I'm on a journey, in search of something I do not know - a something, I'm not sure I will be able to find, ever! It is a quest that has long endured the vagaries of time and taken my mind to meander in the most unusual places that a thought can lead it to. It is a journey that seeks to draw a pattern of the myriad things that happen and discern the reasons for such happenstances - simply put! Hardly an easy task, I suppose.
It is quite like walking endlessly to seek what I believe are the pieces of a missing puzzle, the picture of which, sadly, is very fuzzy, yet strangely compelling. Often, I'm left with nothing more than exhaustion as a result of this chaotic pursuit that the mind is made to gallop for. Yet, on other occasions, I feel that there is an instant connect with something unknown, unexplained, however strong.
So, I'm searching for answers, much like how Wolverine aimlessly wandered in search of the account that would tell him of how his physical self came so much to border that of a mutant - terribly accidental though! Except here in real life, I do not have a fancy film-like ready reckoner to turn to and draw inklings from!
So I turn to silence, and chaos, the trees and the wind, the mountains and the water and still find little consolation in the hope of finding an answer - while also realizing that the search could well be futile and is perhaps ordained to be so! Quite a comfort in such a thought I rest with, momentarily, before the urging drive takes over again.
The night sky in all its glory, bejeweled by a billion stars, comforts me immensely, by which time I've lost all courage and determination to continue my aimlessly maddening pursuit. Undoubtedly, there is a strong connection. For as long as I'm gazing at the stars and the comforting expanse of the night sky, I feel soothed and forget that the hours of darkness will eventually give way to a bright new day - one that will see me scurrying in search for answers, I do not know what to!
And then, in the end, it's just me, by myself, on the road to neverland!
Friday, February 12, 2010
Monday, February 08, 2010
Dirty Ooty
I'm enraged at how miserable the topography of Ooty has become! It is so full of shit that I am entirely justified in using the expletive here without having to seek any apologies from you for having done so.
How else can one explain the absurd and utter disregard of the much touted scenic environment that has, over the years, come to be known as the "Queen of Hills?" Well, the tagline is surely a misnomer, a myth rather, for now there is no queen, and her hills have long been grotesquely molested by the establishment of innumerable clusters of repulsive settlements that threaten the very ecosystem that houses them!
Now, there are a dozen or so forums that claim to be painfully distressed at the rapid scale of deterioration that Ooty faces, but not one of them has come any closer to implementing as much as the first step to mitigate the damage. I doubt they ever would! And about the Executive, the less said the better.
Simply put, my being infuriated will not reverse the current state to a desired one, neither will the so-called concerted efforts of a certain group of crisply attired, hot-shot, jet-setting, supposedly committed-to-the-cause professionals!
So, I'm better off being irate, or so I believe - talking about sense that is! What do you think?
How else can one explain the absurd and utter disregard of the much touted scenic environment that has, over the years, come to be known as the "Queen of Hills?" Well, the tagline is surely a misnomer, a myth rather, for now there is no queen, and her hills have long been grotesquely molested by the establishment of innumerable clusters of repulsive settlements that threaten the very ecosystem that houses them!
Now, there are a dozen or so forums that claim to be painfully distressed at the rapid scale of deterioration that Ooty faces, but not one of them has come any closer to implementing as much as the first step to mitigate the damage. I doubt they ever would! And about the Executive, the less said the better.
Simply put, my being infuriated will not reverse the current state to a desired one, neither will the so-called concerted efforts of a certain group of crisply attired, hot-shot, jet-setting, supposedly committed-to-the-cause professionals!
So, I'm better off being irate, or so I believe - talking about sense that is! What do you think?
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Happy Birthday Mum
Mother, can I run for President?
-- Mother, The Wall, Pink Floyd, 30-11-1979
Happy Birthday Mum! You are the light of our lives, now and forever!
Footnotes:
Lines composed by Regina Graham
-- Mother, The Wall, Pink Floyd, 30-11-1979
To you who raised me
I offer this thought
It is something I learned
Without being taught
In all the world
There is no other
To take the place
Of my dear Mother!
Happy Birthday Mum! You are the light of our lives, now and forever!
Footnotes:
Lines composed by Regina Graham
Monday, February 01, 2010
Speak to me
Run, rabbit run.
