Man, Change and Consciousness!

Man is the medium of change and not the change itself.

Man, in trying to be the change agent or a change catalyst ends up imagining himself not as an agent but as the creator and the destroyer.

As Man becomes the jury for his own self, the lines are blurred and conscience gets subdued, thus preventing him from reaching higher stages of consciousness, the very purpose of evolution and purpose of existence.

Operation Border Patrol: Through the Himalayas

 

After a visit to the symbolic Golden Temple, we take a sneak peak at the change of guard at Indo-Pakistan border at Wagah.

Then we drive through the scenic beauty of of Tibetan settlement like like Dharmasala and then to the 400 year old Hidimba Devi Temple in Manali.

Then we weave our way through Rohtang Pass to the highest Motorable Road in the world - Leh

From Leh we hit Kargill, Kardung La and Drass sectors (sectors densely protected by Indian Paramilitary) and moving to the pristine Dal Lake in Srinagar.

On way south cover the Capital City of Jammu and the Le Corbusier’s city of Chandigarh before moving to Dehradun and returning to Delhi

 

 

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCC&cp=31.678539~76.470274&style=r&lvl=6&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&rtp=pos.28.5904081910849_77.2247772663832_New%20Delhi%2C%20India__~pos.31.6278858482838_74.8685458302498_Amritsar%2C%20India__~pos.31.604344_74.57365_31.604344%2C%2074.57365__~pos.32.2206573933363_76.3188397139311_Dharmsala%2C%20India__~pos.32.2667008638382_77.1667020767927_Manali%2C%20India__~pos.34.1803128272295_77.5911328196526_Leh%2C%20India__~pos.34.2788888888889_77.6047222222222_Khardung%20La%2C%20India__~pos.34.5396041125059_76.1393892019987_Kargil%2C%20India__~pos.34.0809705108404_74.8037564009428_Srinagar%2C%20India__~pos.32.7081334590912_74.852554500103_Jammu%2C%20India__~pos.30.7377813756466_76.7844390124083_Chandigarh%2C%20India__~pos.30.333566442132_78.0477601289749_Dehra%20Dun%2C%20India__~pos.28.5904081910849_77.2247772663832_New%20Delhi%2C%20India__&rtop=0~0~0&encType=1

The Desert Trail: Rajasthan Bare on a 4WD:)

Rajasthan Stripped Bare by Road – on a 4WD, what a drive :)

Jaipur to Jailsalmer, Ajmer to Abu – is there anything else that can beat this experience!

 

Bing Maps
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTSN&cp=26.804461~74.108276&style=r&lvl=7&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&rtp=pos.28.5904081910849_77.2247772663832_New%20Delhi%2C%20India__~pos.26.9121741503477_75.8059845864773_Jaipur%2C%20India__~pos.26.4433005452156_74.6426924318075_Ajmer%2C%20India__~pos.26.2816089391708_73.0231551826_Jodhpur%2C%20India__~pos.26.9117791950703_70.9127274155617_Jaisalmer%2C%20India__~pos.24.6_72.7_Abu%2C%20India__~pos.24.5746330171824_73.6949077248573_Udaipur%2C%20India__~pos.28.5904081910849_77.2247772663832_New%20Delhi%2C%20India__&rtop=0~0~0&encType=1

Culture Trail : 3600 Kms by Rail: Bing Maps

Traversing through the Mythological Mathura to the World’s Wonder- the Taj

historic forts in Gwalior to the Islamic culture - the City of Bhopal, Kanpur and Lucknow rich its preserved heritage

moving to through the Allahabad the seat of ancient Hindu and Islamic Educational institutions of repute

to the sacred Ganges at the Varanasi and then to place of enlightenment of Buddha at Bodh Gaya

moving to the HQ of East India company and ending with Sunset at Konark in Orissa.

(Author has included Bhopal and Jamshedpur as he had done a part of his education in these two cities:)

Bing Maps – click here -> 
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTSN&cp=24.514382~82.581025&style=r&lvl=5&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&rtp=pos.28.5904081910849_77.2247772663832_New%20Delhi%2C%20India__~pos.27.4928147345781_77.6837233453989_Mathura%2C%20India__~pos.27.1777188777924_78.0093006044626_Agra%2C%20India__~pos.26.2276837974787_78.1763458997011_Gwalior%2C%20India__~pos.23.2365265488625_77.405074685812_Bhopal%2C%20India__~pos.26.4611949026585_80.3313218057156_Kanpur%2C%20India__~pos.26.8400133401155_80.9314955770969_Lucknow%2C%20India__~pos.25.4456616193056_81.8490444123745_Allahabad%2C%20India__~pos.25.3131390362978_83.0076520889997_Varanasi%2C%20India__~pos.24.7999291867018_85.0068821758032_Gaya%2C%20India__~pos.22.5736889988184_88.3585061877966_Kolkata%2C%20India__~pos.19.8029248416424_85.8329770714045_Puri%2C%20India__~pos.22.778487727046_86.2089999765158_Jamshedpur%2C%20India__~pos.22.5736889988184_88.3585061877966_Kolkata%2C%20India__&rtop=0~0~0&cid=73E8F165E28DD881!108311&encType=1

Singapore F1: Father and Son.

We are watching so intently that we could smell the rubber in the living room:)

Singapore GP: Father and son doing a 36 second lap.

iCafes (Internet Cafes) – CHANGE that we desire.

 

Just about 2 years ago, I had written about Internet Cafes and wondered a few things -

• Is there a way we can change the situation.
• Is there a way, this entire situation can be looked at positively.
• With so many PCs, can this bridge the digital divide
• Can these be turned into centres of learning
• Can this truly bring about a positive difference in lives of children and people
• Can we look at ways in which these can create jobs
• Can these retrain the old and senior citizens
• Is there a healthier way to live for these children
• What can I do, the government do - How?

We were talking of internet cafes in Thailand, the gaming addiction. We were talking of illegal software and piracy. We were talking of making these cafes safe and secure.

Well, over the last 18 months my team in Thailand and myself had been crusading for the clean and safe environment for internet cafes. We have been able to convince the government in Thailand to come out with standards that have today redefined the industry.  A quick checkpoint on where we stand on each of the above.

Is there a way we can change the situation

• yes we did. Since the launch of the program we have about 100,000 PCs joking in this initiative.

Is there a way, this entire situation can be looked at positively

• yes, the Internet Cafe industry in Thailand is a rejuvenated lot and see themselves in a much more positive light co contributing to the society with the OK net certification

With so many PCs, can this bridge the digital divide

• absolutely, and needless to say they are now offering Digital Literacy and internet Safety courses.

Can these be turned into centres of learning

• yes, it happens. for example True, an internet cafe chain in Thailand offers certification courses and have tied up with Sripathum university to offer courses for Students.

Can this truly bring about a positive difference in lives of children and people

• Slowly, this is happening. Like any social change we need to be at it consistently for sufficient time before these changes show.

Can we look at ways in which these can create jobs

• Today, with these courses and education in the Internet cafes, the government is looking at these to bridge unemployment.

Can these retrain the old and senior citizens

• we have still work to do in this area :(

Is there a healthier way to live for these children

• Yes, the new regulations by trhe government and the voluntary participation of over 5,000 iCafes in the program is a postive testimony.

What can I do, the government do - How?

• The government(s) were integratl on multiple counts  (1) They were practical and set up guideleines that were for the greater good of all stakeholders, while not compromising child safety. (2) by encouraging the iCafes that were compoliant, the government has sdemonstrated that if the business is done in a good way, they were supportive to the business, that built confidence with the iCafes

Constitution of Republic of India

Every free nation of the world has its own flag. It is a symbol of a free country. The National Flag of India was designed by Pingali Venkayyaand and adopted in its present form during the meeting of Constituent Assembly held on the 22 July 1947, a few days before India's independence from the British on 15 August, 1947. It served as the national flag of the Dominion of India between 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950 and that of the Republic of India thereafter. In India, the term "tricolour" refers to the Indian national flag.

The National flag of India is a horizontal tricolor of deep saffron (kesari) at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of width of the flag to its length is two to three. In the centre of the white band is a navy blue wheel which represents the chakra. Its design is that of the wheel which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. Its diameter approximates to the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes.

Evolution of the Tricolour

It is really amazing to see the various changes that our National Flag went through since its first inception. It was discovered or recognised during our national struggle for freedom. The evolution of the Indian National Flag sailed through many vicissitudes to arrive at what it is today. In one way it reflects the political developments in the nation. Some of the historical milestones in the evolution of our National Flag involve the following:

Unofficial flag of India
in 1906

The Berlin committee
flag, first raised by
Bhikaiji Cama in 1907

The flag used during the
Home Rule movement
in 1917

The flag unofficially
adopted in 1921

The flag adopted in 1931.
This flag was also the
battle ensign of the
Indian National Army

The present Tricolour
flag of India

The first national flag in India is said to have been hoisted on August 7, 1906, in the Parsee Bagan Square (Green Park) in Calcutta now Kolkata. The flag was composed of three horizontal strips of red, yellow and green.

The second flag was hoisted in Paris by Madame Cama and her band of exiled revolutionaries in 1907 (according to some inl9OS). This was very similar to the first flag except that the top strip had only one lotus but seven stars denoting the Saptarishi. This flag was also exhibited at a socialist conference in Berlin.

The third flag went up in 1917 when our political struggle had taken a definite turn. Dr. Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak hoisted it during the Home rule movement. This flag had five red and four green horizontal strips arranged alternately, with seven stars in the saptarishi configuration super-imposed on them. In the left-hand top corner (the pole end) was the Union Jack. There was also a white crescent and star in one corner.

During the session of the All India Congress Committee which met at Bezwada in 1921 (now Vijayawada) an Andhra youth prepared a flag and took it to Gandhiji. It was made up of two colours-red and green-representing the two major communities i.e. Hindus and Muslims. Gandhiji suggested the addition of a white strip to represent the remaining communities of India and the spinning wheel to symbolise progress of the Nation.

The year 1931 was a landmark in the history of the flag. A resolution was passed adopting a tricolor flag as our national flag. This flag, the forbear of the present one, was saffron, white and green with Mahatma Gandhi's spinning wheel at the center. It was, however, clearly stated that it bore no communal significance and was to be interpreted thus.

On July 22, 1947, the Constituent Assembly adopted it as Free India National Flag. After the advent of Independence, the colours and their significance remained the same. Only the Dharma Charkha of Emperor Asoka was adopted in place of the spinning wheel as the emblem on the flag. Thus, the tricolour flag of the Congress Party eventually became the tricolour flag of Independent India.

Colours of the Flag:

In the national flag of India the top band is of Saffron colour, indicating the strength and courage of the country. The white middle band indicates peace and truth with Dharma Chakra. The last band is green in colour shows the fertility, growth and auspiciousness of the land.

The Chakra:

This Dharma Chakra depicted the "wheel of the law" in the Sarnath Lion Capital made by the 3rd-century BC Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. The chakra intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation.

Flag Code

On 26th January 2002, the Indian flag code was modified and after several years of independence, the citizens of India were finally allowed to hoist the Indian flag over their homes, offices and factories on any day and not just National days as was the case earlier. Now Indians can proudly display the national flag any where and any time, as long as the provisions of the Flag Code are strictly followed to avoid any disrespect to the tricolour. For the sake of convenience, Flag Code of India, 2002, has been divided into three parts. Part I of the Code contains general description of the National Flag. Part II of the Code is devoted to the display of the National Flag by members of public, private organizations, educational institutions, etc. Part III of the Code relates to display of the National Flag by Central and State governments and their organisations and agencies.

There are some rules and regulations upon how to fly the flag, based on the 26 January 2002 legislation. These include the following:

The Do's:

• The National Flag may be hoisted in educational institutions (schools, colleges, sports camps, scout camps, etc.) to inspire respect for the Flag. An oath of allegiance has been included in the flag hoisting in schools.
• A member of public, a private organization or an educational institution may hoist/display the National Flag on all days and occasions, ceremonial or otherwise consistent with the dignity and honour of the National Flag.
• Section 2 of the new code accepts the right of all private citizens to fly the flag on their premises.

The Don'ts

• The flag cannot be used for communal gains, drapery, or clothes. As far as possible, it should be flown from sunrise to sunset, irrespective of the weather.
• The flag cannot be intentionally allowed to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water. It cannot be draped over the hood, top, and sides or back of vehicles, trains, boats or aircraft.
• No other flag or bunting can be placed higher than the flag. Also, no object, including flowers or garlands or emblems can be placed on or above the flag. The tricolour cannot be used as a festoon, rosette or bunting.

More information on Flag Code of India (-1 MB) (PDF file that opens in a new window)

The Indian National Flag represents the hopes and aspirations of the people of India. It is the symbol of our national pride. Over the last five decades, several people including members of armed forces have ungrudgingly laid down their lives to keep the tricolour flying in its full glory.

source: http://www.india.gov.in/myindia/national_flag.php

IS ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD, A TOOL FOR ELIMINATING POVERTY?

I was one of the fortunate few to be present in this recent session on "One Laptop per Child, A Tool for Eliminating Poverty". It was an august gathering of thinkers, educationalists, students and policy makers. It was a pleasure to listen to Mr. Negroponte's session yesterday as it was when he spoke of Digital world a decade ago. Like all speakers of his genre, he was convincing, he started from the heart, spoke at length about his non-profit mission and his pursuit of this dream.

He narrated through the talk, about his travels, about meeting of Heads of State, socializing his OLPC concept and why third-world governments must invest in one-laptop-per-child. His examples spanned the who's who list from Gadaffi to Thaksin.

Negroponte's rhetoric was brilliant; interspaced with a few good humorous digs at companies that made "Software". There were thought provoking questions, if schools and teachers were relevant to schooling of a child. Mr. Negroponte believes that you give PCs to children they will figure it out
and we can eradicate illiteracy not in ten-twenty-fifty years, but almost instantaneously. Is it then surprising, that his handshakes with heads of states just remained that.

In theory Negroponte's speech was creative - what if we indeed had a teacher-less society? All that was required was a child's curiosity and a gadget like a green OLPC and off you goes- a panacea in this digital world! Maybe, we are overestimating the ability of the technology and grossly underestimating the need for educationalists. In fact, schooling, education and knowledge are very different things. While I do agree with Mr. Negroponte that an OLPC will help children gain knowledge, but do not agree that it replaces teachers or a schooling or education system. The problem of having good educationalists, I believe is and still will be a concern for third-world governments even if they had all the money to spend billions into giving away free PCs.

