loved, and lost. I got to know my parents a little better. I realised that talking about music all the time is mind-numbing – we’d all much rather listen to it. I was supposed to travel, but that never worked out.

What probably shaped my life the most in the past year was Delhi. I tried to know her. She was hostile at first. But I understood her. I explored her. And I learnt to love her for what she is. Every city has its soul and I think I discovered Delhi's. I won't disgrace it by attempting to explain it, but I finally feel like she's accepting me. Slowly, but surely. As we step into the next stage of our relationship on a cold winter's night, I think she's beautiful.

And finally, no talk of New Year’s Eve is complete without a mention of those oh-so-righteous-but-impossible-to-uphold resolutions. I usually don’t make any. But like every other year, I want 2011 to be a Year Of Change And Betterment and so I've made plenty. That way, even if I fail one or two straight away, I can fall back upon the easier ones.

Three hours after midnight is definitely the most peaceful time of the night. Have a great year, folks. Tell me what your resolutions are so that I can (pretend to) console you when you break them. Bet they last longer than mine.

A Sojourn with Indian Railways

2010-12-27T21:01:00.002+05:30

A few paragraphs out of my travel journal (the one I always start but never maintain).

4:32 PM - As I start this post, I stand at the station of Bijrotha. Surprisingly, my phone has detected traces of a local network in the middle of nowhere (in the modern world, there’s nowhere you can’t receive messages from marketeers selling sauna belts) and some quick Googling reveals that it’s on the railway line from Bhopal to Jhansi. All of this is significant because I’m on a train from Bombay to Delhi and I was supposed to be reaching there right now, after taking into account a 6 hour departure delay. And this on Rajdhani, India’s supreme train.

7:39 PM - Goodbye Jhansi and good riddance!

For the uninitiated, we stood outside Jhansi for two hours before finally making our way into the station. Quite obviously, people aren’t very happy. Ironically, they’ve been responsible for keeping me entertained for the better part of the day with their constant complaining, cussing and cribbing. Your quintessential pessimist has blamed the Indian Railways, Mamata Bannerjee, the Congress, China and his own children for our situation, before turning on the old favourite, the ‘system’, trashing democracy and calling for all politicians and bureaucrats to be jailed or executed. If only all of our lives were that simple, eh?

My day hasn’t been as boring as you might think. I’ve cherished a day time train journey for a long time and while this wasn’t quite how I imagined it, it hasn’t been unpleasant. As the rest of my family snored away for most of the afternoon, I made the most of some empty seats, a good book and plenty of time. It’s a very strong childhood memory – sitting in a train, admiring the sights going by, getting off at every station to buy hot yummies and rapidly getting through a good novel. And so, today was nostalgic...

... but at the end of the day, I am missing a great party which I’ve been looking forward to all vacation long. Not the ideal way to spend Christmas. Oh well! Merry Christmas to all of you folks. Let the festivities get to you, have a great time and be glad you didn’t spend the whole day in a train!

11:57 PM - Reaching Agra in 10 minutes. That’s the message we’ve been getting for the past hour. The fog has settled in but there’s just too much smoke in it to call it pretty. Everyone’s fallen asleep for the second time this journey and when you’re served bananas for dinner, you know something is seriously wrong. Met a Gujju kid (they’re everywhere, aren’t they?) who said he loses 30-0 whenever he plays FIFA. Just to rub it in, I made him watch me demolish Real Madrid with my Dream Team Barcelona line-up. It’s amazing how much fun it is to do the same thing, over and over and over again!

As Christmas comes to a close, we’re officially into festivity week and how do I celebrate this annual occurrence? Watching a cockroach crawl into my co-passenger’s ear (I swear this happened) while he sleeps open-mouthed, drooling all over the place. Not a pretty image.

We finally reached at 07:00 AM the next morning (a total delay of 20 hours), tired and hungry and disgusted and (insert similar adjective). Have a good festive season.

Of Escape

2010-12-20T23:54:00.003+05:30

A frank confession. I haven’t had a great holiday. In fact, it’s been quite terrible. I can go into the reasons, but I’d rather not. What I will take from it is the discovery of television as a useful medium to block everything else out. There have been numerous occasions when frustration has gotten the better of me and I’ve found solace in the ‘idiot box’. I now know why it’s called that – you sit there and scan the channels and finally pick something and all the while you’re sitting there and watching, you aren’t really paying attention at all. Your mind is somewhere else, thinking of a hundred other things. But the visual medium is so distracting that you are able to lose yourself in it, despite the hundred other things. And then you just sit there, like an idiot. Numb in the head. Running away from everything that seems scary in the world outside.

Running away. I never did think of myself as an ‘escapist’. Sure, there was a period when I thought it was ‘cool’ and in my head, I toyed with the concept. But that was a phase. As it turns out, it’s a phase I never got over. Hard work has never been my thing (At this point, a normal Indian would jump up triumphantly and say that I’m lying; I got into IIT, which implies hard work is totally my thing. To him I say, a rat just runs without thinking. He’s not capable of conscious decision making. The more rats you put behind him, the faster he runs) and that’s left me with a terribly short attention span when it comes to doing things I don’t enjoy immediately.

A holiday is supposed to be a break from the pace of college life. A time when you just sit back and laze around, meet old friends, spend time with the family and get set for the next session of Rat Race. I’ve been busy doing nothing. There are people I should have called, things I should have done, places I should have gone and a life I should have lived. But the escapist in me won out and I ran.

She

2010-12-19T21:40:00.001+05:30

Was experimenting with 3 line poetry at 3 am yesterday. The first one is free verse, the rest are haiku.

----

She wafts in with the evening breeze

Looks left and right and straight through me

A ghost from a time locked away

----

She came, but it rained

And the cold water still flowed

When she had long gone

----

Green was the grass when

The warm wind kissed her softly

And then played with her hair

----

On a dark, grey day

Counting the sand, grain by grain

We walked on and on

----

As she stops and stares

A mistake calls out to her

The memory fades

Of Principles and Trains

2010-12-19T11:30:00.006+05:30

I've seen plenty of people do a semester-review thing, like Arnab here, but after a couple of tries, I figured my semester hasn't been exciting enough to warrant an entire post. When I had just entered college, I would look up to my seniors and see them having a great time, seemingly without any worries at all. But one year older and one year wiser, nothing has changed. I'm still the same person.

However, one of the definite highlights of a boring few months was a few interesting discussions I had with Dad on a multitude of issues. We talked at length about my life, his life, where we were both headed and the like. Sounds like heavy stuff, but it didn't feel like it at the time. Anyhow, I won't bore you with the details, but one line from those talks stands out.

'You're like I was at your age - very idealistic, maybe even a little leftist'

It set me thinking. If only leftists are idealists, then most of this world is living a compromised life. And this just reaffirmed my belief that life should be lived as you want to, not as you have to. A lot of people have questioned this philosophy, but I'm going to stick to it. I'm reminded of a line I read recently in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

'... it might amuse you to know that I also have principles comparable to your ethics committee's. I call them Salander's principles...'

If you've read the book, you'll know what I mean.

It snowed in England this weekend and my life was ruined in India. For the first time, I had made plans well in advance to watch the Man United - Chelsea game but a blast of snow halfway across the world and I'm reduced to griping about it.

I remember making a pact with one of my close friends in class 8 - we were adopting football as our first love for the rest of our lives. 7 years later, as I look back upon that day (and rue yet another fading friendship) I think I can proudly say that I lived up to that pact (with the possible exception of a year in the middle, but that's over now). My weekend seems strange if there's no club football, so don't ever get me started on the topic of international friendlies.

As I sat twiddling my thumbs yesterday and despairing over my Fantasy Football team, I chanced upon a rarity on television these days - a good movie! The Taking of Pelham 123 was the perfect movie for the situation - gripping, intense and (almost) mindless. I've been watching too many train movies recently.

Trooping Back

2010-12-18T17:02:00.002+05:30

If you happen to chance upon this post, it's probably because I publicised it endlessly on Facebook while secretly hoping that I would get plenty of hits from loyal readers who have stuck by me all these days. I haven't blogged for a long time and as always, this post is inspired by another blog I read and liked.

Since the last time I updated this space, I have been accused (by different people) of not keeping in touch, being an elitist and not revealing my true nature to anyone. The last one intrigued me more than the other and when aforementioned person said I was an 'enigma', it set in motion a long chain of events which has culminated in this post in which I shall try and bare my soul. Bear with me.

The past few months haven't been the greatest of my life. On the surface, nothing seems to be wrong. I have friends, both in Delhi and Bombay. Academics have been looking up off late (well, as much as IIT allows anyway). I've been fairly involved in both quizzing and debating. I've found time to read plenty of books. I've watched a few movies I liked and a few I loved. A boycott of Bollywood means that I haven't seen a bad movie for a long time.

But, something has been lacking very acutely. I don't know where my life is headed or what I'm going to do with it, but I know for a fact that right now, it's not what I want it to be. But more on that in the days and weeks to come. For now, here's hoping I can maintain some sort of regularity as far as this blog is concerned.

Cheers

Follow?

2010-10-29T01:07:00.001+05:30

Follow your heart or follow your head? An age old question posed in various forms over the ages. There is no right answer though, is there?

In all my (admittedly few) experiences with life so far, I've realised one thing - what I want to do is never what they want me to do. Who's they? They is family, they is friends, they is peers, they is people I respect, they is all the unspoken and unseen parts of society I somehow seem to be offending. Every time I decide to follow my heart and break free of societal shackles, there is a gentle tap on my shoulder. When I turn around, there is a multitude of questions staring me in the face, chief of which always is 'Are you doing the right thing?' Accompanying these questions are the thousands of faceless people staring at me like zombies like I’ve committed a terrible crime and should be ostracized from society forever.

It's like I've broken free from the darkness of a dark tunnel onto a beautiful green hillside, but there is always something that draws me back to that dark underbelly of the earth, teeming with rats. The rat race is a really apt term, isn't it?

A lot of this probably stems from my own ego. Acceptance and satisfaction often go hand-in-hand, but think again. Do they really? Societal acceptance and fitting in with the rest (and often bettering them) might give you an ego boost, but at the end of the day, you're still a rat in the darkness. It's always a choice one has to make - a choice between doing what everyone's doing and doing it better than them or doing what one wants to, at the risk of ridicule. Not always an easy choice to make. As I said, follow your heart or follow your head? Because in life, there is no middle path.

On Notes of a Different Kind

2010-03-05T10:29:00.000+05:30

As I sit back on a lovely Wednesday morning (ah, the joy of holidays!) and contemplate just how well I can waste the day, I turn my iPod on shuffle. What followed was just perfect. Lovely, soothing notes from the saxophone of a certain Kenny G. Instrumental music is one of the truest forms of music and I'm always surprised at how it is belittled by people who know nothing about it.

You might be a die-hard fan of Metallica and Maiden. You might have flown across the country to go for the Rock In India concerts (which, this year, is the biggest sham in the history of music). You might be able to air-guitar your way through all of Hendrix's solos and match Plant's vocals note-for-note. Great! But if you know nothing about instrumental music, you don't have any right to look down upon it with the contempt and disgust one would show an Akon fan.

Nearly all of today's music has its roots in classical music. Some of the greatest rockers to live on this planet were classically trained. Without classical music, there would be no structure in music. The concept of beats would not exist. More than one performer on stage, and we'd have chaos. Music, in its modern form, would just not exist. So, it's very disheartening when you meet someone who lives on Linkin Park, has never heard Mozart or Bach and yet the very mention of classical music brings out a scornful laugh and a look that says 'Oh my god! You actually listen to that stuff? It's meant for octogenarians and hospital waiting rooms.'

The same reaction is afforded to more contemporary forms of instrumental music that doesn't involve drums or guitars. Jazz music has remained one of my favorite forms of music ever since I discovered it close to an year ago. It has such a soothing and calming effect on you - it just cools you down, no matter what your state of mind is. It is also very elaborate and the closer you listen, the more you appreciate the artist and his skill. The saxophone is one of the nicest sounding instruments and there's absolutely no way someone who's never even heard of it should have the right to cock a snook at it.

I don't have a problem if you've never heard Tchaikovsky or Art Blakey or Miles Davis. I have a problem if you, in all your cockiness and narrow-mindedness, having never heard them, treat them with utter disrespect and contempt. It may not be your kind of music, but it's bloody good all the same.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

2010-03-03T02:29:00.006+05:30

It definitely is an overused cliche, but how far is it true?

You might extol the virtues of friendship and undying love no end. You might believe that if someone is important to you, physical distance will not affect the relationship or your perception of aforementioned someone. You might will things to never change even as time comes by and sweeps you along. But the bare truth is that things do change. I change. You change. People change. Relationships change.

Every relationship needs effort if it's to work. It's also a two-way thing, a fact conveniently overlooked by many. Both people need to put effort into it. And sometimes, this just doesn't happen. The human ego is a very powerful enemy of the human being. It'll pick and discard people with a detachment you could only call artificial. If you've served your purpose in my life, wham! I don't need you anymore! Sure, we might have had a good time but in the end it's me that comes first and if keeping in touch with you is too much of an effort for me, I just wont do it.

Where there once used to be friends I could count upon for anything, there is now a gaping hole at the bottom of which are people I don't recognize anymore. Time and distance have reduced friendships that I could have sworn would last the test of time, to rubble. It's quite a potent combination, that. Time and distance. Distance and time. Individually, they're quite a weight. Together, they're unstoppable. Makes you sit back and wonder. What is the point of anything? Is there a point to anything? Everyone will go along his own path. Sometimes, this path criss crosses your own path, resulting in occasional happiness and good memories. People come and people go. But at the end of the day, you're on your own. No one's going to be with you till the very end. Every man has his own path. A path he often creates as he goes along. No two paths are ever the same, though.

Signing off on that very confused and sentimental note,

Trooper.

A Story of Women on Top

2010-02-26T12:28:00.004+05:30

I discovered Days In The Life Of... today morning as a result of immense boredom in the Computer Lab. It's one of the best blogs that I've read and my respect and admiration for SK has gone up exponentially after reading as much of it as I was able to in three quarters of an hour. And of course, whenever I find a new blog I like, I'm reminded of my own failure at this art of churning out rabble that people will read. And like every other time, today I decided to give my blog another shot. With that intent firmly set in my mind, I sat down to hammer out a hopefully-half-decent article that might appeal to someone other than aspiring porn stars, advertisers and bots (strangely enough, they were the only ones who ever frequented my now-defunct Twitter page too!)

Now, anyone who has ever written a blog will tell you that there are two major problems one faces while doing so - inspiration and inclination. With the latter sorted out, my mind now turned to the first. Drawing blanks but determined to put up an entry today, I turned to the newspaper, where the headline was controversial enough to 'inspire' a post. So here we are then.