Dig that hole, forget the sun,
And when at last the work is done
Don't sit down it's time to dig another one.
For long you live and high you fly
But only if you ride the tide
And balanced on the biggest wave
You race towards an early grave.
-- Speak to me, Pink Floyd, (Dark Side of the Moon), 17-03-1973
Small towns are wonderful. They are small, easy on you and foster a sense of bonding like no other. Throw in good friends here and life is truly blissful, of a kind that will probably not be experienced even in the most sophisticated metro due to its haphazard lifestyles and constant 'on-the-move' designs mostly as a result of the maddening rat race!
So today, when 49 of us got-together to watch the much reviewed 3 Idiots, followed by a good session of cheerful exchanges and hearty laughter, we were doing just the thing that we ought to be doing - celebrating our long lived associations that hold tremendous respect and love for one another, by the grace of God!
To me this is more pleasurable than pub-hopping and once in a while getting togethers, which are largely at a professional level due to one's organizational and official affiliations!
How many of us do some serious introspection about the quality of life we lead and the outcomes of such schedules? Do we assign enough importance to happiness which needs to be the central aspect of our lives? Perhaps not, as a result of which we suffer the consequences of our ill construed actions!
We alone are responsible for the manner in which our lives progress - good or bad. We alone stand to take the blame or deserve the credit!
We alone are the dark side of the moon - or the brighter one!
Dig that hole, forget the sun,
And when at last the work is done
Don't sit down it's time to dig another one.
For long you live and high you fly
But only if you ride the tide
And balanced on the biggest wave
You race towards an early grave.
-- Speak to me, Pink Floyd, (Dark Side of the Moon), 17-03-1973
Small towns are wonderful. They are small, easy on you and foster a sense of bonding like no other. Throw in good friends here and life is truly blissful, of a kind that will probably not be experienced even in the most sophisticated metro due to its haphazard lifestyles and constant 'on-the-move' designs mostly as a result of the maddening rat race!
So today, when 49 of us got-together to watch the much reviewed 3 Idiots, followed by a good session of cheerful exchanges and hearty laughter, we were doing just the thing that we ought to be doing - celebrating our long lived associations that hold tremendous respect and love for one another, by the grace of God!
To me this is more pleasurable than pub-hopping and once in a while getting togethers, which are largely at a professional level due to one's organizational and official affiliations!
How many of us do some serious introspection about the quality of life we lead and the outcomes of such schedules? Do we assign enough importance to happiness which needs to be the central aspect of our lives? Perhaps not, as a result of which we suffer the consequences of our ill construed actions!
We alone are responsible for the manner in which our lives progress - good or bad. We alone stand to take the blame or deserve the credit!
We alone are the dark side of the moon - or the brighter one!
Friday, January 29, 2010
200 posts later
Yes, this is the 200th on this blog, a certain milestone which marks a very eventful and rewarding journey, that, which is unmatched and will be so for ever!
The intent of this post, therefore, is to thank you, very sincerely, for your unflinching support, encouragement and patronage, all of which have made me a very happy blogger!
I've had the pleasure of meeting some of you and truly cheered doing so, while also having learn't very valuable lessons and insights that have helped me shape my life into a better form, or shall I say 'format.'
Undoubtedly, the connection I share with you is very special, strong and driven by destiny than purpose, or less of purpose, that in which, lies the pursuit of excellence and betterment, which I continue to learn from each of you in some manner or the other!
I look forward to a wonderful journey ahead, one that is replete with a lot of sharing of perspectives, experiences, instances of joy, and maybe sorrow too, success, failures, moments of tribulation, and a whole lot more - in short life itself.
Yes indeed, that's what you are - a part of my life, a very integral part at that!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Happy Birthday Simbha
Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet!
Of all the funny names I call you, from Scruff, Gouchi, Kat, Poochi, and a whole lot more, you know that I wouldn't have been without you - the wonderful you! It is indeed a blessed opportunity for all of us that you are a part of our lives, as a constant source of immense happiness and unconditional love!
Now that doesn't mean you deny me those late evening 'home-return' huggys!
Happy Birthday Girl, or should I say Lady now ;)
For the moment, I'll be Shaggy and sing you "Girl you're my angel, your my darling angel......."
