3 matches, 3 losses – that’s what Hyderabad’s team has managed in the IPL. I really liked the look of that team and hence rooted for the team in one of my earlier posts. Am surprised, no stunned, about the results. I am wondering something that Laxman too might be – what is required to win now!
Someone told me that the team that loses 4 straight matches will go on to win the IPL! Seriously I was told this.. not joking! Hope the think-tank of the Hyderabad team is reading this. Guys, one more loss and we are home!!!! Literally.. back home :-)))
April 24, 2008
Phew.. these marriage receptions
Let me put this straight - I hate social functions and the crowd that they come with. I cannot make myself sit in a visibly happy and pleasant mode for hours when deep down I want to run away to a lonely place. Still, there are few receptions that I cannot avoid going to, since I am still supposed to be the social animal and share somebody's moment of joy.. momentary joy!
It all starts with a couple getting married. Now, that is another aspect that is close to my heart, in a sense that I have extremely radical thoughts on that concept of marriage. More on that later. So ya, after marriage the couple and their think-tank (read family) want to officially invite those whom they could not for the original marriage function. So they host a reception. So when they are home to invite someone, they are all humble-courteous types.. jaroor aana, please grace the occasion, koi bahana nahi chalega, aap shaadi par bhi nahi aaye, we will wait for you that day.. all these rhetorics. And when the D-day arrives, suddenly all the promises are forgotten! The couples turn to politicians.. They take pride in arriving easily an hour or two after guests arrive the venue. And they do that without a tinge of guilt.. as if that is the way it is supposed to go. These days, it is fashionable to have lunch/dinner first, have the dessert, then meet and wish the couple and then again have dessert [that is what I love to do ;)]. For going to the stage to meet the couple, one has to wait in a queue.. quite a long one in most cases. Then go up there and get a photograph taken (the official record of your presence is registered). Then meet people and gossip around. Then go back home and crib about how pathetic the food was, how the dress of the bride was looking odd, how much jewellery was on display, how the air conditioning in the hall was not optimum, blah blah blah...
I find this so disgusting. Ain't guests supposed to have been invited? What for? To be shown how important the couple is! Now I wonder, the couple's parents' might have this wicked look when they come to invite us for reception.. sort of telling us, ab hum dikhate hai tum logon ko.. :)
Ok, now how about working this entire concept this way! The couple and their think-tank reach the venue first. They wait at the entrance for the guests to arrive. They greet them as the guests go in. No no.. no gifts and photographs at this stage. Will get cramped up. There will be a separate box kept inside where you can drop the gifts/presentation covers, etc. There will be a separate photograph section where a live-sized photo of the couple would be kept. You stand around the snap and get your customized snap clicked. Lunch/dinner arrangements can continue the way they are now. This will exemplify the real treatment to be given to guests, right?
I know I know.. you're saying let's see whether I adapt this in my reception. Well two things, A - I may not have a reception and B - I may choose not to invite you! ;)
Cheeers..
It all starts with a couple getting married. Now, that is another aspect that is close to my heart, in a sense that I have extremely radical thoughts on that concept of marriage. More on that later. So ya, after marriage the couple and their think-tank (read family) want to officially invite those whom they could not for the original marriage function. So they host a reception. So when they are home to invite someone, they are all humble-courteous types.. jaroor aana, please grace the occasion, koi bahana nahi chalega, aap shaadi par bhi nahi aaye, we will wait for you that day.. all these rhetorics. And when the D-day arrives, suddenly all the promises are forgotten! The couples turn to politicians.. They take pride in arriving easily an hour or two after guests arrive the venue. And they do that without a tinge of guilt.. as if that is the way it is supposed to go. These days, it is fashionable to have lunch/dinner first, have the dessert, then meet and wish the couple and then again have dessert [that is what I love to do ;)]. For going to the stage to meet the couple, one has to wait in a queue.. quite a long one in most cases. Then go up there and get a photograph taken (the official record of your presence is registered). Then meet people and gossip around. Then go back home and crib about how pathetic the food was, how the dress of the bride was looking odd, how much jewellery was on display, how the air conditioning in the hall was not optimum, blah blah blah...
