Continuous learning - life's game!

Yesterday was perhaps not the best days for me - knocking at an uncalled-for door. I have knocked there several times, and got similar responses most of the times. But I take it that it is sometimes natural to be human... learning from mistakes, and yeah, what is saddening is learning from the same mistakes.. not a wise thing to do...

ok, let me hope this post pulls me back the next time I want to try anything like this.

Adding flavor to a well cooked food!

This article by Harsha made me wonder more on the quality of his writing than on the quality of Laxman's game. I am pasting the entire article, just in case it gets removed from that site for any reason whatsoever.

What an innings Laxman played against Aus (Border-Gavaskar trophy, Oct 2010) despite a back pain.. he couldn't play the second match though. The elegance with which Harsha describes this man's batting skills is simply superb, great gift of God for both of them in their own respective fields!

"Always the artist, never the superstar

VVS Laxman inhabits a world of his own, an era of old-time virtue that we are reminded of all too infrequently these days

In a wonderfully charming way the world sometimes pauses, holds back from its relentless march forward, to look at timelessness, at things that defy the situations it seeks to create: a beautiful love story, a travelogue lazily told, a ghazal, a VVS Laxmaninnings.

When Laxman bats, he is almost dated, sepia tends to tinge the bright, colourful, high-resolution pictures that show him batting. He doesn't steal the impossible single, doesn't come storming back for a second like his life depended on it, doesn't snarl at somebody because he has a couple of seconds and doesn't know what to do with them.

He lets the moment breathe, gently sniffs at the serenity that inevitably surrounds him and takes his stance; his world is dictated by his speed and no one else's. Like Jonathan Livingston Seagull, he seems to search for a higher calm as the other seagulls scrap for anchovies around him.

Not that the scrapping is bad, not that the stolen second run is impure; it is just not him, not his world. When he was slogging in the IPL recently, his bat-speed awry, his body tilted at angles strange for strokeplay, the leg moving out of line to hit over midwicket rather than coming languidly towards the ball to stroke it past cover, he looked like a cheap imitation of the original. It didn't become him. It was an artist trying to enter the world of commerce; a world that pays millions to those who don't bat like him.

And he is understated - another disqualification from the world of commercial endorsements. When he uses the letter "i" it is only because it is in the middle of the word "win". He loves winning, he loves contributing to a win, but he is unlikely to be nudging someone to be in the first row of the photograph.

And so while the big cheques don't always appear, something else does: respect in his dressing room and in that of the opposition; like it does for Naseeruddin Shah, while the big cheques go to Salman Khan. But respect never goes out of fashion; it is something all performers crave, and he has it in abundance.

For a major part of his career he has batted at No. 6. It means the tail is a stone's throw away. It means the boundary riders are out for him, offering him the single to attack the rest. It means he stays not-out more often; once every sixth innings almost, compared to about one in 10 for Tendulkar and one in nine for Dravid. You might argue it boosts his average but the innings rarely go as far as they might have gone. Hence, only 16 centuries. Hence, too, the change in batting style; from a free-stroking player to someone who must guard his wicket and prolong the innings. Number six is a difficult position to bat in if you are a batsman who doesn't bowl because your numbers rarely look as good as those of the men who precede you.

That is why he has had to walk the selection tightrope far too often for a player of his ability. That is why many believe he has been underrated. Down in Australia they think we are daft, but we have never bestowed on him the stature we have on Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly, and more lately Sehwag. And so, every time there was a new kid on the block, the attention shifted towards Laxman. And yet in the last two years (from January 1, 2009, to be precise), he has scored a century every four Tests and averages 80.

Remember, too, that he doesn't play any other form of cricket at this level. It means he has to lift his game enormously, for standards of first class-cricket in India are poor, and quite simply, he wouldn't have played enough. It is an assignment that can be daunting for most and something he will have to live with for the rest of his career. Nobody knows how long that is going to be. He might have the spine but his back is asking too many questions and his knees aren't his best friends.