Friday, January 22, 2010
A rendezvous with the thinker!
Meeting a fellow blogger is a rare privilege, quite an event, one that does not occur often, though desired! So, one can imagine my joy when such an occurrence takes place in Ooty!!!! I've got to liken that to a celestial happening of the rarest possible kinds!
Rajesh, who is the creator of Destination Infinity, popularly signed as DI, was here in Ooty and took time out to meet me and spend some quality time.
Among the first things that will strike you when you meet him is his simplicity, which will make you reassured in the importance of that virtue. Absolutely clear in thoughts, he is a person with a deep drive for a knowledge oriented qualitative life - both in personal and professional spheres, from what I gather.
Within the limited time at our disposal, we shared our thoughts on technology, entrepreneurship, culture, thought processes and the importance of quality in life and at work, among other things. Also mutually agreed upon was the idea to initiate a blogger meet in Coimbatore under the aegis of Indiblogger, something that will bring a lot of us closer in interaction.
And for me, I felt having learnt quite a bit - primarily, on how to be a better thinker and a disciplined one at that, for they say, and truly so, that what one thinks, one eventually becomes!
Thank you Rajesh! And, please do return to blogging soon!
Rajesh, who is the creator of Destination Infinity, popularly signed as DI, was here in Ooty and took time out to meet me and spend some quality time.
Among the first things that will strike you when you meet him is his simplicity, which will make you reassured in the importance of that virtue. Absolutely clear in thoughts, he is a person with a deep drive for a knowledge oriented qualitative life - both in personal and professional spheres, from what I gather.
Within the limited time at our disposal, we shared our thoughts on technology, entrepreneurship, culture, thought processes and the importance of quality in life and at work, among other things. Also mutually agreed upon was the idea to initiate a blogger meet in Coimbatore under the aegis of Indiblogger, something that will bring a lot of us closer in interaction.
And for me, I felt having learnt quite a bit - primarily, on how to be a better thinker and a disciplined one at that, for they say, and truly so, that what one thinks, one eventually becomes!
Thank you Rajesh! And, please do return to blogging soon!
Monday, January 18, 2010
To the Alma Mater - 14 years later
A visit to St. Joseph's School, 14 years after conclusion of tutelage there was truly overwhelming, and brought back many fond memories of the wonderful days that now remain etched firmly only in thoughts - to be cherished for all time to come!
Reminiscing the old times spent in Gray and Blue standard, as one faction, in strong brotherhood, Pankaj, Jithu and I found ourselves 'back to school' again, in an arena where little has changed over the last decade and a half.
Amazed at the wonderful reception we received, it was moments to savour and to also reflect upon what we had learnt there and hence come to apply in our lives as people, expected to be best at what we swore to do.
Walking down the memory lane can also get very emotional, particularly if there is a lasting urge to remain part of the fraternity that one was so duly part of, knowing fully well that such a connection can only be attributed to those bygone times, and that a new day will only draw us away from this wonderful impression, into our own chaotic realm of a fast paced life, away from the innocence of childhood and the arduously patient and remarkable wonders we call teachers!
Touring around the marvelous campus at the behest of Sir Himachalapathy, who taught us a lot more than just accounting standards and commercial viabilities, we were quick to realize how fortunate we are to have been part of a wonderful system at the right time and the right place, and agreed to do our bit to further this realization, something which is to all of us a unique opportunity, rather a privilege, I must say!
Now, you wouldn't exactly call Ralph Waldo Emerson a mere dreamer, would you, for having insisted "not to go where the path may lead; but instead go where there is no path and leave a trail?”
Footnotes:
The page on Wikipedia
It's a shame that I've not been able to publish the pictures we took during the visit, in this post - all thanks to not being able to find my camera's USB cable and also since I haven't yet installed a card reader! Double Whammy, indeed! I hope to post some images of this visit on my photo-blog soon!
Reminiscing the old times spent in Gray and Blue standard, as one faction, in strong brotherhood, Pankaj, Jithu and I found ourselves 'back to school' again, in an arena where little has changed over the last decade and a half.
Amazed at the wonderful reception we received, it was moments to savour and to also reflect upon what we had learnt there and hence come to apply in our lives as people, expected to be best at what we swore to do.