I find this so disgusting. Ain't guests supposed to have been invited? What for? To be shown how important the couple is! Now I wonder, the couple's parents' might have this wicked look when they come to invite us for reception.. sort of telling us, ab hum dikhate hai tum logon ko.. :)
Ok, now how about working this entire concept this way! The couple and their think-tank reach the venue first. They wait at the entrance for the guests to arrive. They greet them as the guests go in. No no.. no gifts and photographs at this stage. Will get cramped up. There will be a separate box kept inside where you can drop the gifts/presentation covers, etc. There will be a separate photograph section where a live-sized photo of the couple would be kept. You stand around the snap and get your customized snap clicked. Lunch/dinner arrangements can continue the way they are now. This will exemplify the real treatment to be given to guests, right?
I know I know.. you're saying let's see whether I adapt this in my reception. Well two things, A - I may not have a reception and B - I may choose not to invite you! ;)
Cheeers..
April 17, 2008
Happily unemployed!
Yes, that is what I am these days. Enjoying most of the moments, can't say all. Sans few phases of 'what-am-I-doing-sitting-at-home' syndromes from parents and within, things are very exciting. I need to constantly plan and work for the next source of revenues and that is extremely exciting, must say. The pipeline is looking decent and hopefully I might not need to knock on the corporate doors again for a 9-to-5 job (what a clichéd term this has become). By the way, you are reading the blog of the Executive Director of H-Zone Capital Management Services - my independent outfit :). The world around us is more helpful and co-operative than I ever imagined.
Life takes interesting twists when you least expect it to. April 14th was our New Year and life has become a tinge more wonderful for me since that day.
The much hyped IPL's DLF cup will start from today. And so is the Oly flame reaching Delhi. Along with these two issues, inflation would make up the top three hot topics in this country today.
Among other things, I am particularly curious to see how Harsha Bhogle fares as the consultant to Mumbai Indians in the IPL league. I am a great admirer of this man for his enthusiasm, energy and passion for what he does. Not withstanding all the unpredictability associated with a Twenty20 match, teams from Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai look comfortably placed to be in the final four of the tournament. Let's see how good an observer I am of the game.
Some people in this world seem to get more matured as each day passes. I am extremely privileged and fortunate to have 3 of them in my life today. They do make life look extremely simple. GOD bless them.
Take care friends and keep smiling :)
Life takes interesting twists when you least expect it to. April 14th was our New Year and life has become a tinge more wonderful for me since that day.
The much hyped IPL's DLF cup will start from today. And so is the Oly flame reaching Delhi. Along with these two issues, inflation would make up the top three hot topics in this country today.
Among other things, I am particularly curious to see how Harsha Bhogle fares as the consultant to Mumbai Indians in the IPL league. I am a great admirer of this man for his enthusiasm, energy and passion for what he does. Not withstanding all the unpredictability associated with a Twenty20 match, teams from Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai look comfortably placed to be in the final four of the tournament. Let's see how good an observer I am of the game.
Some people in this world seem to get more matured as each day passes. I am extremely privileged and fortunate to have 3 of them in my life today. They do make life look extremely simple. GOD bless them.
Take care friends and keep smiling :)
April 6, 2008
Very much here..
Am very much here and too many things to write about too.. but! Plate is too full these days, will find out the time and mindspace to write something soon.
Happened to see Shaurya last week. Very good movie. If you are a Kay Kay Menon fan, then definitely go and see his performance, albeit in a small role. Amazing guy.. Ironically there were just eleven people in the cinema hall to see the movie on the second day of its release! It is sad that the masses prefer to see Race over a movie like this. The success of a movie, unfortunately, is just a function of how it is marketed!
If you get time, try and catch this movie. I personally know of people who have shades of the ideology and thinking of the characters shown in the movie. They should definitely not miss this flick.
Happened to see Shaurya last week. Very good movie. If you are a Kay Kay Menon fan, then definitely go and see his performance, albeit in a small role. Amazing guy.. Ironically there were just eleven people in the cinema hall to see the movie on the second day of its release! It is sad that the masses prefer to see Race over a movie like this. The success of a movie, unfortunately, is just a function of how it is marketed!
