Tuesday, October 20, 2009

A time to remember

Diwali eve was a get together time of wonderful sorts. My good friend Sourin invited me over to his home to partake in his daughter's 5th birthday celebrations! An accomplished singer and a music exponent, I've told you about him and his band sometime before.

This time around, I was witness to his usual exuberance in expression of warmth and bonding that comes so easily to him and his family, always forthcoming and readily able to come together with people, even at first meeting!

A little after I arrived, some of his friends, hitherto unknown to me, aficionados and experts in music and matters of the world, presented themselves! Usually taking sometime to break the ice, I found myself amidst a group of friends with an instant sense of connect - one like never before!

After a round of introductions and talk about each others' lives, fellow-guests, and the host, many a passionate pursuant of music in one venue, broke into momentum enthralling the rest of us with verses of Tagore in the voices of Kishore, to mention a few that is!

Not many of us feel happy in the pursuit of something that is non material, but it is imperative to understand that true happiness can and will be a result of intangible quantifications! Also important it is, to know that to connect with people, one requires an open mind, the ability to establish relationships - worthy in themselves, and the good sense to appreciate the other in a measure that is of true recognition!

As for my expression to summarize the evening, I feel appropriate to render it in the words of the famous American humorist, Will Rogers, that "A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people."

48 comments:

  1. Thank you so very kindly for those immensely exuberant and zestful words…we felt elated in your company as usual….you are a good soul Rakesh and that’s how you are so capable of discerning the tenuous rhythms that are mysteriously present in occasions! Keep up the good work of penning down your emotions and realizations…by the grace of the lord you will go places….but also take us along wherever you go if not otherwise but atleast in your thoughts ‘cause we shall continue to hanker for your association

    Always,
    Sourin

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  2. Sourin

    My dear friend - thanks very much for your kind words and unconditional support! Folks such as you are a rarity indeed and truly worth a lifelong association!

    It has been my pleasure to be so closely associated with you and your family and I will continue to do so!

    Thanks very much once again!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  3. don't have that much time to read...bu i guess i would like associating.

    so when are we meeting up lol :P

    tc n cheers

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  4. And they call me an oldie because i love to spend time with much older people....children are fine entertainment :)

    Don't know if you ever know -- some of smartest are women over 65...and wisest are men over 70 :))

    So are you shifting to Ooty, Rak??

    wishes,
    devika

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  5. Vicky

    Yes - associating with people is always a pleasure!

    And yeah - on my next trip to Del, I'll be sure to call you, with a bottle of Stolichnaya Vodka ;)

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  6. Devika Chechi

    I've always found myself easily connecting with people elder than me!

    Oh I didn't know that fact! Thanks for sharing!

    And yes - I'll be headed to Ooty, probably during mid-november!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  7. Okay, :)

    btw, the other isn't a 'fact' scientifically proven....have not come across a report for that matter...its my perception and experience...you may just watch over when you mingle :)

    and my personal view again, it may even help you gain a wholesome perspective when you face with confusions in life decisions-- which i guess you would already have expereinced,

    anyway, best wishes Rak :)

    wishes,
    devika

    de

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  8. Devika Chechi

    To think about it, perhaps thats why the adage - wiser with age!! Don't you think?

    Oh yes - people do contribute immensely to shape one's perspective and can be very instrumental in influencing the manner of thought!

    Thanks very much Devika Chechi, once again!

    Warm Regards

    Rakesh

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  9. What me thinks is already said Rak....women grow smarter with age, men grow wiser --and both are obviously not the same....

    look at families a bit more closer -- you would know what i mean :)

    ofcourse all these are subject to exceptions,

    best regards,
    devika

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  10. Ah yes... that's why I'm reading ur blog... to read better and also to associate with better people. two in one! :)

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  11. i'm poor in associating with people.It's because I always feel inferior. The worst is I always feel I'm the worst of all with respect to knowledge,skill and character. I need to break this big ice-sheet of mine and go mingle with others.
    Thanks God,Blogger and social networking sites helped me a lot.But i still lag in real world!

    You're one guy who easily mingles and helps others,rakesh! :)

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  12. You meet only smart people, huh? Then, im out of the league !! :D :D :D

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  13. That was a really nice post.
    enjoyed reading it.
    cheers

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  14. loved devika's sharp observations (as usual)!

    cheers

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  15. In response to Magiceye's comment Rak

    Thanks Magiceye...but isn't that a left-hand compliment -- me being a woman :))

    i love the wise better than the smart :)

    wishes,
    devika

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  16. Devika Chechi

    Yes – I do understand! And right you are when you make that distinction between wisdom and smartness! :)

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  17. AJ

    Whooooaaa! That’s a huge compliment! Are you certain I deserve so much?