Walking down the memory lane can also get very emotional, particularly if there is a lasting urge to remain part of the fraternity that one was so duly part of, knowing fully well that such a connection can only be attributed to those bygone times, and that a new day will only draw us away from this wonderful impression, into our own chaotic realm of a fast paced life, away from the innocence of childhood and the arduously patient and remarkable wonders we call teachers!
Touring around the marvelous campus at the behest of Sir Himachalapathy, who taught us a lot more than just accounting standards and commercial viabilities, we were quick to realize how fortunate we are to have been part of a wonderful system at the right time and the right place, and agreed to do our bit to further this realization, something which is to all of us a unique opportunity, rather a privilege, I must say!
Now, you wouldn't exactly call Ralph Waldo Emerson a mere dreamer, would you, for having insisted "not to go where the path may lead; but instead go where there is no path and leave a trail?”
Footnotes:
The page on Wikipedia
It's a shame that I've not been able to publish the pictures we took during the visit, in this post - all thanks to not being able to find my camera's USB cable and also since I haven't yet installed a card reader! Double Whammy, indeed! I hope to post some images of this visit on my photo-blog soon!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Haiti today
Likening the situation in Haiti to a tragedy is an understatement, and I do so only for lack of better words! In the days that have passed since this catastrophic occurrence, news inputs indicate an unprecedented scale of damage in this already impoverished nation.
Here are some mournful excerpts from the wires in CNN, taken as recently as 10:38 am EST today;
"If help doesn't come quickly, it probably will [get worse]," Agnes Pierre-Louis, manager of the Le Plaza hotel in Port-au-Prince. "We're not hearing anything from the government. We're not seeing any foreign aid yet."
Former US President Clinton told CNN's 'American Morning' this - "Think how you would feel if you lost everything? You were wandering around streets at night, they were all dark; you were tripping over bodies, living and dead, and you didn't have water to drink or food to eat. That's what we're facing now. That's what we've got to get through now."
"Water is the key thing," said Ian Bray, senior emergency press officer for the humanitarian agency Oxfam. "You can go for some time without food, but you can't go all that long without water. What is the real killer, certainly in refugee situations, is the lack of decent sanitation, because people produce human waste and that, if it's not disposed of safely, is a huge risk to health."
Across town, an 11-year-old girl pleaded for water and screamed in agony as a group of people painstakingly tried to lift a piece of metal off her right leg. After sunset, they managed to free her.
The smell of dead bodies wafted in the air after two days under a tropical sun, and throughout the city people covered their noses.
Diesel fuel is selling on the black market in Port-au-Prince for $25 a gallon. It usually sells for $3 a gallon.
I pray for those who have been affected by this tragic happening and hope that recovery is fast and all permeating to ensure that relief, food and medical supplies reach all those who are in need!
Footnotes:
News room source : CNN
Here are some mournful excerpts from the wires in CNN, taken as recently as 10:38 am EST today;
"If help doesn't come quickly, it probably will [get worse]," Agnes Pierre-Louis, manager of the Le Plaza hotel in Port-au-Prince. "We're not hearing anything from the government. We're not seeing any foreign aid yet."
Former US President Clinton told CNN's 'American Morning' this - "Think how you would feel if you lost everything? You were wandering around streets at night, they were all dark; you were tripping over bodies, living and dead, and you didn't have water to drink or food to eat. That's what we're facing now. That's what we've got to get through now."
"Water is the key thing," said Ian Bray, senior emergency press officer for the humanitarian agency Oxfam. "You can go for some time without food, but you can't go all that long without water. What is the real killer, certainly in refugee situations, is the lack of decent sanitation, because people produce human waste and that, if it's not disposed of safely, is a huge risk to health."
Across town, an 11-year-old girl pleaded for water and screamed in agony as a group of people painstakingly tried to lift a piece of metal off her right leg. After sunset, they managed to free her.
The smell of dead bodies wafted in the air after two days under a tropical sun, and throughout the city people covered their noses.
Diesel fuel is selling on the black market in Port-au-Prince for $25 a gallon. It usually sells for $3 a gallon.