The headline in question basically exclaimed that the stage is set for a 33% reservation for women in all Parliament and Assembly seats across the country. On further scrutiny of the article that followed, I realised that this proposal has been hanging in the balance for 14 years now but the road is finally clear for it to go ahead. This raised a lot of questions in my head as to the political motivations behind such a proposal and whether it would actually benefit anyone at all.

Women are the reason men do most things and it is an accepted (although seldomly admitted) fact that without them, humankind would be nowhere (which raises the question of where we are today but I'll leave that for another day) It's also fair to say that in India, they've been given a raw deal since the beginning of time itself. So if the people-in-charge want to do something for them, I think they deserve some credit.

The questions that I have concern both quality and quantity. Right now, women constitute 11% of the Lok Sabha and an even lower proportion of the state assemblies. From where are we going to produce the other 22% required to complete the stipulated one-third of the House? That comes up to about 125 women in the Lok Sabha - that's about six score more women who will be in charge of running our country. And this translates into the second bit of this question. Such a large influx of people into the highest decision-making body of the country at one time will lead to dilution of quality, if they are NOT the first choice of the people. The fact that there are only 59 women currently warming the benches of the Lower House indicates that is in indeed true. The people have NOT voted for women so far. Whatever the reason for this might be, forcing them to do so will dilute quality, especially if this move is carried out in one phase.

When you look at the larger picture though, things seem to make more sense. This move will lead to a higher demand for women in politics and that's not a bad thing at all. Right from the grassroot levels, the female population of society will become more involved with the running of the country and it is telling that before the general elections, the two most powerful people belonged to womankind. In the long run, the move seems like a good one.

I finally concluded that the success of this move depends on it's implementation. If it is carried out in phases, everyone wins. That gives society time to produce good women politicians. I don't for a minute doubt that there are talented women waiting for a chance; I think time is needed to convert raw talent into a more complete skill set. The finer details of this step will be a little messy for the Election Commission, but that's a bridge they'll have to cross once they get to it.

Memories

2010-02-05T12:40:00.003+05:30

Something I wrote before college began. It looks incomplete, but I think I'll leave it like it is.

I love memories. I think everyone does. And while we may not realise it then, we create awesome memories all the time. I have very clear memories of things that happened very long ago, and I think I'll remember them all my life. Very often, there's no reason for remembering a particular thing. Something strikes a chord somewhere inside you and it just sticks up there in one of the thousand folds of the brain. Usually, they are happy things - holidays, birthdays, special occasions - but there are few not-so-happy things which will stay with me too, and while the former are great to look back on, the latter give you another perspective on things. Now, as a person, I don't really believe in living in the past but sometimes, a quick scan of your brain can reveal things you'd never thought of earlier. There is a lot of stuff that has happened in the years gone by that I didn't like at the time. But now, they formulate the base of my childhood and these are the things I'll always have with me as I step out of school, into another world. I'm sure college will be as much fun, if not more but I couldn't really have asked for a better school life. I'm sure everyone feels the same way - almost everyone has fun at school! So here's to many more happy memories, which I can frame in my mind and then one day look back upon with a huge smile!

Police Stations.

2010-01-29T12:58:00.000+05:30

The police station. Scene of many-a-scene in the movies. Not always pretty scenes. Not always scenes that'll make you laugh and appreciate the beauty of life. No one likes police stations. They're dark and dingy and barren. In India, a police station is where the most criminal action takes place. The typical Indian police station is located in a crumbling building, which always looks too small to be impressive. There are paan stains all over the walls. The place smells of smoke. When you enter, you get venomous stares from the men in khaki, that read 'Disturb me today and I shall make your life hell.' Aye, police stations ain't for the faint hearted.

But I had to go there anyway. Something about a verification for getting a new passport made. I get my number and am told I'll have to wait for about an hour. Fair enough - if there aren't people wanting passports in Juhu, which is full of phoren-loving Gujjus, where will there be? When my turn does come, the police officer is very courteous and polite. He explains what needs to be done and then asks me for the required documentation. So far, so good. I'm very impressed with the system so far. My first trip to a police station isn't going to end up with me in lock-up after all. In the middle of all this, there's a large commotion outside and we hear some very juicy hindi gaalis. Apparently, there's been a fracas between some women and they're both brought to the police station and told to shut up before a policeman takes charge.

This is when things begin to get interesting. One of the women, accompanied by a mild-looking husband and a young boy, had a huge swollen eye and it was apparent that someone had beat her up bad. On the other side were two women and a little kid. Cursing, swearing, abusing, crying women in a police station. After being told to shut up repeatedly by the policemen (this is the right place to point out that there were only policemen; only one policewoman showed her face during the whole incident, and that too once) they told their respective sides of the story to the authorities and it seemed to all of us onlookers that the matter was being resolved the way it should be. So far, so good. But a while later, when two of them were ordered to enter the lock-up, all hell broke loose. The cursing and crying reached new highs in terms of volume and while one woman eventually conceded, the other held out.

What happened next was APPALLING. A policeman hit her FOUR time across her face and shoved her into the lock up. There were atleast SEVEN other authority figures watching impassively. No slightest expression of surprise. Forms were being filled, coffee being drunk, cash being handled all too loosely. All of which points to the fact that this is a NORMAL happening.

That doesn't reflect too well on society, does it? One woman went in with a swollen eye and two came out in that condition. The extreme lack of policewomen didn't help either and male ego showed it's ugly face. When this is the kind of treatment you get at a police station, why would you go there for justice in the first place? Even more shocking is the indifference of the onlookers. I tried saying something, but I was told to shut up and let the police do their job. Like this? Really?

I anticipate a lot of pessimistic, this-is-the-way-things-are, what-can-we-do type comments to this post. To them, I would like to say that I only wrote this because the experience shook me quite a bit. I'm only 18 and I'm not used to this. It may be commonplace but I don't think it's right. And I refuse to accept that nothing can be done about it.

The Indian print media just died.

2010-01-22T01:10:00.002+05:30

I realise I have digressed a lot from my original intentions while writing this article, but hopefully it still conveys the message I intended. There is a lot of anger in this one, and I have published the first draft, because edition will take the emotion out of it. So please excuse the ranting and raving.

The Haiti earthquake had a very profound impact on me. It have happened in another continent, on the other side of the world, in a country half the people I know had never heard of. But it served a purpose - it opened my eyes to a brazen abuse of power by the Indian print media. Let me explain.

Preliminary reports from Port-au-Prince (capital of Haiti, not very far from the epicentre of the earthquake) indicated that between 50,000 and 500,000 people could have been killed. There was plenty of monetary aid pouring in from all corners of the world, but actual activity on the ground was not enough. Money takes time to go through the channels before it is of any actual help - what is required on the spot is a more material kind of help - medicines, food, water - basic essentials in the aftermath of a disaster. And this aid was not reaching the people who needed it. Thousands of people perished under rubble, their cries going unanswered hour after hour, simply because there was no one who could hear them. In addition to all this, there was the usual worry of dacoits. A natural disaster is the perfect time for a thief to strike. There's loot to plunder all over town and everyone is too busy trying to save lives to be bothered about someone slipping a couple of antique pieces into his pocket. While all this is despicable, it is a topic for another day. What I wanted to point out to you is the dire situation in one of the poorest countries in the world.

Now, let me tell you something shocking. This earthquake did not even make the main headline of our national newspapers. It was sidelined to report a political scandal in our government. And if you think that's bad, it gets worse. Within two days, all news regarding the earthquake was OFF THE FRONT PAGE. And do you want to know what was apparently 'bigger' news? Fog in Delhi diverting flights. India winning a cricket match. Another political scandal. The latest Bollywood movie to hit screens. Our national newspapers devoted inches to these issues, but the 7th worst earthquake to hit our planet did not merit a mention.

Why? Why are we so self-centred and narrow-minded? When the whole world can unite in the event of such a terrible event, surely we can atleast keep our people informed? Does it matter which hemisphere the earthquake occurred in? Just because the people were of a different color, a different race, a different country, does it mean they aren't humans? When their bodies pile up in the streets without a proper burial, when their entire country is ravaged by nature's fury, should it not AFFECT US? Should it not prick your conscience that your life is still routine, while close to 200,000 people have just been wiped off the face of the earth? IS THE CRICKET MATCH STILL IMPORTANT?

I'm thoroughly disgusted with the Indian print media. When the tsunami occurred in South Asia, we covered it for months to come. When al-Qaeda hit the World Trade Center, we covered it for months. When Bombay was held ransom to terror and 175 people died, we fumed and raged and boiled and ranted and raved and screamed and cried and pitied and sympathised and worried and CARED. So why not show atleast one of these emotions for 200,000 dead people in Haiti? The sad truth is that the Indian media DOES NOT CARE. We are a materialistic, selfish country who only think of our own interests and nothing else. What do we have to gain from showing sympathy to the Haitians? Absolutely nothing. Then why bother? If there is a forest fire in California, we will pray for the souls of the 'poor, innocent victims.' If there is a hurricane in New Orleans, we will hear about it till hell freezes over. Why? Because it is to our advantage to suck up to the United States. It is to our advantage to report their news, to talk about them, to worry about their worries, to make it our business. It might work in our favour one day, if we have to sign a nuclear deal. We have to be indignant about the injustice nature has done to them - it doesn't matter if nature is ten times as unjust to anyone else. If there's nothing in it for India, INDIA DOESN'T CARE. And it isn't just the US - same applies for anyone whose ass we can lick to get what we want.

To me, this is the day the Indian print media died. And we just became a little more inhuman as a country. Sad, but true.

Does Obama deserve the Nobel Prize? YES.

2009-10-26T17:58:00.004+05:30

The Nobel Peace Prize has a long and controversial history. Henry Kissinger, Yaseer Arafat and Jimmy Carter are but a few of the recipients who have stirred emotions in the hearts of plenty around the world with their words and acts. This year, another name was added to the list – Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States.

His critics have plenty of ammunition in the war of words that surrounds the Prize. He had been in office for 11 days when the final list of nominees was prepared. The award seems to have been given on the basis of his potential, vision and hope for the future. It seems to have been given as a form of encouragement for the difficult tasks he has undertaken for himself. It also heaps a tremendous amount of pressure on a man who has raised expectations to such a high level that an above average first 10 months in office has critics baying for his blood and describing him as being ‘all hot air’.

He has raised the bar to such a high level that people don’t notice how much he has done for world peace. For the first time in a long while, the world is prepared to sit and talk about a solution to the various problems afflicting us. The focus has shifted from threats, standoffs and ultimatums to dialogue, communication and the willingness to work out a solution. All that is fine, you say, but what exactly has he DONE? Well, let’s see – entered serious negotiation with Russia, the oldest enemy, to reduce the nuclear arsenal present in the world, reverse previous decisions to set up military defence systems in Eastern Europe, which would have caused further tension, re-initiated negotiations with North Korea to shut down its nuclear weapons program instead of just pointing guns at their heads, begun negotiations with Iran about its nuclear enrichment program and extended a hand to the Muslim world in a major speech in a Muslim majority area. I’d say that doing all of that along with solving internal problems is not bad work for 10 months.

And this is the part the world refuses to understand. Obama is on the right path to world peace, but he cannot do it overnight. While world reform itself isn’t exactly everyone’s cup of tea, world reform in 10 months is definitely nobody’s cup of tea. Opening avenues of communication is the first and most difficult step in a long process that will make the world safer for you and me. If both parties are willing to listen, only then can there be results. Until now, the world was locked in stalemate. Things have finally begun moving and that must be appreciated for all it is worth.

Another line I’ve heard repeated countless times over the past few weeks is “Gandhi never got it. Has Obama done more than Gandhi where peace is concerned?”. The answer is no and we all know it. What everyone doesn’t know is that the Nobel Committee has admitted that ignoring the Mahatma despite his being nominated 3 times for the Prize is their single biggest mistake ever. You cannot compare Obama to the past recipients of the prize. While they include legends like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, they also include people like Wangari Maathai and Shirin Ebadi, who most people haven’t heard of. Are they the equals of Mandela and Tutu?

All in all, while it may not be the most universally appreciated Peace Prize awarded by the Committee, it is one deserved by the recipient, Barack Obama.

As A Wanderer

2009-08-18T16:12:00.000+05:30

I'm a wanderer. I've never lived in the same city for more than 4 years at a stretch, with the result that I've covered most of the Indian metros in my fledgling life of less than 18 years. Moving every few years has become a very normal event for our family, but now I'm at college to start an altogether new life. So I've been thinking back and ended up drawing comparisons with people who've never woken up outside of their home city.

For many people, the thought of leaving 'home' is unbearable. All areas more than 30 km away from the residence are considered alien and suitable only for holiday purposes. But within that area, they can tell you everything. Right from who's going out with who's ex-girlfriends to which tree was cut down 3 years ago to which cinema has the best popcorn. You also hear the occasional rueful tone of 'How things have changed in the last (insert number) years - this place was so green and quiet and now look at it'. Complain as much as they will, you know that they love it deep within, because they've never been anyplace else.

They say familiaity breeds contempt, but I think they just tell you half the story, because after the contempt stage, there's an acceptance stage when you slowly warm up to the idea and then the 'this is what I've always wanted' stage. Personally, I've never reached the last stage, but that could be to do with the fact that I don't know what I want. However, I know people who've reached the last stage in the sense of where they stay, their way of life, their social lives - it's a level of comfort you attain.

Like most other things, it has its pros and cons. And I'm going to talk just about the pros. Most importantly, you make some deep, deep bonds - material and non-material. You grow up to love the place. The road that runs behind your house might be called a 'dark dingy street to be avoided at night' but to you, it'll always be the place for football skill showdown evenings. The dusty shop at the corner maybe perceived as shady by passersby but to you it's the source of all the chewing gum in the world. There's a personal connect with most things - you have happy memories, sad memories, funny memories, scary memories - it's a whole mix. But as time passes, you cling on to them even more - the happy ones become perfect, the sad ones get dulled by time, the funny ones become a regular part of your 'best days of my life' column and the scary ones turn out to be quite hilarious. It's all a part of the whole growing-up-in-one-place experience. Most importantly though, you make personal friendships which will last you a lifetime. When you go to the same school for 12 years, the people you meet are bound to influence your life. When you live in the same locality for so long, your neighbours are bound to impact your life. You wont meet people from everywhere or of all kinds,but chances are you'll form a close group of friends which you can always count on for anything. You'll go on holidays with them and have picnics with them. You'll tell them all about your crushes and your girlfriends, about your first kiss and the first time you got drunk. They'll know you inside out, and that always leaves one with a very warm feeling on the inside :)

What's your take on this?

College is starting, like actually!

2009-08-13T10:07:00.004+05:30

Till last night, I was not having a great time in college. Sure it wasn't bad, often even good but never great. Going to a hostel for the first time was never going to be easy but once I got to grips with that, things eased up a little bit. My biggest problem was always when I had nothing to do. When I told people this, they were shocked - you can't have nothing to do in college, they said! But now as I reflect on the past two and a half weeks, I think I can say a lot has happened.