Negroponte spoke about his projects ambitious 10million units target in Year 1 (2005) and 50 million units in year 2 of inception. It has been 4 years since and apparently the OLPC organization is struggling to cross the One Million mark. In his own words, Mr. Negroponte said the 10 million and 50 million units quoted by him 3 years ago were necessitated, because only then did the hardware and component manufacturers take him seriously. (It made me wonder though on the ethicality of making those tall claims when one believed it was not the truth, any way that is not the topic of this discussion).

Then he shared that there were 31 countries where OLPC had its presence. In his own words, there were a lot more failures and adoption rates were not as encouraging across the initial six countries that they targeted in. What also did hear, a dozen reasons (some may call them excuses, but I prefer being more diplomatic) on how India, China, Brazil, Thailand, Pakistan, to name a few went back on their "commitments" after head of State shook hands with Negroponte. We also heard that other members in the industry (read competitors like Intel and Microsoft) played spoilsport on OLPC's success by seeding doubts in the decision makers.

May be there is a point there! OLPC costs approximately $250 (not anywhere close to the $100, promised at the launch) when it hits the market. Just a $50-75 cheaper than other netbooks like Intel Classmate PC that targeted education segment. In his own words, the design is fantastic, looks chic and the green color turns heads. You bet, it does look like a cute little toy for kids.

We also heard that the Sugar OS was a disaster, that there were "not many applications", "not much capacity" to run the preloaded Operating System, need for an additional USB thumb drive to load more than a few dozen books, a "little bit of a problem" on connectivity to OLPC Mesh network. (OLPC Mesh is not yet a standard and the remote areas do not have drinking water, leave alone a high speed broadband network).

Another possible reason also could be that in 2005, Laptops cost $1000+ and Mr. Negroponte's claim of $100 was absolutely something that one did not want to write-off. Over 4 years of some untiring innovations from Intel, Microsoft, Asus, Dell, Lenovo and Toshiba and other netbooks manufacturers, they are available for as low as $350++. Needless to say, the market has massively innovated low cost computing by getting prices down to $350 (-65% from 2005 numbers) while Negropontes project has seen the prices shoot up to $250 (+150%). And boy! That does change the equation completely.

It was great to see that Kofi Annan launched OLPC with Negroponte and that in turn gave it a special status of non-profit tag. It was an indeed a great marketing strategy to get secretary General of United Nations launch this in Africa.

Mr. Negroponte's made a brilliant analogy that OLPC mission was more like World Food Program and not McDonalds that his competitors were. It was a humorous analogy and yes, may be there is a good point there. OLPC's competition – netbooks with Microsoft is the McDonalds of the world. You may love it or get tired of it; the reality is McDonalds is a lot more ubiquitous that common people can relate to as compared to a World Food Program. (Moreover, if audience of OLPC is similar to the audience of World Food Program, isn't it a no-brainer that Maslow's needs theory explained why poverty and hunger needs to be fixed before the laptop for the child)

Notwithstanding the lack of a stable operating system, compatible applications, product evangelists (teachers), connectivity networks and high costs, I still think there probably is a market for OLPC. There is a way if we can give away an OLPC FREE to the 1 billion poor, illiterate children. It would just cost us $250 billion (less than a third of the United States defense budget in 2009, or 1/4^th of the 2009 US bail-out money). The catch, however is - Does such free money exist and if does who would give it away?

And if that sort of money existed why you would not top up by just $50 billion and have the world enjoy McDonald burgers and not some stale boiled rice.

Needless to say, I came back from the session with more questions than answers. I could not see the project being self sustaining. There were creative ideas and philanthropic missions.

May be there are answers, maybe there are none… may be there is one cooking in the MIT design Labs. Let me wait!

Outer Orbit : Word Cloud : July 2009

40-30-20-10: Politics follows a mature market share model

Much has been spoken about the dirty politics in India. Well, maybe it is time to reconsider the statement.

Amazingly, the democracy has behaved very akin consumer brands and product leaderships in many mature markets. It is a well recognized marketing 101 on mature product lines and mature markets that the market share tends to gravitate towards 40-30-20-10 (market leader, 2nd, 3rd, rest).

Isn't it interesting then, for the first time in Indian Politics and may be world politics in general that an poll result has behaved so perfectly. Ain’t India the most mature democracy then?

Politics - Mature Market Models

UPA 46%

NDA 30%

3rd 16%

4th+Others 8%

 

Data based on lead positions @ 1pm IST on May 16, 2009.

Books and Otherwise (my Bookshelf)

del.icio.us Tags: Book Author A Brief History Of Time Stephen Hawking A New Earth Eckhart Tolle A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini Age Proof Your Brain Tony Buzan Alchemist Paulo Coelho An Area Of Darkness V S Naipaul Anne Frank – The Diary Anne Frank Atlas Shrugged Ayn Rand Be My Guest Conrad Hilton Beyond The Last Blue Mountain J R D Tata Bhagvad Gita As It Is Swami Prabhupada Black Holes And Baby Universes Stephen Hawking Blink Malcolm Gladwell Commentaries On Living J Krishnamurti Communist Manifesto Ayn Rand Coolie Mulk Raj Anand Crucial Conversations Patterson,Et Al Cutting Edge Advertising Ii Jim Aitchison Da Vinci Code Dan Brown Daughter Of Jerusalem Sara Maitland Digital Fortress Dan Brown Don't Send A Cv Jeffrey J Fox Eat That Frog Brian Tracey English Teacher R K Narayan Every Second Counts Lance Armstrong Fifth Wave Leadership Schetchman Financial Expert R K Narayan First Break All The Rules Marcus Buckingham Fish Stephen C Lundin Footsteps Of Anne Frank Ernst Schabel Freakonomics Malcolm Gladwell From This Day Forward Cookie And Steve Robers Future Shock Alvin Toffler Goals Brian Tracey God's Debris Scott Adams Great Works Of Rabindranath Tagore Rabindaranath Tagore Handwriting Analysis Andrea Mcnichol Harry Potter And The Order Of Phoenix J K Rowling Horse And Two Goats R K Narayan How To Become A Ceo Jeffrey J Fox How To Have A Beautiful Mind Edward De Bono How To Negotiate Your Salary Alan Jones How To Talk To Anyone Lowndes Hyperwars Brucejudson Ignited Minds Abdul Kalam In Search Of Excellence Tom Peters Intrepreter Of Maladies Jhumpa Lahiri It Is Not About The Bike Lance Armstrong Kane And Abel Jeffrey Archer Kural Thiruvalluvar Lady Chatterley's Lover Dh Lawrence Life Of Pi Yann Martell Living With Siva Swami Subramaniyaswami Malgudi Days R K Narayan Man Eater Of Malgudi R K Narayan Many Lives,Many Masters Brian Weiss Married But Available Abhijit Bhaduri Memoirs Of Geisha Arthur Golden Men Are From Mars,Women Are From Venus Greg Message From The Masters Brian Weiss Mind Maps At Work Tony Buzan Mister God This Is Anna Fynn My Experiments With Truth Mahatma Gandhi Never Eat Alone Keith Ferrazzi Not A Penny More,Not A Penny Less Jeffrey Archer Notes To Each Other Hugh Prather Notes To Myself Hugh Prather Now,Discover Your Strengths Marcus Buckingham Objectivism Ayn Rand Old Grandma's Take R K Narayan Only The Paranoid Survive Andrew S Grove Painter Of Science R K Narayan Power Shift Alvin Toffler Quiver Full Of Arrows Jeffrey Archer Rethinking The Future Charles Handy Et Al Say It Right The First Time Malandro Sea Of Poppies Amitav Ghosh Secrets Of The Code Dan Burstein Shall We Tell The President Jeffrey Archer Sharpen The Saw Palani K Pillai Six Thinking Hats Edward De Bono Stillness Speaks Eckhart Tolle Straight From The Gut Jack Welch Swamy And Friends R K Narayan The 48 Laws Of Power Robert Greene The Argumentative Indian Amartya Sen The Art Of War Sun Tzu The Best Of Tehelka Tehelka The Bible * The Big Moo Seth Godin The Book Of Wishes And Complaints Zina Rohan The Carpetbaggers,Harold Robbins The Client John Grisham The Curious Incident Of The Dog Mark Haddon The Dark Room R K Narayan The Day Of The Jackal Fredrick Forsyth The Dilbert Principle Scott Adams The Elements Of Effort John Jerome The End Of Poverty Jeffrey D Sachs The Fifth Discipline Peter Senge The Firm John Grisham The Fountainhead Ayn Rand The Geetha Swami Chinmayananda The Google Story David A Vise The Guide R K Narayan The Interpretation Of Dreams Sigmund Freud The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini The Koran * The Little Book Of Letting Go Hugh Prather The Mckinsey Way Rasiel The Microsoft Way Stross The Mind Map Book Tony Buzan The Namesake Jhumpa Lahiri The Nokia Revolution Steinbock The One Thing That You Need To Know Marcus Buckingham The Pig That Wants To Be Eaten Julian Baggini The Power Of Now Eckhart Tolle The Road Ahead Bill Gates The Roadless Travelled Scott Peck The Seven People You Will Meet In Heaven Mitch Albon The Sevenn Habits Of Highly Effective People Stephen Covey The Speed Reading Book Tony Buzan The Third Wave Alvin Toffler The Tipping Point Malcolm Gladwell The Upanishad Swami Prabhavannada The World Is Flat Thomas Friedman Three Cups Of Tea Khaled Hosseini Tousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini Tuesdays With Morrie Mitch Albon Use Your Head Tony Buzan Use Your Memory Tony Buzan Vendor Of Sweets R K Narayan We The Living Ayn Rand What Got You Here Won't Get You There Marshall Goldsmith White Tiger Arvind Adiga Who Moved My Cheese Spencer Johnson Why Men Lie And Women Cry Allan Et Al Wings Of Fire Abdul Kalam Winning Jack Welch Wise And Otherwise Sudha Murthy Wuthering Heights Emily Brown Yearnings Irwin Kula You Can Negotiate Anything Herb Cohen You Inc. John Mcgrath

Book	Author
A Brief History Of Time	Stephen Hawking
A New Earth	Eckhart Tolle
A Thousand Splendid Suns	Khaled Hosseini
Age Proof Your Brain	Tony Buzan
Alchemist	Paulo Coelho
An Area Of Darkness	V S Naipaul
Anne Frank – The Diary	Anne Frank
Atlas Shrugged	Ayn Rand
Be My Guest	Conrad Hilton
Beyond The Last Blue Mountain	J R D Tata
Bhagvad Gita As It Is	Swami Prabhupada
Black Holes And Baby Universes	Stephen Hawking
Blink	Malcolm Gladwell
Commentaries On Living	J Krishnamurti
Communist Manifesto	Ayn Rand
Coolie	Mulk Raj Anand
Crucial Conversations	Patterson, Et Al
Cutting Edge Advertising Ii	Jim Aitchison
Da Vinci Code	Dan Brown
Daughter Of Jerusalem	Sara Maitland
Digital Fortress	Dan Brown
Don't Send A Cv	Jeffrey J Fox
Eat That Frog	Brian Tracey
English Teacher	R K Narayan
Every Second Counts	Lance Armstrong
Fifth Wave Leadership	Schetchman
Financial Expert	R K Narayan
First Break All The Rules	Marcus Buckingham
Fish	Stephen C Lundin
Footsteps Of Anne Frank	Ernst Schabel
Freakonomics	Malcolm Gladwell
From This Day Forward	Cookie And Steve Robers
Future Shock	Alvin Toffler
Goals	Brian Tracey
God's Debris	Scott Adams
Great Works Of Rabindranath Tagore	Rabindaranath Tagore
Handwriting Analysis	Andrea Mcnichol
Harry Potter And The Order Of Phoenix	J K Rowling
Horse And Two Goats	R K Narayan
How To Become A Ceo	Jeffrey J Fox
How To Have A Beautiful Mind	Edward De Bono
How To Negotiate Your Salary	Alan Jones
How To Talk To Anyone	Lowndes
Hyperwars	Brucejudson
Ignited Minds	Abdul Kalam
In Search Of Excellence	Tom Peters
Intrepreter Of Maladies	Jhumpa Lahiri
It Is Not About The Bike	Lance Armstrong
Kane And Abel	Jeffrey Archer
Kural	Thiruvalluvar
Lady Chatterley's Lover	Dh Lawrence
Life Of Pi	Yann Martell
Living With Siva	Swami Subramaniyaswami
Malgudi Days	R K Narayan
Man Eater Of Malgudi	R K Narayan
Many Lives, Many Masters	Brian Weiss
Married But Available	Abhijit Bhaduri
Memoirs Of Geisha	Arthur Golden
Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus	Greg
Message From The Masters	Brian Weiss
Mind Maps At Work	Tony Buzan
Mister God This Is Anna	Fynn
My Experiments With Truth	Mahatma Gandhi
Never Eat Alone	Keith Ferrazzi
Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less	Jeffrey Archer
Notes To Each Other	Hugh Prather
Notes To Myself	Hugh Prather
Now, Discover Your Strengths	Marcus Buckingham
Objectivism	Ayn Rand
Old Grandma's Take	R K Narayan
Only The Paranoid Survive	Andrew S Grove
Painter Of Science	R K Narayan
Power Shift	Alvin Toffler
Quiver Full Of Arrows	Jeffrey Archer
Rethinking The Future	Charles Handy Et Al
Say It Right The First Time	Malandro
Sea Of Poppies	Amitav Ghosh
Secrets Of The Code	Dan Burstein
Shall We Tell The President	Jeffrey Archer
Sharpen The Saw	Palani K Pillai
Six Thinking Hats	Edward De Bono
Stillness Speaks	Eckhart Tolle
Straight From The Gut	Jack Welch
Swamy And Friends	R K Narayan
The 48 Laws Of Power	Robert Greene
The Argumentative Indian	Amartya Sen
The Art Of War	Sun Tzu
The Best Of Tehelka	Tehelka
The Bible	*
The Big Moo	Seth Godin
The Book Of Wishes And Complaints	Zina Rohan
The Carpetbaggers,	Harold Robbins
The Client	John Grisham
The Curious Incident Of The Dog	Mark Haddon
The Dark Room	R K Narayan
The Day Of The Jackal	Fredrick Forsyth
The Dilbert Principle	Scott Adams
The Elements Of Effort	John Jerome
The End Of Poverty	Jeffrey D Sachs
The Fifth Discipline	Peter Senge
The Firm	John Grisham
The Fountainhead	Ayn Rand
The Geetha	Swami Chinmayananda
The Google Story	David A Vise
The Guide	R K Narayan
The Interpretation Of Dreams	Sigmund Freud
The Kite Runner	Khaled Hosseini
The Koran	*
The Little Book Of Letting Go	Hugh Prather
The Mckinsey Way	Rasiel
The Microsoft Way	Stross
The Mind Map Book	Tony Buzan
The Namesake	Jhumpa Lahiri
The Nokia Revolution	Steinbock
The One Thing That You Need To Know	Marcus Buckingham
The Pig That Wants To Be Eaten	Julian Baggini
The Power Of Now	Eckhart Tolle
The Road Ahead	Bill Gates
The Roadless Travelled	Scott Peck
The Seven People You Will Meet In Heaven	Mitch Albon
The Sevenn Habits Of Highly Effective People	Stephen Covey
The Speed Reading Book	Tony Buzan
The Third Wave	Alvin Toffler
The Tipping Point	Malcolm Gladwell
The Upanishad	Swami Prabhavannada
The World Is Flat	Thomas Friedman
Three Cups Of Tea	Khaled Hosseini
Tousand Splendid Suns	Khaled Hosseini
Tuesdays With Morrie	Mitch Albon
Use Your Head	Tony Buzan
Use Your Memory	Tony Buzan
Vendor Of Sweets	R K Narayan
We The Living	Ayn Rand
What Got You Here Won't Get You There	Marshall Goldsmith
White Tiger	Arvind Adiga
Who Moved My Cheese	Spencer Johnson
Why Men Lie And Women Cry	Allan Et Al
Wings Of Fire	Abdul Kalam
Winning	Jack Welch
Wise And Otherwise	Sudha Murthy
Wuthering Heights	Emily Brown
Yearnings	Irwin Kula
You Can Negotiate Anything	Herb Cohen
You Inc.	John Mcgrath

desolate destiny

 

resting by the lonely waters, one evening

an aching heart yearned for you

abandoned, she started her quest

and her teary eyes looked skyward

 

stars ceased their twinkle

the breeze halted its drift

life became motionless

as waves stood still,

 

yet, her longing heart found

your reflection, in the calm

and at that very moment

a giant wave erased her desire, yet again. 