Many years ago a young Jonty Rhodes was batting with the legendary but ageing Graeme Pollock. After Jonty had called him for one single too many, the great man called him mid-pitch and said: "Young man, the athletics stops now and the cricket begins!"

The athletics may have stopped for VVS Laxman but the cricket continues to be magical. His place in the pantheon is assured."

Source:

Bhogle, H., "Always the artist, never the superstar", ESPN Cricinfo, Available at http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/480388.html, Accessed in Oct., 2010.

Life's like that - am learning...

Learnings over the last 2 weekends..

1. There is no need to show my cards to others, especially to those whom I have seen multiple times to play their cards close to themselves. Will I ever learn?? [:X] Am a little disappointed with myself on this.

2. Am also learning to talk less, listen more, play personal things low.

3. Am trying to practice what I learnt from "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Steven Covey.

This Summer and Me

It's been over a month since summer started. Last summer had it's own flavor - the hectic 8-5 research hours at office, tennis in the evenings, the VB classes after 5, the cookings, the late-night movies and much more. Well, this summer has been totally different for me so far. Vikram's week-long stay here at Binghamton included a Watkins Glen trip and a trip to Six Flags, NJ. Followed that by an exciting Las Vegas trip and back here. Apart from that and a little work till June 1st week, it's been more of a "lost-focus" effort from me to do anything. Lots staring at me for studying :(

This week's just turning better for me, and hope it gets better through this summer. Learnt an important thing that it is upto me to decide how each day turns out in my life. Yes.. I have decided a few things for the remaining summer. Let me see how things turn out. Expecting a few important turns soon this summer for my academic and professional career too. Fingers crossed! Keeping my blog short for now. More later.

Respect the woman in your life

This is from a forward a friend sent me. I felt it worth posting because with the fast world today there has been too much that any married couple expect from the other person. And to have a good understanding, it's always good to realize certain things.

About the girl you will be marrying –

Here is a girl, who is as much educated as you are;

Who is earning almost as much as you do;

One, who has dreams and aspirations just as

you have because she is as human as you are;

One, who has never entered the kitchen in her life just like you or your

sister haven't, as she was busy in studies and competing in a system

that gives no special concession to girls for their culinary achievements

One, who has lived and loved her parents & brothers & sisters, almost as

much as you do for 20-25 years of her life;

One, who has bravely agreed to leave behind all that, her home, people who love her, to adopt your home, your family, your ways and even your family name

One, who is somehow expected to be a master-chef from day #1, while you sleep oblivious to her predicament in her new circumstances, environment and that kitchen

One, who is expected to make the tea, first thing in the morning and cook

food at the end of the day, even if she is as tired as you are, maybe more,

and yet never ever expected to complain; to be a servant, a cook, a mother,

a wife, even if she doesn't want to; and is learning just like you are as

to what you want from her; and is clumsy and sloppy at times and knows that you won't like it if she is too demanding, or if she learns faster than you;

One, who has her own set of friends, and that includes boys and even men at her workplace too, those, who she knows from school days and yet is willing to put all that on the back-burners to avoid your irrational jealousy, unnecessary competition and your inherent insecurities;

Yes, she can drink and dance just as well as you can, but won't, simply

Because you won't like it, even though you say otherwise

One, who can be late from work once in a while when deadlines, just like yours, are to be met;

One, who is doing her level best and wants to make this most important,

relationship in her entire life a grand success, if you just help her some

and trust her;

One, who just wants one thing from you, as you are the only one she knows in your entire house - your unstinted support, your sensitivities and most importantly - your understanding, or love, if you may call it.

Please appreciate "HER"

Cricket’s God

24^th Feb 2010 will be etched in the pages of history of world cricket, deeply, strongly and eternally. That’s the day Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar made a double hundred in ODIs, scoring the first one of its kind since the 16^th century when cricket was documented to have been first played (The record Scorecard!). 442 matches and 20 years is as long as it took, a time period when anything could have happened –from being wiped off the face of cricket to be adored as THE BEST. And Sachin chose the latter. Yes, it was surely his choice that has seen him all this far. It was on this same day in 1988 that he and Vinod Kambli made a 664 run partnership that stunned and silenced the nation. Today, 22 years later, he has stunned the world.

