Red Devil

The Right way to Bombay

2010-01-20T21:48:00.000-08:00

Excuse me Mr Raj but I prefer Bombay to Mumbai - this is what it was called by the people who set up the city and made a place for you to live in (which gets to my notice that biharis also had a hand in building the place you sleep in). Not too averse using Mumbai as well.

New York Times has put Bombay at #13 on the 31 places to see in 2010- the mention brought back cherished memories of the place. Bombaim (good bay) is what the Portuguese (the rulers of the city prior to its transfer to the British as a dowry) called one of the most populated places in the world. So much for the cribs about the rush, crowds; the city still remains "good bay" for me - a place where I had a gala time in about the 2 years I spent there. Not many people would buy this but I would like to head to Bombay for a vacation - there is something about the city that draws me to it - be it the fast paced life, its gamut of options for entertainment/timepass, the mumbai nightlife, the local trains, the eateries and not to forget the crowd - watch out a special blog sometime on the Bombay girls.

For starters, this is my list of things to do/places to visit/eat in Bombay.

Marine Drive/Queens Necklace - anyother place Id rather start this list with?? A serene drive/walk (I strongly recommend the walk) along the marine drive, watch the curvy queen's necklace extending all the way to Girgaum Chowpatty. Just sit and stare into the waves. Priceless if you have preferred company :) Dont fret if you dont - instead checkout the south mumbai "chicks" in their shorts - routine evening walks. Hungry? - head out to Pizzeria (pizza/italian), Not Just Jazz (serves excellent salads),Gaylord,Samrat(veg) by the bay close by. Care for a coffee - head on to Mocha - by far the best outlet of the chain.

Travel by the Mumbai Local Trains - one helluva experience this one. The American Tourister ad has got it bang on - Survive Mumbai, Survive the world. Men are separated from the boys here - pun intended offcourse. For the adventurists (if that is the right word) - try getting in any local from Dadar station - enough to give you an adrenaline overflow. I tried it once with a friend ; result - she got into the general compartment, me stranded on the platform. The crowd resembles a whole establishment of ants out here - buzzing in and out of the locals (tip: never catch a train at Dadar or if you want to get down...dont stay right near the door). Talking of Dadar station reminds me of the place where you get the best lassi in Mumbai - in the Kohinoor theatre (now a mall) lane on Dadar west. A shabby looking place which serves you lassi wid extra malai in hardly 10-15 bucks - a must try .

Though generally in the news for the wrong side of communal harmony, Bombay has several places of religious interests and you do find people visiting them irrespective of their religion, caste, creed. Siddhivinayak, Mahalaxmi, Walkeshwar, Babulnath temples are known and visited just as much as Haji Ali, Mount Mary and Mahim Church. But yes do expect differential treatment meted out to you in a place like Siddhivinayak - you might need to stand in queue for an hour to get the "darshan" finally only for a few seconds, whereas the Bacchans can worship there for hours together. As they say discrimination never ends. Ban-ganga is another place to visit (I havent been to this).

This great ruined city (termed by Salman Rushdie) has a few monuments to have a glance at. Walk through the famous Fort area, visit Flora fountain for a glimpse into the "sahebanche divas" (the old british days). Gateway, Rajabai clock tower, the high court building, VT station need to be seen. A bollywood movie in the 70-80's was incomplete without the lead actor coming to Mumbai with the VT station making the background. Elephanta and Kanheri caves might not appeal to a lot but nonetheless worth a try.

Go watch a movie in one the "heritage" theatres in Mumbai - Plaza -Dadar, New Empire, Capitol, New Excelsior, Regal, Sterling - these are the places that made our yesteryears superstars. No luxury out here - just the feeling of being to a place that has once seen so many movie premieres.

A visit to this city is not complete without a stroll in the "Jyotiba Phule Mandai" better known as Crawford market. Walkable distance from the VT station - this is a place to pick cosmetics/chocolates/fruits/eatables - you would practically get any brand at a good price. For expensive items like perfumes beware of sham - I have once bought a "Hogo" Boss :). Other wholesale markets such Manish markets, Chor bazaar, Mangaldas market, Nal bazar are close by and these mingling lanes & roads can take you all the way to Girgaum. Try out "Badshah" falooda/ice cream/sodas opposite Crawford market - a favourite of my parents.

Girgaum - one of the earliest settlements in Bombay. Yet another visit to the era bygone - check out "Khotachi Wadi" for latin styled homes and home food eateries. Trip to Girgaum is never complete without a feel of the 'Girgaum Chowpatty' - this is where the Queen's Necklace ends. Have the best pani puri -look out for the dirtiest stall and go gulp down the puris filled with the spicy water out there (they say dirtier the 'bhayya' serving you, tastier the dish) - I leave the details to your vivid imagination.

Options for food are practically unlimited in Mumbai - they say you never stay hungry in this city - beggar or king - the city has something to soothe your palate. From the worldfamous "Wada paavs" (the best one is at Mahim) to "Paani puris" @ chowpatty (though I also recommend Elco @ Bandra - this one sells one plate for some 40-50 bucks now and one just outside Andheri West station) to the "sandwiches" @ Ambedkar road Parel , Mumbai has a thriving street food culture. "Khaao" Galli @ dhobi talao is a small lane that is well known for street food. Kailash Parbat in Colaba is known for its chaats/faloodas. Roadside "thelas" at Mohamad Ali Road provide the best kebabs of Bombay during "Ramazan". Shaalimar is a well known mughlai specialty restaurant on the same road. I cannot take off Bade Miyan in Colaba off the kebabs list. Pop-Tates @Saki Naka deserves a mention (being one of my fav places) - for decent sizzlers. Sai Palace @Chakala served some of the best non veg platters and played good retro music. Peshawari @ ITC Grand Maratha serves succulent kebabs and delectable daal bukhara with an assortment of Indian breads. Anantashram(used to), Gazaali serve delicious seafood - try the fried bombay duck at Gazaali. Rajdhani makes you savour tasty gujarati flavors. China gate at Bandra and China Valley at Powai used to be my bets for oriental cuisine. Try Cafe Koolar @Kings Circle for some parsi stuff. Go to Kala Ghoda and satisfy your hunger @ Copper Chimney/Bombay Blues. The options are unending and I am sure I have missed out on someother important places to eat.

Parties in Bombay start late into the evening and some go on till wee hours of the day. Poison, Hawaian Shack/Totos/Poison (Bandra), U turn (Khar), Cafe Leopold/Cafe Mondegar (Fort), Enigma (JW - Juhu), Aziano/Hard Rock Cafe (Lower Parel) make some of the best joints.

If you still have time on your hands check these out as well - Bhau Daji Laud museum, Malabar hill, Jehangir art gallery, Dhobi ghat, Sanjay Ganghi national park etc. If you are around during Dec-Jan do catch up on the Kala Ghoda festival.

Breaking News!!

2010-01-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

Omnipresent word on any and every television news channel...Well what can really classify as breaking news. Going by what I see happening, these would definitely qualify:

1> Ranbir Kapoor aaj phir se Deepika Padukone ke saath dikhe. Unhone Laal chaddi pehni thee.

2> $%^&&*s!@#$ (sound that cannot be represented by any alphabets)...Yeh kiski aawaz hai...kahan se aa rahee hai...yeh badi ghanghor daraavni aavaz kiski ho saki hai..(and you get the answer on other side of the break)...Jee haan..yeh bhayanak aawaz Shani (saturn) ki hai!!

3> Ajmal Kasab ne aaj biryani nahi magwayi...Kasab dhaarmic ban gaya hai...Bereham kasab ab nahi raha kasai...Kasab khaata hai ghaasphoos..

4> Yeh gumnaam baba kaun hai? Yeh kabhi himalay ke chattano pe dikhayee dete hai kabhi delhi ki sadko per..Inka na koi naam hai na pata.Inhone peechle 5 saalon se kuch nahi khaya.

5> Dhoni says "Sachin" the best ever.....

6> Yuvraj ne bola "Sachin" hai sabse badhiya khiladi.

7> N D Tiwari signed up by Pfizer as their brand ambassador for viagra.

8> Congress High command would take the decision for...blah blah blah..

Yet Another Weekend

2009-12-20T06:26:00.000-08:00

Yet another weekend has passed on the 3rd rock from the sun and I hailed the addition of another 2 days to my life. I remembered this quote somewhere that goes "I wake up in the morning and read the obituaries column. If my name is not there, I shave". I shaved.

Yet another weekend..yet another saturday...yet another brunch at Pongal - tanjavore plain dosa and "kaafee". Nothing much to do. Lazed around in the afternoon. Hit the road wid my roomie...heading for SP road - the comp/accessory wholesale market as it is called. A visit to VJs UB city followed and yet another saturday dinner - for a change vegetarian food - the thali at Rajdhani - used to go there once in a while during the golden Mumbai days - they will never come back :(...Hogged on the food...and oh yeah I finally saw "the blore crowd" out there - heading to Shiros or what the place is called..When do I go there? - I dont have an answer...stags not allowed...:( Came back home...a long call wid my gal, watched the movie "Capote" - something different....fetched an Oscar to Phil Seymour Hoffman I believe.

Yet another sunday morning and nothing to do....nowhere to go...I turned to 201 R (guys forgive me for my excessive usage of this word)...Remember Mehul sayin it is a bangalore darshan bus and I got a ticket to the last stop...and pretty much of a bangalore darshan it was. CV Raman Nagar->JB Nagar->Indiranagr->Domlur->Koramangla->BTM Layout->Jayanagar->Banashankari->Srinagar...Got down at Srinagar - took a walk for a while and caught 201R again...got down at CMH. Headed to Casa Picola - hogged on the food there - did manage to catch the glare of some fellow eaters (not what I hoped for though but to wander at my hogging skills) - marinated prawns in barbados sauce with parsley butter rice and garlic bread and fish and chips. I thanked god for yet another weekend...yet another good place to eat..

Here I am now ....nothing much to do again...arguing with a friend on what life is and what is friendship and all that crap and no I am not drunk..Its just that Ive been bored at the end of yet another weekend with a sincere hope that the coming weekend is not just "yet another weekend"...

Namma Bengaluru

2009-12-06T04:53:00.000-08:00

Yet another weekend has passed in "Namma" Bengaluru and soon it will be 2 months that the city has seen of me :)

Some observations/experiences on the days bygone.

You have heard this 'n' times but go to it again - the first thing any Bangalorean will tell you is "Bangalore has an excellent weather". Much that I appreciate the same, for a person who has spent most of his life out of Goa and Mumbai - can I just go ahead and say the weather kinda gets boring at times. Someone get me that coastal humidity, sunshine and rains please...
Namma Bengaluru is trully a cosmopolitan place. The stark culture difference (and the hostility it brings) that I noticed and didnt really appreciate in Chennai is thankfully absent from the bylanes of this "Innovation" city ( as Kris Gopalakrishnan labelled Blore to be - and hello...why is it that always a Infosion heads some of these govt projects/ventures here.....koi baaki kisiko bhi chance do yaaar)
Bangalore is the next best thing to Mumbai (Delhi waalon plz dont mind...None of youll have invited me there to try out the food) interms of cuisines on offer. You pretty much get something to suit your palate out here. So even if your office gang drags you for a "meal" everyday...you could still pick up something on the way to munch on while the rest are feasting on rice :)
Better cultured autowaalas (vis-a-vis Pune). Again not as good as the Mumbaikars but still better. You would atleast get a proper "Nay" if he aint really interested to take you places. Though most of the times they dont go by the meter - esp in the evenings. So make sure you close a good deal before heading out. And yes please dont try to get into any kinda pangas with them or make faces at them - why? ask a certain colleague of mine at work...
Vajra- the intracity volvo buses that ply between limited points. 201R is the one that drops me for work if I reach the stop in time. Not only is this a very comfy mode of transport, its not too heavy on your wallet either. Add to that the bonus of some good looking co-travellers at times. Makes up your day isnt it?
And oh yeah - Bangalore has a decent enough crowd. Though people say it has a great crowd and I havent even been to the "hot" places.

Signing off on a Namma Bengaluru note..

P.S: Someone take me to those "hot" places in Blore yaar..

Anantashram - End of an era

2009-11-14T08:42:00.000-08:00

Khotachi wadi...Anantashram..words that I had heard about a long time back but became an integral part of my life or should I say my saturdays.