*

Voices

 

i was running my nimble fingers over its pages

i could hear frail voice in the background

i moved closer and the sounds grew louder

it was a familiar voice, like an expression etched in time

i started hearing her anklets, from afar

and echoes of her melody started filling my heart

countless unsaid stories starting to unfold

the voice was becoming a lot swifter and more vivid

the melody broke the silence

cozily draping each memory beneath its shawl

many questions were posed, answers none

like a child awakened from his sleep!

old petals were pressing against the pages

and the rose was expressing herself in her many ways

slowly, she held my hands and we began to smile

we started to walk our path, long covered by grass

a sudden lightning struck my thought - i shook her hand away,

closed my old diary and with that blocked her voice,  forever.

Iyengar ‘ness’

This was sent by my friend… RI, cheeky Iyer girl she was :)

* Iyengar Boy -  "Mom, I've decided to get married."

The Seshadhris were only too ecstatic to here these words pop out of their
elder son's mouth, yet afraid at the the same time. After all, their son did
study in the United States for 3 years. And from what they heard from their
neighbours, the States "do things" to perfectly normal sons. What if he
wanted to marry a white girl? The blasphemy! How would they ever explain to
their relatives? *
*
"Indian no?", Mrs.Seshadhri asked, nervously. *
*
"Iyengar...." *
*
"Oh thank god! Chamathu da nee. We'll see the girl tomorrow!And I'll have to
call all our relatives to inform them. Ha! First I'll call your aththai. Her
son went to the states and ended up with one of those...punjabi a? Ya,
punjabi-o ennavo. But my son? Chamatha Iyengar ponnu paathutaan." *
*
"Amma..." *
*
"What? I know I'm getting excited but its not everyday your son gets
married! First ponnu paakanum. Give me her address." *
*
"I can't give the girl's address." *
*
"Why not? " interrupted Mr.Seshadhri. "Is it because they don't know? Its
okay, we'll convince them" *
*
"No, its because there is no girl" *
*
"Ennada solra?" chorused the parents. *
*
"I am in love with an Iyengar, yes. But its not a girl. Its a boy" *
*
Silence. *
*
"Is this some kind of TV show? Is some shanniyan going to come with a camera
and say all this is some joke? I know! Vijay TV-la Simbhu is doing something
like this. He's going to come now, isn't he?" *
*
"No mom, nobody's behind your almirah. This is real. I want to get married
to him and him only" *
*
"This is not normal, you know that?" *
*
"Appa, who're you to say that it's not normal? How do you know that it isn't
normal? I want to get married to him and that's the end of it" and he
stormed out of the room.
The Seshadhris were appalled, and did what any other parents would do when
presented with such a private confession. They called the entire family over
to discuss it.
Mamas, Mamis, Thathas, Paatis, Chithappas, Chiththis, Aththais, Athimbers,
Perippas, Perimmas and a motley crew of cousins promptly assembled to
exchange their views over filter coffee and masala vadais.
"Enna kodumai Seshadri idhu" *
*
"This is not the time to joke, its a very serious issue pa. Namma
community-la this is just not done" *
*
"Are you sure about this? I mean was he joking?" *
*
"Will anybody joke about things like this? Avan serious-a dhaan irukaan.  *
*He's gay." *
*
"Amma Amma, what's a gay?" interrupted 6 year old Achu, loudly. *
*
Silence. *
*
"Sshhh, Achu. Go play outside with Kichu." said his visibly embarassed
mother. *
*
Achu promptly ran outside hollering KICHU! GAY-NA BAD WORD DA! *
*
"Kids" *
*
"Yea. I'm hoping he gets a girlfriend soon." *
*
"Shree, he's 6" *
*
"The earlier the better. And I'm so not sending him to the US" *
*
"Not everyone turns out like that. My son married a perfectly nice girl.
Enna, she's punjabi. But very nice girl." *
*
"You know she has a beard, right?" *
*
"Oh please! At least she's a girl." *
*
"Enough enough. This is not about her daughter-in-law's beard. Idhu konjam
serious-aana matter." *
*
"Yes yes. There are so many fundamental complications Like if this marriage
does go on, who gets to be the Maapla veedu?" *
*"Chechu make it clear to them that we will be the groom's house. We will
demand our rights" *
*
"Hey, who gets to tie the thaali?" *
*
"Will there even be a thaali?" *
*
"Maybe they'll tie a golden poonal around him" *
*
"One more doubt. The girl usually sits on her father lap when they tie the
thaali. Does this mean that the son sits on his mothers lap? How does that
work exactly?" *
*
"Yea! And then usually the girl wears that special koora-podavai before she
ties the knot. Do we have to get this guy a koora-veshti?" *
*
"Atleast you'll save on all those silk sarees." *
*
"And that Mehndi thing. Unless your son wants it, of course" *
*
"Hahahaha! Thats so g...nothing"
An uncomfortable silence followed, but was swiftly interrupted by the
Periappa.
"Come to think of it, that golden poonal will weigh a lot" *
*
"Does your future...err son-in-law cook?" *
*
"Aiyo! Don't call him son-in-law! I don't even want this to happen!" *
*
"Maybe you should do that. Vidaatha. Then he'll come around" *
*
"No way, then he'd elope. Odi poyiduvaan!" *
*
"Thats not good for the family name." *
*
"Thu! As if marrying a boy is very honourable." *
*
"And besides, eloping-na, usually the girl runs away, gets a baby and then
only gets accepted back in the household. This is how it is in all tamil
padams" *
*
"Ok, but how the heck are these guys going to get a baby?" *
*
"My point exactly, so they won't elope" *
*
"Which is worse. What if they get together like those villains in
Vettaiyaadu Villaiyaadu?" *
*
"Aiyo! That's a movie about homosexual psychopaths! You're son is too
sensitive for that. He cried in the climax of Kabhi Khushi Kahi Gham, for
heaven's sake!" *
*
"Appove we should have noticed..." *
*
"You think there's some kind of homeopathy treatment for this? Or Ayurveda?
Some kashayam or something?" *
*
"No no, its a state of mind. No kashayam can cure it" *
*
"Or should we send him to a psychiatrist?" *
*
"Illa. Those psyciatrists are Peter parties. They'll end up brainwashing us
about how we are educated and must accept him the way he is" *
*
"Adhaan pannanum" said Mr.Seshadhri, finally. *
*
The entire household went mute. *
*
"You mean...we have to get him married? To that...that boy?" *
*
"Yes" *
*
"Only then, he'll be happy." *
*
"Aiyo sentiment thaangamudila" *
*
"My decision is final. I'll go call him and find that other boy's number. I
have plenty to talk to his parents."
The household watched him go with a rather stern resolve in absolute
silence. The only sound was the jowku-jowku of Paati eating Vadai. *
*
"Enna paati? What do you think?" said one of the cousins, finally breaking
yet another uncomfortable silence. *
*
"Ennadhaan payyana love pannaalum, atleast Iyengar payyana paathu love
pannane, adhuve porum"*

Windows Technology Zone Launch, Philippines

 

thinking hard about life - tuesday thoughts!

here i am, pondering over the weekend,

thinking hard about life

how it changed from a maverick collage life to conformist professional life

how tiny pocket money transformed to monthly paycheck

but then why it gives less happiness

how a few local denim jeans changed to new branded wardrobe?

but then why there are less people to use then

how a single plate of samosa changed to a full pepperoni pizza

but then why there is less hunger

here i am pondering over the weekend...

thinking hard about life, how it has changed

how a motorcycle always in reserve fuel changed to car always-on-the-go

but then why there are fewer places to go

how a small theca (mobile tea stall) changed to starbucks

but then why its feels like shop is far away

how a limited-use prepaid card changed to post paid ultimate package

but then why there are fewer calls and more voice messages

here i am, pondering over weekend

….thinking hard, for the answers

(author - anonymous ; modified to context - rs)

Of Mayawati, Obama and Me!

…a thought provoking note during my recent trip to Chennai, India.

It all began thus - a large hoarding with pictures of Mayawati and Obama together, and 'Mayawati - HOPE for YOUR nation', written in Tamil.

I did try to walk away from this poster as a good joke, at best a clever ploy by Mayawati’s political strategists. I did have a small laugh and did walk away.

As I walked away rubbishing this strange comparison, I started to ponder -

In both democracies people elect their leaders. In fact, India is world’s largest democracy.

1. In both situations they are offering ‘hope’ to ‘their’ people (TA).
2. They both have experience as a politician - one as a senator and other as a chief minister of India's largest state.
3. In both scenarios – the contenders for the top post belonged to socially oppressed class for generations. India is a country where caste is a ‘just as much as an issue’ as the blacks in America. Indians and the successive governments have been fighting to uplift the 'dalits' just similar to the way Americans since MLK fought for their equal right in society.

Yes, there may have been some politicians who play this vote-bank politics. Looked at differently like a marketer, a good election campaign should segment the target audience and adopt communication strategies to connect with target audience –pensioners, unemployed, youth, women, blacks, dalits, poor oppressed… a good marketer talks to people associating with them.

But, then, when it comes to politics, why do I call the audience segmentation as vote bank politics?

I have nothing against Mayawati or for that matter am no great fan of Obama. Why then do I admire the Americans voting for a black as progressive, while Indians voting for a Dalit as retrograde. Why?

Is it about looks? – Mayawati looks like one plump black rustic pumpkin, while Obama looks smart and classy?

Is it because I can only relate to people who use technology, facebook and blackberry?

Is it that I prefer people speaking English and am biased towards a phoren language when, majority of rural Indians can relate to Mayawati’s rustic Hindi than Obama's sophisticated English

Is it because I cannot stand a woman prime minister, more so if she is not classy like Hillary or Indira or Tatcher or Benazir

Is it because of their education (or lack of it?) – but then, we are just witnessing the Laloo Prasad Yadav, who turned around Indian Railways and created history – we just gave him an opportunity and he delivered.. A written off, corrupt, casteist ‘rustic bihari’ gets invited to Harvard, Stanford and IIM to talk about business turnarounds.

Or am I biased towards something 'phoren' and am I glorifying a great orator, while I am ashamed of my own country have oppressed class?

Do I belong to the sophisticated upper class that ‘still’ is unable to accept the Dalit as my Prime Minister?

Is it my education that has made me wise or is it the education that further divided me from the oppressed class

Elections are fought, based on hope and both these Mayawati and Obama offers that hope to people ‘they believe’ can get them to power.

As I ponder – I ask, why can I not stand Mayawati as PM? Why am I unable to think of giving her an opportunity? Why do I shun that thought? … Questions, more questions.

I am not sure if I should have laughed at the poster or should I have laughed at myself on my immediate reaction.

Am I the real Indian?

More links and foreign media notes: http://atrocitynews.wordpress.com/2008/11/09/respresenting-world-obama-and-mayawati/

USSA : Emergence of a new nation!

The United States of Socialist America (earlier referred to as the United States, the U.S., the USA, or America) is fast becoming a federal constitutional socialist republic comprising fifty states and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to its east and Russia to the west across the Bering Strait. The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific. The country also possesses several territories, or insular areas, scattered around the Caribbean and Pacific

Drizzle into my heart

you drizzled into my heart

and rested like morning dew

days, time and seasons flew by

your absence silences my heart

your love flows through my veins

endlessly, like waves.

through my eyes

your radiance shines, like a star afar

you hold my life dear

come together we did

and etched you are, in my dreams

carved into my future, forever

you add purpose to my life

your smile allays a thousand pains

your presence bolsters me, like a thousand elephants

your place in me is priceless, oh my precious one

‘in my empty home

you will hear my love echo

through pillars and roofs

hemming into every wall, each corner

as you passed me

the air smelt different

with you, time stood still

and refuses to move on, without you

‘where are you, my love

without you, my blood stops its flow

and seasons have turned still

your loss still silenced my heart

you snatched my sleep

you made me long for you

my heart follows you, aimlessly

do i know who i am, today!

Get Out Of That Rut

Oscar Wilde said,
“Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”
So stop getting up at 6:05.  Get up at 5:06.
Walk a mile at dawn.
Find a new way to drive to work.
Switch chores with your spouse next Saturday.
Buy a wok.
Study wildflowers.
Stay up alone all night.
Read to the blind.
Start counting brown-eyed blondes or blonds.
Subscribe to an out-of-town paper.
Canoe at midnight.
Don’t write to your congressman,
take a whole scout troop to see him.
Learn to speak Italian.
Teach some kid the thing you do best.
Listen to two hours of uninterrupted Mozart.
Take up aerobic dancing.
Leap out of that rut.
Savor life.
Remember, we only pass this way once.

Source: This message was published in the Wall Street Journal , long ago by United Technoogics Corporation, Hartford, Connecticut 06101

I Take Pride in My Work

I’m a little fed up with the constant criticism of other’s work by ‘people’. Nothing and no one is spared - accountants, human resources, salesmen, marketers, software engineers, lawyers, investment bankers, politicians, consultants or bureaucrats. The negative comments many a time start affecting one another (much as one wishes that it should not happen).