Classes have started full swing and as is the case with professional courses in India, they expect you to work. The hours are quite long and tedious but in a couple of courses, my teachers aren't half bad so I think I'll manage. The system here of regular testing gets to my nerves a little bit and this is not what I was expecting from college, but then I think I was naive if I thought it would be the way I pictured it in my head, based on hearsay and media impressions.

My biggest concern in the first two days here was the lack of extra curriculars. What I didn't realise is that it was the first week. Everything takes time, which I wasn't giving it. Sure, there may not be as big cultural societies here as there is in the top arts colleges, but there's ample opportunity to take part in events and activities if you're interested. The only problem is that freshers (first yearites) aren't allowed to take part in any events for the first few months and it's terribly frustrating to sit on the sidelines watching! But one thing I have realised in my limited interaction with the seniors - you can learn a lot here. Many people who come here have never taken part in any cultural events before, be it music, dance, drama or any of the other stuff, but they've come here and picked up so much that it's hard to believe they haven't been doing it all their life!

And then there was yesterday - the night of the biggest inter hostel dance event all year round - the Duo Dance. Two people from each hostel are required to put up a dance (or a series of dancing) lasting about 15 minutes in total. Since there are 11 hostels here, it's an event which runs late into the night and oh my god, you just had to see the atmosphere in that all. It was like a sauna inside, there was absolutely no place to sit and people were climbing all over each other to get a peek of the stage, but that didn't dampen any spirits! Inter-hostel rivalry is something IIT'ians are quite proud of and I saw why last night - the cheering was just jaw-dropping. The chants, the rhymes, the beats, the shouting and hooting and booing - all at mindblowingly loud volume for 3 hours straight! More than half the campus was in that hall last night and each and everyone of them lost themselves shouting out loud. Today morning, attendance was at an all-time low and sore throats at an all-time high! But this was a true expression of passion and it was very heartening to see that the image people have of IIT'ians (nerdy, geeky, math people who study, study, study and study) isn't entirely true! :)

There have been nasty moments as well though - some seniors from our hostel got into a bit of a spot on the issue of ragging because of an anonymous complaint. There was a Disciplinary Committee meeting yesterday, which is a very serious issue anytime and can impact your career a fair amount. Personally, I have suffered no ragging but this whole complaint business has really limited our interaction with the seniors. From what I've heard, the stuff that's going on elsewhere is a LOT worse, so it's all very sad. Whatever action is taken (or not taken - we tried our best yesterday) I hope it doesn't isolate our seniors from us. We've also had swine flu on our campus and for a day or two, everyone was roaming around wearing these surgical masks - it was quite funny!

Now a quick run through all the things that I'd love to write more about but don't have the time or the words for - skipping breakfast half the time, lack 0f running water in the bathrooms (:P), a brilliant talk by Tarun Tejpal (CEO, Tehelka) which made us think like mad, playing tennis daily with more than half-decent players, eating pizza at 1 in the morning and not sleeping till 3, dissing the mess food no end, going to the insti roof every few days to just take it all in, running home on the weekends to an altogether different life... Yeah, a lot has happened - good and bad - and I can't entirely describe my feelings and emotions about the place right now. The vibes so far are mixed, but you know what, I think I'll live!

The First Week

2009-07-27T14:59:00.001+05:30

This seems alien to me now. The last time I blogged was 7th March (which isn't so long ago, to be honest) but it seems like an eternity. What happened in between? For starters, I graduated from school. Then I wrote a whole lot of entrance exams. After having a total party for the next 3 months (including a trip to Europe, the mother of all continents!) here I am, posting again from IIT Delhi. For those of you who don't know, that's Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

Transition periods are always difficult. They say that change is the only constant, so a shift from school to college shouldn't be a big deal. But they're wrong! I've been here a week and the change has been far from seamless. Coming from Bombay, the shift to Delhi has been a major culture shock. People did warn me about it, and I thought I was prepared for anything that came my way, but humans tend to overestimate their mental strength very often.

Life here will take getting used to - more than IIT, it's the fact that this is the first time I move into a hostel room, it's the first time I'm entirely responsible for my life, it's the first time I'm going to be living away from home and it's the first time I realise I'm not a kid anymore.

The change shall be tough, but I shall overcome. Eventually. I'm going to go celebrate the rebirth of my blog now.

Cheers,
Trooper.

Light

2009-03-07T14:31:00.002+05:30

This is a poem which is sorta inspired by the 26/11 blasts, but isn't exactly based on them. There are a few similarities though (especially if you think about Nariman House) and a lot of the seemingly non-sensical lines are allusions/references to something.

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

Light

The warm sun shone upon her smiling face
The cool breeze flowed softly through her hair
Is it now time for a dirty trick?
Is it time to face the dark side of the sun?

The kid can't sleep, the kid can't weep
All she sees is the man in black
Her mind is blank but she thinks very deep
When twilight approaches, will he be back?

Two shining lights extinguished in one blow
Two pillars collapse together beneath her feet
Her eyes to the world now look down below
Her ears to the sounds now hear no beat

Each day brings with it dark light
Ironic that it was bright at night
A fire we could do without
A fire we could do nothing about

The scars shall serve as a reminder
To the past - we will once more meet
My life crashed when I was blinded
With the same joy you shall I greet

The lack of light now shows me the way
Some echoes just don't fade away
Your destiny was sealed that very day
You let me live, now you shall pay

Driving Away

2009-01-19T10:48:00.004+05:30

I was driving through the fields
They stretched green far as I could see
Delightful was the sight to the mind's eye
Those were the times I felt free

I was driving down Ocean Avenue
The wind whispering softly in my ear
The blue waters sparkled to the horizon
Those are the times I hold dear

I was driving up to the peaks
Some tuneful melodies warmed me up
Perfect seemed the shimmering white snow
When did I give those times up?

Now I'm driving around in my head
Life's got me down, life's got me drained
The choices aren't mine to make anymore
My dreams seem - oh so naive!

I don't want to be like ol' Fred
I don't want to be big-brained
I don't want to be part of folk lore
I just want one last drive...

The Night is Alive

2008-12-15T13:02:00.003+05:30

Definitely not my best work, but do give me honest feedback
------------------

The setting sun should have closed the door
But I stuck a foot in, peered through to see more
Where the world saw black, I saw light
What the world saw dead, I saw alive

The air was silent, as calm as can be
And as the clock ticked, my fears left me
I reached out,I crossed the line
Left the land for one without time

Trampling through the bushes
Swimming down the streams
Scraping against brushes
It was better than the dreams

Small and timid in the vast ocean of trees
We shone like the stars, we rode like the breeze
Keen eyes saw nothing but a silver spark
The magic comes alive well after dark

I'd never been so close to the Lake itself
It was said to be there from the time of the Elf
The purity of its waters was reflected in her eyes
The spring in her step an ironic surprise

The surface glistened in what they call moonlight
My body shuddered with a streak of fright
In the days gone by there'd been nothing like this
It was among the few things I knew I'd miss

My life flashed by
As we took to the air
They were no myths
I could feel the glare
Of the horn so bright
And the silver mane
As we flew through the night
Now there was no pain

And so it all ended under clear skies
Real peace at last, this was no fake
We plunged unnoticed, to what lay beyond
An era was over, down at Unicorn Lake.

Fantasy Literature

2008-11-30T23:33:00.001+05:30

I enjoy reading. There's something about a good book that's very comforting. Books spawn over many different genres, and I have only had the chance to experience a few. Crime, mystery, adventure - these are the more common themes for writers, and usually these are the more prolific writers. However off late, I have been going through a phase of fantasy literature.

Off late there seems to be a slew of fantasy novels in the market, but it isn’t a new concept. Far from it, in fact. My first introduction to different kinds of alternate worlds was way back in my early years when my mother handed me an Enid Blyton. Over the years, as the books changed, so did my impressions of elves, brownies and dragons. These so-called invincible and perenially happy creatures slowly develped their own dark sides and weaknesses. A few dimensions are added to each type of being with every book.

Now, after finishing the Lord of The Rings (LOTR) trilogy, I feel like I have arrived. J.R.R. Tolkien is several classes above any other writer in this genre and it will take a true genius to surpass his creations. LOTR is a work of beauty, and while a few of my friends claim to have gotten bored halfway through, I thoroughly loved it. There’s something intensely intriguing about Tolkien’s Middle Earth which cant be put into words. There’s a sort of thrill you get when reading his works. I could almost feel the contrasting emotions of the different characters, especially the Elves – most difficult of all to understand. If you had to set a time period on Earth when this story might be set, it would probably be the medieval period. That’s another reason Tolkien’s fantasy works so well – we all love hearing stories about great kings and their great deeds, about battles and wars, about valour and undiminished courage. It’s a way of getting out of today’s world and taking a peek into the past – when men rode on horses and the great cities had wall after wall of protection and brave soldiers marched to war with their shining shields and no fear in their hearts. I readily admit that I’m very fascinated by all these things!

Another contributing factor to my recent appreciation on Tolkien literature is Led Zeppelin. How, you ask? Well, it’s no secret that quite a few Led Zep songs have been inspired from the trilogy. Evidently, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page were as inspired as me! Now if only I could some music like that..

Tolkien is a legend, of that there’s no doubt. I marvel at the way he created an entirely new world, complete with the annals of its history, the forefathers of the land and the passing of Ages. LOTR is just the tip of the iceberg, which I will uncover slowly. My journey through Middle Earth has just begun. There’s a whole series of books I have yet to get my hands on and it shall remain my lifelong ambition to understand the finer details of the history of Middle Earth.

Well then, if you’ve lasted till here, do tell me what you think of fantasy literature in general and Tolkien in particular. Waiting for your comments!

Spirit of the Stallion

2008-10-15T21:28:00.005+05:30

My first ever short story

... the wind swept through her hair. This was heaven. At full gallop now, she could see the mists hovering above the mountains. The sun was just peaking through between two of the snow-capped peaks. The grass was soaked with dew. This was her time of the day, the time no one could take from her. She loved her stallion more than any man, it had been in her life longer than any. In her mind, she could feel the perfection of the moment. It seemed like the whole world was with her again, as she speared through the orange light of the dawn. She slowed Marlett down to a trot as they neared the edge of the cliff. She wished she could be there forever, in that moment. As the sun continued its upward movement, she gazed down at the green valley. This was to be her last day in that blissful corner of the world, before she was shunted into the dark, dingy, noisy multitude of people who called themselves urban citizens. Why did she have to go? The master had offered no explanation, as he rarely did. The wait had been long and hard, but the orders had finally come. She wondered how they lived in those small, crowded rooms, one above the other. She wondered how they could bear the stench of each other. She wondered how they managed to survive each passing day killing a part of themselves in the world of gray. She looked on, determined not be fazed by all she had heard. She would survive, if only for Marlett. They would let him die otherwise. She could not let that happen. Turning back with the courage she knew she would find only here, she climbed onto the steed and sped off, the wind sweeping through her hair ...

Faux pas

2008-10-07T22:12:00.002+05:30

I'm sure it's happened to you too. Knowing very well what you're saying, you go ahead and say the most inappropriate thing that could possibly be said under those circumstances. And that's the exact moment everyone falls silent, so all eyes turn towards you, with varying expressions on people's faces. Some are outraged (how could you say something like that?) some are blank (huh? you said something inappropriate?) and some are highly amused (i was itching to say that!).

Right, so here's what happened. I topped my class last week, so of course I wasn't getting away without giving a treat. So we all go to the bakery outside school and I tell my friends (like 7-8 of them) to pick what they want, as long its within budget. Nice people that they are, they all agree. And they start eating. We got 3 pastries - each shared by 2 people. One of the guys, let's call him A decides he doesn't want a pastry but a chicken roll. I'm fine with that, because its within budget and he's kinda a chicken freak. He isn't sharing it because he's hungry and no one else wants it. Now this is the part where I should either shut up, or continue acting normal, because nothing happened. Instead I exclaim loudly - 'A, you dickhead!'. Don't ask me why, I have no clue myself. I'm still trying to figure it out. I don't know if he heard, but everyone else certainly did and it was highly embarrasing!

Queen

2008-10-05T13:27:00.003+05:30

People often ask me to list my favorite bands, and while the list changes very often, there are a few names which are always up there. Queen is one of them.

There's a lot of features that sets Queen's music apart from that of the rest. They created complicated multi-layered symphonies, vocal harmonies, ballads - they were the whole package. They have been one of the most diverse bands, yet everything they did was done professionally - it all sounded good. I've obviously never attended one, but I've heard Queen's concerts were breathtaking. They were performers as much as creators of music, and with their shattering crescendos and renditions of some absolute classics, I can't think of a more complete band.

One of the key attributes of Queen's music is Freddie Mercury's voice. One of the greatest front men of all time, his voice had that pure quality which makes you sit up and want to keep listening. He sings with so much passion and his command on the high

er echleons of the music scale is pretty awesome. If AIDS had not come his way, god alone knows where Queen might have reached by now. If god does exist, it was cruel of him to steal from us such a gifted musician. Oh, and if you didn't know, he was of Indian origin - born and brought up in Panchgani (near Bombay).

Queen also lay claim to have made one of the greatest songs of all time - yes, of course - Bohemian Rhapsody. No Queen article is complete without a mention of this timeless classic. This song (along with Stairway to Heaven) is the closest anyone's come to perfection till now. As Freddie croons away, the multi-layering that Queen are so famous for is at its best here. The complexity of the arrangement is such that the true form was never played in concert - they played a truncated version. Piano never sounded as good as it does in this song, an while it is lyrically very unclear, the music more than makes up for that.

But Queen weren't just about complicated music

or mastery of various instruments or orchestral sounds. They made a lot of simple yet beautiful music as well as a few amazing albums, which have not one song you'd want to skip over. A Night At The Opera was Queen at their peak, and if you haven't heard that album, shut this page, stop whatever you're doing and get a copy from somewhere. They made fun music too - Bicycle Race is one of my absolute favorites from the Queen catalogue. Other masterpieces include Don't stop me now, Friends will be friends, Who wants to live forever, Somebody to love, Too much love will kill you, Under Pressure I want to break free, Death on two legs, No one but you (Only the good die young), and of course those sport anthems - We Are The Champions and We Will Rock You.

Queen have been an integral part of the music universe over the years, and by extension, my universe. If you haven't yet become a part of this wonderful world, do join because I assure you the ride will be exquisite. While they continue making music today (Paul Rodgers has 'replaced' Freddie Mercury - though that's impossible) I think the glory of the past shall shine brighter that anything they do now. Firmly set among the legends of rock music, Queen surpassed almost all limits set by their predecessors. Go on, give them a listen - you'll love it.