Being a goan and been raised on seafood..."Nuste" (fish) is what I look for in any place I visit. All that an average Goenkar like me dreams for is a fish curry rice lunch followed by an afternoon siesta. I moved to Bombay (or Mumbai Mr Thakrey?) in June 2006 to pursue my MBA from NITIE. Subsequently when my father was in town for business , he promised me to take to this place for lunch - a place he had been to sometime in 1960s and a place his brother had been to in 1950s. He did put in a disclaimer though about the ambience of the place.

Saturday arrived...I took 187 (bus route) to Andheri station from NITIE, a fast local to Churney Road station and walked half a km to meet my dad in Girgaum (one of the early settlements in Mumbai). Majestic (what used to be an old theatre) was the landmark I met my father at. And we walked down a lane called Khotachi wadi. For a moment I felt I was walking through Fountainhas (a small area in Panjim made up of latin styles houses). Apparently Khotachi wadi is the place where a lot of catholics from Goa settled decades back in Mumbai.

We entered a dilapilated 1 storeyed house and joined a queue of people waiting to get in. Voila..Anantashram. A place run by "Khadape" brothers, native of Pernem-Goa since 1950s with a sole noble intention of providing authentic goan food for the goenkars in bombay and with no real penchant for profit.

There is so much I would want to say about this place but I better put that in some kind of USPs for the place:

No menu card. No a la carte. Food items list used to be put up in form of small steel plates on a window pane. As and how a dish finished and was no longer available the owner wud jst take out the steel plate bearing its name.

Owners doubling up as servers - always dressed in white banyan and white pajamas. They must have been endorsing some brand :)

Individual seating - you had to sit on a small wooden stool and had a comparatively bigger stool infront of you where the "taat" (food plate) was placed. All utensils used were always steel/aluminium and had the following engraved: "Khadpe bandhu, 1972" :)

Food was never made to order but rather always prepared in a fixed quantity. Once a dish was over, you just wudnt get it.

Eccentric behavior of the owners - they would pass you by a few times completly ignorant of your requests to take the order and only then attend to you; being irritatingly strict about timings. Lunchtime was 11:30-1:30 and if you reached the place at 1:32 the gate was closed and no matter how much you appealed to them..the door wouldnt be opened. Even if there was extra food.

Intersting quotes put up on the walls. One that I fondly remember said "Ghayeela suddha ushir lagto" (It takes time even to hurry up) - aimed to shut any customers who wud ask them to get the order in no time.

Finally the biggest USP - the food. Be it chicken, mutton, mori mutton, tisryo (shell fish), fish curry (trust me Anantashram made the best fish curry....one that beat any restaurant/household back in Goa handsdown).

Somehow all of this always added to the charm of this place and gave it a cult status.

The place was never marketed - it used to be shut on Sundays -when it could possibly have made the most money during the week. You would bump into Firangs, artists, poets, theatre personalities in this dimly lit 2 room restaurant in the bylanes of history. Gavaskars and Vengsarkars of the world have been spotted here.

A couple of months back I was in Mumbai and planned a lunch at Anantashram with a couple of folks. Met one of the Khadpes at the entrance only to hear this sad part "We are closing down and settling back in Goa". What?????

This was a plate I ate and ate and ate and somehow a more than sumptuous meal for 2 never crossed Rs250....my tryst with Anantashram had begun in 2006 and it was to be a passionate affair that continued every saturday from there on for almost 2 years. I would travel 1.5 hrs one way from Powai to be here. I slept on friday night with the dream of "lunching" at Anantashram, starved myself for Saturday breakfast to hog at the place, taken friends like Balu (who too became a regular. A nice place to take a girl for dinner. A home away from home.

Anantashram was simply a place I loved a lot and I am sure will have a special place in the hearts of the fortunate few who have had a meal here. The good old saturdays....theyll never come now :(

As a famous marathi saying goes "Zalet Bahu, Hotil Bahu, Pari Ya Sam Ha " (many existed, many might come but in this lifetime nothing but this one)

The Singapore GP Saga

2009-10-04T21:36:00.000-07:00

25th of September 6:15 PM SGT is when I first heard the vrooming sound of a f1 car in real. Deafening, electrifying, maddening would be understatements - the sound of a 2.4 litre V8 engine is to be savoured by a formula 1 fan (trust me it is nothing like the one heard on telecasts). By 6:30 I was inside the Marina bay circuit witnessing the practice session - a passion of f1 nurtured for 10 odd years ...finally resulting into a live gp experience.

Not to mention, I bumped into VJM on Mumbai airport prior to my departure, tried to talk him into offering me a pitlane pass but he was too sharp to understand my motives and all that I got from VJ was "enjoy the race". And for this I had to cook up story of me being an ardent force India fan :)

We continued our walkabout the Marina bay circuit and had a Red Bull go very close to the barrier wall we were next to - infact it did brush the wall with sparks generated being thrown on the f1 fans nearby..thrilling. Romain Grosjean did a Nelson Piquet Jnr - crashing on almost the same place on the circuit - and just as Renault had thought they had put the crashgate behind them..here was an unwelcomed memoir.

The whole place was lit up like a festival - live bands performing, local artists showcasing skills, food stalls and parades. You could call it a singapore carnival. Had a bite of the Singapore Chicken rice.

Saturday started with the 3rd and final practice session following which we went to Newton Food Court for some delicious Seafood and we made our way back to City Hall and subsequently the Bay area just in time for the qualifying to start. It went pretty much fine for Shrey as Hamilton topped the timesheets but was not such a good day for me with Kimi finishing 14th in a qualifying prempted by Rubinhos crash. I was still hoping that the KERS would allow the iceman to fight for a strong finish.

Sunday was the big day - raceday as they call it. I missed Steve Slater's adrenalin pumping tv commentary (the team that captured it live there in Singapore was pretty dull compared to the animated Mr Slater who has been the voice of f1 for the ESPNSTAR broadcast). The race was pretty dull - the bumpy circuit of Singapore proving not many overtaking opportunities - it was spiced up a little by drive through penalties for Vettel and Rosberg - ensuring that Hamilton pretty much had it under control from the start. Force India disappointed with Sutil trying a stupid overtaking move on Heidfeld (Nick later put it up as "May be we shud try to find him some brains" - at his compatriot). With a win for Hamilton - it was a perfect racing weekend for Shrey whereas for me it was more of an experience.

I left the Marina bay circuit promising to myself that I would be at an f1 race next year too!!

Power of Communication

2009-09-05T01:55:00.001-07:00

Following dialogue heard by a good friend in South India based US company :)

One director to a Project Manager during client visit preparations "Amma, I want you to blow the client".

I am yet to hear what happened next :)

Legendary NITIE quotes

2009-09-04T23:47:00.000-07:00

Reliving those good old days bring to my mind some of the "great" original quotes/comments heard at NITIE and etched in memory forever

Opening with the iconic Muthu Sir.

"Stuff...Aaahh...Stuff...you will go to office and say 'Folks' can we do stuff? No?? Fuck off" - heard as a reaction of Chirag Chauhan uttering "stuff" in a vain attempt to answer some question

"Kya re woh paani daalne waale ladki ko dekhta hai kya" - stumping Jeetu when he was peeping outside the window during Muthu sir's lecture. Jeetu hasnt yet clarified as to what was he staring at :)

Spicing up things with "Waallu" Sir.

" You know seeing students entering one by one in the class..I feel as if I have come to my own marriage and the guests are arriving to greet me" - Reaction to students appearing on the scene (class) one by one 30-40 mins into the lecture

"I wanted to be a writer/poet(laughter). No before that I actually wanted to be an Actor" (followed by an louder applause) - Giving the students a glimpse into his yesteryears ambition, followed a nice 'sheroshayari' he recited

" You tell me if I have lost all my value. Sometimes I go to my wife and kid and ask them - do I have any value? Am I useful? No ? Tell me...I will then take sanyas and go. No problem. You need to tell me clearly" - Inviting honest feedback :)

" I am going home, students are asking me too many answers" - As told by Prof Anju Singh during Financial Engineering Examination. Apparently he was disturbed by students asking him for the formula to calculate beta - the simplest formula that wasnt included in the formula sheet given.

Some from Date Maam..

"This is very important you know - you should know this..very important from your future work point of view. I am spending time on this because this will help in your placements..Yeh bahut help karega even when you work. They will see student knows xyz tools etc and they will recruit you" - Heard multiple times almost every lecture

"Tumko kisne bola tha nahi leneko..u wud have also got 100 na " - In reply to my complain that almost every student who took a particular elective taught by her got 100/100.

Miscellaneous -

"Sirjee ....woh 405 mein gadbad hai bahut...ha ha ha....kal raat awaaz aa rahi thee" - Nattu Solanki, with the same statement - only room number changed this time :)

"Are...paper nahi aaya kya abhi tak?...kiska paper hai? Date madam hai...fir theek hai" - One of the clerks acting as a supervisor was little tensed when question papers hadnt arrived till 2:20 (supposed to start at 2) - was chill when he knew "whose" subject it was. In another 5 mins we got the "hot" "freshly" printed papers :)

" Tata ..what does that brand stand for? Tata stands for Trust you know" - Almost every Ghodu class had examples of brand TATA. He always ran out of examples :)

"Sir you didnt keep ur promise - you said same problem would come for exam. But you changed the numbers" - Paper/Kiddo complanining to Samdam. Samdam took his case royally laters.

"Yahan se dikhta hai kya" - Maduletty questioning me in an exam whilst trying to peep into someones paper

"Now you tell me" - Vijaya Gupta on the defensive when faced with a tricky question from an alert student.

"Maaro maaro" - heard anytime, anywhere especially from a brave sardar during placecom-batch meetings :)

"Hello...GoodMorning/Good Evening Sir. This is Manish Bharadwaj here" - Tau Manish questioning during pre placement presentations.

"We are in placecom" - heard for anything that wud ask a placecom member :)

"Will you consider mechanical engineer with 3 yrs exp in manufacturing for this profile" - Heard from the likes of Deepak Singh/Mallan 'n' times for every pre placement talk

Will add more as and how I remember....request nitiens to help

Quit my Job

2009-09-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

It was imminent...finally Ive taken a off the track decision and quit my job. Back home with plans of a long vacation.

What next? Definitely some step that would lead me to entrepreneurship in a while. Ive always played safe - planned out things and this is where I had landed myself into - repetitive work which never stopped coming (though it got me good money on last working day of every month), a job profile where I could not foresee any career growth(and I do not mean money by career) or learning that would take me places. More often than not it made me wonder if my post graduation efforts had any value or did I do justice to it or for that matter did I do justice to myself..When the answer was a firm NO - I knew the time had come.

Now its time to tread the road less taken, a long and winding road that perhaps promises nothing at the end but will give me all the bumps along the way. And the journey matters isnt it?

3:45 PM, Friday, 7th August 2009

2009-08-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

This time....this day....is very memorable for me..
My "best" time in Cognizant has only begun....I am in demand :)

Arup's Angle -- 7

2009-07-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

Veena said "Now stop checking out other girls - orkut profiles or elsewhere"
Arup says " Just like there are certain intrinsic characteristics about a woman, god made guys with certain inherent attributes - 'Taadna' is one of them. So not doing that would be an insult to the creator" ...

Lord Shiva - from a different point of view

2009-07-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

Disclaimer: "This post is not to be read seriously and not meant to hurt anyone's sentiments. To be read on a lighter note. I am as much a devotee of shiva as any of you"

So here we go. These are some interesting observations on Lord Shiva made by a friend who is a party animal.

1> Lord Shankar or Shiva is the only god with a toned muscular body. Can give a run for money to any top tier model today.

2> He smokes a pot (going by the chillum he is associated with) and does dope. When I asked him the reason why he smokes chillum, his answer was "Yaaar, so many people ask him for 1000 things when he is in meditation. He gets frust with so many requests, he gets up and smokes chillum to chill his mind"

3> Only god who dances - is a rockstar. Is there any other god who can match his dancing skills? He can set the dance floor on fire.

4> Doesnt care about what the world says. Dresses in tiger skin, stays in a crematorium. Ash ladden on his body. Bindas Bandah!!

And he concludes by saying that the firangs who come down to goa as well as the party animals revere only this one god for the above said attributes.

What an adaptation!!

Arup's Angle - 6

2009-07-18T21:51:00.001-07:00

Well this is a little different - its me at the other end of the conversation nw..

Arup Says "Hey who is this chick XYZ (on orkut) man?"
Brijesh Says "one gal who looks hot only in snaps" !!!

Top 10 most played songs on my ipod (English)

2009-07-18T21:29:00.000-07:00

Flipping through songs on the ipod - heres my alltime top 10.