How other people do their jobs is their business.
But l do good work and I know it.
I have perfected my skills.
I make each minute count.
When I make a mistake I correct it.
I would gladly sign my name to every piece of work I do.
I’m going to hang this message over my work area to let my employer, my customers, my co-workers and ‘commentators’ know that I take pride in my work.

If you believe, like me that what you do is valuable and makes you proud – flaunt it. Let us together remove this negativity – a parasite that is eating into our society.

Rewind into the past!

An article on my Grandfather recently in a local news paper.

He is a home bird spending most of his time reading religious books. His only outings are visits to the Vedanta Desikar Devasthanam on new moon days (amavasya), festivals and beginning of every Tamil month. Still at 92, S Srinivasan is young in spirit. 'Age is related to the minds. Once we feel that we live to complete certain karmas of our previous birth, the aging process brings no depression’, he says.

Srinivasan is the oldest surviving former member of the Electoral Board of Sri Vedanta Desikar Devasthanam which had its centennial celebration recently. At this temple all devotee members are voters. For the payment of a rupee, a devotee is enrolled member. These members elect the electoral board Consisting of 11 members for seven years, who in turn elect the trustees of temple and the Janabhojanam Trust.

Srinivasan has served here terms at the electoral board. Three generations of Srinivasan family resided at a house opposite ) the temple. Srinivasan itself was a resident here for nearly fifty years. During this period i.e. devoted himself totally to activities at the temple. while the day was spent at the Oxford University Press, where he worked as a stenographer, the evenings were devoted to the honorary work at the temple.

‘I would not claim even a voucher for even Rs five. It was my temple. I wanted it to grow. I worked for it’, he says Passionately.

His mind goes back to the early days of his serve vie? at the temple. ‘There was a pond and a Parijatha tree near it. A pariajtha tree stood on the southern side.

Perumal and Amman stood together in the sannadhi. The original entrance was opposite to the Bali Pertain. Punctuality was the watch word then. All rituals an daily poojas would commence on time. The personnel were limited an archakas were just three in number’, he recalls. Those days, Mylapore had a limited population. During the second world war everybody evacuated the area. There was nobody in this street but for my family. The waters of the Chitrakulam tank were good and people around used to bathe 1here. The mada streets around were clean and bereft of commercial establishments. The outstanding feature was all the people who lived around rose from modest beginnings to great heights’ he says Srinivasan was one of the founding members of the Sri Vaishnava Sripada Kainharya Sabha and a member of the Veda Parayana Sabha.

Today tough the nonagenarian is a resident of Mandavelli, his mind still hovers around the Vedanta Desikar temple and the locality. His faith in his chosen deity remains strong. Believe in Peru mal and you are sure of upliftment’, he says emphatically.

—VP

The Taxi Driver

- source – anonymous

I arrived at the address where someone had requested a taxi. I honked but no one came out. I honked again, nothing. So I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets..

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'..
'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.
'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.
'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.

'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?
What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

dream desire

I have a dream

I have a dream

a dream for my billion people,

a dream for my country

a dream to

Develop mind, body and spirit for its citizens; develop a religion of peace and kindness

Develop a healthy, knowledge based civilization and thus long term sustainable economic growth of the nation

Develop a nation of happy, optimistic and caring people.

 

a dream to be the president of India

as world's largest democracy

republic of  India is a land of a billion smart minds

together we can move the world

shake the universe

great men have honoured the august chair

they left  legacy of progress sowing seeds of optimism

and these seeds have grown into optmism and confidence

my job and mission is one  - to fulfil my dream

a dream to

Develop mind, body and spirit for its citizens; develop a religion of peace and kindness

Develop a healthy, knowledge based civilization and thus long term sustainable economic growth of the nation

Develop a nation of happy, optimistic and caring people.

as I look at means and ways to realize this dream

here's a poster for my own encouragement.

My agenda: if I were President of ...United States, today

TOP 6 action items

1. Defense: Freeze defense expenditure for 3 years. Rally with UN and have a similar motion for all developed countries. Ban all production of weapons with immediate effect. Withdrawal of troops from all locations outside home country. SAVINGS to USA $1.6 Trillion. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/spending.htm


2. Energy: 200% Fuel surcharge for use of gas guzzling cars. International ban on bio-fuels made of corn and other edible substances. ‘Earth’ surcharge to subsidies vehicles that use sea-water, solar and wind energy. Currently 7% of world’s GDP. Bring it down to 4% of world’s GDP and then 1%


3. Industry and Technology: Cap executive compensation to 300K p.a for next 5 years. Productivity and Innovation linked bonuses to be awarded as certificate of excellence and innovation medals by the state.


4. Health: Eradicate Cigarette Lobby (20% YTY reduction in National production capacities and 500% duty on cigarettes). Break health and insurance coterie systematically. Compulsory saving by citizens towards their health benefit.


5. Taxes: Reduce Taxes to 10% who earn <>
   
6. Primary Education and Adult Re-Education: Compulsory education up to 17 years (Education cess to subsidize state education) and compulsory adult reeducation at 35 and 50

30 years ago!

52 firsts, 52 weeks

52 firsts, 52 weeks

A year has passed.

This day last year, were travelling back to Singapore

A month long sabbatical and

It was time for a change

A change from IBM to Microsoft

This was more than shift in career

or change of the company that I held dear for 8
long years.

a lot more has happened, over the year.

looking back, it was a year of many firsts

The year filled with

humbling experiences and brimming confidence

pride and pursuits of long standing dreams

this was a year of reincarnation and rebirth

Many, many, many firsts...

1. first time to set foot on Europe
2. restarted my Badminton game after 18 long years
3. The year when l learnt French
4. Started learning the sign language (Signing Exact English from Singapore Association for the Deaf)
5. Gym membership for the first time in my life.
6. Year with the most humbling experiences.
7. Visited 9 new countries thus crossing 25 country mark. (total 27).
8. Certified as a Buzan's Learning Instructor for Mind maps
9. 1200 words-per-minute limit in a speed reading workshop.
10. Visited four of the Seven Wonders of the World. (Total 5)
11. Had ice cream atop the Swiss Alps
12. Tried my two left feet in an 8-week Salsa Course.
13. Started a structured Goal-Setting for life.
14. My first job change in this millennium
15. Did Inline Skating on a 9000m stretch.
16. Got myself a pair of original clogs (size 39)
17. Went the world's largest Ferris Wheel (Singapore Flyer, bigger than London Eye)
18. I got my Permanent Residence in Singapore
19. Travelled on French TGV.
20. Danced to the tunes of chak-chak chak-chak-chak in hip-hop class
21. The year where I added two Tissots to my watch collection
22. Bought a long-time dream – The highest-end Victorinox Swiss knife
23. Successfully signed-up the first (and second) Internet café project in the world (MS).
24. Rubbed shoulders with Steve Ballmer and Tony Buzan
25. Did not carry Sales Quota (target)
26. Was in Paris during World Cup Football Finals and yet did not watch it!
27. Reinforced my dream to be the President of India
28. Became a proud owner of collector's-edition Mt. Engleberg Swatch
29. Year where parents-in-laws first visited our home
30. Saw the Kohinoor Diamond, that was snatch away from India in 1977
31. The first member in Bill Gate's Unlimited Potential Group, APAC team.
32. Had Gelato ice-cream in Rome
33. Visited the Windsor Castle (the queen was in)
34. Family homecoming - Had entire family (Parents, BroSil, SisBil, their children and Lara) at my home on March 16.
35. Working on transforming "game cafes" into e-learning houses, thus providing opportunity for education to over 2 million users per month.
36. People who wished for Birthday cross 50.
37. Started the practice – body-mind-spirit development on Saturdays.
38. Hired a wealth-management advisory firm.
39. Developed an innovative rural solution blue print that has become a WW rural model (MS).
40. Bought a special-edition watch at 10,000 feet.
41. Met with the Father of India's Green Revolution, MS Swaminathan
42. Participated a Marathon (JP Morgan Marathon, Singapore)
43. Doing "social business" that has potential to impact 650,000,000 lives in SEA
44. Got a Cuckoo Clock from the original Drubba Family, Black forest, Germany.
45. Took a photograph standing next to the Mona Lisa.
46. Joining the #1 software company in the world
47. Moved from top 100 customers, to the bottom 5 billion underserved people
48. Change my loyalty from Gmail to Hotmail.
49. Miserably failed in the SSE2 final test.
50. Been to the world's smallest independent state - both population and area. (The Vatican)
51. Played badminton with the senior Member of Parliament, Singapore.
52. Wrote my own Obituary.

Many years ago, I read an ad that said, "When did you last do something for
the first time". I thought this would be an way to capture my one year.

New Year 2008, that was!

Surface 2.0

This one is a cool stuff on Surface computing that Microsoft is doing. I am sure you will enjoy this!

Adi's World

Adi's World.

This guy's cool man! I just can't stop myself admiring my nephew. Cool dude! Way to go.

XL ki Kudiyan

XLRI ki Kudiyan

This is a cool music on the women at XLRI :)

 

Awesome.

XLRI - Then and Now

 

Everything changes and yet nothing changes.

Each time I view this, I am just get so emotional and sentimental. The music is haunting. This is not about an MBA or a course I had done. This is about an institution and the experience - that changed me for a life time.

 

Meeting Mr. Green, Father of India's Green Revolution

Technorati Tags: Unlimited Potential Education Women Rural Telecentre Shared Access

del.icio.us Tags: Green Revolution

It was a moment of a life time. He is the father of India's Green Revolution. I was fortunate to have been from the generation that bore the fruit of his labor. To put it in perspective, circa 1960 AD, my country, India, was a new-born. Fresh from Independence from the imperialists, this adolescent was thrown into the the sea, without a life boat or support system.

With 0.8 million mouths to feed demand far outstripped supply, the government was struggling to feed its people. We were heavily dependent on other countries for our daily rice/wheat. There was acute shortage of grains and cereals. The demand was HUGE. We were a 'free and  jubilant nation, with a bundle of energy. There was no dearth of land, there was no dearth of people. Yet, people were suffering from hunger.

Through childhood my father used to share with me on how Green Revolution changed India like no other. He claimed that his 'guru' and this one man changed the face of independent India. It was during these days that my father was also working as an Agriculture Scientist, developing new varieties of rice.

Over years I was curious to learn about the program. I head from many many many people on how this one man's program  transformed the country from the brinks of poverty. I read that The Green Revolution resulted in a record grain output of 131 million tons in 1978-79 (I was just about 5 years old then, barely able to recognize the color Green). I was told that, Green Revolution established India as one of the world's biggest agricultural producers. No other country in the world which attempted the Green Revolution recorded such level of success. India also became an exporter of food grains around that time.net importer of food to gross exporter.

Apparently, there were three basic elements in the method of the Green Revolution:

1. Continued expansion of farming areas;
2. Double-cropping existing farmland;
3. Using seeds with improved genetics.

30 years later, I meet the great man, who was responsible for my generation being alive, healthy and successful. As I listened to him with rapt attention, the 45 minute speech from this great man helped me crystallize my thought on what is required to transform and take the emerging countries to the next level. I was able to articulate my plan for the rural computing initiative that I drive as part of my agenda to unleash the Microsoft's Unlimited Potential.

1. Connectivity (Access)
2. Content (Relevance)
3. Capacity Building (Scalability and Sustainable)

To achieve this, my work needs to find newer ways of

1. Creating Knowledge Centers (Shared Access Centers)
2. Enable Knowledge Centers link and deliver Higher Impact. (Developing Partner Ecosystem, to help with services)

It is time for our generation today, to take these ideals of this man and raise the bar to a higher level. Information Technology and the IT revolution may have got us (India) the fame from the Western World. IT may have helped a millions of Indians of my generation travel across and be successful. IT revolution did create billionaires and the world's richest people.

It is time for us (my generation and like minded people) to have a wake-up, remember and salute the work and vision of people like MS Swaminathan, William Gaud (former USAID director) and the agriculturists of that age, that made it possible for my generation to live and achieve our dreams. Had it not been for them, may be we would have all ended up like the huger-struck people in Somalia .

As goes the saying - Creativity and Innovation are not born out of empty stomachs.

 

______________________

The MS Swaminathan Research Foundation started its work 16 years ago in the thematic areas of coastal systems, biotechnology, biodiversity, ecotechnology, food security and information, education and communication. The approach was based on strategic and participatory research, capacity building, networking and partnership building, based on the principles of social inclusion in access to technologies which help to enhance income and environment. Research and outreach strategies were devised to bridge the rich-poor and gender divides in the areas of information, knowledge and skill empowerment

And Miles to go before I sleep

On Friday, July 01, 2005 I had posted “And Miles to go before I sleep”

Over two years have passed since. I still continue to have miles to go before I sleep. At the last count, it was 27 countries of the 194 Countries (The UN recognizes 192 and does not include The Vatican City and Taiwan). That’s a mere 14% and I have already lived 1/3^rd of my life. i.e. if I live 99 years.

This is the map, and you will see the number of white space is so large. Where do I go next !

Member of Parliament writes…

Thursday, August 16, 2007

It was the 60^th year of Indian Independence. My country was reveling with pride at the progress in the last 60 years. Yes! I too did admire, on where we have come as a young Nation. Here I am in a foreign location, saluting my tri-color that I have seen for the last 33 years. As I watched Dr. Manmohan Singh taking the Independence Day salute and the cable networks across the world from CNN to BBC to Mediacorp Asia were flashing clips of India's 60 birthday, I lost myself in a lot of thought – of comparing and contrasting – my India (my home country) and my Singapore (my current home)

Still lost in thought, I ambled to my mail box, just as a matter of routine. Call it an Independence Day gift; call it a coincidence, I think what follwed was woth sharing.

It was an interesting mail - from The Member of Parliament, Singapore (Marine Parade GRC – my constituency). He had written a personal letter to me.

Congratulating on my obtaining Permanent Residence (PR) aand welcoming me to the constituency, it was very precise letter with crystal-clear bullet points. He letter weeks goes thus...

Encouraging me to participate in the voluntary activities in the community

Inviting me and my family to participate in the local community club in recreational facilities and indulge in various sports activities to keep the family healthy and fit.

Inviting suggestions and feedback on the various issues we may have and giving his direct contact #. He promised immediate attention.

