A lot of days when things don't go as planned, frustrations, disappointments and more..

and then..BOOM!

one great day..everything falls into place..papers get accepted in journal and Ph.D application at alma mater gets approved. ;)

HURRAY!

As life goes along its path, in endless meandering twists and turns, we wonder if we can predict the future, or gone back in time and changed some things we did or decisions we took. Since neither of that is possible, what matters is the here and now. Its only the present that can be worked on, not the past, or the future. We hope that our actions in the present lead to a future we hope for and predict..but that may not always happen. We still learn along the way, ever changing into a different version of our self.



These and other thoughts crossed her mind as she lay in bed one morning, pensive thoughts about what lay ahead and what destiny had in store for her.

The beginning..

Read Allan Sealy’s book, ‘The Brainfever Bird’, a story about Maya, a puppeteer, Lev, a Russian scientist and Morgan, Maya’s friend. The story shifts from Petersburg to Delhi, and back, invoking vivid images of both cities, and weaving an intricate tale of the lives of the three main characters and the way in which the events around them influence their collective lives. From the beginning the book draws you into the complexity that surrounds the characters and the plot comes to life as you are drawn into the story, at once becoming Maya, Lev and Morgan, sometimes even Laiq's brainfever bird.

I haven't heard of this novel earlier, but I am glad to have read it all the same. A good read for those interested in reading about books set in India. :)

Talk talk-I

Over the weekend, had the nice opportunity to listen to Mr.Lakshmi Narayanan, of Cognizant Technologies, on his visit to IIT Madras. Eloquent and ever smiling, Mr. LN took us on a fascinating journey of the inception and growth of Cognizant, its values, strategy, etc. It was an eye opener for me in terms of how the IT player sees itself in the present as well as in the future, and the steps it takes, specifically in terms of the kind of people it associates and works with, to chart a growth path for the organization. It was interesting how Mr.LN centered his talk around training and mentoring people for growth within the organization. Made for an effective speech in leadership, quite apt to be included as part of the 'Leadership lecture series' organized jointly by the IIT alumni association, Chennai chapter and the IIMA alumni association.

Talk talk-II

Attended a talk this evening by Ramachandra Guha at Landmark, Chennai, at the launch of his latest book, 'India After Gandhi: The history of the world's largest democracy'. His talk was engaging and peppered with accounts of his travels to different parts of India, the characters he met, in flesh and in word, and so on. The title of his talk was 'What makes India interesting?' He identified simultaneous changes in key areas of life in India, which have become an integral part of the journey of Indian history:

a) in Indian economy-from agrarian to industrial to services
b) in human settlement-shift from villages to cities
c) in Indian polity-from colonialism to a vibrant, free democracy
d) in social attitudes and behavior-from a deferential, hierarchical view in terms of caste and gender, to more egalitarian interaction

Guha also talked about historical characters, both forgotten and celebrated, who contributed in their own way to shape modern India. In his view, it is essential to recognize the diversity in India, and recognize it as a power that makes India both complex and exciting to study. He stated that Indians today had taken this diversity for granted and that we need to recognize this fact and be grateful for it, for the impact that it has in our life.

All well and good, Dr. Guha, enlightening, even. But pray tell, how do we deal with problems arising as a result of the changes identified by you? Let me explain:

a) Finding enough skilled and trained personnel to address the shift in the Indian economy.
b) The problem of housing in the cities arising out of the shift in settlement
c) Corrupt politicians (enough said!)
d) And this one really gets me going: at a time when we talk of liberal attitudes, why do we make a huge ruckus about Richard Gere kissing Shilpa Shetty? What if they kissed for heaven's sake?! Who even cares? Why are courts even entertaining such cases?

I guess I should have stayed on longer during the Q and A, but I had to get back home soon.

Anyways, nice listening to such enlightened folks, might read him sometime too and do a review on this blog. Wait and watch ;)

Billboard Musings....

Seen on a billboard in Chennai, a Deccan Chronicle Ad with the following description:

A pretty lady wearing a tshirt, and written across her bosom, were the words, 'Rose exports on the increase'. The tag line read, "Deccan Chronicle-makes news interesting. DC-for young minds". As I was driving past, I wondered, what kind of 'interest' will this newspaper generate in 'young minds'? More specifically, what sort of message is this billboard sending across to young, impressionable minds? Just a word of caution-I am a broadminded liberal type, who thinks the whole Gere-Shetty row is pathetic, and that the individuals who have created the row in the first place need something better to do with their time (perhaps stare at billboards on the road!). But having said that, I also agree that common spaces like billboards are in everyone's view, from the 16 to the 60 year old and beyond. If we ignore the 'adult' age category of 18 and above, we have this entire demographic of young people who have yet to grow and mature, physically, emotionally and psychologically. The fact that a newspaper ad has suggestive undertones regarding the female body is likely to trigger unhealthy if not entirely deviant behavior among children who have yet to develop a complete and holistic sense of oneself and others. Newspapers ,like other sources of information, have a responsibility towards their customers to project an image that is healthy and that fosters intellectual debate around more pressing issues of the day. I am assuming, of course that something as simple as the daily news is read by younger people too! :)