10> She's like the wind - Patrick Swayze
9> Take me home Country Roads - John Denver
8> Knocking on Heaven's Door - GnR
7> Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
6> Sorry, Blame it on Me - Akon
5> Light my fire- The Doors (Jimmy Morrison)
4> Hotel California - Eagles
3> Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits
2> Zombie - Cranberries
1> Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd

Few others who came close:

Nothing Else Matters - Metallica
With or Without You - U2
Sometimes you cant make it on your own - U2
Jailbreak - ACDC
I wanna hold your hand - Beatles
Hello - Lionel Ritchie
Summer of 69, Heaven, Run to you - Bryan Adams

Arup's Angle - 5

2009-07-18T10:47:00.001-07:00

A friend to test my GK - "Is India a republic? "
Arup Says: " Nahi be ghante. 26th January tere paida hone ke khushi mein manaya jaata hai"

A few good things happened today

2009-07-18T10:27:00.000-07:00

1> Sumptuous breakfast (more of a mini meal) @ Goodluck. Chicken grilled sandwich, Bun Maska and Irani chai, baked beans, "chota" samosas. A brunch (or more) at Goodluck is unrivalled.

2> Slogging at office (not inline with the title of the post)

3> Hit the gym after a hiatus of a month (not by choice). Felt good to see "that" smile at the reception. Good to see our good old "fit" folks out there again :) There is a big nice world out there on the 9th floor of ICC Trade Towers. I missed it for a month.

4> Was waiting for an auto to get back home - there was none coming by when an auto guy stopped and said he can drop me only to a specific chowk. He did and didnt charge me saying " I am anywyz going to my home, done for the day, its enroute ur place - wud save u tht much trouble" . I offered him money but he didnt budge...nice fella..not many autowalahs like him around and I told him that. Good chap...God bless him

A few good things happened today. I hope a few good things would happen tomorrow...I really hope so

Arup's Angle -4

2009-07-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

Pandey said "Today you are wearing a party shirt..kya baat hai"
Arup says "Life is one big party"

Arup's Angle - 3

2009-07-15T11:47:00.000-07:00

NJ says I complete a year in Cognizant tomm...or rather today....

Arup Says " Saala ek decision life ki itni waat laga dega...yeh socha na tha; ek galti ki itni badi sazaa"

Arup's Angle - 2

2009-07-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

Pandey - Ek sher ka pehla line bata raha hoon...complete kar...
"Is desh ne har shakhs ko jo kaam tha sonpa"

Arup Says "Us shakhs ne har kaam ke l#$%e laga diye"

Arup's Angle -1

2009-07-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

Kinda the Arup says series...Lets see how long it goes on...

Pathak pinged and I gave him a big talk...
Pathak Bola - Bas karo sir, kitna gyaan dega...

Arup Says "In a world where they say there are no free lunches....I beg to differ and give gyaan for free"

Hold my hand and walk with me

2009-07-05T10:54:00.000-07:00

The world seems hazy right now
obscured by the clouds that I cant see
the path ahead full of guile
hold my hand and walk with me

Feeble night ladden with darkness
preconceived or serendipitous
bewildered at the virtues incognito
hold my hand and walk with me

Take me to the promised land
guide me to the starry nights
I am obscured by the clouds
Hold my hand and walk with me

Embrace me with your calm
Shower your love on me
I know I am safe with you
so hold my hand and walk with me

Hold my hand and walk with me

Babagiri@ashram.com

2009-07-05T06:45:00.000-07:00

I have been looking around for some viable business plans and an innovative plan that comes to my mind is the "baba coaching" business plan.

The "baba" business is a flourising business and more importatnly it taps the so called "challenging" rural market with helluva unrealised potential.

This is a plan where in we would provide end to end consulting to become a "baba". These would include:

Comprehensive training for wannabe babas. Includes classroom sessions by the babas who have made it big. We have elite faculty from the banks of the ganges and the foothills of the himalayas.
Personal grooming for the babas - stylists to help you grow and maintain beard and long hair. Designers to suggest the best fit costume for you
Internships and weekend projects with established babas to learn on the job
Electives to get indepth knowledge of what you want to major in - treating cancer without operation, "bhoot" bhagao, solve cases of impotency, yoga and so on
Career counselling to also help you chose which specialized field you fit in the best
The best campus placements. You can walk into a sales & marketing role with Baba Ramdev Inc or get into a corporate fin profile with Asaram Bapu. Challenging strategy roles also available with lesser known babas like Anirudh Maharaj.
We also provide consulting services to Babalogs : Help you determine your target segment, pricing strategy, How to reach out to your target segments, Branding your offerings, helping you focus on your core competency and also providing with technological solutions to make your business more efficient.

Looking for a team to build on this business plan. You should be an MBA from a premier business school with any experience in any sector. Only need to have your "premier bschool" claim backed up by a survey :)

Those interested can please reach me at babagiri@ashram.com

Verdict 2009 - Prakash Karat ka baj gaya Dhol

2009-05-17T01:07:00.000-07:00

"Prakash Karat ka baj gaya dhol
beech sadak mein khul gayee pol
ho gaya uska dabba gol
bol hari bol hari bol hari bol"

The best outcome of elections 2009 - has been the decimation of Left. Good for the economy..good for the people. Bad for the "Politburo". Signals from the Indian masses is clear - perform and perish. Preaching Marxism, Leninist philosophies will not fetch you votes anymore. You need to perform and be accountable. One cannot shun his responsibilities, not do anything , just come dressed in white in an ambassador..give some anecdotes and pass with flying colors. The left is down to its worst tally in years. Pranabda had rightly said if the left is dreaming of ruling Indian it will take them 250 years to get 200+ seats. Well by the looks of it -one cannot guarantee of the left being a national player anymore. Was it really a national player? Winning seats in couple of states doesnt make you really a national power.

Left must have realised:

1> Doctrines of Marxism look good in the books. You need to deliver on ground.
2> Opposing anything for the heck of it in the name of ideaology doesnt come good.
3> Prakash Karat is no good- highly arrogant, done nothing, UK educated, staying in brother in laws house for free, getting monthly salary from Central Bank of China. Prakash babu khud ke dam ke kuch karke dikhao kabhi..
4> Need development oriented people like Buddha at centre stage
5> The fight in Bengal isnt essentially between Industries and Agriculture. Its more than that.

An interesting piece heard about Left - "even if left wants to throw Karat from his position - we will have to wait for 1-2 years. There is a process for initiating that - which would include a few discussions and one needs to prove that Karat has violated doctrines of ideology in the politburo. Politburo standards essen tially fare you against ideaological differences rather than performance" - its a party that is run according to a book :)

No "To-Do" gyaan from me to the left - my sincere hope - it vanishes from Indian political scene ASAP

Verdict 2009 - Repercussions for the BJP

2009-05-17T00:02:00.000-07:00

First it was "Indian Shinning" then "Majboot Neta, Nirnayak Sarkar". First it was the BJP/NDA that lost the elections, now it is the Congress/UPA that has literally won it. This in essence captures the difference in the 2004 and 2009 defeats for the BJP led NDA.

Where does the party go from here? Who leads the party now? Does it compromise with its ideaology? Or rather what is the BJP's idealogy? - are questions that need to be answered unequivocally. And sooner than later.

The sun has set on the glorious "Vikaspurush - Lohpurush" era of Vajpayee and Advani. That Advani's endeavour to wear the most prized cap has fell on its face. Hurt badly and now its time for a gracious exit. Good call from the veteran leader.

What really went wrong for the saffron brigade that boasts of the most organized party structure and a very efficient and effective cadre?
1> BJP has aged from "Party With A Difference" to "Party With Differences" - the discipline that once characterized the middle class party has been damaged somewhere. One could not imagine leaders like Rajnath-Jaitley fighting over and not attending central committee meetings.

2> Targetting the mellow demeanour of Manmohan Singh rather than raising the right issues. Once the security issues backfired in the assembly elections - BJP did not really pursue it in the right fashion. Instead of pointing specific lacunae in UPA's economic policies the party spoke of overall economic meltdown. Indian junta was prudent enough to understand that the Indian meltdown was more of global ripple rather than a complete failure of the UPA.

3> Flip-flop on issues like Nuclear Deal - essentially to ensure that UPA doesnt run away with the credit for the same. Sources have it that NDA was willing to sign on the same deal when in power.

4> The rable rousing Varun Gandhi issue - Congress gained when it denied tickets to Sajjan and Tytler. The BJP pinned it hopes that Varun Gandhi would polarise the Hindu votes in its favour. The move backfired - minority votes consolidated to Congress instead of being split between BSP, SP and Congress leading to the INC's best showing in the biggest state for decades.

5> The 2nd rung leaders issue and mid-way confusing projection of Narendra Modi - the fiery Gujrat chief minister. For all his given charisma and work rate efficiency- NaMo has his detractors in the top echelons of the BJP - leaders like Rajnath, Sushma Swaraj and Murali Manohar Joshi wouldnt like to relent their quest for the leader's post for a relatively "kal ka chokra" at a national level. NaMo's projection as future PM was started at the Vibrant Gujarat conclave and was further bolstered by the twin Aruns of the BJP. What was a personal take of some people was misunderstood by many as the party line - confusing the voter on who is the real leader - Advani or Modi.

6> Somewhere in the past few years BJP has lost its relevance to the urban India voter. In the Vajpayee era - BJP was the party of the urban India and particularly the middle class and the youth. That choice has now shifted to the Congress. Rather than analsying its cadre and links with the RSS - the BJP needs to get into intricacies of the above mentioned issue. Mind you the BJP cadre is still more discplined and better organized than the Congress. However it isnt only the cadre that wins you elections- it is the politics and the voters that make you the king. You jsut cannot afford to lose your relevance to your voters. The BJP will really have to introspect on the real issues on why is its voter going away from the party. The same voter that once led them to be the single largest party of this country. Urban India has always been the stronghold of the saffron brigade only to be dented severely in the recent elections in places like Delhi and more astonishingly Mumbai.

7> The charisma and accomodating nature of Atal Bihari Vajpayee - though the BJP could not really do anything about it - but they missed him..they missed their man. There is no leader and there very well may not be another leader of his stature in the party - who managed to take the party in a moderate direction and get allies like Nitish and co on board. Atal would have been sorely missed.

The party may well be down at the moment but definitely should not count them out. For once they could look at the way Congress has built itself from 1999 onwards and learn. The transformation will not come overnight - it will take years for rebuilding - it would need a total revamp for sure. What line of idealogy it takes from here - Staunch pro hindutva way or the Atalji influenced all inclusive and moderate way - they ought to take the "Right" way. The country has and will have anti congress sentiments and an alternative would always be needed - but a "Right" alternative is needed and BJP can hope and try to be the same. They need a charismatic strong leader - agreed upon as supreme by one and sundry. One who is acceptable to allies like Nitish. One who can get more allies in the fold and improve the party's presence pan India. Vajpayee and Advani took BJP from 2 to 181 in the lower house of the parliament. 121 to certainly looks a better proposition to build on..Decision needs to be made whether BJP wants to be a sectional party of a true national party.

The challenge is tough....the road is not easy.....The stage is set

The Great Indian Tamasha ends....or starts.....???

2009-05-16T23:48:00.000-07:00

Kudos to the Indian Hoi Polloi.

The election results have been much of a shocker to me. No one could have expected the country to vote with such a decisive mandate to the "Ulta Pulta Alliance" with the "weak" PM as they were labelled by the opposition. Made to bite their words the UPA with King Singh are back and with a bang - Ramchandra Guha pointed out in one of the debates yesterday that no other PM since Nehru has come back to power spending 5 yrs in office. Manmohan takes that place now - probably only to vacate it 2-3 years down the line to "Baba log" ka king.

UPA or NDA what the country needed in turbulent economic times was a stable coalition to sail through and without hiccups from any of the demanding partners. Verdict has been given. What the masses demand now is - clear cut, non compromising economic and social policies. Given the numbers for the Congress - there is no turning back now...No gaps to blame inefficiencies on coalition partners. The PM asked for 3 more months to form strong economic policies - his call has been heard. Now its the time to deliver.

Lesson has been taught to the hard bargainers (those who hoped to be king makers) - Jaya ("will support those who overthrow DMK govt", Maya("withdraw CBI cases against me") and dreamy PM contenders - folks like Pawar (dreamt of becoming the PM with 10-12 NCP seats). The Indian junta have pushed them to a firm backseat with their anti-democratic whims and fancies.