Offering to meet me any time every Tuesday 07:30p-09:30p in the 'Meet the People' session

He even expresed interest in meeting my family and myself in the upcoming community function

I was impressed to say the least. When I sounded this off to a few Indians in India, the feedback ranged from amusement to 'brushing it off'. A few said that it was for votes (I do NOT have a voting right in Singapore as a PR and the local MP knows that). Others said, it was a small country (Comm'on does a Bombay Mayor or even Bangalore MLA do this?). There were others who said that may be MPs 'there' (Singapore) do not have work (Ah! With 14% GDP growth and becoming the #1 destination for foreign workers... well...).

And each of these comments were from my own fellow men in India. I was disappointed. For all that we claim about India's development - which indeed is good when we compare other smaller developing countries – there is one quality I would have appreciated if we had inculcated in the last 60 years.

The quality to give merit where it is due. The quality of learning good from other smaller nations. The quality to appreciate learn from others.

24 hrs later, my pride about MY country was subdued – I am not for a moment saying I am ashamed – I just wish we develop the above qualities that that will make us a GREAT nation from a GOOD nation.

And Miles to go before I sleep. And Miles to go before I sleep!

Sheikh Me up!

Manila, July 11, 2007

I am on my way to Airport. As soon as I board and the car moves, driverwishes Salaam Malikkum. I wish him back Malikkum Salaam.

D asks if Which Airline Qatar/ Emirates?
I say Singapore Airlines

D asks 'How long in Singapore b4 going middle east'
I say "No, only singapore - final'.

He asks "when I you go back to home, the middle east..
Wow.. With a budong.. Do I look a Sheikh

What a Shiekh up @ 6am isay!
___________
* Posted from a Windows Mobile Device *

Kranji - I was moved :-)

Sitting at the foot of the Cemetery
Watching the edifice amidst tombstones
I couldn't but feel for the selfless service
Of the thousands of faces, a few known and many unknown

They laid down their lives
Fighting for a cause that they believed as just,
to protect you and me and the fellow humans
fron the attacks of the enemy.

They paid for, with nothing short of their lives
Even as the served, as barbers and cooks
And their families survived with whatever was left,
for they knew he fought for a cause.

Decades later, as people like myself visit
I cannot but see, the love they left behind
Through unspoken silence, under grey tombstones
Some come in to place lily, while
others come to search for one of thir own

With serenety and calm
Helping one feel the inner voice of the selfless
Is this not place of worship, I wonder
For these hoeroes deserve nothing lesser

Here's my Salute to the nameless heroes @ Kranji War Memorial.

- Rajesh

_____________________
Rajesh Soundararajan
+65 9108 7901

- sent from a mobile device

Smiles of India!

I wrote last about travelling in local buses packed like Sardines

With time on my hand, I tried something further. Booking a rail ticket at a railway resevation counter. It was long serpentine queue. I reached my counter after 2 hours and 15 minutes after I reached the reservation office.

I had already filled the form immaculately and handed it over at the counter. The guy punches in the train number and immediately handed the form back. He said it was waitlist number 196 for a travel 15 days later, No other train or dates were available near that date.

I returned empty handed travelling back for 30 min. 

Wow! I get up at 0545am to have this done first thing in morn and after many many hours, I am where I began :) That's India and to my own surprise I was not furious, not disappointed, not angry or tired.

Went through all this with a smile, to move on to my next assignment. The Post Office. Will see what I have in store there :)
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
_______________________________________

Rajesh Soundararajan | +65 9108 7901

Yo Chennai!

Life in Chennai can be so counter intuitive and I am enjoying every bit of it. It is about getting back to real basics.

Dust and grime - agreed - When I still venture out with mercury showing 37+ degrees, it still seems so cool in the heat.

Who would have guessed that the so called "used to affluent lifestyle", I would still ride the vintage 49cc, with pride even if it snails at sub 30kph.

Travelling within Chennai in the hot afternoon sun! - Yes the mode of transport, used by a million others - works for me, this time .. the crowded PTC buses. Well, is it the sheer charm of travelling 15kms at 6 cents.

Or is it that life is so relaxed that time is no more a constraint this time around. Yes this is the first time I am not running to the next appointment each minute and it seems a lot of fun.

It is amazing all this at this age is in a way rediscovering so many things. The 1 month is about going back to basics. I started loving my home and hometown yet again. It is such an amazingly new experience for one to go through. albeit having born here more than 30 years ago.



Yo! Chennai



Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld

Self Portrait!

Well! When you have all the time in the world, you can get self portraits done.
Digital, no-doubt. But then who said, life is not fun:)

http://www.microsoft.com/emerging

Many of you have asked me on what I will do in Microsoft.

Well, this is a unique opportunity for me to give back to the society, in a field that I am experienced and passionate about.

As you would have realised, I believe in making technology being available to all - young and old, have and have nots, first and third world. At this point in life, when I chose to do something more fulfilling, with an individual social responsibilty by leveraging all that I have learned - rather than give up - fortunately, I did not have to look far.

There are times in life when one is forced to make a choice - of following the heart or pursuing the mind. With this move, I intend to blend both and hopefully bring smile and joy to hundreds of millions of people, in developing countries and emerging markets.

Please wish me luck. Here's what I will be doing in my new job. http://www.microsoft.com/emerging

Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
_______________________________________

Rajesh Soundararajan | +65 9108 7901

Reading in Silence

This is an amazing break. I am reading so many books. many at one go. But then the sheer choice of the categories and the time I have to read is just worth every word I read. This vacation is just too good :)

Photo Update

Over the last few weeks, there have been hundreds pf photographs taken and here is the link.

http://picasaweb.google.com/rajesh.soundararajan

Second Life!

How do I spend my day!

 

Well! for beginners, I am busier than ever.

being at home with parents for so long a stretch after a long time.

in the serene tranquility amids the noise of construction work

Well it does wonders to the mind and tummy of course.

 

Overseeing the construction (we are building a few rooms upstairs)

Doing odd things like fixing the computer

arranging and rearranging the 1100 sq.ft home

giving a renewed look to the vintage two-wheeler.

 

Simple chores like going to the bank

or fixing a few additional cord-less phones

or just preparing a neat hardware tool kit

reading a few pages in between

 

or just go shopping for groceries

it can still be things like upgrading the washing machine

revamping the place with a few more ecotone bulbs

or debating with folks the need for a new, bigger, better refrigerator.

 

Reading a few leaves of "many lives, many masters" in between

or just cleaning up my inbox on gmail

occasional visits to the laundry

or simply watching the "BCCI episode" on television

 

millions of cups of mother's home brewed coffee

zillions of arguments with dad on worldly issues

from the mundane to the miraculous

occasional lines about the new job and the past

 

interspersed with visits to the dentist and doctors

visits to Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad

Wow! It has been 20 days since I last went to work

So much free time, it really is a different life

 

Second Life is that what it is! Mr. Ciggy

 

Tears

Was it just another day.

Not really!

 

When I reached Chennai Office

to return the assets

the thirsty desire

overpoowered sanity

 

Unable to resist, log-on I did

one last time,

to check mails and replicate

just one last time

 

picking up cofee at dispenser

so normal a routine

seemed to be the definitive last time

just as I answered the ring 'Rajesh, from IBM speaking'

 

as the sun bound westwards across horizon

here I was winding up for the day, forever

giving back my 'assets'

the IBM thinkpads, that remained my sole companion.

 

Walking down, a floor below

The last courier dispatch contained the invaluable

plastic cut into four

Alas! that brings an end to AMEX corporate card.

 

Minutes later, at the first floor

I had do my final and the very last duty

of giving away my identity at the security

'Thank you!' said he, going back to his computer screen.

 

The final moments they were

as I was gazing blindly, mind really blank

till a trumpeting 'any thing else, Sir!'

interrupted the pale gaze

 

The world turned hazy with moist eyes

as first tears dripped on to my glasses

eight long years of bonding just snapped into history

A mark of respect to new beginnings, new life.

First day!

It feels so odd.

This company has been my life. It meant so much and quitting it *had* to be done as a split second decision. Any deliberation, even for 10 min, would have meant the strong bonds pull me back. When S(my boss) called, I just did not have a heart to say good bye.

Yes, life moves on and bold decisions have to be taken. Change is a must and those are the tenets on which I live each minute, till I get out of this phase.

The new job role is fantastic, the organization just what I admire, the compensation good and viola it is in Singapore.

Why then, am I still clinging to my past! May be because it meant a lot.

Wish they understood, that it is because of them I leave them. It is because of them I started exploring newer meanings of life.

Will keep writing :)
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld
_______________________________________




--
_____________________________________________________________________
Rajesh Soundararajan | mailto: rajesh.soundararajan@gmail.com
Singapore
Mobile  +65.9108.7901
WebSMS: http://websms.starhub.com | My mobile number is 91087901

End of an innings!

it was a dream run
by any measure
what began eight years ago
had ripened of age

a journey filled with professional success

job fulfillment, glory

melodrama, uncertainty
recovery. turnarounds

the innings faced it all
spanning across dozens of countries
helping over a thousand clients
making a difference in the lives of millions

running a system i business

clearly was no child's play

but then thorny seats and not cushy beds
maketh the real men

through years, ambition was catalyzed
by both helpful and opportunistic bosses alike
they provided me encapsulated life's learnings
valuable they are and i carry them along.

product, people, partners

profits, sales, strategy

marketing, operations, administration
turnarounds, market penetration, competitive share gain

this great corporation has given me all
as i brim with the business acumen and confidence
to take on things, that are larger
'mega' and 'huge' no more sound insurmountable

what i do miss, however is a saga that is left behind
of people, of relationships, of glory and fame

of those individuals who have guided me

at every stage towards shine and excellence

a salute! at the end of an innings.
to all those who have helped me

in this long cherishable journey

for, this is what you truly deserve!

The best just got better.. err Older

Waking up to chirping birds
and soft rays of morning sun
This day is special
for we enter our ninth year as Team Blue

How fast time flies!
Not long ago, we woke up this morn
to a personalized letter from Ranjit Limaye
and dedicated ourselves to a long career with the Blue

Days turned into years
and we went our ways, reaching far and wide
excelling in our deeds
demonstrating passion in all we do.

Let's take a moment
and close our eyes
remember the long path we have traversed
pat ourselves and chart our future.

Cheers, for the best just got better :)

IBM and Blogging

A post at last!
Well, even if this is not the real reson, this is a good excuse... so till I get you more spice, this stays :)

 

Strategic Thinker!

 

*Wedding Bells*

The pictoral representation of the pre-event, post-event and the receptions at Bangalore & Chennai covered on Yahoo Album

If the above link does not work, you may also cut and paste the following in your browser window - http://in.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/ciggy1608/album?.dir=/f4b8scd&.src=ph&.tok=phTjOfFBs.dXsCQo

Travel Plan!

 

FAQs My Wedding

FAQs: My Wedding

Being in an industry that revolutionized the FAQs… here goes!

Bare Essentials:

• When: August 28, 2006


• Where: Bangalore, India


• Address:


• Reception Bangalore: “Chandrasagar”, Near Asoka Pillar, Jayanagar 2nd Block, B LR, India – Monday, 28 August 06, 730-930pm


• Wedding Bangalore : “Chandrasagar”, Near Asoka Pillar, BLR, India – Monday, 28 August 06, 930-1015am


• Reception Chennai : “Hotel Aditya”, Vadapalani, MAA, India – Friday, 01 September, 06, 600pm onwards


• Contact Details: Contact: mailto:mailto:rajesh.weds.lavanya@gmail.com_ +65 9108 7901 or +91 98450 05735 (23rd onwards)


• Where are you located, now: Singapore

More Spice

• What’s her age, sunsign: Three years younger, Aquarian, Jan 21


• Qualification: Fellow Chartered Accountant


• Working in : Grant Thorton in Tax Consulting


• Location: Bangalore


• Love / Arranged: Started with arranged.... well, then...


• How long has it been on: June 25, 2006 is when we met first with parents and we immediately said yes to each other. We spoke first on phone (long-distance) just 7 days earlier. We have glanced at each other for 1.5 seconds to be precise, and we decided to move on.... anything else :)


• Are your parents happy: Yes! They are excited


• How are her parents?: They are cool, really amazing people


• Is she the only daughter, does she have siblings: Yes! Her younger sister is doing MS in surgery.


• Will your brother be there: Yes, my brother will be there along with his family.


• So where are you guy going for honeymoon!: Well err? Can something remain, just between us ;)


• Send us her Photo: Well here is the link http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7146/991/1600/Lavanya%20Rajesh_Kamat.jpg


• Can you send the Wedding Snaps: Please visit the folloing links after September 11, 2006 http://outerorbit.blogspot.com/ or http://photos.yahoo.com/ciggy1608


• Will she be joining in Singapore: Yes! She will join me in Singapore

The Wind - by Durva Simone

Heavy as a storm
Light as a feather,
As the hair flows
In the windy weather.....

As bright as the Sun
As dark as the Moon,
As long as it lasts
Then it goes boom.

It's coming, its going
The wind is flowing.....
It comes, it goes,
As long as it flows.

This is the first poetry of Durva Simone (8 years). This really was very sweet for some one's first attempt at poetry. All the best Durva.

You may send your feedback to Suman Bose suman_s_bose@yahoo.co.uk, her parent

Her Gracious!

Yes! What you heard is true
and here's from the horse's mouth

Life, I always believed offered me the choice
of being happy or married
after choosing former for the first 30-years
I did opt to explore the latter

After a prolonged pursuit
rather a very long quest
to find the right one
it was serendipity.

and took less than seven days
to find the one,
whose name meant grace and the beauty of inner self
Yes! Lavanya, she is and she it would be!

Adityanjali

Who's who!
Well, one is Aditya
the other is Anjali.
My nephew and neice.

 

Life's encounters!

As I reminiscence over this photo, just after my 24hr long journey from Hawaaii, this streak of thought crossed my mind.

This snap was in Christchurch, NZ (+12:00hrs GMT) last year in 2005, just about the same week as today.
365 days later, I spend the same week in Hawaaii (-10:00hrs GMT).
365 days earlier to NZ, I was in Shanghai, China (+8:00hrs GMT).
Two out of these three years, I was in Tokyo in the very first week of April.

I landed in Singapore last night, just to feel my home which again is home away from home in India.

Truly, the World is Flat! 

A Dude! A Don!

 

Mahi Mahi

Deep Sea Fishing, Hawaaii. This is my catch!

 

That's me! JetSkiing in Hawaaii

 

My Friend, did this for me!

Thanks Angie! Yes, I am sure Hawaiian babes are going to have fun! 

Ceylone Calling!

 

Saturday night!

Saturday night and Amélie Poulain and Amelia Warren, were the two women in my life.

Well they were real characters in fictitious world, or should I say fictitious women in my real life whatever, tadada….

Well, Amélie Poulain is from the movie titled Amelie from Montmartre (2001) has an interesting plot. A French movie (English subtitles) and I ended up adjusting the volume the home theatre quite a few times. So involving was the plot.