He dictated terms in Gwalior on Feb 24^th, treating the bowlers with disdain. Carried his bat through the innings to earn his 200 – take special note that he had no by-runners. I would have preferred to be in India at my hometown amidst family and friends watching this match.. the shouts, the screams, the cheerings, oh my God, I certainly missed the fun. Nevertheless I did see a huge uproar – in the form of Facebook and Orkut updates.. each person raising to the occasion with innumerous posts for the master blaster, for the GOD of Indian cricket, for the epic writer of World Cricket.

A full length dive by a man nearing his 37 at the first ODI to save a boundary sent India one up in the 3 match series. Two days later he scripted another wonder. Only this man can do it, the little master, the master blaster.

Could anyone who has lost his father come back immediately and play for the team? This man did it for India in the '99 world cup, scored a century and dedicated it to his father. Any cricket fan's eyes would have had a drop of tear that moment then.

Could anyone be more humble than him? Loads of talent, abysmal passion and commitment. If someone said "Failures keep you humble", time to rethink on changing the phrase!

Awards are now just secondary to him - Any podium that acknowledges him with an accolade will only be too small for this great man.

"I don't get tired, If you practise every day, you get used to it" - Sachin [Ref: Cricinfo]. Truly inspiring statement. Take a bow master.

Sozzial Networking Sites - Likes it or Not?

I put together some thoughts that just came to me after the Google Buzz came in, it's one thing that takes away all my privacy... I am not liking it at all.

The pre-‘2000’ era -

This was probably how people who met each other in the late 90s or even before and communicated to get to know each other–

Mr.X: Hello! What do you do for a living?

Mr. Y: I am working with company ABC. What do you do for a living?

Mr.X: I work for company XYZ.

For the purpose of future communications, they exchange Business cards

The post-‘2000’ era -

This is how people communicate these days to get to know each other –

Mr.X: Hey bro, ssup?? What’s you gtalk ID? Do you Buzzzzzzzz?

Mr. Y: Yo man, I am on Facebook most of the time.. ping me there and you can get a response soon.

For the purpose of future communications, they exchange profiles in Orkut, FB, twitter, linkedin.. phew... did I get it all, or miss any?

We are all practically glued to the computer, especially the social networking sites. To be frank, I am addicted too, but for sure it’s not the best thing.

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

FB and the “likes this” mania

I genuinely appreciate if someone “liked” a post or link that, in their perspective, is worth liking.. That’s individual rights.. But I sincerely don’t understand why for certain posts that do not carry a ‘likes it’ value or intended for a different purpose, people click on the option and say ‘likes it’. Here are some instances I got during the recent past.. real time ones from my FB page!

Post: ‘Happy Diwali’ AND ‘Merry Xmas and Happy New Year!’ (on different occasions, of course!)

Venki's response: Now, that was wishing people. You should either wish back or keep quite!!

Post: 16 Google wave invites...anyone need one?

Venki's response: Does this make sense?? And how many 'Likes this' do you think it got!!

Post: Hurray Tuesday!!!!!!!!!

Venki's response: Okay, so what?? How does a Tuesday in one person’s life affect the other person?????

Post: Mr. M. found some Premium White Mystery Eggs to share with their friends!

Venki's response: Wonderful and hilarious!! What else is required in life!!

Post: Mr. P. threw the mummy at 438 meters !

Venki's response: No comments ;-)

Post: It's not tht I can't it's just that I won't

Venki's response: Here’s someone who’s becoming lazy, and someone else now joins the party :P

Post: 2 more days

Venki's response: hmmm, errr.… and after that??