Lets hope the tamasha has ended rather than just begun. Its time to deliver folks..

Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna - Parody

2009-05-09T23:46:00.000-07:00

Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna by Bismil goes something like this:

Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna ab hamare dil mein hai
Dekhna hai zor kitna baju-ae kaatil mein hai
Waqt aane pe bata denge tumhe ae- aasman
Hum abhi se kya bataye kya hamare dil mein hai...

Here's my parody on the same....

Kaash Bismil aaj aate tum hamare desh mein
Dekhte ki mulk tera kya recession, slowdown mein hai
Aaj ka launda yeh kehta hum toh bismil chud gaye
apni aazadi toh bas 'Uncle Sam' ke dar pe hai

Man ka 'Mohan' besura sa ek gaana gaa raha
Aur yeh desh chalta kisi italian ke whims pe hai
Naujawano ki yeh dharti aaj aadhe kabar mein hai
83 ke 'Advani' kehte "hum PM waiting mein hai"

Jai jawan ka zamana 'Shashtri'ji ke saath hi guzar gaya
Raj karne chali hai desh pe 'Kanshiram' ki yeh Maya
Security ke 'issue' pe apne toh laude lag gaye
Koshisho ke baawjood bhi 'padosi' ne haath khade kar diye

Desh ka yeh haal dekhe ek banda ro raha
Apni hi 'Wah-Wah' karte mulk yeh kahan kho raha
Waqt aane pe bata denge tumhe ae-aasman
Hum abhi se kya bataayein hum kis 'dal-dal' mein hai

P.S: Anyone looking around for budding new style lyricist...you know whom to contact :)

And the "Business"man of the Weekend is......

2009-04-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

Arup Avdhut Pai Angle - for:

1> Beating 2 Gujjus in the race
2> Owning Kolkata,Darjeeling and Mumbai (Mumbai ka bhai kaun??? )
3> Running the Railways and Water works Company
4> Amassing assets worth 69k ..

...in "Business"- a popular card game we all played when we were young...rather younger....

Did just that yesterday - gathering @NJ - much dreaded feminist colleague's place and having a gala time. 2nd place in "Chance"/"Challenge" (card game) prior to Business too was not too low an achievement to deserve a mention on this much read blog....:)

Was an ideal "bachelor's" weekend this one - Lunch and fun @ NJ's for saturday followed by an elaborate lunch @ GD's today....jiyo logon...keep calling me for meals...dua milegi

Goans- We are LIKE THIS ONLY

2009-04-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

1. Crazy about who we are, what we are and most importantly from where we are..
2. Eat fish curry rice....fish curry rice and fish curry rice....
3. Sushegad - meaning chill, content with what we have...doesnt mean we are "aalsi"
4. Close our shops between 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM - we need our afternoon siesta....are trained for this from childhood - "you want to go out to play in the evening??...go to sleep now" :) We still love that nap.
5. Tell and goan he has 100 rs left in his bank balance and he will worry....."which fish to get from the market tomorrow".... We love our fish..
6. We want to know what is happening in my neighbour's cousins daughter's life and can live an evening on the same..
7. Homesick!!
8. Shout at our corrupt "dal badlu" politicians..swear at them...promise to show them where they stand in the next elections and.........go vote for the same "Daya"/"Maya" bhai
9. Flaunt our political contacts
10. Hear a person speaking Konkani from half a km and go hug him, plan for a Goan's meet even if you are the only 2 goan's in that town
11. Religious yet not fanatic....or should I say..not that fanatic :)
12. Accomodating
13. Love to have people around and over to our places....and entertaining them
14. Mad about soccer

True we are "chote shahar" ke log and we are this and that...but what to do ....we are LIKE THIS ONLY

Goans - We are not like this....Misconceptions

2009-04-05T07:20:00.000-07:00

1> Every Goan is not a uncle D'Costa or Albert Pinto dressed as a fisherman and sipping on a bottle of feni. 65% of our population is Hindu.
2> Goa mein temple's bhi hai mere dost!!
3> No you dont get easy gals on every hook and corner for time pass...I got one after spending 26 years of my life out there and for good :)
4> Borrowing this from Brijesh - We are Goenkars or Goans....Not Goanese (yeah yeh China nahi hai)
5> Beers are not stocked all the time in our fridges. Not every father-son duo is found in a bar.
6> "Goa mein log sadak pe daaru peekar naachte hai" - woh hum nahi hai baba...tourist log karte hai aur fir police custody mein bhi jaate hai...
7> "Galyat sankli sonyachi" is not our anthem
8> We never said we are good for northie cuisine - so dont crib about it.
9> Dont be surprised ...but yes we do celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali - with as much galore and pomp as Christmas (I was questioned by my manager 4 years back when approving a leave for Chaturthi - Ganesh Chaturthi aur Goa ka kya sambandh hai? )
10> Not aware of the so called Nude beaches - please tell me where it is when you visit them - I too would love to peek a boo!!

Bas itna hi abhi ke liye....

@Ferrari

2009-04-05T07:18:00.000-07:00

When you spend so much money to run a formula 1 team - go and get some good brains to run it.....Fu$% your think tank and Senhor Dominacelli - sorry but you arent a peanut of what Ross Brawn or the Frog (Todt) was...

Havent seen this team make more strategic mistakes ever....ruining Raikko's chance for a podium...a few welcome points and no thanks for screwing up my sports weekend...2 times in a row now

Getting lost in Goa

2009-04-05T07:01:00.000-07:00

28/03/2009 - Story of a lost Saturday nite...

What was meant to be a trip up North to Anjuna Flee Market turned out to be a "trouve" down south to Cavellosim via Betalbatim no sooner did I took the first right from my house at 9:30 PM .Fisherman's Wharf was the game and the hunt was on!!

Had got rave reviews for this place from a few friends - was planning of visiting this place with my fiance (its a different case my bro in law jumped in the back seat and trully justified the use of the word "Saala" or its existence in the vocabulary).

I have not ventured much on the southern coast of Goa and my last visit to Cavellosim was ages before as a"Bhatkar". We were told the road to Fisherman's goes through the much publicised and trusted Martins Beach Corner (approx 28-30 kms from Panjim). We drove via Martins and the beautiful village of Betalbatim post 10 PM - serene, a distant sound of a tiatr (Konkani musical plays) in a church courtyard, lots of D'Souza uncles talli on their saturday doze of Feni taking their dogs for a walk..glimpse of the glittering party folks on their way to destinations..

Just ahead of Martins turned out to be a good 20-25 kms from the place (50+ kms from my house)...after asking atleast 10 lazy folks on the way for directions. Adding to the confusion was the presence of a 'Fisherman's Cove' nearby - got us confused where we wanted to go - Wharf or Cove..N left turns and junctions and right turns and fields.....Finally....Fisherman's Cove

Built on the backwaters of Goa the place has a fascinating ambience. Food.....sucks bigtime...A few starters and a Carlsberg by your's trully...we decided it wasnt worth the efforts after all and headed back to Martins for main course....A speedy drive by the Flyingoan ensured we reached MArtins at 11:45 and in time when the live band was winding up with "Sweet Child of Mine"..and JIT for the last order...What followed was a feast on prawns and squids....

An uneventful drive and an unevenful night :) followed......woke up by my dad telling me the car was punctured and off I went to jack it up and change the tyre....for the very first time in my life...

"Things I miss about NITIE"

2009-03-22T00:17:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine recently graduated from IIM-K and was telling me what all he would miss @ his school - hence the blog -

1> The batch parties - Romanov vodka served there felt better than a Finlandia I tried out @ a lounge recently...The fun part of intoxication is missing.. Not to mention the "talli" folks after the party and their stories..."Deepak and the Tree " pretty much became a folklore @ NITIE...Guy trains breaking into the kudiyon ke groups etc etc....dustbin breaking rituals.....I wish I can attend some nitie party again..

2> Late night PPO road walks.......best way of letting out your frustration.....the senti talks...digging out old graves with a cuppa of "anna's" chai....recounting on the ghost stories by pondsides....etc etc....not to mention a certain incident a few of us were about to catch up - featuring 2 non NITIE students out there.

3> Sleeping...... The campus was a paradise for "aalsi" folks...and there was something about the place that induced sleep into you...Remember the 3rd mod by when we had all given up on studies and life was pretty much in the "chillax" mode...cruise control..... No matter how late I woke up- I bumped into Bansi and company for late brunches in the "pinjra" canteen

4> I never thought I would say this- but I miss that "sleep-less" week before the exam - where you virtually did everything from buying books to study to attending classes for paper tips...That gave some kind of a thrill.....Not that fun now even when you work late hours....week after week...Remember the Balas of the world asking @ 2:30 AM prior to Finacc paper , difference between credit and debit, or the Bishtis trying to deep dive into certain fundamentals of a problem rathr than jst "ratofy" and get numbers..

5> Classroom fun - Muthu taking someone's case or Warlu taking potshots at himself.....The chap had started his regular doses of anecdotes or shayari.....Maduletty walking out of the class to the loo with the mic still fitted to his shirt...

6> The landscape - the scenic beauty of the campus....where on earth can you stay at such a place for the amount of money we shelled out...The treks to Vihar lakes...view from MDP terrace..leopard visits

7> Nite canteen- maggie noodles - being such an integral part of your daily intake..Alu paranthas - makkhan maarke...Slog out...Eat Paratha at 3 AM and sleep.The dietary cycle had changed so much tht while @ home, mom would prepare something to feed my hunger in the middle of the night.

8> Badminton and TT @ odd hours

9> Room number 305 New Hostel and 207 Hostel 2 :) I would still feel at home there..

10> All the bakar buddies some of whom have now become friends for life

11> Not to forget the 95 steps you would climb to attend lectures...so much of an effort

And many more ....I can group as miscellaneous

Such were the days...This part of my life ....I wouldnt mind repeating again...I am bored at work :(

"Sex"pert

2009-03-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Readers - please do not mind the terminology used in the blog. This post wouldnt be complete had i omitted certain words.

Sexpert by Dr. Mahinder Watsa is one of my fav columns on Mumbai Mirror - not as much for its informative contents but for the witty one liners of this good old doc....who for sure has made a difference to a few souls in this world. Answers from this 84 year old veteran surely crack me up as much as any of his readers.

Q. I am a 28 years old gentleman. I will be getting married to a 25 yr old girl in 4 months time. Is there a way of checking if my "to-be" wife is a virgin or not?
A. You are not a "gentleman".

There is definitly something to this canny column - the questions are often an eclectic mix of naivete, fetishes and extreme pregnancy scares.. Have a look at the following:

Q. I recently shared a rickshaw with a lady who tried to arouse me. I understood her plan and decided to stay away. But my elbow happened to touch her breasts. Will it cause AIDS?
A. Congratulations on not being enticed. There is absolutely no way you could have caught an infection of any kind, including AIDS. Looking forward to your rational thinking in the future.”

Doc hasnt lost his funny bone for sure.

Q. What is it about homosexuals ? Why do they like men? I am curious to know what can a man do with a man?
A. Curiosity killed the cat!!

Had Dr Watsa not existed in India, certainly we would have wanted to invent him. His more than 2 cents add to the ignorant Indian young minds. After all who would answer questions like the following?

Q. I indulged in unsafe sex . My friends asked me to have papaya to avoid pregnancy, which I did. Should I take any other precaution? Please help.

And sometimes even the "sex" veteran gets tired.
Q. I am going to get married soon. On my first nite where should I put my #$%^&"??
A. Log on to Google and then ask questions.

So much so for the country where Kamasutra was born!!
Jai Ho Dr Watsa....Jai Ho!!

Different Kinds of Goans - Panjekars, Madgaonkars and ....... others

2009-03-06T06:19:00.000-08:00

Panjekars (Panjimites)
1> Erudite, Suave - This is the city where you would find most of the "think-tank" - the thought leaders.
2> Keep saying "we are Panjekars" for nothing....as if that makes them the better race.
3> Take faltu tensions..
4> Vocal campaigners for any movement - varying from "garbage free city" to heritage movements
5> Speak the purest form of Konkani... Do you doubt me?? "I am a Panjekar"..
6> Spend most of their life in desk jobs - being a entrepreneur is looked down as "shop-keeper" in Panjim. "Snr Clerk - Purso Stone Crushers" will do great.
7> True Panjekar marks his attendance at Miramar (city's beach) each and every day.