The Song That Got Stuck

2008-10-04T22:00:00.000+05:30

Everyday a different song gets stuck in my head. And very often, it's a song I haven't heard for ages. There's no reason for that particular song to get in there, it just does. But once it wedges itself in the folds of my brain, it stays there for a long, long time. Currently it's 'Every breath you take' by Sting. I've been humming it all day long, and I don't think I've heard the chorus so carefully ever before. I've been singing it under my breath, subconsciously muttering the lyrics on and on and on till they cease to have any meaning. I sang it in the shower, I sang it in the rick, I sang it while studying, I bet I sang it while sleeping too!

I wonder is it happens with anyone else. I know a few people who've experienced the same thing a few times, but usually it's nice songs that get stuck, so people don't complain. But if it's not one you like, it can so totally ruin a day. Bad lyrics are a major contributing factor here, as is the case with most songs we hear. A sad song stuck in your head can pull you down, just as a happy one can pull you up. Weirdest is when there's a song that I've heard once, maybe twice (and not necessarily in the recent past) and it gets stuck in my head. I have absolutely no clue how that happens, but it's pretty strange. If I have a brain that has such good memory, why can't it be a little more useful when required?! Oh well, life goes on..

Every breath you take..

Strange Incident

2008-10-02T02:24:00.007+05:30

A few weeks ago, a strange incident took place. I was returning home with a friend by auto in the evening. It was raining and dusk had set in. We were travelling through an empty lane, which met a big road a little ahead. On both sides rose bungalows and residential complexes. Our lane wasn't too well lit, but it was fairly wide and there weren't any potholes. So you can imagine our surprise when the rick suddenly swerved to one side of the road and came to an immediate stop. For a minute, we sat wondering what had prompted this sudden turn of events for the driver offered no explanation. On prompting, he took his time before turning back. His body was shaking with fear and when he spoke, it was in a low whisper. In the middle of Bombay city, in a place where auto drivers rule, where a rick is the ultimate vehicle, where nothing fazes them - neither the rain nor traffic nor any other lesser matter - I heard him as he said - 'Billi rasta kaat gayi' (A cat just crossed the path)

Why does everyone's life suck?

2008-09-30T20:45:00.002+05:30

Disclaimer - This has nothing to do with ANYONE. It is purely objective. Do not look for any hidden allusions to people you may know or references between the lines. There are none.

Many a time, I've heard people go 'Oh my life sucks!' or 'Everything is just horrible! Why me?' or 'It's only ME who's going through a bad time, why is life so unfair?'. I must say I've been guilty of it too at times. But now as look back upon it, it seems kinda pointless. I live by my own guidelines. And so if anything in my life is wrong, it's my fault, not anyone else's. And once I got that, I figured that looking outward for self-pity is not an option. YOU got yourself into the mess, YOU get out of it, simple as that.

Why do people think they're the only ones going through a bad time, if indeed they are? If you look around you, you'll see people suffering as much or a lot more than you. You're lucky if you've got a roof above your head, two square meals a day, clothes to cover your body and a bed to sleep in at night. You're lucky if you have a school or college to go to. You're lucky if you have a job to do. You're lucky if you have family who care for you. You're lucky if you have a hobby, if you have something to keep yourself occupied or if you aren't idle. There's so much to be grateful for in this world, so then why fret over little stuff? I know I probably sound really idealistic and philosophical and stuff, but trust me, it helps. If you realise just what you have and value it a little more, it'll make you a much happier person.

And what exactly defines a 'bad time'? If the girl you like doesn't speak to you, is it the end of the world? If a close friend drifts off onto an unknown path, do you break down, stop right there and give yourself misery? If you think you have no friends, do you wall yourself off from the rest of the world and try to reciprocate the 'meanness'? It's not gonna help! Not many people recognize the strength and power of the relationships they have with others. Some bonds are very deep and you don't even know it. There are people I know who probably don't know it, but I'd risk a lot for them. But that's fine by me. They don't need to know it. I'm not looking for anything in return. Friendship is a very deep word and everyone has more friends than they think. And if any of them stray off line, why do you disclaim responsibility and renounce the relationship? They are your friends, you gotta help them. They may not even know they're wrong, you've gotta tell them - they depend on you for that.

At the end of the day, life isn't very long and you have to try and make the most of it. Sometimes, everything may seem like too much to handle. You may wanna just board yourself up in a corner and shut everything out. Well, do it. But after a while, when you come back to reality, look up at where you're going instead of down where you came from. Always look forward to what will be instead of back to what has been. There's always happiness in this world, it's upto you to find it. If you keep demanding more from life, you'll never be satisfied. Instead, sit back and have some fun. Enjoy every little thing to the fullest. In the end, thinking negative harms no one but you.

PS - You may think that I got no clue what I'm talking about. You may say that I've never been in your position, so how would I know? True, but this is only what I believe in and it's worked for me. I've become a lot more relaxed and happier since I started following a lot of this myself. Cheers!

Singapore Grand Prix

2008-09-28T23:39:00.005+05:30

It was the first ever Formula One race at night. It was the first race on the streets of Singapore. It was to represent the future of F1. It was to showcase the sport in a night. It was to add to the glitz, glamour and class of motorsport. With such heavy expectations, everyone's heads were turned to see if Singapore could deliver. Would the street circuit offer as much as Monaco, which is a lot of people's favorite circuit? Would the conditions at night be very different from those during the day? A lot of people tuned in simply out of curiousity- they wanted to know what it was that was causing such a buzz in the sporting circuits.

Well, I am an ardent Ferrari fan and when Massa outqualified Hamilton, I knew that this was a chance. All season long, they've been sparring it out for the top spot. This would be the perfect place for another round. There's a girl in my class who actually went for the race. JUST for the race. She got free passes, so wham-slam-bang, she's in Singapore watching the race live with 32000 spectators, screeaming wildly from the grandstands. God, am I envious?! Now, I've made up my mind. Next year, I shall go for the Singapore GP. And the year after, hopefully there shall be an Indian GP too?

Anyways, moving on.. I decided that this race was a special occasion so watching it at home wasn't an option. So dad and I decided to drop by Sportsbar and catch it there. For those of you who don't know, Sportsbar is a chain of - well - sports bars! They have live screenings of all big sporting events and are packed with passionate fans, cheering their teams on. Now, I'd never been to one, so the atmosphere took me by surprise. Like any bar, there was smoke and stuff. But there was only one focus - the large screen at one end of the room. Everyone was shouting and screaming as the race started, and at that moment I knew I was in for a good evening. For these were more people like me, passionate about sport. Sure, I may not be drinking age yet. Sure, I may not be able to drive a bike yet. But sport connects everyone. By the way, to enter a Sportsbar, you DON"T need to be above 18. And there was more. Force India and Kingfisher had specially organized the screening of this race here. So they had their people walking around. There were contests and stuff. In one corner of the room, there was even a small 'mechanic stop' where you could actually change an F1 tire. Unforunately, I saw it too late - it would have been some experience. There were Ferrari fans, McLaren fans, Force India fans, general motorsport buffs and a whole lotta people. You could hear roars for every overtaking move, groans when someone crashed, screams when there was wheel-to-wheel action, and jeering insults between the Ferrari contingent and the McLaren one.

In the end however, it was the Renault of Fernando Alonso that came out on top. Now, I'm not a fan of his. I've never been one. To me, he's the Spanish Donkey - the one hateful creature who can do no right. And he got really lucky here because of the pit lane fiascos and penalties and safety car interruptions. But on a very fundamental level, he did deserve his win to an extent because reaching the top when you qualify in 15th position does take some skill, no matter how much luck you may have behind you. As for Ferrari, my head was in my hands when I saw Massa do this -

And when Kimi crashed out, I knew it was a bad, bad day. However, we shall fight on. Red for life is the motto!

The race was great fun, partly because of the awesome atmosphere I saw it in, partly because it was after all the first night race, partly because I saw it with dad. Now, I just hope that someday, I get to see a football match in this atmosphere - it will be just amazing!

Moving 2000 miles away

2008-09-28T01:19:00.003+05:30

I was very bored and really dry on ideas, so I decided to drop by a blog-topic-prompt website. And this is what it churned out -

You are forced to flee from your home and relocate 2,000 miles away. You can take only what you can carry in your arms. What will you take?

So here goes. It would be nice if I had like 4 arms or something right now, like the Hindu gods. But I don't. I guess my cell would be top of the list. Communication is very important, especially if you're being pushed 2000 miles away! Another must-have would probably be a football, along with my Man Utd jersey. My iPod, which contains all my fav music - now I can't leave that behind, can I? I got a bunch of sentimental junk in a cupboard hoarded up somewhere, so I might sift through that stuff and pick something. Chocolate and coffee are other necessities. Maybe if I meet some unknown tribals, I could make a fortune by selling 'em coffee :P While I'm at it, i might as well pick up my laptop too, never know when it might come in handy. And I think that's all I would be able to carry in my arms. What would your pick be?

PS-I'm sure I'll think of more in due time, so watch this space for edits!

Terror - Who's to blame?

2008-09-15T11:07:00.006+05:30

Jaipur. Ahmedabad. Bangalore. Hyderabad. Surat. Now Delhi. The relentless wave of terror attacks continues and we have no way of doing a thing about it apart from acting like sitting ducks, not knowing when an explosive may rip open the daily bus, or the new shop in the marketplace, or the chaiwala at the corner. Nothing, or no one, is entirely safe today, and the people responsible for it are taking full advantage of it. I don't know what they have in mind, but if their mission is just to chaos and panic, they've succeeded.

But that aside, what can we do to prevent further 'attacks' of this sort? The answer is simple - nothing. There is no way to ensure blanket security and if someone wants to plant a bomb, they'll find a way to do it, regardless of how much you try to prevent him from doing it. Let me give you an example. These days, whenever you enter a mall, you pass through metal detectors and people are there to sift through you handbags. But what of the parking lot? It would be so easy to drive in with an explosive in the car, leave it there, and walk out the front entrance. Same can be said for most buildings. And we know that terrorists have no objection to blowing cars up.

Yesterday, I was watching We The People on NDTV, and what I saw made me sick. Accusations flying everywhere - the public blaming politicians, politicians blaming other politicians, journalists blaming intelligence agencies and the police, and so on. Instead of accepting that there is a problem with everyone, we just keep putting the blame off. Passing the buck. Where will it land? We can't do this forever, and I bet the people responsible for these acts of violence are sitting somewhere and laughing their asses off at us right now.

Personally, I don't see how these blasts were a result of the inefficiency of either the government, the police or the intelligence agencies. All over the world, terrorists escape the nets set by intelligence agencies, so why should we blame the CBI? As for bureaucrats, their job is to run the country, and while protecting us from terrorism is obviously on their list, you can't expect them to have the solutions for every problem, especially on such a short-term basis. This is a problem which will not be solved in days, weeks or months. It's going to take years so while it's all very easy to go on camera adn blame everyone, there's nothing anyone can do about it. You tell me what you want out of the police, CBI or politicians. Yes, there might be some comments made after bomb blasts, which are aimed at the vote-banks, and these make me cringe but on the whole, I don't think you can blame the politicians anymore than you can blame your neighbour.

There's a lot more I want to say, but I want to hear your thoughts too, so do leave comments and we can discuss it there.

Nocturnal v Diurnal

2008-09-14T01:29:00.004+05:30

What kind of creature are you? One who lazes the day off and comes to life only at night, or an early lark who rises and sets along with the sun?

Well, I'm a totally nocturnal creature. And by nocturnal, I don't mean someone who has a great nightlife, and goes partying and stuff. I'm just more awake at night. Which leads to some interesting observations. I'm sure many people would have noticed this - the night is so still. I live on a pretty busy intersection, so it's not like there's no traffic or noise at any time of the day. Yet, if I look out of my window at 1 am or 3 am or 5 am, I don't see much of a difference. Everything looks the same, even the leaves seem untouched. It's almost like time comes to a standstill before someone comes and shakes things up, and then it's morning. And with this 'stillness', I sometimes feel this own calm, which helps me to study (or for that matter, do anything) much better. Everyone around you is sleeping, so no interference there. Maybe it's because I'm generally more of an introvert than an extrovert. Maybe because the sights and sounds and smells during the day are too much to handle (although I'll be the first to admit I couldn't live without them) Maybe because the daylight leaves nothing to imagination.

Out in the countryside, night is an entirely different awesome experience. Minutes after the sun sets, darkness sets in. And in a few hours, the moon is up and shining brightly. Unlike the cities, there are no clouds and no pollution, so you can see everything in a clear sky. And on a good night, you get to see hundreds, probably thousands of stars. Bone-chilling, that sight. There are few things which can match the sensation of lying on a hill, staring up at the night sky in complete silence. A few insects here and there, but no human noises. Maybe that's what they mean when they talk about the true beauty of nature. As the silver of the moonlight washes on everything in view, it lights up just enough to make it look truly beautiful. Black has always been my favorite color, but along with the silver, the combination is deadly. Patience is not my thing, but even I can lie there for like an hour, without saying a thing, just staring into the night.

I love making coffee in the middle of the night. Sometimes, a midnight snack too. There's something about having food at odd hours that makes it feel so different! In my eyes, I've adjusted the clock a little bit, so my day usually pans out like this - morning is from the time I wake up (read 10 or 11) till around 2 or 3, afternoon till 7-8, evening till like 1-2, and then night till the time I wake up again. People around me aren't too happy with this (cause it disturbs their schedules!) but I think everyone needs to find their 'time' - that time of the day or night when you feel you are at your best at whatever you do - study, sing, write, dance, anything. Mine happens to be at night.

A lot of people I know are very disciplined as far as timings go. They have a wake-up time, a brush-you-teeth time, a breakfast time, a bath time, a lunch time, a TV time, a study time, a I-will-play time, a tea time, another bath time, a speak-on-the-phone time, a dinner time, a read-a-book time, and finally a bed time. I don't know how they function, but it sure takes an amazing amount of will power, which I don't have! And most of these people are diurnal. They are usually the ones who wake up before the sun rises and tell you about the 'loveliness of the morning sky' when you are struggling to keep your eyes open. Personally, I could never live such a structured routine life, but everyone says it's good for you, so I don't hold it against them. But tell me, shouldn't you sleep only when you're sleepy? And wake up only when you want to (or have to, in some cases :D) ?

I guess everyone has their own views on the matter, and most people don't have a view on it! But in the end, all I'll say is that you should find your 'time'. Because when you do, things happen! For now, I shall go back to admiring the still, quiet nature of night. Way more interesting than the brazenness of the day.

Graffiti walls!

2008-09-11T10:51:00.006+05:30

You know what I think the ultimate expression of freedom is? A graffiti wall! I've never really seen one, but I can imagine how amazing it would be if you had one where just anyone could write, draw or paint anything they wanted. In fact, every school or college should have one. I think every student doodles in class - it's the sole method of escaping boredom. And it's in these half-asleep, midless drawings that the next great painting might be found! Okay, maybe I'm pushing it a bit there. But on a more serious note, I'd love it if I had access to a graffiti wall like the one in Rang de Basanti. It'd be really interesting to read the kind of stuff peope wrote on it. Everyone has had the urge to draw on their walls at some time or the other. It's like a method of expressing yourself, proclaiming your freedom and letting that rebellious streak inside come out for a while. However, I doubt too many of us succeeded without severe punishment!