Post: Watched the toss. Now I can switch off teh tv

Venki's response: Very good. In the first case, an update on that was essential for sustaining the world economy :P And secondly someone liked this person not watching rest of the match, excellent! :D

I think now I have also got to ‘like’ everyone’s post, whatever it be… Next day if you post “Fell down and broke my hand”, I will “LIKE IT”!! After all, that is what is "Facebook Dharma" :-)

Phir - Mile Sur Mera Tumhara

I was listening to the new version of Mile Sur Mera Tumhara. The new song is amazing, no comparison to ARR. Especially the start he gives, the softness and smoothness of the twists and turns of the musical notes – mind-blowing! I am mesmerized by the start ARR gives on the finger-keyboard! Have been listening to this song now repeatedly! Btw, anyone knows which Raagam this is?

A very good attempt to recreate the depth of unity that the older version gave.

But is India and unity all about a bunch of film industry people? This was more like seeing the filmfare awards. The previous one had at least a good number of sportsmen. This one had some of them, but those were too small considering the time the ‘filmis’ dominated.

Aren’t there not enough people who have contributed to the cause of the nation and its upliftment, at least in some small way that has greater value than these bunch of filmi icons?? Haven’t not brave army men, scientists and the likes done India good? Haven’t those individuals gone beyond their linguistic and cultural boundaries and seen India as one? When do we ever recognize them – only posthumously as martyrs??

And yeah, they did show what was intended, but that was the last few seconds of a 16-odd minute long story! A little more creativity in picturization was needed. Was too lengthy and a little disappointing…

My first love in Binghamton

She was my first love after coming to the US. And it was really a touching and emotional moment for me when I bid her goodbye on Thursday, Aug 27th, 2009 at the Vestal road near my school. That day will go in as one of the days which I will remember for a long time to come, or atleast till I meet her again. I am sure that even to this day, many of my closest friends, even in Binghamton, know very little about this.

To tell you the truth and disclose matters silently sleeping in the deepest of my hearts, my first acquaintances with her dates back to the 5th of September, 2008. I still remember the evening I first met her, that lovely September evening that sparked initial communications between us. That was the day when we had a set of seniors whom we had invited for dinner. As preparations for the dinner, which was ‘paav bhaaji’, was going on at full swing in the kitchen, I was glued to a world of my own in a curiosity to know her more.

She was basically a soft spoken person, who hardly communicated much during our initial days of acquaintances. Every morning I woke, I was so desperately longing to get in touch with her – God alone can help me describe; I would say that English vocabulary is too unexpressive to help me explain my then frame of mind.

I was staying in the Leroy side of Binghamton (more precisely in a street called Murray street), which made it all the more easy for me to get a glimpse of her during the mornings. And even more to my surprise, she used to be in the same bus as mine when I went to school. Though we did not speak to each other in the bus, I was sure that there was a placid wave of unspoken understanding that passed through the air between us.

Through due course of time, we became a little more than just friends. Morning meetings extended to an additional dose of evening chats. Classes at school played a villain for me as it started becoming more hectic. Our friendly meetings started turning out into just meeting for the sake of meeting, friendly meetings now started becoming more professional interactions for the sole sake of meeting. Everything started to end slowly. Too many ‘meetings’ in the previous sentence, but too few in reality that I have relished wholly.

However, whenever I got some time, I made it a point to talk to her and try to get as closer as possible. But as fate would have it, classes, assignments and such other more important things predominated my schedule, and I put aside everything until summer would start. I was sure of being able to convince several things then.

India trip at the beginning of summer, and as things would have it, once I got back we were back to touch. It was a lot of one-on-one discussions trying to restore a relationship that was lost in the midst of two busy semesters. I believed that more leisure time would help building a stronger relationship. But to be honest, none of our lengthier conversations ever ended without a heated confrontation. I hardly remember one that ended on a cooler note. I knew that proceeding any further was not going to be fruitful for either of us. Long talks and prolonged attempts to get things fixed followed, and final attempts for restoring relationships were made on the 21st of Aug. I made up my mind to let go her for she needed a solace, a cure far beyond what I could offer her. I would not put the brunt of the blame on fate for it was my decision too to part with her. And finally 27th of August, 2009 – a day I never wanted to face in my life dawned. The last place I met her to send her off was at a place opposite to the Nirchis Pizza on the Vestal road. She then embarked on her way to Texas as I bid goodbye.