Madgaokars (Margaoites)
1> Fun loving folks - Would greet a rendezvous with "Ola!!" (similar to Voila in French)
2> Woman ..Wine and a Madgaokar is fine
3> Flirts of the first order and that might not be a good impression to have in Goa (contrary to the popular belief or misconcept I should say). Rarely wud Panjim girls settle with Madgaokars.
Madgaokars are always willing for Panjekar "jaavays" (son in laws)
4> Live life king size. In general Goenkars are "Aurrad" (dildaar). If 100 rs is all that they have in their bank account - they would worry on which fish to buy the next day - cook that, eat and sleep. Not many here worry about tomorrow. And I love that about Goenkars. Madgaonkars are probably the pick of the Goans in being "Aurrad".
5> Dont be surprised to see a Madgaokar son sharing a drink with his dad.
6> Penchant for business - no wonder Margao is the commercial capital of the state.
7> Idea of having a fun outing ends at watching a movie at Osia multiplex/Cine Vishant (the old style theatres) and a dinner at a couple of restaurants (oh yeah the place wont have more than 3-4 decent places to eat good food)

Pednekars (Pernemites)
1> Every 2nd Pednekar stays on land owned by one Deshprabhu.
2> Confused souls - dont really know if they stay in Goa or Maharashtra - promptly reflected in their language.
3> Have an ongoing tussle with Mapsekars (Mapusa is the nearest town from Pernem) for supremacy. Probably have a similar tussle with some Maharashtra town as well.
4> Eat "Pej" for breakfast - live a long healthy life.

Kankonkars (From Canacona - southernmost region of goa)
1> These folks will travel to the other end of Goa for the smallest function of the most distant relatives.
2> Their life revolves around discussing "who is related to who". Stay away from them @ social gatherings. I was once told by a Canconkar that I was his relative - My grandmothers 2nd cousin was supposed to be his fathers uncles wife. phew....this is nothing trust me...
3> You dont really know if at all their sentences end...bhai yeh log "." ka matlab nahi jaante
4> Maverick at times - this one ex MLA from Canacona had once rode on a horse from his house to the assembly session (60+ kms) for some protest.

There are several other towns and villages in Goa with lively characters...more on them next time...Adeus..

Such was life - 1999-2003 - The Padrico Years

2009-02-21T22:51:00.000-08:00

Science was a norm if you got good marks in Std X and you opted for Medical/Engineering if you were decent in 10+2 exams. I never opted for Bio (hated it....hated Medical as a profession....end up having a doctor wife now) after getting into Science and hence the sole aim was to be an "engineer". The coveted branches at the time were Comp Science and Electronics & Communications. Not that I knew what this was about either - all that was said to me by friends, relatives, acquaintances - Try for comp science, youll get into one of the IT bellwethers ....20K salary.....US trips etc etc...

Arbitly jotting down events post 12th std results...references should not dig out the graves..Let the bygones be bygones and the memories rest in peace :)

1> 12th Std results are out - I am reminded of the 10th std results yet again - the same old wait - same old expectations of merit rank- those dreams coming crashing down yet again - missing the top 15 cut by about 7 marks...Got screwed up in English and Chem...sad that I missed out a 100 in Maths by a solitary mark. I am a perennial cribber u cud say..

2> Discussions with friends, relatives, industry folks on - branch and college for engineering. Everyone gives his/her piece of gyaan...what has more scope and what doesnt...

3> I decide to pursue comp science stream at the Govt College of Engg (GEC for short) and convey my decision to my group of friends. GD (Gautam Dalal) my old buddy decides on the same. We homesick Goans prefer state colleges over RECs - which dont even fall in our purview/consideration - though at our scores we would have made a few. Trends continues till date - of choosing a MBA college closest to home, job location close to home and now thinking of settling back home and starting a tavern :)

4> Venue: Directorate of Higher Education, Porvorim - Goa. Date - Not really important...no attempts to recollect. Upcoming Drama- Admissions Hoopla
Actors:
Me- myself
GD- mentioned above
VV - Vaibhav Vaidya, friend
SP - Siddhesh Prabhu, friend
AA - Asshole Agarwal, Director of Higher education who sat for counselling

Reiterating - Our decision to take Comp Sci seats at GEC.

VV goes in, takes ETC (Tronics & Comm) @ GEC - happy - today he is the guy who has gone in to make a career in tronics....god knows what all degrees hes earned in the field, currently pursuing a Phd in the same amongst other things in the states :)

Chaos, commotion rules in the queue outside the room - as the general (open category) candidates become aware of the actual available seats to them across branches... AA rather than counselling isnt giving the though leaders of tomorrow a few mins to think.. Some altercations between him and some parents.

SP next in line - goes in the room - comes out declaring "Comp Sci @ PCCE - Padre Conceicao College of Engineering"

Finally my turn...am thinking "Comp Sci @GEC"...I get in...

AA - What do you want?
Me - Comp science in GEC
AA - Sorry kid...No chance..16 seats full...Gone...Jaldi bol..
Me- What is available??
AA - All other branches avl at all colleges.
Me - Ok. Give me ETC @ GEC.
AA - OK. (ticks the GEC ETC seat)...done nw...go.
Me - (about to leave...turn around...) No no cancel that...Ill take Comp Sci @PCC...
AA - (Gives me a stare...hurls a few abuses)...What is this crap? ?? You dont know wat u want whn u cm for counselling...You will do engineering??
Me - I wanted Comp Sci @GEC...Now that I dont have that option...you should be giving me some time to think and dont be in a hurry like this...you....you......

I come out and tell GD about my option. Few seconds later GD opts for the same..So much for all the thinking, the thought over decisions, sound minds ..........

Here I was...Set out to become an "Engico" (ref to GEC students @ cult fests) and ended up being a "Padrico" (ref to PCC students only and nothing else :) )... I was about to be a PACER....

This part of my life is called "being clue-less" and it only just had started......

Interesting Marathi surnames

2009-02-21T22:41:00.000-08:00

Couldnt help myself from sharing these marathi lastnames.

Khare (ones who tell the truth)
Khote (those who lie)
Gore (Fair)
Kale (Dark)
Gupchup (Quiet)
Wagh (Tiger)
Waghmare (Tiger hunters)
Kolhe (Fox)
Landge (Wolf)
Godbole (sweet talking)
Doiphode (head breakers??)
Potphode (stomach achers??? - if such a word exists)
Lele
Phatak (Gate)
Damle
Kapse (Cotton owners)
Marne (one who fights)
Shahane (Intelligent)
Pise (Mad)
Takle (Bald)
Vichare (thinker)
Hirve (Green)
Kalbhor (Black)
Pandhre (White)
Dhawale (One who mixes)
Pitale (brass)
Tambe
Lohar (Ironsmith)
Sonar (goldsmith)

Variety of Patils

2009-02-21T22:25:00.000-08:00

"Patil" seen as a Maharashtrian last name is actually a designation given to certain folks in the olden times. Patils were supposed to be the village chieftains. My image of a Patil was based on the several "Patils" played by Nilu Phule. Nilu mama and Patil would be taken as synonyms in Marathi cinema once upon a time. Phule's patil was a monster, goon, considered the womenfolk in the village as his property etc etc. Hopefully Patils today are far off from this.

I have come across several interesting Patil names in Pune. Penning down the same for ur perusal.

Bakre Patil (Goat)
Mendhe Patil (Sheep)
Bahirat Patil (deaf)
Bolke Patil (talkative)
Nilange Patil
Vikhe Patil
Walse Patil
Landge Patil (Wolf)
Gore Patil (fair)
Dhole Patil

Let me know if you have come across more Patil surnames.

Dev D - Fu^&ing Good

2009-02-07T05:08:00.000-08:00

This is my first attempt at writing a film review and I am doing it for Dev D because I truly liked this movie. I have intentionally not touched the plot or the story.

Dev D is what I would call a classic contemporary adpatation of Sarat Chandra's legendary work Devdas. I do not have access to KL Saigal's Devdas and wasnt brave enough to try out SRK's Devdas - both of these focussed more on ""Devdas" as the central theme. Dev D on the contrary is suavely objective, screenplay focussed and completely the director's baby. Saying that Dev D would not be everybody's cuppa of entertainment.

Kashyap has gone the narrative style as he does best and with his tursted aide Rajeev Ravi's for cinematography he has certainly pulled up a masterpiece. Dev D probably unlike his predecessors has a shady character right from the beginning. Kudos to the way the characters have been portrayed. The plot is executed in a non linear fashion and this might seem irritating for some. The linking of the sequences, sub plots however demonstrates what Kashyap is capable of.

The certain element of abuse in this movie comes from the central character - Devinder - who isnt a puritan. Dev has always enjoyed women and liquor (His fav being "vodka" - Smirnoff has made few guest appearances)

Music is different and Amit Trivedi should be praised enough for a breeze of freshness that he breathes into the movie with his soundtracks. Checkout the rousing applause to "Emosanal Atyachar" in theatres - Paisa Vasool is how I would best put that. You can actually spend 150 bucks on that masterpiece. There are 3 versions to this song - the rock adaptation has been brilliantly picturised. Indian genre of music has been given a deft universal, hep appeal.

Amitabh Bhattacharya has gone geniusly wild with his lyrics and should get his due , here's a sampler: 'Bol, bol why did you ditch me, whore?' or "Seene Mein Jalti Hai Armanon Ki ArthiArrey What To Tell You Darling Kya Hua"

Abhay Deol time and again emphasises the fact that"Deols can Act" - though theres not a hell lot of strong dialogues given to him in the movie - he portrays the character that Dev is very well. He brings out the difference between love and lust amazingly well in the movie. Mahi Gill brings out the raw element to her character pretty well. Check out her numb reaction to Dev in the scene where she sleeps with Dev. A single poignant look in her eyes says lot of things. Kalki as Chanda is good too. Chunni - again a fantastically different adaptation from the original work - does well.

True genius of this movie lies in its objective characters, picturisation, music and ingenuine direction.Anurag Kashyad disappointed with No Smoking but with Dev D dare I say he has gone a step further from Black Friday.

"heyy.. duniya…duniya duniya duniyayeh duniya badi gol haiheyy.. duniya…duniya duniya duniyahai isme kitne jholjhol.. tol.. tol.. tol..tol.. tol.. tol.. tol.."

This is a jhol I enjoyed. Hence 41/2 out of 5!!

Aamhi Punekar hovuch shakat nahi ( I can never be a Puneite)

2009-02-07T04:38:00.000-08:00

Pula (for the uninitiated P.L. Deshpande - legendary Marathi Author) has asked once " Tumhi kon honar - Punekar, Mumbaikar ka Nagpurkar" (what would you want to be - Puneite, Mumbaite, Nagpuraite). And he had this advice to those wishing to become Punekars - "Punha vichar kara" (think twice).

Jotting down a few characteristics that you too might have observed about "Assal" (True) Punekar.

1> You might go to a Punekars place at lunch time starved for 2 days and this is the benign welcome you are bound to get "Aapan jevun aalach asal" (I am sure you must have had your meal and come)

2> Thing to be hated most in any Pune shop - Customer. You go to a shop to buy something worth Rs 5 or Rs 5000, you would get the same response from the owner - Ignorance.

3> Restaurants are not to be left far behind - The place we go for snacks - owner gives u the change on the counter in such a manner that you feel that he is paying you to eat. "He mhanje ase jhale ki - paise devun aapan bhik ghalta swata swatalach.."

4> Aho Rickshawale (Aeeyy Rickshaw nahi Aho Rickshawale mhana asa mi kuthe tari vachalay) - My favourites - entertainment (jhagda) guaranteed!! Almost every auto guy would try to connive you (either fast running meters or long routes) and tell you how some of todays auto guys are into cheating. Almost every auto I have taken from home to office have been trying to take the longer route and hence I need to be alert at every nook and corner to show him the way!!

5> Discipline that you would see in Pune traffic. Do I even need to talk about the 2 wheelers in Pune?? Have got couple of exceptions in my roomie and a colleague - they follow their driving lane, use side indicators on their bikes and most importantly follow signals.

6> Have you been ever invited by your friend/acquaintance/far off relative in Pune for a meal?? - word of advice " Aapla potoba tudumb bharunach mag jevayla jaa" (stuff ur tummy wid food before u go for the meal). My roomie was feasted to a plate of bhel and khir - special dinner organized for him by his aunt. A personal experience - 4 of my family members including myself were offered half a portion of chicken u get in hotels with a loaf of bread. Beat that!!

7> Neighbours that keep a wooden face to you - no matter what. Dont try a hi/hello/ Its not worth it. Total contrast with my home state of Goa where in your neighbour might knows as much as u of what is happening with u...