A graffiti wall is a place I'd be able to express a lot of stuff on my mind, which can't be told to any one person in particular but can't be kept within either. That's a bit like my blog actually. It would be an outlet for joy, confusion, anger, frustration, excitement and a whle bunch of other varying emotions we teens experience. While I don't think it'll ever be a reality (having them in schools and colleges) because there'd be too many nasty things and censorship would be a major issue, I still like to imagine a huge bright colorful wall full of messages and slogans, drawings, comics and illegible scribbling. Somehow it has a calming effect on me... There are more people like me who face a similar life and I'm not alone... A wall, where everyone has left his or her mark, big or small. A sign of equality and above all, acceptance.

It would be randomness at it's very best!

I firmly resolve to exercise

2008-09-07T19:20:00.004+05:30

My brother's been asking me for weeks to play a game of tennis with him. Today, I finally relented and stepped onto the court after more than 6 months. Now, I don't claim to be a world beater or anything, but I play fairly well, and have reached that stage where I can play at a respectable level. My bro's still learning the game, and he's not half bad at it too. So we set off, in the sun, with 3 balls and a racquet each. We knocked about for a little while, say 15 minutes, before I started feeling this lethargic sort of slowness entering my legs. Stamina has never been my thing (in fact, people say that had I paid more attention to my fitness, I would have been a pretty good player) but this was something altogether different. Slowly, my legs grew heavier and some time later, I could have sworn they felt like lead. I saw the ball coming, I knew exactly how to hit it, I knew exactly where to hit it, my legs just refused to move until it was too late. That's when it hit me.

Everyone I know has been trying to get the importance of regular exercise into me for quite a while now. However, my ego didn't permit it, and I stubbornly held out, figuring that I could still play tennis and run pretty decently. So all that was said was into one ear, and out through the other. I regret it now. But I guess it needs a personal experience to shake you up, before you realise where you've been lacking. I had mine today.

I'm just 16, and I'm ambitious. I want to live a good, long healthy life and enjoy it to the max. I don't want to have a heart attack at the age of 30. I don't want to work my ass off through the week and live a life of stress, from which there is no escape. I want to govern what I do, not let others govern what I do. But for all this, I need to be physically fit, as I'm now painfully aware. My energy levels are not very high. Till now, I've been passing it off as 'general behavior of a confused teenager studying odd hours for IIT'. It isn't that. It's just a complete neglect of my health on my part. My life's pretty sedentary, and I'll admit it's one of those you could put in a newspaper column under 'poor lifestyle'. I'm going to change that!

So now that my eyes have opened to this fact, I've pledged that I'm gonna get some exercise in every day. No matter how, no matter when, I'm just gonna do it. I wanna be healthy! And shocking as today's experience might have been, it's only a good thing. Better late than never!

The relief of having your own computer!

2008-09-05T20:41:00.002+05:30

Let me start right at the beginning. Two weeks ago, my computer crashed. Or that's what lay people like you and me would call it anyway. It just went into an infinite loop, and kept rebooting itself without even opening Windows completely. And it sent me into a frenzy. I have 20 gigs of music on this computer, I have photos from time immemorial, passwords, links, a lot of documents etc. Basically, my entire net existence is stored is this small black machine, which now lay frustratingly blank.
And so, I was left with whole parts of my day lying empty. I'm addicted to my computer, as I realised. Or more like, addicted to chatting, blogging and Facebook-ing! Either way, I was at a loss as to what to do. Dad was out most of the time, and someone could come and see my computer only when he was around. Thankfully, I had his laptop to maintain my existence for a little while.
But there's no computer like your computer :( Different desktops, different settings, different browsers, half the applications. Plus no music, no downloading allowed, ah it's a painful experience.
Well thankfully, today, the mechanic did come and fix things up. It wasn't too bad for a change. Windows had to be reinstalled, and I'm still getting iTunes, and the toolbars and stuff back in shape, but in a day or two, should be back up and running!

Democracy

2008-09-03T18:48:00.002+05:30

Yeah, so we can talk all we want about this country not advancing, not progressing the way it should be about how the governement is all corrupt, about how things will never change, about how we'll never be up there big the 'powers' of the world etc. But there's the very basic question (hypothetical, of course) of whether a democracy is good. Or not.

I have a few friends who suggest that dictatorship may be a better idea than democracy. Simply because things will move faster. If something needs to be done, it shall be done without getting caught up in the legal wrangles of our legislature. They say that it will pave a clear path to progress. Now, don't get me wrong, there have been 'good' dictators too, but doesn't the word dictator just imply someone who has ultimate, supreme authority? And while there are people like that in history, who have made their mark, there are also cases where they've failed miserably. General Musharraf is one such example. You might say it was due to his shortcomings, but the basic fact of the matter is that Pakistan have made hardly any progress since he took over the reigns. And things have gone quite rapidly downward for them on certain fronts.

According to me, democracy is the only form of government a country like ours can sustain. It may be slow, BUT IT WORKS. A democratic institution, with a proper electoral system, where each one has his say, no matter how small or big, is what we need. Can you imagine India being run by a single person? Say what you want, it's not a feasible task. There'd be way too much to do, plus the additional stresses of bruised egos, religious sentiments and antisocial elements who just want to ruin things.

Then of course, there's the China way. Is that the way to go forward? Not in my opinion. China may be ahead of us economically, they may have more missiles than us, they may have more clout in world politics than we've ever had. But one look at their social condition tells you all you need to know. It's a country where they regulate everything, from the number of kids you can have, to the height of the dog you can have (yes, the limit is 35 cm, nothing taller is allowed). It's a place where in the name of national security, they control your lives to such a great extent, it redefined the word freedom. China also has the most human rights issues, with so many of their policies on the matter being criticized and despised across the world. We may not be able to prove anything, but there has to be some truth in all these stories. As they say, there's no smoke without any fire. The Chinese government gave Beijing a complete make-over in the preparation for the Olympics. But in their quest to bring forth Chinese culture to the world, what of the hundreds of sanctions that have been imposed on the residents themselves? If you were Chinese, wouldn't you at this moment think that the country cared more about their image/security than for the benefit of the people at large? China's trying hard to be accepted by the Western world, but I think they're failing more than succeeding. With piracy at an all time high, there's no marks for guessing where it all comes from. There's so much counterfeiting in the Chinese market, they've come up with duplicates for everything. How is that the sign of a healthy economy or a good standard of living? Yes, they may be progressing faster than us the way the economic text book looks at it, but one look at the way people live there makes me value my country a lot more.

I think a framework is very essential for our government to work, and in any other form, it isn't strong enough. Sure, it might hamper our growth a little bit because it lumbers on at a frustratingly slow pace, but the idea of a lack of a political structure just sends shivers down my spine. There's so much chaos already, imagine it getting worse. And so, love it or hate it, democracy is the right way forward in my opinon. I rest my case.

Optimism v/s Pessimism

2008-08-28T19:10:00.001+05:30

I'm a pretty firm believer in optimism. According to me, a positive outlook is really important because it keeps your morale up when things don't go that well. It keeps you motivated to keep working, because it'll get better, right?

An optimist can dream, and dream freely. And that's a right no one should have taken away from them. Dream big, dream high - don't let anything hold you down. A pessimist doesn't have this freedom since he's too busy being negative about things. Mind you, I'm not saying that you should live in you're dreams - far from it. But only if you dream can you find out just what it is that you want to achieve, what it is which will satisfy you most. When you dream big, you're sure to get somewhere. And being optimist keeps you in a happier frame of mind than being pessimistic. There are people who look at rain, and think it's going to be a gloomy day. On a hot summer day, they say it's too hot to be a good day, and in winter, it's too cold! Wouldn't it be a lot better for you, and the people around you, to just accept the day as it is, and find something about it that made you happy? If you mess something up, why go into a shell and refuse to do it again because you're sure you'll mess up again? That just ruins the fun of life, which in my opinion, is too short to get worked up on small issues..

Then there's this new class of people who call themselves realists. I've never really gotten these people, since they claim they're neither negative nor positive, just neutral. Huh? How you look at things classifies you into one of these two categories - there is no neutral. You're opinion automatically puts you on one side of the fence. A realist may claim to have both sides of the argument, but in my opinion, all he does is summarise both sides of the topic. Which is why having a realist around you can be incredibly frustrating, but also very important.

The mechanics of a terrorist's brain

2008-08-26T22:25:00.000+05:30

How do you think a terrorist's brain works? It's a question that's often intrigued me, and when one of my friends penned his thoughts on the topic, I thought I would too. Don't get me wrong, I'm not justifying terrorism in any form. Just probing behind the scenes. There's more than meets the eye.

Does it work like a normal person? But then, they aren't normal people. Does he have a logical brain, or an artistic one? Is the left brain more dominant or the right brain? Killing is not something human. Mass murder is wrong. But that's what a normal human would say. Does that mean that a terrorist isn't a human? You could say he isn't, but then again, how do you define a human? Apart from being physically human, none of us are the same. There are eccentrics in every field. So how are they different? None of us go around killing innocents for the heck of it, but in his own mind, how do you think a terrorist justifies that? Because he does have a conscience. Every human has a conscience. No matter how bad an experience you've been through, you will not be pushed over that edge, beyond which there is no conscience. If these 'unlawful' elements had no conscience, they would not love their families, they would not father their children, they would not fight for their kin. So do they enclose themselves in a bubble? A bubble, in which only they and their few chosen loved ones belong. A bubble, outside of which everyone is a target - which can be eliminated with no second thoughts.

Another interesting question you may want to put to yourself - why do they become terrorists in the first place? Often, there is one crucial turning point in person's life, when he has to make a decision which will influence his remaining years. If someone hurt a loved one deeply, it would scar you. That's normal. It would send pain through you, and you'd have sleepless nights. Normal. If it's the death of a loved one, you're grief will be even greater. Normal. You might wonder what you did to deserve it, or you might have revenge on your mind. However, if the decision is made to go out and get that revenge, in ways other than those the law permits, does it mean your past life is entirely forgotten? What of the morals you held earlier? Hatred is a strong emotion, yet is it strong enough to allow you to cold-bloodedly murder an innocent man without even a bit of remorse in your heart? Maybe. This is when you start forming the bubble, when you start thinking of people as 'objects' - disposable objects. You or me would never know. Maybe if you're born into a terrorist family, these traits are in your blood. Yet you have a mind of your own, and no matter how submissive you are, you will always question authority. It's human nature. And someday, you might ask yourself whether it's justified. Someday, when you fall in love (all humans fall in love, they just don't realise it) or when you see a mother loving her child, it might just prompt that question in your mind.

Yet a lot of these terror organizations claim to be performing acts of violence, only to propagate their cause. They say they have a message for the rest of the world. They want people to listen to them, and follow their ideals - whether right or wrong is an individual choice. So why resort to violence? These fanatics - I think the word would be apt here - want the world to run their way. Who's to tell them that's not the wat things work? Who's to tell them that compromise is essential for human survival? In the name of culture, they often broker death. But don't they feel a touch of pity for the children they orphan, or the women they widow? They too have families, whom they love dearly. Is it not characteristic of a human to be peace-loving unless provoked?

What then, makes these people different?

Proud of being Punju!

2008-08-24T13:25:00.001+05:30

I'm not Sikh, I'm a Punjabi Jain. Before anyone says anything, let me tell you that Jainism is a religion, and Punjab is a state. There is absolutely no co-relation between the two, and Punjabi Jains do exist. I do, right? I don't know how many times I've been asked to explain the meaning of 'Punjabi Jain', since people figure that the two words just can't be used to describe the same person! So yeah, that's the background.

Now, let me tell you what makes me so proud of being Punju. As a community, Punjabis are just the most fun people to be around. They'll make you laugh till you can't laugh no more, and even then they wont stop. We're the only ones who have no qualms about making fun of ourselves. In fact, we propagate it! Punjabis are the warmest, friendliest people you'll ever meet. Sure, our language may sound crude (even a hello may sound like the dirtiest insult) but trust me, a Punju heart is true. Punju insults are pretty cool as well - especially when the other person has no idea what you're saying.

Then there's the food! We have absolutely the best food ever. Channa-bhatura, aloo ka paratha, dal makhani with paneer and lassi to top it all (plus if you're non-veg, I've heard butter chicken's real good too). Out of this world. Surreal. There's no one in this world who enjoys his food more than a Punju. As they say, you say what you want to a Punju, and he wont touch you, but come between him and his lunch and you're finished!

So what sets us apart, you ask? Well, I'm not specifying but general observations do show that some communities are more ridiculed than others, on many accounts. It would be politically incorrect to do so here, but if you do want to know, don't hesitate to leave a comment, and I'll be thrilled to fill you in!

Animation movies - The kid inside you

2008-08-22T15:16:00.002+05:30

What is it with animation movies that makes them so bloody good? I just finished watching 'Ice Age' for like the hundred thousandth time, yet I still love it as much or maybe more than I did the first time I saw it. Is it because they are feel-good, almost always make you smile and are generally refreshing? Or maybe because the world of animation brings to life inanimate objects and things, because animals can talk and plants can walk, because the world is pretty perfect? I don't know how they do it, but they always manage to outdo themselves, these animation engineers. Right from the superhero stuff, to the penguin movies (there's so many!) to the rest of the animal kingdom, it's all lovable! Disney started it way back, with the large screen versions of their fairytales, most of which are timeless classics now. I still remember the craze of 'Lion King' when I was 4 - every kid had to have that video cassette. Had to. No two ways about it. I used to come home everyday from school, and religiously load it up, and watch Simba frolic about with Pumba and Timon, then despair when Mufasa died, and finally rejoice and the Circle of Life was completed again. It's an integral part of my childhood, one I'll never forget. Of course, animation has progressed leaps and bounds since then, moving from 2-D to 3-D to even 4-D. Off late, there's been a spate of animation movies, all of which have been unique both in story as well as style. And amidst all the junk that Bollywood continues to churn out, an animation movie is really something to look forward to - you can almost be sure it'll be good. It's the safest bet really if you've got a choice. So just for the heck of it, I sat and compiled a list of my 5 favorite animation movies (Lion King excluded)

5) Finding Nemo - Aquatic life is a really cool topic to make movie on, especially one filled with frolicking clownfish, sharks, turtles, jellyfish and entire communities of little finned creatures. Dory always brings a smile to my face (by reminding me a little bit of myself :D)

4) Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who - Not too many people I know have seen this movie (well, apart from the 22 of us who went together) but I think it's just brilliant - the concept, the animation, the picturisation, the characters - it's all been done so well. Dr. Seuss may be called 'kiddish' but I can assure you every adult will enjoy this movie too.