I pray for those who have been affected by this tragic happening and hope that recovery is fast and all permeating to ensure that relief, food and medical supplies reach all those who are in need!
Footnotes:
News room source : CNN
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Happy Birthday Deepu
I sought my soul, but my soul I could not see. I sought my God, but my God eluded me. I sought my brother and I found all three.
-- Anonymous
Life has been a wonderful journey, with you by our side. Today, as you face a milestone, I want you to know how much you mean to us, and that your being the person that you are is truly a gift for all of us who are associated with you!
Wishing you a very happy birthday and a wonderful year and life ahead - one that shall see you attain those dizzy heights of that dreamed of world (as Pink Floyd sang in High Hopes)!
You will always be loved and respected for your calm disposition, cheerful attitude and most importantly for being grounded at all times!
You are the very best, Deepu! Love you lots!
Footnotes:
My brother turns 27 today!
This picture taken (supposedly) in 1983, remains among my most favourites. Deepu is seated on the left.
-- Anonymous
Life has been a wonderful journey, with you by our side. Today, as you face a milestone, I want you to know how much you mean to us, and that your being the person that you are is truly a gift for all of us who are associated with you!
Wishing you a very happy birthday and a wonderful year and life ahead - one that shall see you attain those dizzy heights of that dreamed of world (as Pink Floyd sang in High Hopes)!
You will always be loved and respected for your calm disposition, cheerful attitude and most importantly for being grounded at all times!
You are the very best, Deepu! Love you lots!
Footnotes:
My brother turns 27 today!
This picture taken (supposedly) in 1983, remains among my most favourites. Deepu is seated on the left.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Real Love
My head speaks a language, I dont understand
-- Robbie Williams, Feel (Escapology, 2002)
Perhaps, it is age that takes one closer to the factual realization that the going becomes easy in companionship than in the dreary ride of solitude. Or, in my case, is it the well-crafted, periodical parental nudging that is making me feel that the time has come? I wonder, both of the possibility, and my seemingly (read: certainly) succumbing to this well orchestrated pressure! Anyhow, I wouldn't want to work my poor little brain over something that I consider as eventual and certain as this!
Having said that, I must confess that I have started feeling well about this - or shall I say more receptive! For a while now, I've been daydreaming about getting married, settling down, shedding the teenager attitude which is one of being largely carefree, brash and 'for-the-day.'
Lately, when I spoke about this to a chum, pat came the question, "is something on the cards?" Nay, not so, to be honest! But perhaps it is a premonition of that thing to happen this year about which I will one day say, "That year, this day!" So, this year is decisive, for the things it will bring to my life - hopefully the good ones, that I long for!
And, now, as never before, I echo the words of Robbie Williams, etched in his hit single 'Feel,' that "I just wanna feel real love, come and hold my hand, I wanna contact the living, not sure I understand, this role I've been given........."
Yes, I just wanna feel real love!
-- Robbie Williams, Feel (Escapology, 2002)
Perhaps, it is age that takes one closer to the factual realization that the going becomes easy in companionship than in the dreary ride of solitude. Or, in my case, is it the well-crafted, periodical parental nudging that is making me feel that the time has come? I wonder, both of the possibility, and my seemingly (read: certainly) succumbing to this well orchestrated pressure! Anyhow, I wouldn't want to work my poor little brain over something that I consider as eventual and certain as this!
Having said that, I must confess that I have started feeling well about this - or shall I say more receptive! For a while now, I've been daydreaming about getting married, settling down, shedding the teenager attitude which is one of being largely carefree, brash and 'for-the-day.'
Lately, when I spoke about this to a chum, pat came the question, "is something on the cards?" Nay, not so, to be honest! But perhaps it is a premonition of that thing to happen this year about which I will one day say, "That year, this day!" So, this year is decisive, for the things it will bring to my life - hopefully the good ones, that I long for!
And, now, as never before, I echo the words of Robbie Williams, etched in his hit single 'Feel,' that "I just wanna feel real love, come and hold my hand, I wanna contact the living, not sure I understand, this role I've been given........."
Yes, I just wanna feel real love!
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Normalcy returns to Ooty
It has been an agonizing two months now since Cyclone Phyan left a trail of disaster in Ooty. Life has returned to a state of normalcy with most part of the road networks being restored day before and the mountain railway line being declared open early yesterday.