PS 1: The ‘She’ here is actually my HP notebook which I have sent to the company for replacing the thermal sink which is not working fine now. Too much of heat(ed) (confrontations) being generated. The meetings that turned professional refer to all the assignments and stuff done using the laptop rather than the much relished chattings and orkuttings!
It’s like a hand lost – without a laptop, gosh, how could things run around?? How could I keep checking the numerous number of e-mails that flood my mail box (yet causing the count of e-mails to remain statically glued to the same number that I saw the last time I checked my mails)? How could I keep track of the latest Airtel Super singer junior on Vijay TV?
I hope I get back my laptop in better condition soon. Please pray for her to return to me safely! :P

PS 2: I said this was my first love, not the only love in Binghamton ;)

From CET Times

College of Engineering, Trivandrum (a.k.a. CET), also referred to as the King of Engineering Colleges in Kerala, has had a profound influence on me. I belong to the 2004 mechanical batch, and as Royal Mexx, we always have the ‘lion's share’ of everything in college. Some anecdotes from this temple of engineers on its 70th year –

First signs of a group of engineers-to-be talking with each other way back in Nov 2000. Yes, that was when my college commenced. First days at college were really exciting, not because of the engineering techniques I would master here, but for various reasons which would unfold during the course of this blog.

Photos Courtesy: Anoop MR, another CET-ian

College always started at 9 in the morning. I would reach college by about 8:50 (provided I got the college bus on time!) and stroll into the college cafeteria for breakfast. We were a gang of four – 2 from Mechanical, one from Industrial and one from Electronics & Commn. Much part of the enjoyment at the canteen during breakfast was when the canteen-in-charge (loving referred to as “Prem annan”) would try to hoax us into buying ‘thayir vadai’ (which is vadai soaked in curd) claiming it to be the healthiest breakfast as served in IITs, a place he had never been to nor met anyone from. Tactics are that these were left-over vadais from the previous days evening snacks, carefully dipped into a very sour white liquid (so-called curd), and passed on the next day. We were already there the previous evening for our quota of snacks, and have already taken note of the left-overs! Would we want to take a chance with the ‘IIT breakfast’? ‘No Prem annan, we’ll surely have it later some time ;-)’

A quick stroll around the main lobby of the college at 9 would give us indications if the college is set for a strike that day, else quietly enter the classes for the first hour attendance. First hours usually tend to see a very haphazardous class, mostly assignments being written from each other. One hour into college, and we all know how much more to write to complete our assignments. Attending the next couple of hours no longer would do good to complete our assignments, and we slowly spread out, but surely out of the class. Not-so-busy days (which mostly was that way) would be spent playing cards during the free hours either in the class or inside the Acassia forest. It was a much sought after place in the college by the male population for not only the shade it provided for playing cards as well as taking a short nap, but also for the close proximity it had to the LH (Ladies Hostel). And if there was a cricket match on a day, praise the lord, the professors could rather take their attendance at the sallap tea stall !!

Come afternoons - my preferred place for lunch was the cafeteria for who else would provide a wonderful meal for just Rs. 8. Please do not ask me about the veg. biryani they served, delicious like the ‘thayir vadai’ I have already mentioned ;-) Once my lunch was done, it was customary for the Royal Mexx to get together at the ‘Mexx Corner’, a primary location inside the college where no student from another department dare come close to. It is just opposite the Acassia trees, and so you could guess why we have generously taken charge of this strategic position for generations together. :D

Chit-chats, vaai-nottam (bird-watching), ‘panjara-adi’ etc. mark a much busier college at 4 PM when waiting for the buses to drop us back home. As the sun sets, we await dawn, to get back here for the morning breakfast.