3) Shrek - Ah well, don't tell me you didn't expect to see the big stinking ogre up here! Shrek was a pioneer in this industry, and will always be the first sarcastic 3-d comedy ever made (and probably the best too) While others may like the sequel better, I think the original had it all. Donkey always has you in splits - the comic timing is just so good! This is the one movie I'd like to watch every Monday morning, just to remind me how cool life is!

2) Madagascar - Another animal movie here. This is the story of the lion, the zebra, the hippo and the giraffe who leave New York zoo to find themselves land up in Madagascar. But in my eyes, the penguins just steal the show completely. They keep slapping each other, and their dialogues are just outta this world. Can you keep a secret, my monochromatic friend? Apparently there's a sequel planned for this one, can't wait for it to hit the screen!

1) Ice Age - The most ultimate animation movie ever made. It's what got me started on this post in the first place. This one's just a feelgood movie, which does it's job really well - it really does make you feel good. The special effects are amazing too - especially the scene in the tunnel, inside the mountain - what I like to call the slide scene. That's one heck of an awesome scene!

Yeah, so that's my top 5. A few honorable mentions which would complete a top 10 - Meet the Robinsons, Kung Fu Panda, The Incredibles. They're all great watches, but sorry, couldn't leave any of the top 5 out. Oh, and Lion King trumps all. Always. By the way, also noticed a small trend. Initially, Disney was the monopolist in the industry, and yes, their movies are really good (especially the older ones - the fairy tales) Then along came Pixar and since then I've always thought Pixar were the better company. Pixar finally got taken over by Disney however. Then, there's also Dreamworks - Spielberg's brainchild. They started with Antz in 1998, and are still going pretty strong!

So let's hear it for animation guys! It's something which strikes a chord deep inside every person - young or old - because deep inside, we all have a kid hidden somewhere.

Rafa - The King!

2008-08-20T13:00:00.001+05:30

Vamos! We've become so used to hearing that cry over the past few months, what with Spain winning the Euros first, then Nadal stamping his authority all over world tennis. Spain are having probably their best sporting year in quite some time, but I think what's more intriguing is the way they've done it. So contrasting the styles of their triumphs in football and tennis - perennial underachievers in the beautiful game, they went to Austria-Switzerland, they saw, they conquered, playing a skilled, mesmerizing, passing game. And then there's Nadal - scowling away, bulging biceps, fighting for every point, slugging it out, hanging in there, all while retaining that air of awe that a champion has. Taking the world by storm 4 years ago on the clay of France, I think it's safe to say he's come into his own this year.

To add to the French Open and the Wimbledon crowns, Nadal now has another 2 things players only dream of - an Olympic gold, and the pleasure of dumping Roger Federer off the No. 1 spot. He's done both in the past week (although we knew about the ranking some time ago)

There's not too much one can say about him that hasn't been said already. Yes, he's a fighter. Yes, he's fiercly patriotic. Yes, he gives it his all. And now, with sureness, yes, he's the best. I've been telling my friends for some time now (this was before he even won the French this year) that he's the best, that he's gonna win everything this year, that he'll be the one to usurp Fedex from his throne. But no, they were blinded by Fedex. 'There's no way Rafa can even dream of number one as long as Fedex is around' Exact words those. Well, now who's smiling? :D

He's improved so much this year, it's pretty awesome. I think he's broken a multitude of records in the process too. Longest time spent at number 2, first person to win French Open and Wimbledon and the Olympic Gold ever (I'm about 99% sure of this one) etc etc. But I think what he should value the most right now is that number one ranking. Federer isn't an easy opponent on the worst of his days (as can testify a lot of the tennis world, I think) so beating him to it is no mean achievement. People are saying that he may not last up there, it's now hard court season. Well, you said the same before the grass season, right? I think the man from Mallorca has the passion and the grit along with the game to be up there for quite some time. Sure, he's gonna lose matches (even he's not Superman) but he'll play his heart out, and in my opinion, he's gonna win both the US Open this year as well as the Australian Open next year, barring any injury problems. That's right, you heard it here first!

For now, savour the moment as the king takes his throne!

The Fall From Grace

2008-08-17T11:29:00.003+05:30

Twas never his fate, he pondered
How stark the contrast, yet how similar
He had nought but time now, he wondered
The bright eyes missed nothing not familiar
Bottle in hand, yet keen in mind
Ragged and slumped against the nearby wall
As it had been everyday since that fateful one
Why had God chosen him to make that call?

Dawn had come, time to move on
They'd be on their way, he'd once ruled them all
But pawns they'd been in his mammoth game
The rushers, the movers, the sly, the smart
He struck fear in them, such was the name
The bright, the young, the dull, the stagnant
Then along came one the like of whom he'd never seen
The battle was long, the best there'd ever been.

A last glance up at the red curtain on the top floor
He'd known it well, it'd blocked his door
For the last time he walked into the pale orange of the morning sun
He swore himself to vengeance, round two had just begun.

Concerts

2008-08-14T11:26:00.000+05:30

I've never actually been to one, but after having seen so many videos, I really wish I could have attended a rock concert in the 80's. There's just something so amazing about seeing your favorite artists perform live, in front of you. The great bands are also known for great concerts - Queen, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones - you name 'em, they've done it. The kind of energy they build up at concerts is just so awesome. And to see the entire crowd, all dancing and singing along, so passionate about the music, sends a tingling feeling down my spine. It's a feeling of thrill, an excitement that I'm sure is unmatched. When you hear more thousands of voice all shouting aloud, as one voice, the feeling is quite something. The sights of crowds swaying all together, of those scintillating guitar solos cheered on by awestruck fans, of artists enlightened by the response of screaming fans, there's something magical about concerts!

The World Of My Dreams

2008-08-04T12:33:00.005+05:30

I wrote this 3 years ago, for my school magazine..

The World of My Dreams

The World of my Dreams would be one where a person commands respect based on his achievements and not on basis of the color of his skin, his religion, language or nationality.

The World of my Dreams would be one where a person can proudly uphold his morals without fear of being shunned by society.

The World of my Dreams would be one where people can speak the truth without any fear.

The World of my Dreams would be one where everyone is recognized for what he is and not for what he promises.

The World of my Dreams would be one where technology is used to give life to a dying person rather than take it from a million healthy people in the space of a second.

The World of my Dreams would be one where a person breathes pure, clean air and not air contaminated by smoke and pollution.

The World of my Dreams would be one where a person can rightfully eat a good breakfast, lunch and dinner without having to beg, borrow or steal for it.

The World of my Dreams would be one where every child receives education and has a happy, carefree childhood without being exploited or made to work forcibly.

The World of my Dreams would be one where Mother Nature’s power and beauty are revered and not tampered with.

The World of my Dreams would be one where power is not concentrated in the hands of a few individuals but is shared equally between every person on this earth.

The World of my Dreams would be one where power is used to benefit mankind and not to cause its destruction.

The World of my Dreams……………

Change.. And friendship..

2008-08-02T22:40:00.003+05:30

People change. And many times, you can't tell whether it's for good or bad. Then there are times when you think someone's changed, because you're speaking to them after so long. Or maybe it's because you've changed. Maybe the whole world's looking at you and saying 'How the hell did he become that person?' And I don't mean it in a good way.
Friends are very, very important. I'm blessed with a bunch of good friends, whom I can talk to whenever I'm pissed off with life. Or pissed off at anything in general. And then we'll remember the good times and laugh. Maybe it's because one of us needs to be cheered up. Sometimes it helps to talk to old friends just to get out of this world for a while, and into another one. To leave some worries behind, and just be happy for a while, till you're forced to come back to reality again.
But what happens when you don't make an effort to keep a friendship? What happens when you know you should call people, but a voice in the back of your head keeps putting it off, keeps finding an excuse not to. And you don't even know why. Can distance prove such a barrier? In this era when things move so fast, can a few months or a year make such a difference? At this age, I guess they can actually. People are changing so rapidly, maturing, taking in the world around, and in the midst of all this, a few relationships are bound to be forgotten I guess. Bonds will be broken if a constant effort is not taken to keep them strong. And then later on, when you're suffering, and you need that support system, that phone call which you know shall make you smile, and help you get through, you'll find that it's not there. Friendship works both ways, both people must make an effort. Or else the winds of time shall sweep it all away..

PS - I haven't lost a friend or anything. Just been thinking.

Why do people believe in god?

2008-07-27T20:08:00.004+05:30

Disclaimer - All views expressed here are MINE entirely. They don't mean to offend anyone, or instigate any kind of reaction. Just the ramblings of a confused person. And no, decapitalizing the g in god is not a mistake.

So why do people believe in god? From a very young age, we are taught that there is someone high above us. Someone who controls us like we are little puppets on a big stage. Someone who supports us when we are down, or punishes those who commit sin. Someone who cares for those who do' good' and turns against those who don't. Someone who needs constant attention in a mosque, temple or church. Someone who has 'lived' forever and will live forever. Someone who knows exactly where we are and what we are doing at every moment in our lives, and has the right to judge us. But why do we believe all this?
Do we believe in a 'god' because our parents tell us to? Because maybe our elders believe in such a supernatural power and they can't be wrong? Have people no minds of their own? Has anyone ever seen god? Heard him? 'Felt' his power? Yet we continue this mindless belief that there DOES exist such an entity. We waste hours and weeks and months of our lives being 'devoted' to him, and many people even die before they can connect with their god.
There is no logic to belief in god. No scientific proof, no evidence, nothing. Being a science student, I am given to asking questions. You may ask me, if there is no god, then why are we here? Why is there life? Who created life in the first place? The questions are endless, and I'll be the first to admit that we don't have all the answers. We never will. But what prompts the thinking that there is another altogether superior being who controls us? Why is it so difficult to believe that we are responsible for every action of ours? That we should live life by our terms and as long as our actions cause no harm to anyone, they do not need defending. That there is no good or evil, saint or sinner in this world. Just those who stick to their morals and those who don't. Why do we use god as a crutch for all OUR misgivings and failures? Why blame destiny and fate for things when YOU can control your own destiny and fate. If things don't work out, why do we look for someone else to put the blame on? Why can't we ever have the courage to look into the mirror and tell the person in front of us that the fault was his?
If a god did exist, and he was indeed responsible for the course of our lives, then why are little babies killed? Why are innocent people killed in natural disasters? Why do 'terrorists' kill hundreds of people in a few minutes? Do they all 'deserve' it? Is it a kind of cruel practical joke? I've asked this to a few people, and they said that if it were a Utopian world, then where would be the motivation to work hard and succeed? Well, surely this is not the way to motivate people? There've been so many wars, so many fights, so many conflicts in the name of religion. Right from the era of the Crusades, till now, they are well-documented. If you're god did exist, wouldn't he have a conscience? People kill in his name, isn't that a cause for concern? Myths and legends and stories are one thing. They are part of folklore and culture, and are very healthy. But when it becomes fanatical, I get worried. When people become obsessive about god. When they have no other care in life. When there only existence in this world is aimed towards going to another, 'better' one. What we do here, in this life, on this planet, goes with our death. We have no iota of proof that our actions affect us after our death. No evidence that there is an afterlife, in which we shall suffer if we are 'sinners'. Then why, my friend, do we believe it?
My conclusion borrows a line one of my friends likes to quote (If you ever read this, you know who you are) Say what you might, but when you cross the road, I know you look both ways.

Dreams

2008-07-23T21:57:00.004+05:30

We all dream, but what are dreams? Are they images of your subconscious mind which come to the fore when you are sleeping? If so, why? Are they deep desires which you didn't know existed? If so, why do we have nightmares? How to do we picturise dreams when our eyes are closed? Where do we see them? Is there a movie screen inside the head?

Last night, I dreamt that half my family had been kidnapped, and I was running to save my brother. And I remember in pretty vivid detail till now. Yet there are times when I don't remember a thing. So often, dreams are like transparent images which I know existed, but can't seem to find. There are times when I dream in color, there are times when I can't make out whether there's color or not. There are times when I dream of places I've never been to, or people I've never met, or things I've never seen. How? Is the mind so powerful it can create an entire personality? Or an entire scenery? Often I dream of the past, and often of the future. Many a time along come people I barely know. Surely they aren't a part of my subconscious mind. How do dreams repeat themselves? Is is like a theatre where the same reel can be played again and again till you're sick of it?

Is there a scientific explanation for dreams? I think not. Maybe we are transported somewhere else in our sleep. Certain people I know may think of stuff like parallel universes, or alternate dimensions. A certain someone might even suggest that you leave your body behind while your spirit floats free. I don't know how it happens, but if anyone else does, or has any idea, please do let me know here.

Keep dreaming then! :D

The Trust Vote

2008-07-21T19:29:00.004+05:30

Poli = Many
Tics = Bloodsuckers
We've all at some time or the other heard this not-so-elegant expansion of the word politics. But I don't think there's any time more apt then now for its true meaning to be revealed. Indian politics may be in shambles, but the recent turn of events has probably just made us the laughing stock of the rest of the world.
I was reading the paper today, and some of the news was astounding. Rumours have it that both parties - the BJP and the Congress - along with their subsidiaries are buying MP's for as much as Rs. 100 crore! For one vote! Is this the state of politics here? Do people accept bribes so openly? Te nuclear deal is the issue which precipitated this crisis, with the Left pulling all support to the government. Personally, I think the nuclear deal MUST go ahead. It's only in the country's better interests, and we do need to be a progressive nation. Science and technology must move ahead, because we all know we're gonna have an energy crisis pretty soon. And if nuclear power is an option, we must atleast explore it before rejecting it. The Left party is very idealist, and from what I've heard, they are the least corrupted. I respect them for that, but I don't think their ideology would work in today's world. And then there's people like Mayawati. If she ever becomes the prime minister of the country (at which she has hinted so many times) then I don't know where we'll go. I'm not saying that any of the other parties are much better, but she just takes the cake when it comes to being an obsolete, power hungry, corrupt politican. And our Parliament is so full of them that people are actually considering the proposition of her as our leader! Religion is, and has always been, a major card in Indian politics, and sadly, I don't see that trend changing too soon. Off late, both sides have been trying to project themselves as secular yet pro-Hindu, and I just don't get that. Today Advani said that being secular doesn't mean being anti-Hindu. Well, it also doesn't mean going out of the way to please the them. Th Ram Sethu project has apparently been given the go-ahead today, so I'm sure that's gonna anger a few people, and I just wonder whether now was the right time for this.
Anyways, I think we can all agree that right now, our political state is hardly one of stability. We need some clearing up to be done, and fast. If that means fresh elections, it may not be a bad thing. Sure, they'll be dirty tricks (there always are) and accusations and all those things which go with elections. But in the end, hopefully there'll be a government who realises that the nuclear deal is good for the country, and goes ahead with it. For now, sit back and watch the show tomorrow.

I Always Knew He'd Win It!