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  18. Sri

    What???? Are you kidding me? Someone such as you, multi-talented, well educated, eloquent in thought and write......how can you feel that?

    Remember, you are what you think you are and therefore, it’s imperative that you think well of yourself!

    Promise me that this is gonna be something that you will work upon to correct!

    And, take care of your thoughts, for as you think so you become!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  19. Vimuuuu

    Whoever told you that I’m smart in the first place? :)

    And what do you mean that you are out of that league? Music exponent, blogger and traveler....

    Doesn’t that constitute enough?

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  20. MIP

    Thanks very much Sir! How u doing? No posts lately? Do update

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  21. Magiceye

    Me too Sir! I like the concise observations that she makes! Makes me think with a difference!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  22. Devika Chechi

    I’m sure Magiceye’s comment is a wonderful compliment!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  23. hey Rak, i was just twisting it...for fun :)

    wishes,
    devika

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  24. Devika Chechi

    I know very well! ;)

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  25. Devika Chechi

    Because of that smiley at the end of the sentence - partly and partly because I believe I know you! :)

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  26. mmmpphhh....me Ma'am!?
    makes me think :)

    devika

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  27. No, not that way...I was wondering if one who knows me, can 'really' call me so :))

    chal-- now lets get back to work :)

    devika

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  28. Like such gatherings where common interest and witty conversation prevails....

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  29. Wow that must have been a blissful! @ verses of Tagore in the voices of Kishore.! I wish I was there .. I am yet to meet someone smarter than me.. :D
    Nice post Rakesh .. thanks for sharing these parts of your life.

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  30. Vee

    Yes, such gatherings are very entertaining and a true sress buster, where more often, one laughs a lot!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  31. Aria

    Indeed, it was a wonderful experience and a rare one at that, considering me being choosy of what to be a part of!

    Thanks, as alwayss for your comments!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  32. The ability to establish relationships is an art for sure. An open mind and a welcoming heart is all that one need to have!

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  33. Neeraj

    Indeed! As you said, it is an art and one does surely need and open mind and a welcoming heart!

    Many thanks!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  34. Slip? -- thats okay Rak :)
    else -- living the responsibility of being a Ma'am is something I can't afford atleast in this playful blogville....told you before, no? :)

    i myself am left to wonder the 'slips' i make here...a slippery land! :)

    wishes,
    devika

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  35. I realised it now only,two months before. We become what we desire. I have started desiring big,to be successful,yet the dark past and thoughts continue to chase me.I realised that pessimism never won any battle.

    I'm spending a lot of time forcing to think optimistic and im getting good results.:)

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  36. Devika Chechi

    Yes, I do realize that being addressed Ma'am or Sir makes it very formal and that personal touch is surely missing!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  37. Sri

    Indeed - we do become what we desire and that it is important that we desire well!

    Dont worry about the past - it will only remain as the past and without any significance unless one accords importance to it!

    You'll go a lot of places young man, trust me when I tell you to trust you!!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  38. what if the smart people move?? :(
    and what if you are surrounded by numbskulls at work?? :|

    i miss my friends. :(

    PS: how do you find time to blog so often?? My career just took off and i'm finding juggling things difficult already!! :O
    And sincere apologies for being irregular. Just know that your space is one my most favorites :)

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  39. Get together at these occasions are the time we get to connect with people and extending our relationship with strangers. Hope u had a great time out there.

    So true words from Will Rogers and nice u expressed it there.

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  40. Swati

    Unfortunately, moving on is the only constant of life, isn't it?

    I can well understand how you feel!

    Well, and with regards to blogging, I make sure to include it in my list of priorities high-up! I feel that being a little organized can help a lot!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  41. Jeevan

    Indeed - it is times such as these that help us understand people better and more importantly understand our associations and evaluations in a better light!

    I did have a wonderful time that day!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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  42. I think the last quote is very apt, but different people define smartness in different ways, there are even people who define smartness as richness! The material pleasures are very trivial, we take quite some time to come over our obsessions and addictions to money!

    Destination Infinity

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  43. DI

    Indeed, different people equate smartness to different things and as you said many associate it with money and material value alone, which is certainly strange!

    Cheers

    Rakesh

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