Out of this interesting life, things that have made CET a unique place and made it a lot more fascinating place to ‘live’ in are the College elections, the after-election fights, the strikes, the technical events, the various sports tournaments conducted, the college cultural fests, the campus placement seasons, and many more. Something that’s brought most of the batch together was the placements season – a set of 550 students striving to strike a point to the companies to make a living. The Konandrifications that prevail during this season is endless. It is during this time of the year that you see students beginning to refresh their command over the English alphabets, a time when simple things such as “Beggars are not choosers” would be better said as “Sorting on the part of mendicants must be interdicted” - a time to impress the corporate wizards!

A sense of healthy competition to better the others exists, days when the placed students would sit down late nights before the interview with the unplaced students giving mock interviews, words of encouragement, signs of brotherhood, hopes of good-luck, screams of joyous moments, a potpourri of everything that marks the beginning few months of a final year at college.

A year back, when in the third year, tradition would have it for us to conduct all shows at college – be it the elections, the cultural fests, and anything. Final year is a lot more relaxing and nice to see the various events taking place, a time to sit back and enjoy the hard work put in by our juniors, a time to act as mentors and Godfathers to a bunch of 1500+ students who look up to you for all that reputation and experience you have earned as a CET-ian. A time when you sit back to relish and recollect the various moments that carved the 4 yrs of life in CET.

And the best part is the final week at college, it’s a ‘demo week’ when final year students dress in various attires each day, a Black day, a ‘pandi’ day (red, green and yellow dresses), school day (dressed in school uniform) and so on. A search for "CET demo week" in youtube would give you some of the best results!! A statutory warning always comes with this when you dare to watch the videos – “Viewer’s risk” :P

Days when responsibilities were 0%, time pass was 100%, when seriousness and life meant nothing more than enjoyment and hanging around with friends. Suddenly it was all May 31st 2004, the last day of our exams. Even as exams ended by noon, most of us roamed about the campus to get a glimpse of the last moments of our CET life – until it was time for the last bus back home, a new journey to begin.

Those four years in CET will always be carved as one of the best times in life, that has taught me everything from mass cuts to extra classes, assignments to partying, cranks and engine shafts at the lab to the same in the hands for a fight, with of course, a mild dose of professionalism and engineering. Thanks CET.

A whole year outside my homeland

It has been a year now since I left my country to pursue my higher studies. It was 3:00 AM, August 7th 2008. I was sitting at the waiting lounge of the Chennai International airport waiting for the boarding call from Qatar Airways. I knew it was going to be close to an hour before they made a call. Having just completed the immigration formalities and the security check, there was nothing much for me to do as I sat in the lounge. I was going to make my first trip overseas, something I had not dreamt of until a few months back.

A little rewind will show that (thanks to Kurmi for such kind of phrases – all mechanical engineers will know what I refer to!), it was only in April 2008 that I put in my papers at UST Global for joining an MBA course at TAPMI. Soon after that, as I was serving my notice period there, I was lucky to get an admission into the State University of New York at Binghamton for doing my MS in Industrial and Systems Engineering. I then decided to take up the latter because of the ‘exposure’ (any interpretation allowed as a reader!) I might get as a result of a foreign education. All set and done, here I was at the airport lounge.

As I sat there, my mind was switching frames very frequently, between whether my choice of doing an MS over an MBA was the right one I was making in life? Is the decision of leaving behind my family a right choice? – I knew very well the pros and cons of going abroad that my father had told me when I decided to do my MS – life in the US is not easy, you are not going to think of coming back for some time at least, you are going to a place with a totally different culture, climate, etc. Well, it was my decision and my parents have always stood with me on my decisions. But was it all going to be reversible? Could I get back to my family? Could I be back in that same comfort zone I am used to? Time will answer