If you get time, try and catch this movie. I personally know of people who have shades of the ideology and thinking of the characters shown in the movie. They should definitely not miss this flick.
March 24, 2008
R. K. Laxman's "You Said It" in today's Times of India
What do they call this type of inflation these days? :)
March 22, 2008
Searching for GOD
I have a reputation (rather am infamous) for being an atheist, among my family members and relatives. I earned this reputation by expressing my disliking for temples and idol/photo worship. Not that I attempt to stop my family doing it, but I do not go to temples. Even if I go, it is like going to any other place rather than going to pray to GOD. On the other hand, my mom and brother goes to temple daily, and dad once every week. Initially, mom used to frequently ask me to go to temple and fear GOD, and I kept on insisting that I do not feel the presence of GOD in any temple. Now, both have stopped - mom's pleas and my arguments against it!
The latest temple has come up near my residence. I think it is a Balaji temple. More importantly, the temple is at a place where there used to be a waste dumpyard. But suddenly people are donating lot of money for the temple. I hear that they are converting the stone idol into gold. Of course it requires money. And it is being funded by "GOD-fearing" and "GOD-loving" people.
Apologies for being so sarcastic. To my mind, any search for GOD towards a particular place is so very futile. And when there are opportunities given to people to help genuine causes, most refuses or gives something to do away with the person asking. Why can't people be more considerate towards genuine causes rather than temples and such unproductive purposes? Why don't people realize that service to mankind is service to GOD? Why can't they be more generous in helping people? How do they justify their actions? Or is it simply that they do not think much about these things?
GOD is so much around us. Sit at a quite place and listen to a Jagjit Singh ghazal, you will feel GOD. See a baby smiling and playing with itself, you will see GOD. Meet a school teacher working selflessly for children in a small village, you will meet GOD. GOD does not want you to make a gold idol for HIM. Then why do we fool ourselves?
I approached many people over the last few days for a cause that needed to be complete. Some of the people, the way they responded both in terms of giving money and showing interest, really pleased and motivated me. There was surely a presence of GOD in them. I would always prefer spending time with them rather than going to a temple, everytime given a choice. I am cent percent sure that GOD will always be with such people having noble thoughts and great intentions. Though, not very sure about HE being with people who only visit temples and calls themselves lovers of GOD. May GOD bless them and give them sense! :) Again, the sarcastic me..
The latest temple has come up near my residence. I think it is a Balaji temple. More importantly, the temple is at a place where there used to be a waste dumpyard. But suddenly people are donating lot of money for the temple. I hear that they are converting the stone idol into gold. Of course it requires money. And it is being funded by "GOD-fearing" and "GOD-loving" people.
Apologies for being so sarcastic. To my mind, any search for GOD towards a particular place is so very futile. And when there are opportunities given to people to help genuine causes, most refuses or gives something to do away with the person asking. Why can't people be more considerate towards genuine causes rather than temples and such unproductive purposes? Why don't people realize that service to mankind is service to GOD? Why can't they be more generous in helping people? How do they justify their actions? Or is it simply that they do not think much about these things?
GOD is so much around us. Sit at a quite place and listen to a Jagjit Singh ghazal, you will feel GOD. See a baby smiling and playing with itself, you will see GOD. Meet a school teacher working selflessly for children in a small village, you will meet GOD. GOD does not want you to make a gold idol for HIM. Then why do we fool ourselves?
I approached many people over the last few days for a cause that needed to be complete. Some of the people, the way they responded both in terms of giving money and showing interest, really pleased and motivated me. There was surely a presence of GOD in them. I would always prefer spending time with them rather than going to a temple, everytime given a choice. I am cent percent sure that GOD will always be with such people having noble thoughts and great intentions. Though, not very sure about HE being with people who only visit temples and calls themselves lovers of GOD. May GOD bless them and give them sense! :) Again, the sarcastic me..