One good thing about this city:
"Footpath warun jaanari chalti bolti prekshaniya sthala" (Attractive things walking on the roadsides) as PL has said !!

Aso. Sangayach mhanje ekach - aamhi kitihi tharvale tari suddha aamhi punekar hovuch shakat nahi.

Aaplach Shebhechhuk
Hotkaru Govekar :)

Global Economic Crisis - My 2 cents

2009-02-07T04:15:00.000-08:00

Every TDH is having a go at the global economic problems and possible solutions - I might have a go at it as well.

What has been the root cause of it? - Credit crunch, mortgage problems, realty crashes ?? Plain simple answer would be "Greed" or "Gamble". Isnt it? We started with trading in gold, metals, currency. Suddenly it wasnt enough - we forayed into derivatives....futures..options..CDOs...

Admit it - we all made money from it - we never wondered if the fundamentals were strong or what repercussions would our excessive risk taking attitude give us. Human race's growing greed and hunger neglected the substantial possibility of things going wrong..it only fdcussed on the "return" part of the "high" and conveniently forgot about the "risk".

What do we do now??? Keep pumping in liquidity in the environment? That has been happening from sometime now and is bound to happen over the next couple of quarters for sure. But is the entire problem as simple as just a sudden slump in demand? Isnt it a more structural problem of the world economy? A classic case of resource misallocation. The "first world" countries like the United States of America - having unprecedented high levels of current account deficits whereas the Asian economies are showing green in the current account. Isnt the US supposed to export more and consume less on the whole. Dropping off interest rates could only increase consumer spending in the West and probably result in the greater deficit in trade. Rates heading southwards could possibly attract people to get into the housing bubble again?

I would not want to touch the sensitive topic of job losses yet but the worst might yet be to come. On the positive side the current situation has probably fostered an encouraging environment for budding entrepreneurs...Setting up your shop will possibly never be so cheap again.

I am Alive because they dont wanna kill me!!

2008-12-06T05:08:00.000-08:00

Precisely the thought running in my mind since 26/11 as an anguished person

Taj,Oberoi,CST, Cafe Leopolds and many more places...
72 and more hours of a bloody game......
100 and many more men dead........
Several top brass officers of the police/security force martyred...
I am alive because they havent decided to kill me.

And there is nothing that you or me could do. There is nothing our bloody politicians could do. Forgive me for the terminology adopted - that is the most sobre adjective I could think of using. Almost any other politician in India walks with virtually a security force to protect him. Are we a lesser breed??

I was anguished again by the dejavu of "Mumbaikars Resilience" "Spirit Of Mumbai" slogans raised by several politicians and Mumbai socialites who were far away from all of this. Dont give us that bullshit now folks. Time and again we have seen the use of "Spirit of Mumbai" to cover things - to make us forget what has happened and not to think what could happen...
I am alive because they havent decided to kill me.

Lessons havent been learnt. Last week there was a terror threat alert (which later turned out to be a hoa) at my office in Pune - a trademark establishment in the heart of the city. 35 minutes had passed between we getting the news and the last employee being evacuated..And end of that we could only see 3 policemen trying to take control of the situation. 35 minutes of time and a force of 3 men?? What have we learnt?? I am alive because they havent decided to kill me.

Would never intended to get personal through blogging but couldnt help bring this out - I saw a visibly/literary annoyed Shobha De - in her column - feeling so so pained from the incident. A day later I find the same Shobha De on page 3 - Attending a party - Women Power celebration..
Can we rise above this hypocisy???

Can we stop thinking of this Hindu/Muslim/Man/Woman power??? Can we really feel like an Indian at heart first and then everything else...Is it really too much of an ask??

More so in these times - when the only reason We are alive is that "They" have not decided to kill us...

I havent checked for any logical flow in my post.....randomly putting in my thoughts I have been thinking of since our 26/11..and none more prominent than this - " I am alive because they havent decided to kill me."

Chennai Chronicles - Part I

2008-08-10T00:05:00.000-07:00

After a long hiatus I am back to blogging. Courtey - Chennai :) I landed in chennai on 15th of July and everyday since had some story to be told. Due to lack of time and resources (limited access to internet/laptop) starting with pointers rather than epiodes. Plan to write in more details later on.

1> Most people from north (when in chennai North probaly means any part of the country above Karnataka and AP) say chennai is not happening. They havent heard of the phrase..."when in Rome do as the Romans do" - When in chennaites try getting used to their culture, food and you would probably not crib a much. Only thing that is currently keeping our (me and my roomie Brijesh) transformation to Chennaites is a lungi/dhoti - we plan to buy the same sometime soon and go watch a Rajini/Kamala movie at sathyam in one.

2> Parfait 3 - Bistro - More than a cafe - A upmarktet bistro in Velacherry (the place where we stay), has become our regular halt after office where all the intellectual discussion happen over light snack or dinner. Ends with a pastry for pseudo Goenkar and a chai/coffee for the Niz Goenkar. Watch out this space for an elaborate blog on Parfait3. Its a reason to be in Velacherry :)

3> LAst week we learn that Stalin - the heir apparent to DMK's Karunanidhi (his xth son from yth wife) owns a house in the same lane as ours in Seethapathy nagar. Aids us in directing the auto drivers from almost any part of the city. You gotta jst tell them you are Stalins neighbour. You probably end up with better fares too.

4> Chennai doesnt feel like typical Chennai - courtesy fellow NITIEns Brijesh "Sarcasm" Shirodkar and Ramesh Kumar Vadlamani aka "Angry Young man". Same bschool funda sessions and bakar. Ramesh keep working on an excel based financial product he has created - that givces himhis current take home, tax planning, monthly cash flows and income projection for next 5 years :). Rest of us are benefitting from Ramesh's financial planning - free system to use. Ramesh plans to get VC funding for his financial product.

5> Brijesh Dada Shirodkar - My pseudo goan roomie. I have learnt more about him in 2 weeks than what I knew about him in past 2 years at NITIE. The sarcasm god.. Well i came across the godess in NITIE, had to wait to come here to realise the god originated from NITIE as well. He i the guy whose ultimate aim in life keep changing from "Working in Goa", "Funding my venture", "TCS Thane - ghar se 10 min chalke jaayega" to a occasional reference to "Howard/Wharton 2nd MBA" - I fail to understand what they dont teach u in NITIE that they do at these elite soundin US univs. Brijesh is a very keen observer with a astute mind that works in the cynical/questionning mode most of the times. He has noted very nicely that "when Arup hasnt had anything to eat woh chup chaap baithatha hai, par jaise hi khaana kha liya he will be pulling ur leg". Counter that with my obervation of him " Birju dada jaise hi shorts mein aata hai woh chup chaap rehta hai, bt as soon as he is in full trousers he is back at hi sarcastic best". He is one watchdog who would keep reminding of ur prev stmts. Lots more to go on him but later.

6> Couldnt resist adding that - gals in cognizant have got lattu on NITIEs own Mallika.So much so that even committed girls have started dropping hints. Infact he our landlady too has a special affection toward her favourite nephew and made it certain that she gave into his demand for an"Azeee Room".

7>Chennai means tam-tam everywhere. But as they as time is the healer. It doesnt bother me a much now. Project discusions in my office and onsite client calls happen in tamil. The other day a lady absent mindedly started a tam conversation with a firang.

8>Chennai is very structured and this culture has percolated to the organizations it houses. Yahan sab cheez ke liye ek alag system hai and you gotta go by the system. Distributed computing at it best - whether it helps or not to the end user doesnt matter - bt har kaam shud happen according to sytem.

9> Builders and land developers have a weird fixation with english-tam mix names for their projects: Some examples:
Ramaniyam " The Eden"
Mega's Shree Pearls (Mega in here doesnt mean big bt rathr Megha ) - YEah this is the land of missing and additional Hs.

10> I spoke to a ICICI bank customer care executive (No not Barat aka Butty - He has been shifted to door to door leaflet delivery BU) who asks me verification details -
This is how the communication goes:
Me: Address is Seethapathy Nagar
She: S for Subramanyam, E for elephant, E for Egg, T for.......P for Parvathy...

11> Our service apts caretaker informs us the other day " Yahan ke area mein bahut accha accha figure hai" :)

12> Finally we saw "Wanted" at Sathyam yest. My rating for the movie:
1 for Angelina' posterior, 0.5 for action = 1.5/5.
Ramesh - Yeh Jolie has movie mein kuch na kuch kyun dikhati hai?
Me - Thank god ...iss movie mein kuch toh dikhaya hai :)
On a serious note: we had a firang cpl sitting next to us. Atleast gave us an alternative action thriller to watch when Jolie wasnt on screen.

Signing off on a Namaskaram note!!
A. Arup (Chennai style)

Clouds...Clouds and Then Sun

2008-03-17T10:34:00.000-07:00

Dark clouds will hover over me
My pathway is steep and rough
But golden fields lie ahead

Through all the hatred, betrayals
and cold mountains I pass
I could always name the stars
that was never my problem
Coz golden fields lie ahead

My love for her
resembles the eternal rock beneath
And I travel through the cold mountains
but her warmth lies ahead

She's the place I am heading
and I hardly know her
I would keep walking and I know
There would be clouds...clouds and then sun.........

Guest Post - Poem

2008-03-10T23:17:00.000-07:00

Dont have much to write. Hence coaxed a close friend who has recently taken up to poetry, to publish one of his work.

Time after timeI fall for your charm.
Apologies accepted,there was no real harm.
Yet the damagehas been done,
the trust no longer there.

Do I believe it wont happen again?
Can we move onfix what was broken?
Am I still in love?
Can I keep hoping?

Guest Post by Late William Wordsworth :)

2008-03-09T21:41:00.000-07:00

EARTH has not anything to show more fair
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:
This City now doth, like a garment, wear
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare,
Ships, towers, domes, theatres, and temples lie
Open unto the fields, and to the sky;
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
Never did sun more beautifully steep
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
The river glideth at his own sweet will
Dear God! the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!

Orkut - "from my past relationships i learned"

2008-03-07T20:39:00.000-08:00

1> Dont love anyone more than they deserve
2> Never indulge into any kind of serious relationships
3> Not to have anymore relationships
4> For every relation-Ship of fools; I gotta torpedoful of pity
5> It is important to be urself
6> Past is a road to the future
7> Give gifts to your mate but not your heart
8> "Under Construction"
9> In the process of learning
10> Bend but not so much that it breaks your back
11> Jump into next 1 and u'll keep forgetting previous ones.
12> Nothing... they didnt last that long.
13> Life always goes on/ You always move ahead in life
14> Trust is the key

And finally the most common reply:
"fortunately or unfortunately...not much experience here..." or "No past Relationships"....

Random Rantings...

2007-10-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

A thousand lives we live in one life
one so differnt from the others
yet none so close to the real one

One such life brings to me a dreami
t lingers on when I am awakeA
nd I embrace the darkness
with burning desire

And I beg of you for more
seeking for you to explore
pure passion that emanates
from our fiery souls

The morning came with a sunrise
theres a bittersweet promise
With streaming eyes and weeping heart
I see the world renew

All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream
Embrace each day with all you can
for it would get you another life

Everything changes but the waves......

2007-08-20T22:34:00.000-07:00

You are here on the banks of my memories
everything has changed except the waves
your love, your kisses
everything changes but the waves

Meanings have transformed the words
the looks, the present, the smile
heart, emotions and regrets
everything changes but the waves

Even dawn turns into dusk
Jungle becomes a haven
regrets turn into rejoices
everything changes but the waves

Riches become poor
entries convert to exits
dreams, nightmares and hopes
everything changes but the waves

A small poem

2007-07-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

I thought love was just an illusion in my mind
fake and impossible to find till I met you

You hepled me to seeLove is real
and it exists in me

I love you like I love the rain
its showering calm embrace

I love you like I love to drive
with no real destination

I love you like I love my life
as long as it goes on

Shes like the wind.......

2007-06-22T06:28:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Changing gears quickly - heres the lyrics of a song I recently listened to.
The words can fit in more ways than the explicitly mentioned one - and yeah fits the explicit meaning as well :)

She's like the wind through my tree
She rides the night next to me
She leads me through moonlight
Only to burn me with the sun
She's taken my heart
But she doesn't know what she's done

Feel her breath on my face
Her body close to me
Can't look in her eyes
She's out of my league
Just a fool to believe I have anything she needs
She's like the wind

I look in the mirror and all I see
Is a young old man with only a dream
Am I just fooling myself
That she'll stop the pain
Living without her
I'd go insane

Feel her breath on my face
Her body close to me
Can't look in her eyes
She's out of my league
Just a fool to believe I have anything she needs
She's like the wind

Goa - A Progressive Society??