There was a sudden break of silence at the lounge - “Passengers traveling by Qatar Airways…. are requested to board through gate number…”, and I embarked the flight. I was all excited about my first overseas flight. Well, all my excitement came to a sudden stop when I saw that all air hostesses in the flight were East-Asians, while I was expecting American models to help me cross the pacific. First ball – and I was clean bowled. I sat there, grabbed some candies that the air hostess offered me, ate the food she gave me and off I went to sleep. Gosh, just imagine, it was around 5 in the morning and I had not slept all night. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Then it was all quick, my change of flight at Doha, landing at Washington DC followed by a midnight arrival at Binghamton Airport. Thanks to Akiev for making it to the airport to pick me up! Binghamton is an interesting place, and what interests me is how come this place be so different from the US I had imagined when I came from India. It’s basically a university town with its own merits and demerits, but I got accustomed to it soon. Classes began soon.

The first semester was not an easy one for me, for I had not been studying for the past 4 years. Three courses (of which 2 were core courses), 12 assignments, 3 take-home exams, 3 mid-term exams, 3 book reviews, 1 term paper, 2 term projects and 3 final exams – gosh all these in just 3 and a ½ months! Survived it! I am not mentioning anything about my research activities – that’s a different long story  I was thinking that statements like ‘grad school is not easy’ were just over-estimated statements, but now I realize it is not like that. You know what, I have not written an assignment on my own in my undergrad , and here they want me to write something on my own. Bhoo hoooo. Thanks to Special English course, it has helped me convert ‘active voice’ sentences to ‘passive voice’ ones and vice versa and escape the so-called crime of plagiarism!

Once the sem ended, I escaped Binghamton, and what a week that was in December! NJ, NYC, DC and some Virginia. Enjoyed a lot and that was when I saw some real US and some life on the roads! Dec – Jan were the coldest months here. Sem 2 started and same school, different courses (this time I had 3.3 courses!) and some work. The only motivation behind this sem was the fact that once it ended, I would be flying to India the very next day for my sister’s marriage! I went for the marriage in mid May, had some wonderful time with family and friends, and got back to work here. It is summer time here now (temp reached max of 28, whereas in TVM the min is around that range  ). But it’s okay, I am getting used to this kind of a funny weather, I am becoming ‘Americanized’!! Well, summer is not hectic with loads of work, and more staring down the pipe line.

I still remember September 7th, 2008 when I thought “OMG, it’s been one month since I came to the US, see how fast time flies”. Now I rephrase it – “A year has passed now; take me safely through all the tough times. Thanks Almighty!”

Missing India... I am currently listening to -

'Hello Dr.'

It has been a real long time since I talked to myself over this cyber space. One thing that has really interested me in this cyber property of mine is the fact that I get to read my mind here, even long after the thoughts have struck me and translated into words. You might then ask me why I haven’t blogged for quite a long time. Well, I was bogged down with other stuff that took to the driver’s seat that I had very little time for some self-retrospection. It’s been close to two long years, and a lot have moved around me. I am now in the US doing my masters at SUNY, Binghamton, NY. Over the last two years, you could say, a considerable time was spent on preparation to get to this place as well as sustaining my life here! Well more on my life in the US as a later blog, for now let’s get to business.

I am today overwhelmed by the honorary doctorate awarded to M.K. Stalin. Really guys, no sarcasm intended (please read otherwise, I am sure you will ;-)). In the line of great men who have received a doctorate by either pursuing research or having lived themselves for genuine reasons, this award comes as a big surprise. Yes friends, a real surprise in the sense that this has come very late considering the fact that actors like Vijay have been awarded this much earlier!! I am still wondering how come we, the citizens of India, still stand applauding to such political comics that continue. Now the tactics of promoting this ‘Dr.’ up the political ranks to a specially crafted position of a Deputy Chief Minister becomes obvious. More is sure in stock.

My mind flies off to a similar incident of creating a totally new position of the Deputy Prime Minister a few years back, and that time it was at the center of a so called democratic nation. Well, people (read as ‘influential’ politicians, since there are more timid and placid ones in the form of our present PM!) tend to use their position and power for rewriting the democratic rule. I have spent a lot of lengthy ‘office-tea-hours’ discussing why Vijay was awarded a doctorate. He is after all an entertainer who acts to make his daily living. I have watched Vijay movies, and have no comments to pass at this point of time (probably we could take it as a totally different blog).