March 15, 2008
21st century sins
The Vatican has come out with a 'reformed' list of NEW sins for this new era. Not surprisingly, it includes "accumulating excessive wealth" also! Why is it not surprising to me? If you check history, the world has always stood against something that a majority of them desires but do not deserve. Creating wealth is an art and those who are devoid of it can only crib about it. Of course, wealth creation by dubious ways is a strict no-no. But if one does it through legal ways, logically it cannot be denied. Sins, by the way, are made up of moral fabric and is not about legality. Also, as with any other matter including relativity, who defines 'excess' wealth? Well, that is an absolutely different topic to blog on, perhaps later.
For now, likes of Ishant Sharma, Dhoni, Ambanis, K. P.Singh - they are committing a deadly sin! It does not matter whether they deserve it based on their skills (like the cricketers) or they create wealth for the stake holders too (like the industrialists). Let the world go eons backward by condemning visionaries and wealth creators.
That reminds me, someone thinks that the IPL's player auctions is akin to prostitution! Ahem.... B-school grads and CAs getting picked up from campus should also be in this then! Hey hey, I am not saying it..
Now is that a sin? The thought that is so radical, so against-the-normal? A thumping NO, to my mind. And that is precisely the point I am trying to drive home. The BIGGEST cardinal sin has to be doing things against your individuality to please someone else. If sin is a moral wrong that GOD condemns, then a person who denies the self what it deserves is the worst sin possible. An individual is complete the way GOD has created him. His thoughts, perceptions, views, perspectives should be respected and denying them is definitely a sin. The sinner is the one who forces a girl to marry against her wishes, with a justification that they know better. Better than the GOD who created the girl? Well, I am not a huge fan of GOD, but these sinners surely are and hence want to use the same modality to explain why they are sinners.
Let the individuality prosper, let people be a slave of only their own thoughts, let us not make someone else see this wonderful place called earth through our eyes.
I cringe to see people doing things that they believe are matured and correct, with eyes and hearts closed to see what they are doing to others in the process.
For now, likes of Ishant Sharma, Dhoni, Ambanis, K. P.Singh - they are committing a deadly sin! It does not matter whether they deserve it based on their skills (like the cricketers) or they create wealth for the stake holders too (like the industrialists). Let the world go eons backward by condemning visionaries and wealth creators.
That reminds me, someone thinks that the IPL's player auctions is akin to prostitution! Ahem.... B-school grads and CAs getting picked up from campus should also be in this then! Hey hey, I am not saying it..
Now is that a sin? The thought that is so radical, so against-the-normal? A thumping NO, to my mind. And that is precisely the point I am trying to drive home. The BIGGEST cardinal sin has to be doing things against your individuality to please someone else. If sin is a moral wrong that GOD condemns, then a person who denies the self what it deserves is the worst sin possible. An individual is complete the way GOD has created him. His thoughts, perceptions, views, perspectives should be respected and denying them is definitely a sin. The sinner is the one who forces a girl to marry against her wishes, with a justification that they know better. Better than the GOD who created the girl? Well, I am not a huge fan of GOD, but these sinners surely are and hence want to use the same modality to explain why they are sinners.
Let the individuality prosper, let people be a slave of only their own thoughts, let us not make someone else see this wonderful place called earth through our eyes.
I cringe to see people doing things that they believe are matured and correct, with eyes and hearts closed to see what they are doing to others in the process.
February 25, 2008
Out of my comfort zone!
Relaxed & happy - yes, that is what I'm these days... After months of ordeal and stress, feeling good these days. Decision to quit something that was going well, with the attached money and fame, was a tough one I must admit - but surely worth it given how I am feeling for the last few days. It is a mixed emotion including relief, excitement, fear, satisfaction and few more I guess.
Spending time reading a lot, and happy to do that. Other than that, sleeping, watching movies & cricket makes up most of my time.
I have also started to do something for which I took the decision to quit from an activity which took up almost all my time. May GOD give me the ability and sense to keep doing it for the rest of my life.
The next few months are going to be real exciting stuff, something that was missing in my life. Wanted to move out of my comfort zone, picking the line from Steve Waugh's autobiography.
As I had posted earlier - happiness, here I come!
Spending time reading a lot, and happy to do that. Other than that, sleeping, watching movies & cricket makes up most of my time.