2007-06-22T04:53:00.000-07:00

Goa - "A land of sun,sand and booze' - a popular misnomer for the natives (and probably most fitting for the tourists). My vacations are running into their second week at home and I am already bored - my core group of friends is now dispered all over the globe.

The Goan elections are just over, the new govt formed and the same old things (defections/horse trading) imminent - talks of Goa's Development are omnipresent. I thought I mite as well jump the bandwagon and talk about the development albeit with some difference. I have purposely decided to use the phrase 'progress of the society' rather than 'development of the state'. This because I genuinely believe that human resource's thinking/mindset is what drives the progress of a society thereby driving the state towards more development in the long run. Here I want to talk about the lesser known part of Goa.

My opinions and critic are based on a qualitative study. I do not have the quantitative data to prove this but the premise is based on the basic assumption that if 'study sample' does not differentiate vastly in terms of the responses given, we can safely infer that we have the numbers as well (excuse me for the sprinkling of a few market research terms - result of an quite a gruelling marketing internship).

To start with - Letstalk about 'excessive interference' in other's lives. I believe I have a divine birthright to know about what happens with others, criticise their decisions and prove how someone has made a mistake. You could be an expert adviser in these 'gajalees' anywhere from functions,events to family tea-time. "Marriage" comes across as the hot favouite topic to gossip upon. If a guy from a community X married a girl from a community Y - 'I' have a problem. 'I' know the best for everyone. 'I' will tell you how the guy/gal has bought shame to the family name or how disgraceful their parents should now be. Funnily even if a guy from community X marries a girl also from community X - 'I' still have a problem. (Neither do 'I' care if the couple is very happily married nor if they dont really care as to what 'I' feel).

And this aint restrcited to a particular religion or a caste but it is a phenomenon true across all sects in Goa. Majority of our mindspace is unfortunately occupied with such absolutely immaterial chit-chats, how can 'I' expect myself to be broad minded??

Topic 2 - Entrepreneurship... I believe Goans are following the typical "Marathi Manoos" (native Maharastrians) in this forte. We are going down. There are fewer entrepreneurs coming of age in my progressive state. After 'I' complete my graduation:
1> 'I' am ashamed to take up my family's business unless it is a very glamorous one. It would be terrible if people call me a 'shop keeper' - even if it earns me more moolah than a job.
2> If 'I'do not own a family business - my parents would be ashamed if 'I' want to be an entrepreneur and set up a small venture.

I could understand if the rationale to this opinion was 'risk inherent in a business'/'job security'. But the real reason turns out to be the glamour quotient 'I' or 'we' associate with the job/business. 'I' would be happy being a 'software professional' earning one-tenth of what I would be if 'I' were a grocery shop owner. Being associated with such jobs also makes me a more eligible bachelor in town. Logic? I fail to see. This turns out to be a major reason of the 'talent exodus' I am witnessing in Goa.

These are just a few instances that cause quite a pain to me and so prompted me to air out my frustrations on a public forum. I do not think such narrow-minded acts and hyprocisy would make us a progressive community in the near future.
How do we defy these perceived norms - I do not know.
How can we make a change - I do not know.
How can I bring about a change - I know the best.
How can you bring about a change - You know the best.

Spending last 4 years of my life - out of Goa - particularly the last one year in the commercial capital of India and mingling with some of my "progressive batchmates" from different corners of the country; has definitely broadened my thinking.

Unless we 'Goenkars' start allocating a larger mindspace towards more constructive issues we will still remain a colonial state, enslaved by our dark narrow believes and self imposed social norms.

Let us be rational, let us be progressive......

The final cut

2007-05-10T05:29:00.000-07:00

Several times Ive pondered about it, several times Ive done things but throughout Ive always had near misses. Never had the guts the make the final cut.

Another time, another place, still lacking the decisiveness. A few words from Roger Waters seem appropriate.

Thought I oughta bare my naked feelings,
Thought I oughta tear the curtain down.
I held the blade in trembling hands Prepared to make it
but just then the phone rang
I never had the nerve to make the final cut.

Life - A cycle of ups and downs

2007-04-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

C'est la vie....mais c'est ne pas calme.....c'est tres "complicated"....

Am going thru a few bad times of late...theres nothin wrong as it may seem but somethings not right somewhere either.....what it is, why it is....questions best remain unanswered...My excessive thinking on certain issues just worsens them for me and my fragile mind..The pain however is borne by the heart.....

Luckily there are highs too....professional life kicked off almost aftr a year - I started with my summer project at P&G. "P&G wow thats great" - seemed a lot hyped up when I heard these comments from the junta when I got into it. It was day 1 today, pure induction and an hour in the office and I realised just how true that statement is....

They say nothing should be read too much into on first impressions but then throughout my life Ive developed 1st impressions and fortunately/unfortunately most of the times they come true. Ive got one terribly wrong off late though :-)

The P&G office looks simply great, the great, leadership based, ethical work culture can be felt in the air - everything is so damned organized. An example - bird droppings on the glass of the cafetaria from the outside, had bits of paper stuck to the glass from the inside - informing when the next cleaning would be done to clean the same....perfection??

Lunchtime and I had a familiar seeming face sitting one chair across mine, Ive seen this guy somewhere, he came to my college for a lecture......ummmm...Shantanu...Shantanu Khosla...P&G country head....sitting down wid just another employee of the company and summer interns for his lunch...awesome....glimpse 2 of the P&G culture..

Post lunch - I met wid my project guide...coincidentally she happens to be from Goa...met wid a few alums of my college and they were all very enthu to have me along wid them in the fold..I got a super sexy cubicle to myself - top floor just beneath the AC and if I shift my chair back by a few inches I can see the giant blue sky - from the transperent huge rooftop of the P&G plaza..indicatiing the limitless opportunities for learning at the place...

Much to my surprise I discover that being a flat organization the company doesnt have a cabin for the country head too and Mr Khosla sits a few cublicles next to mine!!! wow...

Too early to judge but in all fairness I learnt why do companies like P&G and Unilever churn out CEOs, churn out leaders and able men....Its the culture and its in the air...its the humility...the character..and the vast blue ocean of a million opportunities..........

Signing off
Arup Angel (ohh yeah thats what they wrote my name on my access id)
Summer Intern, P&G

P.S: Thank you god, for lifting me up everytime I am down......

Its another tequilla sunrise........

2007-04-09T06:20:00.000-07:00

Remember the famous song by Eagles......something I experienced early morning today...albeit for different reasons..

The "teetotaler Goan" has been my perennial identity for the past 24 yrs( could say almost a teetotaler - Ive had some exquisite wines and liqueors once in a few blue moons)...well it isnt anymore..Sunday 8th day of April 2007 - the transformation begun and was complete. Was feeling down and looking forward to an outing wid friends before summers kick off.

Venue: Lounge of Sai Palace, Andheri. Actors : Me and my friends Jayanth, Balu and Saumya.
2 of them get started wid a beer pitcher, one wid a breezer. Me - I gulp down a neat liqueor and then another one wid sprite. The 2 drinking gurus are through wid their pitcher and go for another one. Sai Palace serves superb starters/appetizers so we really feasted on them and decided to leave out the main course.

The music was gr8 and the scene was just setting in...filmy...very filmy is how I describe Jayantha and Saumya convincing and coaxing me to have a Tequila shot...I dont know why but I gave in (must be becoz my mind was not really workin, preoccupied wid other things). To be honest I was scared, I had seen friends goin for a pinch of salt and slice of lemon aftr the shot..I coughed, the drinking gods laughed their heart out...The journey was about to begin....1,2 and.......gulp...went in the first tequilla....it burnt all the way....lime ...it has never tasted as good before....a 2nd tequilla was soon ordered......and gulp .......2 down..........salt.....lime.....kick.....

Scene: Jayanth and me dancing on the floor, saumya proving that she can still walk straight and bala...watching all the fun...for free....Jayanth was coaxed to talk abt his love interests and the boy jst blurted it out complete wid all the 'cencosred praises' for the guy whom apparently his love interest is seeing. The chap wasnt done...he started talkin a few secrets he knew abt me - had to leap and close his mouth to prevent from confidential information coming out....

10 mins hence:
Me - lets go
Jayanth - one more tequilla?
Saumya - No, we are all drunk....
Me - lets have one
Jayanth - no dude, we are all gone
Saumya - actually another one wud do....

I go and order 3 more tequillas....

1,2...........and gulp another one down, some fight kicked off wid another gang and the management....Jayanth was seemin interested, we made him shut his nonsense, paid the bill(I still remember the whoppin amount....10 tequillas.....) and walked out...

Back in campus, I escorted Jayanth back to his room - on the way we kicked a few dustbins...I came back crashed in the bed....1:30 Am.....I needed to get up at 7:30....

5:30 AM - the hangover got to me, terrible headache, fainting sensation....and I knew exactly what it was..............another Tequilla sunrise.......

Kimi shines but a new star is born...

2007-03-18T04:09:00.000-07:00

The 2006-07 formula1 season kicked off in style and after I wonder how many seasons I savoured the first race - purely because the driver I support crossed the line first.

Close to 10 years of formula1 following and I have finally switched team loyalties - from the sexy silver-black formal Mclaren to the more appealing prancing Reds - Ferrari, a team that I very much hated when I was at first a Mika Hakkinen and later a Kimi Raikkonen fan.

Its far too early to read into the season but I still maintain that given a reliable car, Kimi should be cruising to a world title -something he has narrowly missed on 2 occassions - 2003 to his Ferrari predecessor and 2005 to his now Mclaren successor. I missed 70% of the race - thanks to the regular current load shedding by the Maharashtra Govt here and from whatever lil that I watches, Raikkonen cruised to take the chequred flag - and as he admitted later - he wasnt even pushing the car...A fitting way to replace Michael Schmacher all in all - first a P1 and then an almost Schumi type race win.

But it wasnt Kimi who hogged the limelight..18th of March 2007 a new formula1 superstar is born. The man who got the coverage more for his skin colour when Mclaren signed him rather than his driving talent - the barely 22 year old Lewis Hamilton. Few outside the paddock know that Mclaren have been grooming Lewis for almost 6 odd years now and have been supporting him in his dream career. Hamilton just continued from his testing form and the qualifying and gave a major scare to his senior team-mate the 2 time back-to-back world champion - Fernando Alonso before settling for the 3rd place (though his 2nd pitstop might seem more controversial over the days to come...have we heard of team orders?? :) )

All in all this is how dreams come true - you need to have the potential, back it with your hardwork, perseverence, sheer determination, diligence and dont deter when you finally reach the highest level - and more importantly a supercool head over your shoulder...

Kudos to you Lewis, you for sure are a future world champion, and Kimi go get it this time round...riding the prancing horse :)

Burning love...

2007-03-07T06:54:00.000-08:00

Tears no longer hit the ground
they fall on your loving shoulder,
I feel younger,
as our love grows older.

Love's sweet reflection,
laughing, growing, thriving, learning.
Words cannot express what my heart feels,
how strong my love is burning.

What more??? Guess the words say it all...

Coming back to life

2007-03-03T09:13:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my crankyish kinda moods - here am again with another serious post.

In my teens if there was one music band I worshipped it was - "Pink Floyd". And though after the split between Roger Waters and Dave Gilmour, am a Waters fan(purely for his creative genius - a separate post would be coming in the future for sure on this), the first Floydian song that I heard was penned down by Gilmour.

Here it goes:

Coming back to life

Where were you when I was burned and broken
While the days slipped by from my window watching
Where were you when I was hurt and I was helpless
Because the things you say and the things you do surround me

While you were hanging yourself on someone elses words
Dying to believe in what you heard
I was staring straight into the shining sun

Lost in thought and lost in time
While the seeds of live and the seeds of change were planted
Outside the rain fell dark and slow
While I pondered on this dangerous but irrestible pass time

I took a heavenly ride through one silence
I knew the moment had arrived
For killing the past and coming back to life

I took a heavenly ride trough our silence
knew the waiting had begin
And headed straight... into the shining sun

Words that just touch you - am sure most of us can relate them to some or the other thing that has happened in our lives....