Amélie a shy waitress in a Montmartre café returns a long-lost childhood treasure to a former occupant of her apartment. Seeing the effect it has on him, she decides to set out to make others happy. She pursues a quirky guy who collects discarded photo booth pictures. She is looking for love and perhaps for the meaning of life in general. In her mission to enrich the lives of those around her by weaving her special brand of mischievous magic. A clear eneagram #2

The scene that touched me: Amélie helps a blind man across the street and rapidly describing what's happening around them to give him a picture of the world he doesn't get to see. This was so warm a gesture that it left me with deep in thought for hours.

The scene where I noticed a goof-up: The camera and cameraman are seen in a reflection from the shiny plastic facade of the photo booth in the train station.



Close on the heels of Amelia, there was Amelie Warren (Catherine Zeta-Jones) starring in The Terminal(2004). This is how I may end up with one day. The United Airlines hostess may well be replaced with a SQ’s Singapore girl.

Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks) from a fictitious Eastern European country... lands in JFK ... war breaks out ... coup... U.S. does not recognize country status... blah blah blah. He cannot get into US nor can he deported...some loopholes in law. Our friend TH spends 9 months at the JFK, Gate 67. That's story in short.

The scene that I related to: When Catherine-ZJ asks Tom Hanks, if he was arriving or departing at JFK, TH replies "both".
Well I had done “eat, bathe, and sleep” on Changi Terminal 2 and may be my life is fast approaching to be like Tom Hanks' in the movie. Well, who knows one day, I will may get my Singapore Girl ;-), unlike TH not getting C-ZJ.

The scene where I noticed a goof-up: The Immigrations officer Torres stamps on the green form filled out by a Colombian couple says September 4, 2003. However, the same day, the stamp she puts on Navorski's form is dated January 17, 2004.

Enjoy!

My Treasure!

Often times, others wonder on how much I do spend on them.
Many have asked to have a look my collection
Quite a few are amazed, if I can really keep track of time
Sometimes, I need to do explaining to customs officer in my travels

I replace half-a-dozen batteries every two months
The watch shop nearby woonders if I run a parallel business
My parents scorn, at my earnings down the drain
I spend an hour every month synchronising them

Dual time , single hand, yellow dial, green straps
Slimline, "Mega clocks", Chinese fakes, Chronograph
Timberland, Rucsani, Alba, Titan, Bijoux Terner
Radium, Indiglo, Date/Time, digit-less

Whoever said, "Watches just show time"
Lemme wait - and watch the times ahead!

 

Cacophony of thoughts

phew! what an evening

I went to watch Memoirs of Geisha
with a friend of mine

two die-hard optimists
so alike in our beliefs
with a super positive outlook to life
who live life as if there were no tomorrow

over dinner and talk
over pasta, pizzas and macaroni soup
between silent pauses
and moist eyes

It ended up being Memoirs of Myself
as we shared derailed dreams, shattered hopes
despair, disappointment,
destiny, doubt, fate, uncertainty

I could hear myself,
lecture on overcoming disappointments
giving others a shoulder, a silent ear
of being a friend, talking out and clear confusion
of giving her a reason to dream and cherish

as I traveled homewards
a cacophony of thoughts
agitated
my serene mind


I wonder!
was it, I, who needed
a shoulder, a patient ear
a true friend, company, love, care

hearing our own outburst and deepest fears
seeing teary eyes
was it, I, who need help
I wonder!

she burns my heart!

this hurt, this cigarette
this hurt, this cigarette

this hurt, this cigarette
she burns my heart!

this hurt, this cigarette
she burns my heart!
still a solace,
while, for eternity, she embraces my lips


the original (hindi)
yeh kambakht cigarette
yeh kambakht cigarette

yeh kambakht cigarette
yeh kambakht cigarette
saala, dil jalati hai

yeh kambakht cigarette
yeh kambakht cigarette
saala, dil jalati hai
lekin hotein per to lage rahti hai ;-)  

My Life, my Friends!

 

Swim'n'Cheer!

 

so near yet so far

so near yet so far

you held him so dear,
he was so near

but alas, what a lass
she spends her week alone

listening to her voice
singing to herself

can life ever get lonelier than that
you are so near, yet so afar

sharp intellect, innocent soul

as 2006 dawned
I was with my nephew
who’s just about 30 months young
with mind sharper than a five year old

for him, the 24-piece jigsaw was a breeze
rattling computer terms a norm
as he plays games on the net like a pro
meticulous in keeping every toy in its place

repeating complex words
even after hearing them just once
over twenty-four hours ago
this champ continued to amaze me

the innocence
blended with the naughty eyes
a sense of discipline
and shrewdness for all to see

the undying curiosity to know and learn
a clear articulation of like and dislikes
English words emanating incessantly,
sans the articles and the grammar

he engaged me, each minute
challenged my limited intellect, each second
how else can I explain
the brain of the two-year old!

way to go
Adi dooo!

essence of life

how do I connect
with a two week old
the one, who just about
learnt to cry

she is a bundle of joy
there is sweetness in her smile
love in her eyes
helplessness when she cries

being with her
has taught me patience
made me wonder how
intolerant, I otherwise am

just being with her
has taught me pure love
eternal and real
simple and naive

she taught me,
to be giving
without prejudice
without malice, without expectations

I ponder
I wonder
how a tiny-tot of two weeks
can teach me life’s essence

miracle find

for some one, who
rarely believes in miracles
this, new find is
precious and dear.

weird are the ways of Mother Nature
having known this soul for seven long years
this week, was the chosen one
and Bangalore the place to be

I neither want to know
nor question, or attribute reasons.
for, this miracle find
is my new friend, a new treasure?

filled with warmth
she is so elegant
her heart so pure
outbursts so real

irony, it may seem
for the past saw us meet
frequently, dine and shop together
but then, this week is special

as I saw her off at the airport
my moist eyes veiled
under a beaming smile
I realize this new friend is, for keeps

ArZee, you are my new friend
welcome! miracle find!

time flies

time just flies
how else can i describe
the ten days, that breezed away
when it had just begun

for the first time in my
ten years of working life
3500 days to be precise
i had taken an annual leave

away from the daily routine
each day moving at its own pace
relaxed, yet packed
exhausting, yet fulfilling

dedicated to my niece and my nephew
one of two weeks and other of two years
i was learning, every moment
unlearning, every minute

as i board my flight back
nostalgia and
pangs of separation
filled an empty heart

the farewell expressions,
of an aging father, ill mother
of a worthy bro, a devoted sister-in-law
of the innocent and intelligent nephew

of an adorable sister, who just became a mother
of a small bundle of joy-my niece
of the warmth of Aunty, Radhu and Arun
flashed across

i did board the plane
with pleasant memories
a heavy heart
and tears well masked

yearning to be back again
knowing it will be long, very long
for this rare feeling to repeat
may be years, may be never

the next time, around
Arushi will be a toddler, and Adi older
Harini will be a mom of two
each with newer priorities

some relationships
may never change with time
some moments
never repeat through a lifetime

this in short was my two weeks
how i wish it remained so forever :(

Sweetheart!

She is a real sweet heart! I love her ;-)

 

Arrival of the Prince(ss)

This what I had in my calender entry.

This Saggi baby surprised me on two counts.
(1) being 7 hours early for the appointment
(2) Turning out to be an adorable little Princess when believed it would be a prince.

With you, surprises will be a way of life, Little Miss

 

Yippie!!

Yippie!

Dips had a baby girl!

i am so so so excited.

And entry she did make

that was grand

yes she did keep every one on toes!

way to go!

missing u baby and mom!

Over heard

Over heard!
my mom telling sis
D, you should not have a son, baba
they spell trouble

your blood pressure will shoot up
moreover, Saggi baby
Rama Rama!
daughters are nicer ;-)

like my sis has a choice
and it’s a vending machine
“press green button for girl”
“press blue for boy”

our friend has started tantrums already -
‘was to be out the 14th
now doc says 16th -22nd
making them all tense!

our champ
like his Uncle
will make a debonair entry
a.k.a Ciggy catching the flight

when our star decides to be out
it be just be 40 minutes affair
launching out like Apollo
with a splendid entry into the world

or will it be, like a formula 1
flagged off at pole position B5/603
beating the finish line
at Diwakar’s in 19m:27s:36

a seven-minute pit-stop
for admission procedure
and whoosh, in 5 minutes
he takes off

popping its head
like a mouse
from his hole
inspecting around for cats

or will he pop out,
like a bread out of toaster
get away from womb’s heat
and breathe the cool Bangalore air

like a dolphin’s leap
out of water
he too will
soar out of placenta fluid

mommy knows too well
and has him fastened with umbilical cord
as a means to keep him on leash
lest it will create havoc

At last!
u have arrived pal
a champagne on ice
on you!

Raj and Sandy!

Who is Raj!
This is what my name has become. Over the last few weeks, I have been attending numerous seminars and talking to hundreds of people.

It is interesting what many of these people shortened my name to. They hailed from different parts of the world and found a Raj or a Sandy, easier to pronounce ;-)

Now pals, what say! Raj Sandy ...Can?, Can also? Can Can?

My Salute!

Watching movies
amazes me, each time
inspite of prejudices and biases
they continue to fascinate.

The themes so universal
concerns so real,
the viewer made an integral part
of voyage into fantasyland

Captivating one into character,
of an army major
an unemployed youth,
the one in love
or an honest officer

I cannot, but appreciate
the host of people engaged
to stitch together, a life time of events
into a terse 150 minute show

To host of actors, cameramen
stuntmen, directors, script writers
and thousands of people behind the sets
here is Ciggy’s salute!

Dribbling the Weekend

as the weekend dribbles away
with just three of us holed in my house
not doing anything spectacular
our lives so tightly intertwined

conversing in silence
chuckling through a dozen movies – english, tamil, hindi, chinese
lazily, comprehending a few books and novels
compelling catnaps to kill ennui

inventive preparations for food
eating dinner table out of just one chair
having coffee off a single cup
doing dishes together

except for a brief 60-minute workout, each day
we did never step out of the house
closeted on the couch
waiting for something exciting to happen

it was still not the same
we had all the time to ourselves
i, me, myself… the three of us
longing for the fabulous monday morning

CNN Changi

Groovy Stuff!

Breaking news!!!

I went to collect courier from our mailroom today and there were these babes searching for my courier.

I was just looking around the room and then they were asking this other champa (girl), if she had seen Rajesh Soundararajan’s courier

Then I lift my head and see this babe had been gazing straight into me. She suddenly realized that her colleagues were talking to her.

Moreover, she said apologetically and with a blush... “Oh! real real beautiful eyes”. She went on “I am so attracted that I was looking at your eyes from the time u came in”.

And now she comes up and then helps with everything and gives me the courier, helps me with knife, opens the package for me.

She was like in total awe of my eye and wouldn’t take it off me.

And I was embarrassed and I said thank u... thank you

End of story

where words fail

words fail,
as i feel your immense warmth

curtains draw,
precisely 24hrs after it began

the day seems
shorter than ever

i express
my heartfelt thankfulness

for making this
my very special day, to remember!

*dedicated for each of you, who had made this a special day*

besieged!

oh! what a way to begin my birthday
endless awakening
from deep slumber
as clock stuck 12:00

the loud clangs of phones ringing
breaking the silence of the night
call waiting #1, call waiting #2
call waiting #3!

the art of juggling the lines
or was it complex algorithms
a sleepy mind was uneasy either way
creative best in midst of night, not its forte

it was real fun, yet awkward
to excuse myself a dozen times
put the caller on hold
to pick call on the other line

a rapid-fire - 5 calls in by 00:05
a dozen calls and thirty minutes later, phew! quiet dawned to the night
and calm restored

as i look back!
thank you, each one
you made my day
thank you, thank you once again

to the one, who fedexed godiva from the other side of the world
and to you, for your beautiful poem from a 10,000 miles away
for you, your ‘earth’, greeting card was exquisite
and maharani ji - your call from mysore palace, well appreciated
thank you, the one who called from a railway station
thank you mr. 24 month old, barely trying to stitch words to wish
thank you, zira, for you were among the first of callers
then there was this sweet sms from the mom/baby do
thank you, cy, my colleague
thank you, my tlc pal

as i relive each of your wishes,
i am happy to have you all in my life
words fail! and memories remain!
a toast to our friendship!

Roxette Revisited! He's got the look!

 

Ash's D-I-L lost

Setting: me and my parents in living room watching some useless news channel

Ciggy: Aishwarya turns 32. Did you know!
Dad: I am okay with 'even' her as my daughter-in-law. If you say yes!
Mom: Aiyyo! She looks so old. She in fact looks older than me.
Dad: Son, We will manage Amma later, I am OK with your choice of Aiswarya as wife.
Mom (to dad): What are you saying! So sunken cheeks, she has, that I can put 1-pound rice on each side.

Discussion Ends! Aishwarya loses chance to be daughter-in-law for Soundararajan family.

Namma Ooru Bengalooru

Silicon Halli
House of IBM, HP, Microsoft
Nucleus for world’s innovation
A software hub

Bengalooru
Where Indian IPO pursuits began
Where VCs inundated with greenbacks
Where world’s richest Indian lives

Bengalooru
Where locals live in a virtual world
Without roads and infrastructure
driving Mercedes on craters

Bengalooru
Where governments are elected on-line
Where people serve the world populace
selfless lives, forfeiting opulence of public transport

Silicon Halli
the city of inventiveness
world’s only flyover with an x-crossing
and a police chowki midway

Star City
ruled by Dharamji,
a Gabbar Singh look-alike
recreating the rustic Sholay settings

tired of local IT captains, he may whine
“they just complain complain complain
God Varuna has taught them a lesson
With these rains”

48-hour rain
is all it takes!
for the slew of projects to unveil
for a dozens of task forces to be formed

cartel of industrialists,
middlemen and politicians
systematically empty state’s treasury
while waterlogging remains

Enter HH Egotist Murthy
Claiming to have traveled the world
Advertising his humility,
That puts Coke or Pepsi to shame

an ex Chairman of BATF
may even declare, that,
waterways like Venice, is the way forward!"
as it stuck in one of his toilet cleaning excercises

self-seeking industrialists
apathy of migrant population
inefficient government
iced with a lawless society

makes surviving a marvel
in a city where individualism
and selfishness is brought to the yore
a futuristic city for whatever worth

Long live!
Namma Ooru Bengalooru

eGoddess

Overheard this conversation, on the morning of Saraswati Puja

Characters: A retired South Indian couple. Uncle was in his
late 60s and Aunty was nearing 60.