However, a lot more needs to be done and that includes taking steps to ensure that such a tragedy does not repeat in the face of torrential rainfall and inclement weather. And as a first step, that should involve understanding the effects of our actions that are responsible for an adverse impact on the nature - here, elsewhere and everywhere!
Construction and rampant disfiguring of the hills (popularly known as Sholas, here) have been brought under check following the incidents of the past year and attempts are being made to learn lessons to effect conservation, however, questions remain as to how long the heat will remain before the attitude retires to being lukewarm and subsequently unresponsive and irresponsible! One hopes that the change isn't momentary!
Besides, the lackadaisical attitude of visiting tourists has ensured rapid degradation of this once wonderful paradise - often referred to as the queen of hills! The situation needs to be addressed urgently and corrections need to be effected. We are decades late in the job!
It's not like we have another Earth to go to!
Footnotes:
Cyclone Phyan creates an emergency
However, a lot more needs to be done and that includes taking steps to ensure that such a tragedy does not repeat in the face of torrential rainfall and inclement weather. And as a first step, that should involve understanding the effects of our actions that are responsible for an adverse impact on the nature - here, elsewhere and everywhere!
Construction and rampant disfiguring of the hills (popularly known as Sholas, here) have been brought under check following the incidents of the past year and attempts are being made to learn lessons to effect conservation, however, questions remain as to how long the heat will remain before the attitude retires to being lukewarm and subsequently unresponsive and irresponsible! One hopes that the change isn't momentary!
Besides, the lackadaisical attitude of visiting tourists has ensured rapid degradation of this once wonderful paradise - often referred to as the queen of hills! The situation needs to be addressed urgently and corrections need to be effected. We are decades late in the job!
It's not like we have another Earth to go to!
Footnotes:
Cyclone Phyan creates an emergency
Monday, January 04, 2010
An interview to remember
When Anamika, from WebNeeTech, wrote to me a few months ago asking if I would agree to an interview, I was thrilled and readily agreed!
After all, the best that can happen to any blogger is the recognition that one gets for a creative effort that is displayed, something that often has a great degree of meticulousness, passion and zeal behind it!
It is a source of immense pleasure for me to have had the opportunity to articulate my thoughts on blogging, on a forum such as this.
You can check out the feature here.
I have disabled comments for this post. For those of you who wish to leave your thoughts, something that I greatly appreciate, please do so using the link provided above!
After all, the best that can happen to any blogger is the recognition that one gets for a creative effort that is displayed, something that often has a great degree of meticulousness, passion and zeal behind it!
It is a source of immense pleasure for me to have had the opportunity to articulate my thoughts on blogging, on a forum such as this.
You can check out the feature here.
I have disabled comments for this post. For those of you who wish to leave your thoughts, something that I greatly appreciate, please do so using the link provided above!
Friday, January 01, 2010
Opening Statements - 2010
The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning
-- Ivy Baker Priest
To attribute the new year to a new beginning, one that supposedly ushers in a cataclysmic change, will most certainly be viewed as a cliché, but, to not anticipate such a supposition will be an act of staving away the optimism associated with a fresh start.
So, as this year begins, it is imperative to inculcate a positive belief, one that shall create the ground for peaceful existence supplemented with immense happiness and personal success.
I wish all of you a very happy and prosperous new year! It is truly a privilege to be associated with you and a source of unparalleled joy to be part of this wonderful world!
Footnotes:
Opening Statements - 2009
-- Ivy Baker Priest
To attribute the new year to a new beginning, one that supposedly ushers in a cataclysmic change, will most certainly be viewed as a cliché, but, to not anticipate such a supposition will be an act of staving away the optimism associated with a fresh start.
So, as this year begins, it is imperative to inculcate a positive belief, one that shall create the ground for peaceful existence supplemented with immense happiness and personal success.
I wish all of you a very happy and prosperous new year! It is truly a privilege to be associated with you and a source of unparalleled joy to be part of this wonderful world!
Footnotes:
Opening Statements - 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
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
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
Sunday, December 20, 2009
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!
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!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
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!
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!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
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?
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?
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
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!
-- 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!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
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."
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."
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