I have also started to do something for which I took the decision to quit from an activity which took up almost all my time. May GOD give me the ability and sense to keep doing it for the rest of my life.
The next few months are going to be real exciting stuff, something that was missing in my life. Wanted to move out of my comfort zone, picking the line from Steve Waugh's autobiography.
As I had posted earlier - happiness, here I come!
February 12, 2008
Self-discovery, not self-improvement
The journey of life is not about improving oneself. It is about remembering oneself. The path you're traveling isn't a journey to some distant land. Rather, it leads back to a place you once knew but forgot along the way, as those around you socialized you out of your essence. Actually, it's a journey back home, to the natural greatness and perfection you had when you were born. We must not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time.
Living your best life is really mostly about recapturing what you gave up!
It's true. As a child, you were aware of all your gifts. You were innocent and pure. You were immensely creative and wildly passionate. Your imagination knew no boundaries and your dreams knew no limits. You trusted others and had faith in yourself. You didn't have this need we adults have: to have everything all figured out. You expressed your truest essence as a person without fear of reprisal, and you freely let your light shine. You lived totally in the moment and savored every simple gift that each of our lives brings to us on a regular basis. You loved snowflakes and spiders, singing and dreaming, a good hug and a steaming cup of hot chocolate. The world was abundant, a place of boundless possibilities. But then something happened - you grew up!
As you grew up, you started to adopt other people's beliefs about the way the world works and the nature of your role within it. You shut down your beautiful feelings and began to live in your mind - spending your days rationalizing, judging and worrying rather than slipping, dancing and playing. You became a pleaser - thinking, acting and conducting yourself in ways that were not necessarily of your own choosing but of the choosing of those around you, such as your parents, teachers and friends. And so the process of socialization took over and your personal magnificence began to be hidden. You did what you were told, acted as you were instructed to act and thought the way people taught you to think.
And in doing so, you began to live in a small box. After you die, there will be plenty of time to be in a small box... so why live in one while you're alive?
- This is an extract from Robin Sharma's The Saint, the surfer and the CEO.. one of my all time fav books.
Living your best life is really mostly about recapturing what you gave up!
It's true. As a child, you were aware of all your gifts. You were innocent and pure. You were immensely creative and wildly passionate. Your imagination knew no boundaries and your dreams knew no limits. You trusted others and had faith in yourself. You didn't have this need we adults have: to have everything all figured out. You expressed your truest essence as a person without fear of reprisal, and you freely let your light shine. You lived totally in the moment and savored every simple gift that each of our lives brings to us on a regular basis. You loved snowflakes and spiders, singing and dreaming, a good hug and a steaming cup of hot chocolate. The world was abundant, a place of boundless possibilities. But then something happened - you grew up!
As you grew up, you started to adopt other people's beliefs about the way the world works and the nature of your role within it. You shut down your beautiful feelings and began to live in your mind - spending your days rationalizing, judging and worrying rather than slipping, dancing and playing. You became a pleaser - thinking, acting and conducting yourself in ways that were not necessarily of your own choosing but of the choosing of those around you, such as your parents, teachers and friends. And so the process of socialization took over and your personal magnificence began to be hidden. You did what you were told, acted as you were instructed to act and thought the way people taught you to think.
And in doing so, you began to live in a small box. After you die, there will be plenty of time to be in a small box... so why live in one while you're alive?
- This is an extract from Robin Sharma's The Saint, the surfer and the CEO.. one of my all time fav books.
February 4, 2008
Irrational... but scary
In one of my earlier posts, I had cited an instance of how the Maharashtrians in Mumbai have started to feel let down and their privacy being diluted by 'outsiders'. The activities of Raj Thackeray's Nav-Nirman Sena over the weekend has added more weight to my views. Hope it is only a one-off and not emergence of a trend.
I always wonder how a layman Maharashtrian feel about all this? Can they relate to the ideologies and views of these extrimists? Is there supposed to be a differentiation between Mumbai and India?
I always wonder how a layman Maharashtrian feel about all this? Can they relate to the ideologies and views of these extrimists? Is there supposed to be a differentiation between Mumbai and India?
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