Aunty: Son, 'forgot to ask u to get a print out of Saraswati for today's puja

Uncle: Why not use a Sri Devi's photo instead (popular actor)? After all, they are the ones who acted like Goddesses in the mythological movies. Anyway, Gods do not have any form

www.google.com >> Images >> Search for Goddess Saraswati happens

Uncle: Vimala, here is photograph. Which color sari do u want Saraswati to wear (looking at the 1000s of images, Google spewed out)

Aunty: Thank you. Can you get some books for puja?

Uncle: Vimala, this is Internet Age. Laptop is there and we have broadband. So it can access millions of books ;-) why physical books

In less than 10 minutes, this is what it looked like.

burning embers

what can thy comment!
about a shooting star.
for her every encounter
has a predetermined purpose

as she ventures into newer paths
burning away old logs
more like a funeral pyre,
the star dispenses off her past

what can thy comment!

Jungleee Fren... Python!
from archives of Rajesh Soundararajan

Emptiness Surrounds!

It all came alive, as we bade goodbye
watching him saunter,
through our moist eye,
past immigration towards gate C22

as we ambled towards the sky train
escalator rides were barren
and lift buttons a bore
and tapping the EZlink a chore

the 5 min train ride seemed like eternity
the vibrant interiors still looked faded
as the wheels rolled deafeningly over rails
the liveliness had vanished with him

the train did pass through “pop-up house”
ending the sluggish run as it braked
alighting at Simei, legs weighing a ton
past posters that suddenly turned dry

street 3 traffic lights had tuned blur
the buttons camouflaged with the crowd
walk beneath the MRT line, seemed stretched
flashing the access card a task

as we fumbled with the keys at 05-01
Pop-Up house was just not the same
as emptiness surrounded
plasma screen unable to hide the naked walls

drawing box reminded of colorful times
Athatha’s lap top had gone muted without Oobie
no more Wiggles
and scores of DVDs seemed blank

as bareness filled the balcony
and silence was the only noise
we terribly missed the little darling
his hugs and naughty demands

it all seemed like a flash
filled with vibrance and joy
as little one’s visit to Hippoto city
came alive, all again!

Na Koi Manzil!

na koi manzil
na koi sapna
bas chan pal ki zindagi
khushi se guzaaro

na koi gunjaish
na koi iraadahe

bas geet gaate jeeyo
jaise koi kal hi na ho

______________

Neither a destination
nor a desire
it's life's few beautiful moments
why not live in merry

Neither a grumble
nor an intent
just let down your hair
and live as if there were no tomorrow

Slipping into Work

Heard of taking work home. But when my friend recently mentioned this on chat, I just could not help LOL.
God save woman kind ;-)
"my brain is still sleepy..hv had 2 cups of coffee since morning..and now, i realized i hv come to office in my home slippers.."

Enjoy!

Pulau Ubin beckons

Saturday was fun! Off to Pulau Ubin Island, early...
....took an MRT, a cab, a ferry ride and then rented a mountain bike ;-)

When returning the rented bikes, we hear this funny conversation between the owner of the shop (OS) and my friend RM.

OS: Madam, Where you from?
RM: India :-D

OS: India :-! but you are so fair looking lah, so different from Indians, then how?
RM: India, very different. Me India

OS: Ohhhhhh, I thought you are 'angmo'
RM: No lah, me no 'angmo'. You been to India?

OS: No maaaaa.
RM: You should be to India [Thumbs Up]. Very Good lah. Very Good.

OS: India, many gods? Ganesha good God. You know Ganesh God.
RM: [Champa, abhi to Ganesha festival chal raha hai]. Now Ganesh festival, this week. Yes!

OS: Heard India, very beautiful. Which part of India should I visit
RM: [The beautiful part. (sic)] Every part of India is beautiful. You visit all parts lah.. [Aisa ich gaaon kidhar bhi milenga India mein (sic)]

LOL

Changi Amazes, again

This city, country and island continues to amaze me. Well by now I should have got used to this.

The last time I landed here from after an international travel, it took me 4.5 minutes flat to get from the door of the SQ aircraft to the Taxi stand outside. It took me a total of 12 minutes to my home. Yes 12 minutes from gate of SQ to gate at my home.

Well today, I thought I was late to catch the Penang flight. I left home at 0633 a.m and surprise surprise I am inside the E20 gate at 0649 a.m. Travel to airport, check-in, Immigration and the boarding gate.

This just amazes me. All this is for International travel.

Can my country ever reach this level of efficiency, ever. I will just hope and wait.

Changi Village

Had been to Changi Village last evening, very close to Simei

beautiful with a golden-lit run-way behind
gentle waves against a calm sea
a glittering Changi Ferry terminal to the right
jumbo jets approaching the tarmac, like monstrous eagles swooning down
with confidence and grace, a few dozen feet above the head

Camps and tents, places to eat and make merry, a cycling path, may be the tents in the night for coochi-kooing ;-)

Romantic yet adventurous, serene yet spirited..

It was an scene worth a mention, a place to look forward to!

Aroha - The Love

Oh, what a woman she was.
stunning, awesome, happening!
not before long and we did get married
tribal style, for Maori was where she belonged.

she stays there bringing up my children
here I am, fending for myself
with shattered hopes
for I am married, yet alone

Chieftain of the tribe, was her dad
and the jungle saying goes
that her man cannot live with her
while her dad is alive

driven into exile
to preserve singular command
son-in-law can return only after
the death of the Chieftain

Well, I can visit my beloved
two nights every 112 moons
unfair, it may seem
it still is the only solace

I will inherit, they say
the four islands
off the South Tonga
after her fathers death.

"Aroha" is her name
as sweet as her
'love' is what it means
foe I am in 'love' with 'love'.

"Huatare" her father
and "Maata", her mother
"Pita" her brother, meaning stone or rock
and a sweet sister, "Omaka" made the family complete (Omaka=meaning the flow of a stream)

Pita's head floated ashore, 6 years ago
when a deadly sea mammal killed him while fishing
thus, driven by circumstances
they sought a man who will lead the race

At the wedding Aroha declares
"Hòmai o ngutu kia kihi au"
and we are man and wife, soon after
when her father thunders “Ko te tino pai anake e hiahiatia ana e au”

(For beginners "Hòmai o ngutu kia kihi au" means "give me your lips that I may kiss them" and “Ko te tino pai anake e hiahiatia ana e au”, meaning "I'll have nothing but the best")

As priest solemnizes, after dusk
six people – three on each side
carry both of us on a palanquin
to a tree house, dark after sunset.

While the warriors kept watch below
we spend our first romantic moonlit night, atop the tree
amidst 101 "horopitos" ('horopito" are pepper trees)
only to a traditional breakfast at "marae". (marae = courtyard)

Just as I was heading for the marae
after a lovely night
I was awakened by a thousand drums
Only to realise that it was the bedside alarm 6:30AM Monday!

Leave of Absence

Quite a few of you have asked me, on the my decreased activity on the blog!
Sigei, point taken. I have been travelling.
Selamat!

Manila Musings

Magandam Umaga, Manila:

Philippines beckons me for the third time in a month and this trip was indeed way different. Mom and Dad joined me in Manila. They were so excited about this trip. This was an experience for all of us

• SINGAPORE - MANILA by Tiger Air was way shorter a journey than the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport to Shangri-La
• Friendly Filipinos, Americanism
• AirCon Taxis, Bumpy rides
• Intramuros, Dad's excruciating hand pain
• BMW ride, his wheel chairing to a doc
• Cool drizzles, unrelenting traffic
• Sumptuous MTR stock, Scarce Veggie Food
• Mom's birthday, Sniffer 'idiot' dog
  

A trip filled with stories, uncertainities and we did manage the Intramuros, the shopping malls, Tagay Tay (dormant volcano), Makati, Greenbelt, Manila Bay....[PHOTO ALBUM]

Mermi Selamat, Manila!

Deep within!

I share with you, dearest, my deepest feelings
my anguish, my crushes,
my fears, my exhilaration

You never disagree,
give unwarranted advise, don't ridicule
and are not judgmental.

With patience and without interruption
you listen intently
allowing me to pause, rephrase, think and feel

As expressions meander all over you
tears and blood masked into words,
transforming your pristine whiteness to blue

Deluge of emotions,
charts its course
yet you remain - stoic and just listen

You let the flow be, you let me be
when I pour my deepest sorrows
and wildest fantasies , alike

Is this not what, I look forward to
in my relationships with a friend.
Papel, dearest, you remain my only one.

In the land of poverty, a Crusader

It is interesting how people express their wants. This demonstration, on a misty morning, is some thing that was too good to be true.

As the World hopes for a better tomorrow, this image set me thinking. If only, I can do what it takes to make this world a better place, I should go that extra mile.

If only...

There was this guy, who was traveling on work to a magical island called Cebu.
Romantic beaches, sparkling waters
sheltered picturesquely
a cool late evening breeze against the moon light
by the window and flowing stream
french wine, a nice little candle flame, a cozy soft pillow
there goes... the sizzling dream...


gar
gar tum hote
agar tum hote
.
agar tum hote, saath mein
agar tum hote, saath mein
.
agar tum hote, saath mein, toh kya kya masti karte
agar tum hote, saath mein, toh kya kya masti karte
.
Kuch nahin toh room pe baitke... NDTV dekte
.
WAH WAH WAH!.. Babbar ....Sher

(translated for world-wide audience)

if only
if only you
.
if only you were here
if only you were here, with me
if only you were here, with me , now
.
if only you were here, with me , now, would we not have had a real great time together
if only you were here, with me , now, would we not have had a real great time together
.
if nothing else, we could have watched the weather channel
.
WOW WOW WOW!.. George Bush the Great George Bush the Great

Horse in a Tiger's Chair! "If wolf can get into sheep's clothing - so can I" - Mama Mare, another PJ from Ciggy 

IBM eServer iSeries 

Start a new life!

A python! can shed its skin and turn a new life. How I wonder if mankind can shed the evil and start afresh. Each of us can make a difference!

Zoom a Little, Steady a Little

And yours truly, has just found two new girlfriends. After the setback (Read BREAKING NEWS! She left me - in just 24 months ) I have decided having a backup is the way. Managing two, is going to be fun. Yo! Man

One is pretty and slim - good for to have around all the time, will raise eyebrows and a few second looks as a couple.
The other one is happening, a thorough professional and the one you look forward when you want the completeness in life ;-)

Presenting the Sony T7 and the H1.
and


With a 12x Optical Zoom and a 24x with Optical, this is what my H1 had to show off!

This is the shot in the middle of the night..


Please to be me wishing me all love and fun in this new adventure!

Cut Red Tape

What makes Singapore, a star not just in Asia but the entire world. I had earlier written about super efficient government. If there is one country dealing with government is a pleasure, Singapore takes the cake.

But how! Here is the example - http://www.cutredtape.gov.sg/

And here are the success stories http://www.zip.gov.sg/success_stories.htm

mysterious girl

it seems like I knew this girl all along!

Interesting, extremely sweet and kind- hearted
soft spoken, to herself, with that little peppy smile
attractive she was in her thin frame, and looks so divine
distinct eyewear that gave her the sporty intelligent look .

we first met coincidentally
to catch up for 5 minutes on some work
different interests it did seem
and I did not expect to meet her again .

life’s little wonders, meet we did
involving conversations we did have, once in a while
there was this magical bond, always
that triggered when we met .

no-nonsense and to the point, she was
no rumors no small talk
my respect for her was instinctive and spontaneous
and a sense of dispair when we departed !

all of four years and a couple of meetings, was what we managed
when she decided to leave
the organization, which we both worked for
and that was not too long ago!

I’d meet her the one last time, before she left
exchanged glances and a few smiles
and how can I ever forget, my last birthday
she wakes me up, from a thousand miles away.

I hear that she is some place in Bangalore
all by herself and enjoying life
doing things she wanted to
the way she always wanted .

I am so happy for her
for the mystery she was and the mystery she remains
may be we meet up anywhere, in Singapore
sometime, in my living life!

Life - a great teacher

Life is a great teacher
gives an opportunity to meet interesting people, make friends
helps memorable experiences and cherishable moments
there are times, when it lets you down
teaching you to face realities and move on

Life is a great teacher
teaches us freedom, gives us liberty
drink wine, make merry, earn money
snatches away friends, the close ones
leaves us alone and yet a reason to exist

Life- is there a better teacher!

yellow

Manila beckons!

Well! In an exciting trip to this island nation, I managed to Carpe Diem - Seize the day and bring the essence of my Manila experiences

• 48/48: 48 is the number of security frisks, I had undergone in my 2-day visit to this island nation. Uniformed officers, checking for weapons, all the time - walking in and out of malls, pubs, train stations and even the hotel. Add to this the German Shepard sniffing each time I enter the hotel, where I stayed in - Edza-Shangri-La.
• Beer or Erythromycin: Erythromycin, the popular antibiotic costs 1000 pesos for three tablets. I would sugest beer as a cheaper alternative at just 14 pesos.
• Color Coding: A law to limit traffic congestion, that backfired. The law states that private cars with even numbered licence-plates can ply on certain days and odd numbered ones on the other days. This mathematical brilliance turned topsy-turvy with people owning two cars, with both odd and even numbered plates.
• Escort: Ripley’s believe it or not! Rajesh Soundararajan (mind you no Bill gates no Tony Blair) was escorted by security guards from Airport to the hotel. A personal six-footer was an escort with back-up tail-car. This was the last thing I would expect on travel.
• Jeepney: Well it is a long jeep lah! Jeepney is a poor cousin of stretch limousine. When you cut a jeep into half and add a good 100 inches, in between. Unlike a limo, however this is a public transport. It can accomodate about 25 people and transports people in and around Manila.
• Nightlife: Starts after 10:00PM. Expats, partyphiles have tons of choices of liquor and music. Live bands at Havana Café is happening ;-)
• Texting: That’s a new word I learnt. A local word for SMS texting is more popular alternative to calling in cell phones. At 1 peso/ text message. you can see people just keying away like a
• Traffic: Cars, Cars everywhere and not an inch to drive! That explains the traffic in Manila

Two-mile long shopping malls: Metro Manila is just for those who love to shop until you drop. Walking through chain of a dozen malls, connected throughout. I walked a good 2 miles from the starting of the first mall to end of the last mall – never having to go out into the open.

• Women: Wow! Filipino women are very good-looking. A charming blend of Asian, Spanish, and American descents have made quite a few of them look very hot. This is one city where you would find both quality and quantity! I was told that the ratio of men/women ratio may be as high as 1:3 respectively. I have seen at least three women with a guy, every where that went! Opportunities galore for guys.

Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands spanning 1840 square kilometers, north south. This 300,780 sq. kms. land mass in Southeast Asia is slightly smaller than Japan and a little larger than the United Kingdom.