2008-07-09T18:04:00.003+05:30

Yeah, I know I should have posted this a little bit earlier, but I've been kinda busy so.. Anyways! Nadal won! There's no way I can express my happiness here, but I'll try!

So where do I begin? The build-up? The rain delays? The fourth set tie-break? The final exultation of glory? There was so much excitement about this match right from the start, and somehow, people just knew this was gonna be different from the previous two finals. Although Nadal did take Federer to five sets last time around, none of us expected him to win it. In our minds, Federer was still the one who would win on grass, Wimbledon was still his home (Yeah, even I thought so, inspite of being the biggest Nadal fan there is) This year, however, after the way he trounced Federer at Roland Garros, I just knew that this would be a special tournament. I actually placed a couple of bets on Nadal winning the tournament, and people looked at me like I was the biggest freak on the surface of the earth. But hey, my luck's been good off late, so I was ready to push it a little further! Anyway, no more digression!

The final itself was probably one of the greatest we've seen (atleast the greatest that I've seen in the 16 years of my life) I'm sure you've heard/read millions of reports by now, and are sick and tired of people using big flowery adjectives to describe the final, so I'll avoid that. What I will say is that this may be the start of something new. Rafa Nadal may just go on to win the Grand Slam before Federer does (if he ever does) On current form, the only thing that's gonna stop him is an injury, because on court, he's been unplayable right from the clay court season.

I saw the final at my aunt's place, and luckily there was a TV in my bedroom, since the match went on well into the night. But I can't tell you how tense I was after the fourth set tie-break. like each one of you, I thought Rafa had it in the bag when he was 5-2 up, with two of his own serves to follow. But no! Federer managed to win both points, and then the set. At that time, every point was so awesome! I was literally jumping every time Rafa hit one of those lovely crosscourt backhand shots he's developed so well this season. Before every serve, I was chanting 'C'mon Rafa! Vamos Rafa!' I was actually wearing my heart on my sleeve, and every time he won a point I would scream! (I woke my brother up quite a few times through the night!)

I hope all you people did catch the match, or atleast the highlights, because at times, the tennis was just awesome. Being a tennis player myself, I know just how hard it is to get that ace in on the big points, or to run across for one more swing, no matter how hopeless it may seem. And this year's final was of the highest standard. Rafa is the best, and he so deserves this! This picture shows just what it means to him..

:)

2008-07-08T23:00:00.003+05:30

Sometimes, it just so happens that everything is perfect. It's very, very rarely that it happens, but when it does, the feeling's awesome. Just awesome! Right now, I'm so happy with life, I can't tell you all! My luck is like on an all-time high, and whomsoever support wins! Man United, Spain, Nadal - it's all good. And then of course, there are other joys in life. Blah blah blah, I'm blabbering now.. I just know I'm very happy. Thank you :)

Flipsyde

2008-07-03T22:59:00.005+05:30

If the 1970's were the days of rock and roll, if the 80's were the times of change, if the 90's were the era of pop, then what have the 2000's been? I know they aren't over yet, but we can make a fair judgement and I don't know about you but to me the 2000's represent an era of disappointment. There's been so much rubbish in the market that Mariah Carey (I never rated her too highly) just equalled the Beatles' record of most #1 hits. What?! Some may call this the decade of 'rap' or hiphop' but to my ears, every hiphop song sounds the same. Same tunes, similar themes, same sounds. I'm sorry but hiphop is just a disgrace to music (Mind you, I have my exceptions too, but they are few and far between them)

In all of this, when Flipsyde released their first album 'We The People' a few years ago, I was pleasantly surprised. I don't know what genre you'd classify them under, but I certainly wouldn't tag them as conventional rap artists. They blend in the Spanish guitar really well with all of the other sounds, and the rap over it all makes it a complete package. Their main voice, the 'Piper', is a talented guy but most of all, I like their simplicity. No over-the-top bling, no show-off, nothing. Their music was a refresher at the time. And another thing I liked was their lyrics. Take a look at these lyrics of 'Happy Birthday'

Please accept my apologies, wonder what would have been

Would you've been a little angel or an angel of sin?

Tom-boy running around, hanging with all the guys.

Or a little tough boy with beautiful brown eyes?

I payed for the murder before they determined the sex

Choosing our life over your life meant your death

And you never got'a chance to even open your eyes

Sometimes I wonder as a foetus if you faught for your life?

Would you have been a little genius in love with math?

Would you have played in your school clothes and made me mad?

Would you have been a little rapper like your papa da Piper?

Would you have made me quit smokin' by finding one of my lighters?

I wonder about your skintone and shape of your nose?

And the way you would have laughed and talked fast or slow?

Think about it every year, so I picked up a pen

Happy birthday, love you whoever you woulda been

Happy birthday...

This is my most favorite Flipsyde song and I've heard it hundreds of times but it is just so incredibly sad, and it never fails to touch me. Ever. 'Someday' and 'Spun' were huge hits as well and I particularly like the guitaring in 'Spun'. But I think a lot of their better stuff remained hidden on the album. 'Skipping Stones' and 'No More' are good examples. Flipsyde haven't been very active off late or so I thought anyway, but some research tells me that they've toured India twice. Damn! But if they ever come again, I'm gonna be there.

They've also been working on a new album, and have crossed gender barriers to welcome Chantelle Paige into the group. However, Akon is the producer of this new album and that's what scares me. I REALLY hope these guys stick to their thing and do what they do best, without getting highly influenced by him, because personally speaking, I don't like him too much. Anyway, here's hoping the follow-up's as good as the original and that Flipsyde just get bigger and better!

RIP Great Man

2008-06-29T12:47:00.005+05:30

Field Marshall Sam Maneckshaw was one of the greatest soldiers India has ever produced, and he will live in our memory for many years to come. I may be only 16, but I've read a lot, and his prowess is well-documented. A man who was never afraid to stand up to his adversaries, Sam Bahadur, as he was affectionately known passed away on June 27, 2008. He has often been in the midst of controversy, but undoubtedly, he is one of our finest gems post-independence.

I have always admired an army-man. He who lays down his life for the sake of his country is one who must be respected, one who must be given his due for he is a great man. It doesn't mean the rest of us aren't great, but the soldier must be given a place of pride in every country. Just the sight of a line of soldiers standing at attention, with hands in salute in front of the national flag is blood-chilling. Tell me this doesn't get you.

So after some digression, I return to doff my hat to Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw, one of the greatest men to ever represent our country in any arena. However, I am a little disappointed with the government. They should have declared 27th June a national holiday. Or atleast the 28th. However, we continue to live on, unaware of our loss. It's sad to see that neither the newspapers nor the TV channels think this is news worthy of being broadcast. Everyone who heard of it has already forgotten and moved on to the next cricket match, or the next Bollywood flick. Show some respect, guys.

Be Yourself!

2008-06-22T20:41:00.006+05:30

This post has been inspired by an article I read on another blog. Click here to check it out. Cheers!

It happens so often that we just lose ourselves completely, when we just become someone else, when we just stop being us. Why do we not have the courage to defend our own choices, our tastes, our morals, our principles? Why can't we stand up and take the side we think is right, even if there are a hundred people on the other side. Why don't we follow our heart more often, without thinking of the consequences?
On that note, hopefully I've got you thinking. So let me be a bit clearer. Imagine you've just come to a new city, bag baggage et al. It could be for any reason, and you could be doing anything - working in an MNC, studying in primary school, doing your majors from college. It doesn't matter. It's the first day. You're nervous (We've all been there, you know that feeling in your stomach) There seems to be an interesting group of people at the end of the room, and they are chatting about everyday things - music, books, work maybe. You go up to them, and join the conversation. An over-enthusiastic person decides that he needs to know whether you can belong or not. And so, you are asked about your choices and tastes. They could be in anything, they could be in everything. It could be general conversation, and it could be straight questioning. It's at this time when you first start feeling that maybe you should say what will please them. After all, it's you who's lonely, who knows no one, maybe this is the way people work here. Maybe this is what is considered correct, maybe this is what's cool. And of course, who doesn't wanna be cool? Right?
We've all done it sometime or the other in life. When you're talking to the metalhead, all the sappy love songs you like hold no meaning anymore. When you're talking to your girlfriend, all the Led Zep you've heard is suddenly 'loud noise'. Sometimes, we find a joke funny, but refuse to laugh, because hey, it wasn't supposed to be funny. Sometimes, we find a 'boring' person interesting, but hey it's not 'cool' to talk to him. Why?
Why are we so stuck up in our shells, that we refuse to enjoy ourselves? Why do we try so hard to get noticed, then just wanna blend in? Why can't we be right, why can't OUR choices remain ours, no matter what the circumstances. Why do we have to change colors like a chameleon to keep pace with the world around us. Why have we forgotten to follow our heart and wear it on our sleeve? Why can't things be spur-of-the-moment, without thinking of what this person will think and what that person will say?
We tend to hide ourselves under a blanket or normalcy. We strive so hard to attain it, and in the process, we lose contact with ourselves somewhere. One day, there comes a stage in life, when if asked your opinion, you shall not have one. You'll only say what the rest of the world is, whether you believe in it or not. Self-confidence and self-esteem are lost. People stoop so low to get away with stuff. To be accepted by society. Our society is so restricted, that one bad remark or one wrong sentence and wham-slam-bang, you're suddenly an outcast. People who want to talk to you also wont, since you're the 'wrong one'.
Folks, where's the passion in our lives? One life is too short for back-bitching, hypocritical thinking, and planning too far ahead. Live life as it comes, speak your mind, and never ever get influenced by someone without thinking over the issue yourself. Don't suppress your conscience, it'll suppress you. Have some fun in life! And on that note, ciao!

Anti-MBA?

2008-06-17T11:24:00.006+05:30

'Son, when you grow up, do an MBA and earn lots of money'

-Dad

This is such a common quote in so many Indian households. With the middle class striving to reach the upper echleons of scoiety, an MBA seems like a dream come true for so many. As the newspapers proudly exclaim how much the IIM topper makes each year, people are led to believe that an MBA is the only way forward. Money is supposed to 'just flow' if you do an MBA.

However, now I face the opposite problem. I'm currently studying for IIT, and while a post-grad degree is still years away, I'm the first to admit that an MBA is near the top of my list. But whenever I mention it, people give me looks which say 'Which planet are you from?' or 'Are you human?' Why? What is so wrong, so evil in doing an MBA? Does every MBA become a money-loving, miserly, work-obsessed maniac? I'm sorry, I don't think so. Why does an MBA mean that you just wanna go and make money and do business? Why do people use the words 'MBA' and 'money' synonymously?

According to me, an MBA helps you learn a lot about the corporate world - how things work, planning, strategies etc. It gives you angles you might never have thought existed. It could add an entire dimension to your work life. It could help you discover skills you never thought you had.

For a science/engineering student it's not a crime to do an MBA. If you don't wanna do research or work as an engineer, then why not do an MBA? I personally think an MBA is a great idea. Marketing is a field I think I'm really gonna like. Somehow I feel I'm built for such a field. Don,t ask me why, it's just intuition. Plus I find it pretty interseting as well, figuring out how the market works, calculating the risk involved and trusting your instincts. It's a field where there's action, it never gets boring, there's always something new, and you have to keep reinventing yourself. There's the added elements of luck and risk, which make it all the more interesting.

So, all those of you who think science and MBA don't go together, come on, leave me some comments, and we can discuss it! Because I see nothing despicable about it..

Shouldn't Patriotism be a thing of Choice?

2008-06-14T00:10:00.000+05:30

According to the Oxford dictionary, a patriot is defined as 'a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it'. But what really is patriotism? Is patriotism important in today's world? In this era of technology and globalization, does the word patriotism lose its meaning?

According to me, patriotism need not necessarily be broadcast to the world. If you are patriotic, you can show it, but being in someone else's face as a result of that is not acceptable. But most importantly, don't be patriotic to show it off. It's not cool to do that.

In the name of patriotism and 'our country' people have started so many conflicts since time immemorial that I often wonder whether we'd we better off if there was no feeling of patriotism among people. If it exists, let it do so as a positive feeling, not as something which can be used to ignite hatred and war. That becomes a host of things other than patriotism then, and it's the worst excuse, if there ever was one, to create friction.

Here in Bombay, before every movie, the national anthem is played. While it may not be a big thing, it's still a case of patriotism being thrust on you. And that is a key point I think everyone is missing. Whether you're patriotic or not is for you to decide. No one can force it on you. If you are not patriotic, I don't see a problem. Why should the politicians or bureaucrats or anyone else for that matter have the right to FORCE it on you?

Do you like November Rain? I do.

2008-06-13T21:40:00.001+05:30

This is a post dedicated purely to the genius of Guns 'n' Roses on their song 'November Rain'. If you don't like the song, get outa here! GnR may not be the most liked band all around the world, but there's no denying that this song is probably one of the greatest ballads ever written. At around 9 minutes, it is one of the longer songs they've written, but Slahs just outdoes himself on the guitar solos (yeah, there's 2!)

To my mind, Slash is one of the best guitarists there ever was, and in this song, he's just brilliant. Axl's voice is perfect for this record, and the emotion in his voice matches those of the lyrics. Which are just awesome. Written by Axl, they portray the feelings of love and break up so well. There's something reassuring about this song. Just hearing the lines 'Everybody needs somebody, Nobody on their own' makes me feel better.

And the music video! Currently the 13th most expensive video ever made, it features Axl getting married to girlfriend-at-that-time Stephanie Seymour in the first part, and her funeral in the second. We don't know what happened in between, interpret it yourself. Some say that Axl killed her, some say she died when she was hit by lightning. Either way, this is one of my favorite videos, especially the part when Slash starts his guitar solo, outside the church. Bloody awesome!

So please check out the song, and if you already have, tell me what you think of it, leave a comment or 2!

Nick Madaras

2008-06-06T16:49:00.002+05:30

The other day, I was watching SportsCenter on ESPN. It was a normal day, and nothing extraordinary had happened. Then along came a story, that really, really inspired me, and one I found so touching that I haven't been able to stop thinking about it for some time now.

Nick Madaras was a normal student. He grew up in Wilson, Connecticut and from a very young age showed great interest in sport. He tried his hand at almost every sport, but what set him apart from most of his fellow countrymen was his love for football (soccer). He would play for his school team, for a local league team, and in the backyard with his sister or his friends.

When he was 19, Nick decided to join the army, to serve his country. He enrolled himself, and after basic training, he was sent to Iraq. The Iraqi war has been portrayed very differently by different people. Some believe it was a good thing, most don't. The end result being that the country has been devastated by the impact of the war. However, one thing doesn't change, wherever you go. Kids. When Nick landed in Iraq, he realised that inspite of all that was happening around them, inspite of the hardships they were facing, the Iraqi kids were in fact, kids. And they loved nothing more than a game of soccer. Nick saw them kicking around bags of stones as substitutes for soccer balls (which were unavailable in Iraq) and that was when he decided to do something about it. When he was home on leave in July 2006, he rounded up as many balls as he could to bring back to the children of Iraq. He figured that this was his way of contributing to world peace, and if it brought smiles to the faces of the kids, his job there was complete.