On another billboard, this time sighted in Mumbai, was this amazing visual effect, of a serial on TV called, 'Left, Right, Left'. The background was the blue sea, and in the foreground (in 3D where a few pairs of legs, resembling people sitting over the deck near a sea with their feet dangling into the water). From a distance, the whole billboard appears unidimensional, its only as you approach closer do you realize the magic that 3D has played with your visual perception. :)

Till later,

Bill Bored. ;)

Accomplishment of the day

Dinner Menu:

Onion and Mirchi bajjis
Rice
Dal
French beans subzi
Yoghurt
Custard

And a new chapter in cooking begins.. :)

Saw this news story unfold over a news channel as we were awaiting a flight a couple of days back. There was live telecast of the drama associated with the custody battle of an infant found abandoned on the train somewhere in MP, and how both families were trying their best, praying and hoping that the child would be theirs. The drama was complete, with women in both families crying on camera, and seen offering prayers and taking care of the infant.

I had two differing thoughts when I saw this news story. One side of me said, "Wow..what a great story, two families, millionaires, apparently, fighting a legal battle to adopt a child." The cynic in me however wondered if the same legal battle would have happened if the infant was an abandoned girl child, rather than a boy. Perhaps the discrimination issue is too strong for me to ignore, but I often wonder about how the girl child or woman, would be treated in circumstances similar to that faced by a boy or man.

Do we respond in a similar way to a child's suffering irrespective of its gender, or do we have gender at the back of the mind when we choose our response to a child's plight?

What I've learnt

An interesting thought came to mind in the past few days:

Education has little to do with our open mindedness, curiosity, imagination, etc. A sense of culture and refinement stems from one's interest in one's world around us, in our attention to detail, we learn how to appreciate a variety of things in life. This sense of child-like wonder is something that education can neither create nor destroy. A sense of life long learning is something one can certainly cultivate in multiple areas, thereby becoming a more well rounded individual. :) This quality is something we need to develop on our own, no amount of education can give us this.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we went to school and just learnt to be curious individuals, thinkers in our own right? :)

S wrote about her experience at a hotel, and asked if any of us had any hotel reviews to provide. I do.

Experience No. 1: This is in this fantastic hotel in a great place and everything. Day 1 we got there a little late (15 minutes, btw, just for the record) for the lunch, and guess what? Although lunch was still available, we didn't get served. Simple as that. We had to order snacks separately and just for the record again, (boy, the 'record' is sure a crowded place!;)) when we did order snacks, we were served the wrong order! All this when we were hungry and tired after a long trip.

Experience No. 2: At a shopping mall, we ordered hot beverages which were served lukewarm, when we raised this with the owner, he not only got us hot beverages, but also served us food, on the house. Just like that. :) Goodness prevails in this world. :)

Two experiences, two different eating places. Which one would you visit once more? :)

Lessons from D

Learnt a lot from watching this very special person.

Some thoughts:

1. Be peaceful, calm with yourself and others
2. Keep minimal expectations
3. Be warm
4. Give generously
5. Manage time well
6. Do the things you love to do-travel, read, take pictures
7. Keep an open mind-absorb everything then decide
8. Help around the kitchen
9. Keep track of time
10. Keep a routine
11. Stick to an exercise routine-meditation, yoga
    
12. Stay disciplined-BIGTIME
13. Did I say read a lot? :)
14. Eat well, but in moderation
15. Eat right
16. Laugh. Have a sense of humor
    
17. Share your wisdom with others
18. Don't hesitate to ask questions, infact ask a lot of them! To anybody! :)
    

Me the wanderer

Us back from a very hectic but memorable trip. Thanks to D and T for making it happen. Congrats to R for his graduation. Saw a great city, loved it, will go back for more someday.

Kanehri caves are brilliant. Just being there takes the mind back all those centuries ago, when monks-in-training might have walked those very forests to get to the caves to learn about the Buddha and contemplate the state of existence and life. There is so much to see in India that I don't think a lifetime is enough for it. I have barely gotten started on this journey of discovery.

A new journey beckons us as we return from this one. Maybe sometime in the future. :)