At times things go wrong - okay fine they goes wrong, at times we just cant help it and the best solution is to get on with life, move ahead, kill the past. People believe in retrospection - but I guess there are times and situations when retrospection pulls you back...what you need to do is just what Dave Gilmour says - " I knew the moment had arrived For killing the past and coming back to life"....just kill the past....

These words have helped me to come through many lows and am sure they will keep doing that....Thk u Dave...

Damn them.....those hypocrites!!

2007-02-27T05:15:00.000-08:00

I feel strongly about several things but none more than hypocrisy - "a pretense of having a virtuous character, moral or religious beliefs or principles, etc., that one does not really possess". I just hate hypocrites...but get used to them - they are omnipresent.

Pondering over the issue and from my practical experience with hypocrites, I guess every man when alone, in isolation is sincere. At the introduction of others around him - creeps in hypocrisy. The hypocrite's crime is that he bears false witness against himself. What makes it so plausible to assume that hypocrisy is the vice of vices is that integrity can indeed exist under the cover of all other vices except this one. And somehow I have never been able to deal good with hypocrites. Ive had my share of problems with such individuals, having them and am sure future too wont be free from hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy is something I cannot stand. I cant deal with it diplomatically not in a tit for tat manner. Ive had my own share of downfalls and hardships and though I cant say that I emerged victorious and all - I can certainly say that I have come through it, I have weathered it out. Hyprocisy - I am still not sure if I will be able to deal with it alone.

There are 2 types of hypocrites - some that become due to factors they themselves cant control, psychos....Other are bigger ones - they are those wid a proportion of Machiavelli in them...

Fortunately or unfortunately I have had a real bad experience with a hypocrite of the highest order - these are people who could just use people for driving their own agenda, dealing with certain situations and the when they are through, care a damn for you. You are just a means for them to accomplish certain things in life. And I couldnt just take it to the extent that I was gonna give up on something in life - only to be convinced by myself somehow that if I do that, I am letting hypocrisy have its goal..its mission...its target. At the startI said fortunately because its just made me wiser - think before you trust people, chose friends and let relationships develop. Unfortunate because it decreased my friends count by unity.

Somewhat serious post this one - ponder upon it sometime....

Ending on a note with an apt quote from Benjamin Franklin - "The world is full of fools and faint hearts; and yet everyone has courage enough to bear the misfortunes, and wisdom enough to manage the affairs, of his neighbor".

Yeh mere saath hi kyun hota hai??

2007-02-24T00:48:00.000-08:00

Salut...Ca va? Ever since Alliance has started...everyone is trying to converse in french here and the effect has got onto me...

I was just thinking of some weird/funny things that happen with lot of us and they just keep happenin - its a jinx of some sort and wonder when it will be broken with some of us. Sharing some of them..

1> There is this friend of mine who used to work in an IT company. Funnily every girl he became friends with goes to onsite and calls him to bid them farewell at the airport (at work they never called him out). Today he too is pursuing his MBA but he keeps going to the airport once in a while for the bye-bye dates....I just hope the jinx is broken.

2> While working with Cognizant in Pune, I had a fellow Goan colleague who used to travel with me often during our Pune-Goa-Pune trips. He always had this wish of sitting next to some babe (if not a babe atleast a young girl) during the travels. But a jinx here again - his co-passenger was always either some old lady or some middle aged uncle!! And believe me he has tried everything he possibly can to get jinx broken - he even started booking his tickets separately (not with me so that he has a better chance of someone special sitting next to him), from different agents, different buses but just no luck. And it so invariably happened that someone amongst the rest of us mostly had a femme as travel neighbours!! The trend has continued till today - he went to onsite recently - flying with a 60's chap sitting next to him....I just hope the jinx is broken.

3> A good friend of mine at NITIE has this 'age' problem with girls. Any and every girl he has liked till date turns out to be elder to him and that just turns him off. "Ladkiyon ki umar" has become his "dukhti rag". Few days back he was trying to pair another friend of mine with some girl and his first statement was "Dost, tere liye woh badhiya hai, age bhi fit hai"..lol...I just hope the jinx is broken.

4>One of my school friends was tied a rakhee by every girl he managed to have a crush on...Later on at work - every girl he liked got married in almost no time. I just hope the jinx is broken.

5> Now this one features me. Theres this girl who is one of my bestest friend. She has this habit of forgetting to give me any gifts/goodies that she picks up for me (subsequently I do manage to get this things though). I just hope the jinx is broken.

6> One of my classmates in school had some affinity for fractures. He came to my school in 6th I think - studies with me till 12th. In those 5-6 years he had 2-4 fractures every year - always following a patter of right arm-left foot or left arm-right foot. I met him last year - he is now working with DHL- this time it was the right arm and left foot. This guy is all plates and no bones now.I just hope the jinx is broken.

Au revoir et Au bientot..

A decent proposal

2007-02-23T09:47:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: All the dialogues may not be exact...I have tried my level best to retain the ones that were narrated to me..

A real life love story of Mr.Smart and Miss Elegant - two people who are very close to me and whom I know very well (and have given me the permission to post this)..

Same old filmy story - Mr.S meets Miss E in some institute about couple of years back, Mr.S has a huge crush on Miss E. Pehle dushmani (both hate eachother), then truce. In 6 months time -those regular smses and a few calls.....A year passes by - friendship....now lots of messaging and calling.....meetings, coffees, dinners....By the time I myself came to know Miss Elegant quite well, she was great friends with Mr.Smart..

One night the regular 'sms'-ing is on....

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SMS1: from Mr Smart to Miss Elegant - Hi...I love you..

A break of almost 30 mins - seemed like a few hours for Mr.S

SMS2: from Miss E to Mr S - Hi...Those 3 words mean a lot to me....Please say it if you really meant it....If you said it in jest or were joking I understand..blah blah....

Mr.Smart.....pareshaan....doesnt reply back

Call 1: from Miss E to Mr. S: Hey I was just joking....I was kidding..dont be serious..I wanted to see how you act under stress....Mr S doesnt reply...silence....phone call pause for a few mins...then bye bye from both parties...

SMS3: from Mr S to Miss E - I am serious....I really like you...I love you...Sometimes I wish I hadnt really met you....If I hadnt...I wouldnt have fallen in love with you and said all this...

SMS4: from Miss E to Mr S - I cant believe you are saying this....I had hoped that your 1st sms was only true....I cant explain in words how much you mean to me....

Call2: from Mr S to Miss E - Hey I am confused with that sms...Now which sms are you talking about?? which is the first sms that I sent you??? Then Miss E explains which sms she is talking about....Mr S is elated....the first call that can be classified as one of those sweet and cute ones goes on for quite some time.......

SMS5: from Mr S to Miss E- I do love you and I will say this when I meet you tomorrow....

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

I dont know how you found this - I liked it purely because first time someone had told me so much of inside news...Thank you Mr.Smart for all of this...

Watch out for another filmy incident (the Mr S-Miss E confessions in person that happned the next day)....if you still are keen on reading on (all you Suraj Badjatya and Karan Johar fans)...

MBA @ Global Fart Inc...

2007-02-22T22:42:00.000-08:00

As usual I was getting bored in a post lunch class (now a days I get bored in anyone that I attend...). Our very own "Six sigma Swamiji' was giving some of his daily "pravachanas"..

Pondering over some jargons (fart-words) that kept coming and disappearing on the "Six Sigma Pravachana" slides - I struck an idea to pass the leftover lecture time......"Shortcut to MBA".Having patented my idea I now feel safe to disclose the same to my readers. Anyone who has a bit of common sense, is irrational and does not follow logic - is a perfect candidate for my coaching.

Nothing special - straight and simple- be thorough with these golden terms I have taken the pains to collate and practice forming sentences using the same. Once you master this art - there is no stopping you. Be it any post that an MBA takes but none better that a consultant you will rock your way through.

Those holy words - here they go..........

Process, Re engineering, Optimization, Strategic (this word can be prefixed to any damn thing in the universe from 'positioning' to 'decision' - its my fav word in this list), Sustainability, methodology, Prodct differentiation/customization, Analysis, Resource, Utilization, Framework, Deliverables, Volume product, Value/Wealth creation, Customer Satisfaction, Learning curve, Value chain, Integration, Prototyping, Scalability, Decision making, Issues, Organizational culture, quality, Uncertainty, Equilibrium, Task orientation,Business Horizons (this is the biggest fart), Behavioral models, Benchmarking, Management Control, Motivation, Innovation, Leadership......

Now lets look at couple of examples of sentence formation.

Examples: This project is of Strategic importance to us, where in we need to efficiently utilize our resources in an optimizing manner making sure that our methodologies and procedures are within the benchmarked frameworks and aligned with our organizational policies. As we are at the start of the learning curve we can come up with a prototype and then subsequent developments can be integrated in the prototype. This should sort out any issues in a a task oriented manner and later on the project would be scalable to large volumes leading to immense value creation that will be delivered to our clients through our dynamic value chains leading to our ultimate goal of customer satisfaction and help us in stretching our business horizons.

P.S: Please use these terminologies at your own risk...esp..with a gentleman from NITIE who is very well known amongnst the manufacturing and logistics circles!!

L'amour

2007-02-21T08:18:00.000-08:00

They've started French language classes in my college from today - taught by lecturer from Alliance Francaise...Just gets back a lot of memories Ive had at Alliance when I tried my hand at french - some fond, some fonder :)

Today Ill talk about this french movie I went for with 5 femmes of my class....yes you get me right...one guy and five girls..

Well Alliance Francaise de Poona used to screen one french movie every Sunday at the very well known National Film Institute Archives in Pune. This place was hardly 10 mins from the place I stayed in Pune. Being too enthusiastic about learning french I used to be a regular (and the only one from my class) attendee for the sunday movies.Initially I hardly comprehended anything out of those but there were always other incentives to go and watch them - lot of other babes who were french students, french bombshells and the uncensored french movies (believe me the french are very romantic even in supposedly art movies :-) )..

So this one Friday I plan to call some of my classmates for the movie - or to be honest I wanted this one girl (who till date is my biggest crush) to accompnay me for the movie. But as I didnt know her all that well - I ended up inviting her entire group..Friday and Saturday I keep dreaming about the time I was gonna have at the movie...wow I said to myself :)

On a seemingly special Sunday morning -I get a call from one of the girls to inform me that my crush has dropped out of the movie plan and now its them and me (I still dont remember how I controlled the 'f' word in reply). Sunday evening and am in the theatre wid these 5 girls - two femmes on either side of me (it had never happened before and hasnt happened anytime since.....) and the movie name flashes on screen - L'amour (the Love). The next 2 hours I was facing the most embarassing situation of my life - it was a movie I would have thoroughly enjoyed watching alone (could have easily been on the top of the list of all time best XX rated movies though this one had some story also going on)......I was too embarassed even to glance on either side and I could already hear the girls giggling at my condition.I didnt utter a word during the show ( those 2 hours seemed like an eternity) - Every 5 minutes we had these artistic romantic marathon scenes (all I could say to myself - "oh no, not again").

Finally the movie ended but the girlish naughty giggles never did till I took their leave. Monday the story was discussed at length in the class and from then on I dont remember how many people at the french class asked me "Monsieur, How was L'Amour?? "....

Conclusion: French people are very explicit about love....and how they enjoy it....

Sleepless nights......

2007-02-21T03:11:00.000-08:00

Blogging is 'in-vogue' - I dont wanna be left too behind..and as a friend said "it is a good outburst at times" here I am trying my hand at it...

A few truths here and there, some fiction, my thoughts and loads of masala is what my recipe's gonna be... Disclaimer: The distinction between facts and fiction will be purely at your discretion...

Coming back to the topic. Despite all the time in the world at my peril, I've still been spendin couple of sleepless nights...

Why??? I am myself confused...Of late Ive been lookin at life from different perspectives and it just keeps going beyond my comprehension....the more and more I delve into it..

How is one to live a moral and compassionate existence when one is fully aware of the blood, the horror inherent in life, when one finds darkness not only in one's culture but within oneself? And it is precisely the answer to this darkness that I have been on the lookout for...

If there is a stage at which an individual life becomes truly comprehensible , it must be when one grasps the irony in its unfolding and accepts responsibility for a life lived in the midst of such paradox.

One must live in the middle of contradiction, because if all contradiction were eliminated at once life would collapse. But then there have been times and I am sure there will be times in future when these contradictions will put me in between the devil and the deep blue sea...

There are simply no answers to some of the great pressing questions. You continue to live them out, making your life a worthy expression of leaning into the light.

Tonite I will find out if I am myself convinced with my explanation......or may be yet another sleepless night........