What followed was tragic. Nick was killed by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) in September 2006. At the tender age of 19, his life had been ended, and his family had a agem snatched away from them. Death has its way of creeping up on those who least expect it, and to take away those we value most. It is oft unfair, or so we think. Why must we suffer, we think.

And as everyone was in shock and grief at this turn of events, Nick was brought back to the States, draped in the colors of the nation he had died fighting for. But ironically, when he was just leaving, his legacy was being born. After he passed away, Nick's friends and family decided to continue his programme of giving soccer balls to kids in Iraq. They set up an organisation, and anyone could come and donate a football. The only condition - on every ball was written 'PFC Nick Madaras'. Now, the Kick for Nick programme, as it is called, has grown and people from all over the world are becoming actively involved with it.

Sport, they say, can connect us all. It certainly did connect with a young private in Iraq. And today, he may not be here anymore, but his name is remembered by all the young children of Iraq, who now have something to smile about, in this time of crisis. PFC Nick Madaras, I salute you. You are a true hero.

(Click here for the link to the SportsCenter segment, which got me to write this article)

Before and After

2008-06-06T03:00:00.001+05:30

The all encompassing darkness sweeps over me
Rage pierces every last bit of my soul
That hidden part of me has finally broken free
Someone shall pay for what he did not do.

My brain's clouded; I can't think straight
Lashing out wildly into the unknown silence
I know there's no hope, now all depends on fate
Is this how it'll all end?

The barrier has been crossed, freedom is mine
The end was quiet, as befits the cold night
A new life, I've crossed the line
Yes I'm immortal, there shall be no fright

The First Rain

2008-06-05T23:34:00.006+05:30

The rains are finally here! After a summer of torturous heat and humidity, finally there comes a time when we may not see the sun for a few days. Yesterday, I was sitting in a math class when the first showers of the year came down, and boy was it brilliant! Our whole class started shouting and screaming, so much so that our teacher (who's known to be very, um, strict) actually broke out into a smile. Personally, the monsoon is my favorite season by far. You can go on long drives, to see greenery everywhere. It isn't hot, neither is it cold, just very wet, which I love! Driving through the hills in the rains (and if you're lucky, some fog as well) is an experience which beats most things. In fact, most of my memorable, favorite picnics have happened in the monsoons, ex-Pune, driving somewhere into the hills, not knowing where, carrying a packed lunch, with a bunch of friends! Those were the days! I just love the smell of the mud, when it is frshly wet, and the scent in the air is just so fresh, unlike the stale smell you get during the summers when everyone is just sweating. And the feel of getting wet, and playing football in the dirty, slushy mud is something that can't be described. Try it. It's bloody brilliant! So here's to a great monsoon ahead, enjoy it to the max!

The Past, Present and Future - My SAT Essay

2008-06-02T13:03:00.006+05:30

So i took my SAT this past May. This was the essay topic -

Do incidents from the past continue to influence the present? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.

This is what I came up with -

'Time waits for none' is an old saying, which continues to hold good even today. However, it is often us who are left behind, as time moves on. Lost in history, the wonders of the past, and often shocked by it, I must say that incidents from the past continue to influence the present.

Our past impacts our present, as well as our future, in both positive and negative ways. Harrowing experiences from the past often cause us to be more cautious. An accident, or the loss of a loved one can scar a life so badly, that no matter what, the person will never be the same again. Moving on from such an incident is nigh impossible, and the negative impact this can have is enough to shatter someone for life. On the other hand, a happy childhood, a memorable college life and a good upbringing can lift you whenever you are down, depressed or distressed. Simply thinking back and reflecting on the lovely days of the past brings a smile to your face, and gives you the confidence that come what may, you shall get through!

'Once bitten, twice shy' is a beautiful proverb which is very appropriate here. Let me give you an example. After the horrendous impact of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and government will think twice, and probably thrice, before engaging in nuclear warfare again. Till today, people in India draw inspiration from the great Mahatma Gandhi, and his ideals continue to form the basis of many value systems across the world.

Love it or hate it, we are forced to recognize the power the past can exert on us, our present and our future. I often plan ahead while keeping the past in mind, and an astute observer might notice that while living in the present might be fun, reflecting on the past to plan the future helps you mature faster and enjoy life to the fullest.

Tell me what you think of it..

Someplace Else

2008-05-31T18:01:00.007+05:30

Life is bright, open your eyes
Walk the earth, roam the skies
Look around you, take it all in
Rum and wine, ale and gin
The ice is warm, the fire is cold
It's like an entirely different world
Join me and we'll conquer all
Near and far, big and small
For miles around people will see
You and me and the deep blue sea
We'll laugh and smile, and laugh some more
Sing on the sand, dance on the shore
This black and white screen they call my life
You'll fill with color, vibrant and nice
Get in the car, we'll drive away
Into a land where it's always day
Where the sun shines on you
Like a spotlight on a stage
I see it in my mind
It's a beautiful image...

Where I Belong

2008-04-28T18:59:00.001+05:30

Tomorrow when I wake,
God knows where I'll be
Drifting into space
A dark and unknown place

I guess life goes on
Along its way
I'll make it through
I'll find my way
And then one day
I'll be back

Because,
This is where I belong
From here, I'll never be gone
This is where I belong
From here, I'll never be gone

The clock ticks fast
It waits for none
Time's flying past
I need to run

When I'm down and out
With nowhere to go
I'll think of you,
And then I'll glow

Because,
This is where I belong
From here, I'll never be gone
This is where I belong
From here, I'll never be gone

You know,
This is where I belong
From here, I'll never be gone

Finally! I've been in a really creative frame of mind today, and this is what I've come up with! It's not a poem but a song, and I can sing it (but I'm not sure you want to hear that ;) ) Trying to play it on the guitar, but not too successful as of now anyways!
This song is basically from the point of view of a person who has to move on from something but doesn't want to. Could be a case of leaving home, graduating from school or college, or breaking up. None of us can escape the clutch of time, and one day, we'll have to move on from everything..

China, Tibet and the Olympics

2008-04-18T20:14:00.002+05:30

Reading the newspaper everyday, one thing has become all too clear. The Olympics, which are supposed to be a sporting event, have become so hopelessly politicised that there's no looking back now. China isn't in the best books of most Western Nations, and while I see no reason why they should be given extra importance, everyone agrees that the prospect of an Olympics without countries like the USA or France is NOT inviting. So why the big controversy?

China is in the heart of quite a few controversies at the moment. For one, Tibet. To my mind, Tibet is an independent country. Chinese occupation of Tibet is the equivalent of medieval imperialism. In today's world, everyone has a right to decide who will lead them, in what kind of society they want to live, and most importantly, what they want to do. It is shocking that China can so openly claim that Tibet is a part of their 'territory' when in fact, Tibetan culture is quite different from that of China. More saddening is the fact that China has become so bloody powerful (excuse my language pls) that no one can do a thing to stop them. With everyone looking into their own benefits, and relationships with 'the largest growing economy in the world', no one wants to get on the wrong side of China. And so, the fight rages on.

Which brings us back to the Olympics. Now, there have been people stopping the torch relay at every step of the way, in the name of Tibet. And while what China is doing is so obviously wrong, I'm not sure that mixing the Olympics with politics and other issues is a good idea. The Olympics are like a showcase event, which come every four years. Billions of dollars have been spent on getting Beijing ready for the big event. Boycotting of Olympics is not something new - in fact its happened with surprising regularity - but it will surely be a shame if some of the 'big countries' decide to pull out.

Mind you, I have nothing for China - in fact, it wont be wrong if I said I HATE China - but mixing sport with political issues just doesn't go down with me. Sorry folks, you can solve this outside the sport arena.

Some poems

2008-04-18T19:33:00.002+05:30

To begin with, here a few poems I've written in the past 6 months..
His Plan
Who is he? no one knows
Where is he? no one knows
Does he exist? no one knows
Bcause if he does, he should show himself

The earth is heating up
There's not enough room here
Was this the was he imagined it all?
Or has the master plan gone wrong?

Communal riots, blind massacre
Genocide, homicide, suicide bombers
A woman raped in the street last night
Two kids sodomised in the daylight
As i swallow tis news everyday
My shock turns to anger

Was this the way he imagined it all?
Or has the master plan gone all wrong?

He has the believers
The blind followers
The ignorant ones who keep false hope
That one day he will come

Well, i ask them
Shouldn't he be here by now?
Isn't there enough crisis?
Or maybe he's just sitting up there
Somewhere high above us all
And just laughing
Are we his toys, his playthings?
And so, i ask

Was this the way he imagined it all?
Or has the master plan gone wrong?
Has the master plan.. Gone all wrong?

Black
They said
Black is hate, lust and jealousy
Black is loathe, envy and wrath
Black is darkness, and devil worship
Black is defeat, dead despair
Black is sullen, anger unbound
Black is night, with all its evil

I said
Black is hope, a new beginning
Black is novelty, rising from the ashes
Black is beautiful, pure and clean
Black is mystery, dark and thrilling
Black is fear, a rush of adrenalin
Black is my generation, black is back.

Solitude
They were my people, my friends, my kin
I'd stick by them through thick and thin
Now strangers they do seem, what's gone wrong?
Is it on the outside, or deep, deep in?

The laughter used to ring through my ears
The joy it brought would ease my fears
All in the past, as I look back
Now all that's left is one big gap

A different color, an alien side
Everyday is a brand new ride
I stumble through, I know I'll fall
I can't keep up, I'm losing it all

Emptiness fills up all space
Drawing blanks, clutch onto nothing
Drifting apart with no bridge back
Few lost souls, all hope dashed

Not the autumn leaves
Nor the mighty mountains
Escape from its hold
It transforms them all
Change is the only constant
Time conquers all
Shatters much along its way
Leaves things cold and grey.

I'm Back

2008-04-18T19:32:00.000+05:30

After a six month 'layoff' I am officialy back to blogging now.. Let's see how long it lasts :)

I give up

2007-09-11T23:43:00.002+05:30

Right, I'm really sorry, but after just a few matches, I've given up with the idea of the reviews. (Scroll down if you're clueless right now) Just not getting the time. But will definitely give my point of view on the more important ones.

Ciao!

What's wrong with the system?

2007-08-16T13:50:00.002+05:30

Stress. Suicide. Words oft repeated together. And separately.

In the aftermath of ANOTHER suicide at IIT, its time to think over. why did it happen? newspapers claim the boy was separated from his parents. surely, surely that cannot be a reason to take your own life. i refuse to believe it. its a strange paradox, isnt it? people die to get into IIT. it is undoubtedly the country's biggest brand, the best college by far, leaving its counterparts light years behind. yet every year, we hear news of atleast one suicide from these premier institutes. now, its common knowledge that the stress levels at IIT are immense. the workload is huge, even if not everyone cares. if you need convincing of how terrible it can be, go to youtube, search for deja vu iit, and take it in. yet, whenever a suicide report has been mentioned, NEVER has this factor been mentioned. surely, surely this has something to do with the suicides. i cant believe the guy did it just cause he was separated from his parents, or was a bit lonely. no chance. there's something foul going on somewhere. reputations are being protected fiercely, often at the cost of the truth, the untold truth, which lies out of sight, beneath the surface, somewhere waiting to be discovered. what is it??

The Most Inspirational Song

2007-07-26T22:38:00.002+05:30

“We didn’t start the fire, it was always burning, since the world’s been turning”

As Billy Joel croons away on my iPod, I feel something within me. There’s something really inspirational about this song, and I don’t know, I feel it every time I hear the song. Its one of his most popular songs, but until recently, I never understood what al the fuss was about. I never thought it was all THAT great. But then, one day, I was listening to my iPod, when this song started to play. And since I wasn’t in a bad mood, I didn’t mind a bit of experimentation. So I listened kinda carefully to the song, tried to pick out words, and make sense of what he was singing. And I must say, at first, it was all gibberish. I mean, all he was saying were random, totally unconnected words! But, when I heard it again, I don’t know what changed, but it made a whole lot of sense. And the whole song was so damn inspirational. Whenever I feel down, I listen to ‘Just feel better’ by Steven Tyler and Santana, and it really helps. But not when I’m feeling dull, or uninspired. Then it has no effect whatsoever. But now, I got a song to help me in such a situation as well. So, for al those who haven’t heard this song yet, log onto your Limewire, or Kazaa, or BearShare or whatever and download it immediately. I swear it’ll be worth it.

Jacko - The Music

2007-07-23T22:02:00.000+05:30

Ok, so not many people are big fans of Michael Jackson. He’s had more than his fair share of controversy, and most people would be happier away from him. But lets just put all that to one side for a moment. Let’s put aside the fact that he has been one of the most controversial, probably most-hated persons in the world. And concentrate solely on his music. One of the most successful pop artists of all time, Jacko has produced loads of hits. Smooth Criminal, Beat It, Black Or White… The list is long. Jacko’s music is brilliant. He revolutionized dance as it was own in his time, and his videos are wonderful dance vids. Like ‘Beat It’, which shows a face-off between two neighborhood gangs. Or ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’, which is a brilliant working class dance video. Most of his songs are fast, have wonderful beats and are accompanied with an outstanding voice. Lets salute Jacko for his music, for the way he revolutionized pop music. He may not be the most likable person, and many aspects of his personality are questionable (his morals, for one) but not his music. It has always been masterful. A tribute, to Jacko.

Japan Gets Nuked - Again

2007-07-21T15:44:00.001+05:30

Well, here’s the bad publicity nuclear energy was waiting for. The recent nuclear hazard in Japan, due to a reasonably powerful earthquake will once again bring to the forefront the negative effects of the nuclear power. While many claim that nuclear power has a bright future, I have always been a bit skeptical. Solar power seems like such a better option.

The true effects of the Japan hazard aren’t know now, and it may well take time for them to be felt. But rest assured that they will be felt, and in no way positively. When there is such a leak of radiation in the surrounding waters, the effects could be profound. Aquatic life will be harmed, ecological balances will get badly affected, and while marine life will be greatly affected, it will also reduce food safety for seafood consumers and affect business of fisheries. And who knows how far the effects could carry? In a far-fetched theory, I am tempted to say that they might even cross the entire Pacific. But maybe that IS a bit too much.

How bad the leak was, only time will tell, but now it’s time to wake up to the downside of nuke energy. Let’s just hope the world leaders aren’t blind enough to just ignore this event.

What Am I Doing Here?

2007-07-15T19:42:00.000+05:30

So this is a blog. What am I doing here? When did I decide to start a blog? Oh well, it must be one of those crazy days, when I decide to do something 'different' (it usually ends up in a mess, but lets see)

Now, on with the blogging.