The Ramparts of 2009

If anything, this year has sped by at possibly the speed of light and to see it pass by has given me a sense of relief considering the turbulence it brought about across industries, organizations and the world at large.

But I'm a happy man, for this year, much like its predecessor, has been very kind to me, by being interesting, incident free and innocuous. Having endured the storm for a while and still in one piece, I must sincerely thank the creator for being merciful, at the least for having spared me of disaster.

On the blogging front, this has been among the most enjoyable years yet, with 100 posts in my personal blog alone, the most so far in any given year since inception. Besides, my reach has now transcended many boundaries, something that surely brings a lot of cheer to me - to think of being able to be connected so far and wide! I cannot describe, in words, my delight while acknowledging 9,831 visits by 5,037 visitors from 880 cities in 90 countries over the past year! I cannot thank my readers and friends enough for being so kind and supportive of an endeavour that I hold so close to my heart!

Having lived a considerable part of the year in the lower western region of Pune in Maharashtra, India, I enjoyed a wonderfully memorable and hospitable stay there which I shall cherish at all times. And now having moved home, I understand - or rather attempt to understand the purpose or what I fondly term as the raison d'etre!

As we draw closer to the moment in time when this year departs to bring forward another one, I yearn for simple yet important things in life such as the ability to be better connected with friends, associates and family, to focus on being disciplined and be able to live a life in peace and dignity, to be able to take cognizance of the little things in life that matter most and that in doing so, be able to make my life and that of those connected to me memorable and exemplary!

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy and Prosperous New Year, one that shall bring to you and your families immense peace, good health, a sense of bonding that has withstood the test of time and most importantly happiness that is unconditional and true in its sense of purpose!

God Bless you and thank you for bringing the light in my life!

Footnotes:

The Ramparts of 2008

The Bubble is born

My good friend, Indraniel Chandra, Niel for short, has taken computing, blogging in particular to a new level. His effort has led folks like me to be part of Bubble - The Blackberry Bloggers Lounge, a platform that promises hitherto unseen interaction among bloggers using blackberry!

Himself a very seasoned hand in the field of Information Security, it is no surprise to see Niel innovate and create a sphere aimed at changing the way we deal with micro-computing, by which I mean hand-held computing that is limitless in mobility. This is surely one marathon effort!

So then, all of you fellow bloggers out there using blackberry and desiring to be a part of the Bubble, do send me your PIN via email and I'll be sure to pass them on to the Master Yoda himself for addition and subsequent inclusion into this world!

Footnotes:

I've been away from your blogs for a long time now, and feel strangely disconnected. I hope to get back soon and remain connected with all of you, something that I know I cannot live without! I wish to sincerely thank those of you who visit and also observe your comments unfailingly. I want you to know that it is surely a tremendous form of support and encouragement, which is unparalleled! Love you all!

A reunion of sorts!

The vastness of the human mind can pale the expanses of all of the world's oceans put together. Yet, this entity can, purely by choice, bring upon itself a limitation that could reduce it to a dot, the size of a pin prick! That is the message I echoed to Mum on meeting her for the first time since her ailment!

Having willfully understood it much before I came to say so, she has made a great effort, with the sheer will to put this limitation behind her. It is certainly heartening to see this stage and now hope for better with a sense of absolute reassurance!

I must thank the wonderful team of energetic and zealous medical professionals and part of my own family for aiding her recovery, that has been fast, progressive and definitely remarkable!

Recovery, like many other things, is quite dependent of belief, and good ones at that! Little wonder then that the Scorpions, in their iconic masterpiece Send me an angel, echoed, "Just believe in yourself, Hear this voice from deep inside, It's the call of your heart, Close your eyes and your will find, The passage out of the dark"

How true!

Human Rights Watch

Ideally, today should have been a celebration of the human existence, epitomizing the values of togetherness, freedom, justice and a lot lot more. But Human Rights Day is a crude reminder of the despicable atrocities we commit against our own kind.

Societies and groups are becoming dangerously exclusive, often founded and furthered on religious and caste based ideologies rather than intellectual pursuits of mutual interests! Besides, warring factions in many nations threaten the basics of livelihood, particularly in countries such as Sudan, Pakistan and Afghanistan, to name a few, that is!

It's certainly not about attaining technological and financial prowess in parts when other parts of the world are immersed in turmoil and terror.

The question remains........ where are we headed? Or, are we headed forward at all?

Happy Birthday Pop

By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong!

-- Charles Wadsworth

To have led us into progress, particularly me - for the kind that I am, would have required unimaginable grit and determination, and to have done so, while steering our enterprise for the past 43 years now, is a herculean effort.

Without you at the helm, no one of us associated with you could have dreamt of advancement the manner in which we live today!

Happy Birthday Pop! You are the best, the very best!

On the shores of Kerala

The sands of time and shores of Kerala hold the same meaning to me - unequivocal bliss! But bliss isn't something that is chanced upon often, is it? Unless otherwise one has entered the league of the extraordinary who live in renunciation of the material realm in the quest for the real, that is! So, after a painfully long interlude of close to 4 years, setting foot in Kerala makes me feel elated beyond anything that I can imagine!

It seems this is precisely the kind of life I'd like to lead - to be able to rise up to the Sun, watch the day pass by, in silent hues, comfortably ensconced in the recesses of a very private realm, far away from the vagaries of the maddening world and be able to pay rich tributes to the creator and his wonderful conception - least of it, by appreciating the world that I am part of, in deference, that, it is more of a privilege than a matter of right!

I'm not entirely sure if this place brings out a certain magical element that appeals to the inner me, but I'd like to believe it surely does! The pristine elements, a departure from chaotic routines, letting go of frenzied wants that are often confused for absolute needs and a deep sense of belonging, supplemented with a feeling of being in equilibrium adds immensely to an invigorated self!

So, as Spirit, Stallion of the Cimmarron, sang, I too feel quite like saying, rather yelling out loud into oblivion, that "Here I am, this is me, there's nowhere else on earth I'd rather be."