Filipinos are a very interesting lot – warm, vibrant with a unique culture. A unique blend of old and the new, the multiplicity of culture, the hospitality of this friendly English-speaking nation makes it really inimitable. Incidentally, there are about 170 dialects and Tagalog is spoken
widely.

What is Sanmiglite?

What is Sanmiglite?

This is no Atlas Shrugged and I am no Ayn Rand. Sanmiglite has a distinctive character but it is not John Galt.

Guys! San Miguel Light is a low-calorie beer. This is made in Philippines. It has got a crisp flavor. Try it if you can. It's amazing!

BREAKING NEWS! She left me - in just 24 months

After having a great time together, my friend, companion, partner - Olympus Camedia has left me - in just 24 months. Together, we did over 5500 pictures and have traveled across 23 time zones. -10:00hrs GMT to +12:00GMT.

Finally, after a great understanding relationship, Manila was the place she chose to leave me, with an unidentified taxi driver. The taxi-driver who was hired to drop both of us at the Edza Shangri-La.

We earlier almost parted in Shanghai and Christchurch. On both the earlier occasions, we did come back together after just a night of being separate.

I wish her a great future ahead!

blink – power of thinking without thinking

Is blink worth thinking about. What do you think. OK. Just do not think.

Confused! Well, now you are ready to read the book.

Gladwell is a great thinker. He talks of instinctive decision-making process and starts of with how some are better at making snap judgments than others. To justify this, he tried (may be he did not think) on what could be a supportive crutch. Well, he meandered through game theory, probability, neuroscience, rapid cognition. He added a term called ‘thin slicing’ for whatever two cents it was worth.

Wow! Lazy bones and quarter brains like me, would just love this exciting piece! If some one who does not know me at all, can so confidently tell that I can take decisions in two-seconds, without thinking, why not!

The examples are excellent. They are very diverse from police files, music, marriages, museum, and advertising. Great short stories that could well be a Bollywood flick. (Hmm...may be not! There is no running around trees). Also, one would need to remember how music on page 46 and is related to a police chase in page 256.

Well if you are reading Gladwell, you are better off without thinking.

Gladwell covers the mastery of thin slicing as a science. Excess information is a bane. Thin slicing can be done if you have practiced for 20+ years, with tons of information analysis. The example is about the two elderly women, who can clearly differentiate and articulate the thousands of flavors of margarine. God must have really given a real great number of taste buds. Quite interesting indeed!

This is a very unusual book, well written, makes you think again and again and again. The later part of the book, talks of how split-second decisions have failed. The earlier part talks of how long scientific decisions fail. For heavens, take a stand.

I have discussed with people, about this book and they have some extreme opinions. They better have. This book swings between extremities and we lesser humans in general have an aversion to grey areas. Think about it!

I am still thinking, on what this book is all about. It is over 60 days, since I have read this book.
Is it airy nothing or is it the essence of life.
Is it an attempt by Gladwell to make some money without readers thinking;
or is it an attempt to have readers make money without thinking.

Yes, snap judgments are sometimes right and sometimes wrong.
Yes, our analyzed judgments are sometimes right and sometimes wrong.
Moreover, yes, the more the experience, better is our ability to make either of these judgments.

Mr. Gladwell communicates the above three sentences extremely well using in the 288 page book using 4,172 sentences, 71,276 words and 412,533 characters.

Well worth a read.



Interesting Text Stats

Readability: (learn more)
Fog Index: 11.6
Flesch Index: 60.7
Flesch-Kincaid Index: 9.0

Concordance (learn more) - These are the 100 most frequently used words in this book.

Concordance is an alphabetized list of the most frequently occurring words in a book, excluding common words such as "of" and "it." Hover your mouse over a word to see how many times it occurs, or click on a word to see a list of book excerpts containing that word.

another better between black blink called came car case chair coke come couple day decision diallo different doctors does down ekman even example experts eyes face fact few first five get go going good got gottman group gun hand heart hundred idea information kenna kind know little long look looked lot making man mean men mind minutes moment music new now officers once part patients people person point problem put really right riper room said says second see sense someone something take team test things think thought three time took two unconscious van want went women words work world years

Pain in the neck!

What is this cute babe doing here?

Well, Nothing. That is just a bill board.

I have a real bad neck pain and am unable to blog, work, chat, send in reports to my boss or talk with people. The image on the right is how I actually feel. But for the billboard, I may not get enough wishes and sympathies from my well wishers!

Any ways, cutting the crap, the author has reported ill. Please send in wishes!

:-)

Singapore Taxis

Traveling in Singapore can be quite an interesting experience for a new comer. It can get as unique as it can get.

First, if you were hailing a cab, you would would need to wait for the one that does not say Hired or On Call on its rooftop. Only the ones with Taxi or a phone number flashing in green, would pull over.

When you get in, you will not miss the distinctive loud Chinese FM music, smell of Durian and the advertisements on the backrest of front seats (usually Citibank card applications). The driver would courteously wish you with a Good Morning (Evening) Sir! with a sing-song voice.

Once you give your destination, he would ask say - "Can! Which way, Sir? PIE or ECP?"
(Most of the time, you would answer - "the fastest way"! Any way why are you supposed to know about the a PIE or an ECP)

Traveling from point A to point B, in Singapore will hardly take more than 30 min. Therefore, you have this short uninterrupted time to immerse yourself in banter with the driver. Your can talk about anything under the sun and Singapore cabbies have knowledge and opinion on those ;-)

I have had conversations on Wimbledon, the Ambani brothers, Chinese economy, casinos in Singapore, US foreign policyÂ…phew ... how corruption ended in Singapore some 30 years ago, the scenic spots in Australia, cabbies in London, IT growth in Bangalore, Indira Gandhi and Emergency, prostitution, fiscal policies. Over time, one starts to admire the knowledge these drivers have. Apparently, a few of them have had good jobs in the .COM boom time. Some of them had been post-graduates, some entrepreneurs and a few have past times like golfing.

One driver explained me how he can identify a passengerÂ’s home country in first two sentences. Over the last twenty years, he has transported people from Morocco to Madrid, Tonga Island (GMT +1300) to Hawaii.

Then there was this driver, who spoke about the Indian First War of Independence, the Bengal partitions and the early settlements in Singapore. Yet another spoke about the East India Company, British imperialism and its relevance in the new European Union

Extremely helpful, and with such wide knowledge, it probably makes sense to stop reading books in a Singapore cab, and take these GK capsules, as I call them.

Yes! There are other peculiarities as well; besides these colorful conversations – they follow the traffic rules to the T, are extremely courteous or for that matter they do not accept any tip - they would also return you the last 10 cents.

Hail! The Singapore Cabbies

Emptiness - A friend

Life is just not fair!
There are times when near and dear, just walk away from us, from this earth.
We know it. We can see it. Yet we can do really nothing anything about it.
Yesterday, as one of my colleagues' mom passed away, for a moment I could see the emptiness and the blur - for time to come.
To those great souls, who had the courage and strength to make this emptiness a part of them, happily accept the new friend and moved on -
My Salute!.

And miles to go before I sleep!

Just when I was thinking with a 50+ foreign trips in 5 years was may-be good, I realise this! Well the jouney has just begun!

And miles to go before I sleep!

And miles to go before I sleep!

Would you wanna checkout your coverage well click here!

Friday Night Frenzy!

I made a bunch of new friends last week. It was a rocking evening at Baleister Regency - an eve to remember!
The invite was crisp and clear - only liquid nourishment and limited food. Music, if any would be makeshift. The theme was black and white. I knew almost none, on the invite list. It was interesting to venture into a party like that;-) Interesting because, somewhere over the last few years, I enjoyed the quiet evenings and more intimate discussions than a rock-an-roll.
I promptly landed up at the venue, a good 90 minutes behind schedule, wearing a black Kurta - the typical Indian ishtyle. May be it is good to blame the 6 minute taxi wait in Lavender MRT, for the long delay ;-)
Surprise Surprise - this party one was absolut different. We guys were having absolut fun - with absolut dozen of us.
Things got a bit interesting. A few of us carried wine. Australian White was a fav for one of the hostesses. Moment of truth - the wine opening ceremony - we did not locate the wine opener. A nail filer, a few knives and may be a few spoons - all in vain. The smart babe, an MBA from IIM-B, rushed to a near by 7-11 in absolut haste and came back with the opener, 33 minutes later .
With enthusiasm and eagerness I waited to watch the opening ceremony and guess what she got - a can-opener!
Too much of "can-lah", in Singapore I guess.
It still was fundoo evening, The wine issue was resolved and the party continues with a iPOD connected by RF to a music system giving us the rocking music. Food - Veggie Biryani- was slurp slurp yummy, cooked with TLC.
Friday Night Frenzy! An toast to the spirit of absolut wine drinkers!

What have I been doing lately!

In short, I have been looking at several ways to keep myself engaged - rather my rusted brain busy! After giving it some thought,I got myself enrolled into an expensive course on Cartooning(a.k.a Doodling) that costed me close to a fortune.

Doodling has now given my life a new meaning! In my orbit, Life is all about fun! Cartooning, if not anything else will atleast make non resultant and useless office con-calls, less painful. To me, it would most assuredly help me in portraying my bosses in funnier ways;-)

It surely does give me an opportunity to explore a different world.

Like most things Ciggy starts with a big bang - applying much less into real practice ;-)

Like they say - "Well begun is half done"!

Process? an antithesis to innovation?

Process – an antithesis to innovation?

process - http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Process
A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result: the process of digestion; the process of obtaining a driver's license.

in·no·va·tion - http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Innovation
n. The act of introducing something new.

Process – a word that has widespread ramifications
a word that is less used and more abused
process - set by a few, followed by fewer
But then, who dares to change!

Process - Why!
repeatable, consistent, ease of administration -
can two situations be the exact same!
can two people the same?
is mankind bunch carbon copies?

Process - a systematic approach; and who defines systematic
doing it my one way!
doing it your way!
doing it your one way! one right way!
who decides! is there a right way at all!

Process – a consistent approach!
huh…
what is change management then!
the world is changing rapidly, did I hear
ozone depletion, global warming - why not let the age-old process be!
Mona Lisa, the Taj – why restore -let them be!

Why change!
why a mobile phone, internet, faster aircraft
let things be!
bullock carts and horses, so be it!

Is this not hypocrisy! Who defines the right, who defines the wrong...?

Is there clarity in this confusion!

Never Give Up

Never Give Up - If you have it join the iTeam

Google Diary! I am feeling lucky ;-)

Have you ever wondered, if we are plain lucky or if we are solid toilers!

I hail from a ubiquitous Indian middle-class family. Life revolves around having assurances for the future, academics, a good degree, secure job, retirement securities. Not that I did spectacularly well in academics or that my parents were pushy on my coming #1 each time.

Why do we study hard; through primary, education, secondary school, get good grades! Why do we push ourselves constantly, from the days of school, to work for a better tomorrow - study now and you will be happy the rest of the years, save for a rainy day!

Does luck ever have a say?

Luck or hard work - Was never a gold-medallist in school, never a topper in college. I did get into an engineering college of repute after class XII. MACT a.k.a Regional Engineering college (A National Instt. of technology today) was time for some fun while a quite a few of my friends slogged their way there.

Luck or hard work - Semester V results announced: Rajesh S flunks Fluid Mechanics. A subject he did study from 5 different authors, including 3 from British Council Library. 70% of his passionate reading time was on this subject. A passing mark of 35 continued to elude him for two more semesters.

Luck or hard work - April 1994, come Campus Placement. I was walking out of the REC campus, with the highest paying job ;-) (a princely US$ 2,920 p. a). I wonder whatever happened to the toppers who took up jobs US $ 102 per month.

Luck or hard work - Engineering Results August 1994, show that the candidate named Rajesh Soundararajan scores -02/100, in engineering drawing, in the 8th semester. Engineering drawing is his favorite subject and had scored A+ all through in internals. 6 supplementary exams later, the scores still did not even add up to 35!

Luck or hard work - At CMC Limited, a reputed enterprise and often termed as #1 Systems Integrator, my rise, not too spectacular, well recognized though. Slogging 18x7, driven more by passion than by ambition, life cruised ahead with being offered a fast-track promotion

Luck or hard work - May 1996, on one of the visits to MACT for the supplementary examination, again with faith and conviction, he did meet up with the possible examiner, who could have been one of the three correcting his answer papers. This examiner was shocked to see the plight, and confessed to having misunderstood his name to one of the “notorious” characters in Bhopal. Assured ‘normal’ correction! Lo and behold – Rajesh Soundararajan is a graduate 2 years behind schedule.
PS: The inevitable has happened, I was forced to move out of CMC on April 11, 1996, as I did not yet hold a graduate degree, then.

Luck or hard work - Back in Chennai, without a job and borrowing 16 cents from younger brother, for a coke, it was really not the best of times. 4 weeks into this state, I join this amazing US based company called Blueshift with double the pay. Perks included a managerial responsibility, share in the profits and of course a salary structured to pay zero-taxes. In fact I get 3 offers in 5 days, one from the Managing Director of Zenith computers.

Luck or hard work - Come June 1997, I land up in a premier institute called XLRI. A massive 0.3% of the people who strive to reach there actually make it. Burn mid-night oil for XLRI? Or was it just day-dreaming!

Hiccups, hiccups, hiccup……. RGs, OBI, OBII

Luck or hard work - twenty odd months, in fiercely competitive management institution, was I one of the A+ types? A CQPI of 8/8? No way! Far from it.... Would it be appropriate for a FRAX (Free Rider at XLRI), to land up with the most number of job offers– 5 to be precise, including the one at IBM. Competing with brains of IITKs and IITMs, Stephanians and the Xaviers’ Mumbai,

Hiccups - Prof Gangopadhyay, DBMS, OOPS, IR, Prof P Ray… literally out of the institute 4 weeks before graduation!

Luck or hard work - IBM Corporation, a US$ 80 billion [Symbol - IBM] – World’s largest IT Company. 22,000 best of brains from India apply through a battery of tests for selection of 22 members of Team Blue. An incredible 0.1%... Add to it, the very fact of joining this great organization was because my tourist Visa to USA gets rejected. I join IBM as for a 3 month stand by, till my parents return? Wow.

Hiccups - accidents, financial losses, loss of close ones!

That was years ago. Today more than 6 years and 3 months later, I am still searching the right answer.

Luck or hard work!

At IBM my job has been interesting, creative, lots of independence, quite a few additional responsibilities, decent money and usual pay-hike, 40+ foreign trips, 500+ domestic flights, an international assignment, posting – I am still searching, for that elusive holiday, that elusive family, that elusive tomorrow.

I am still feeling lucky! Do you!