I personally believe that there should be an unbiased body of intellects who scrutinize these candidates before the prestigious doctorate is awarded to them. After all, we should not be looking to belittle the intelligence of other deserving ‘Dr.s’.

Chuck they

“Bhaiya, theen lazzy laana… Dher lagega kya?”, was an eloquent yours truly’s question to a boy at a Punjabi Dhaba near over bridge on Monday 9:40 PM. “Bas dhas minute”, was his reply. I was very much complacent with myself not only for being able to converse 2 sentences on the trot in Hindi without any forethoughts, but also for being able to understand what he said at once!! Sooper cool.

Well, I was sitting along with Sriram and Jagadish at the Dhaba eating our dinner that night. We had just booked tickets for the 2nd show of Chak De India, parked our bikes at the SL theatre and made our way to the Dhaba, all assuming that we’d get back in time for the movie. But it was already 9:40, 10 minutes well over the time the movie would have started. Sriram and myself wanted to get to the theatre as quickly as possible, while a calm Jagadish was not as worried as we were; he had already seen the movie (he’s seen almost all movies to date and he’s now waiting for the next set of releases!!).

Well, the sole fact that we were getting late was because we had all planned for the movie only that late afternoon. And Jaggu and myself were planning to leave office by 5-5:30 so that we could spend time at the Shangumugham, then eat outside and then go for the movie. It again happens, as always, that whenever your’s truly plans and proposes, God disposes!! And this time God was just around in the form of my PL!! He came up with an urgent task that needed to be completed by end of day, and that too at 5 PM (guess that was already EOD, so probably he was referring to EOD at Dufai probably!!). Finally left office at 7:45 (Indian time this time!!)… reached home by 8:30… Sri and Jaggu came home by 8:50, and we reached the theatre, booked tickets, and came to this Dhaba for the food.

Being very fluent in Hindi (read otherwise…), I decided to sharpen my skills (my listening and understanding skills at Chak De India) by conversing with the Dhabha boy!! See how such Dhaba’s in trivandrum can work to your conveniences under such circumstances!!!

Finally we got back to the SL theatre complex. For those who do not know about SL theatres, it’s a theatre complex that houses 4 theatres inside. This could very easily be compared to the INOX and other multiplexes across the metros of our country, why, even abroad…!! It has an elegant elephant statue at the entrance that symbolizes a warm welcome. We got back there only by 10.. and the watchman had already locked the gates, and there was none in the vicinity.. Oh my God, lot of shoutings and screamings, and finally a person came up from inside and told us that there were no tickets available for any of the shows there.. We had a small conversation to convince him that we had already booked tickets, and had gone for our dinner. He finally let us in.

But this time around, we neither got in thru the entrance nor did we get time to get the elephant’s warm welcome – we simply dashed upstairs to the one screening Chak De.. finally we were in!! Thanks to the Dhaba boy for bringing the Lazzy on time and the watchman who had not dosed off before our return!!

By the time we located our seats in the dark, it was the one 3 rows from the back, and what more, the theatre was a very small one in width – it could house only 6 seats in each row, but had a length equal to that of any ordinary theatre.. it gave me the effect of watching the movie from inside a well!! To add more fun, we had two big huge men sitting in front of us, and any time the one in front swayed to one side, we’d all sway to the other!! And within moments of taking my seat, the Lazzy had taken it’s intended ‘dessert’ effect and started putting me doze off. But I resisted this, and concentrated hard on where we were with regard to the movie. With Jaggu’s knowledge in Hindi, and his pre-experience of this movie, I was able to get my footholds on the movie (I realized that the conversation at the dhaba really did not prove much!!)

But believe me, this movie’s worth a watch… one would really get the feeling of watching a hockey match all 2 ½ hours!!!

With Bollywood already having done a movie on cricket, and now one on hockey, I’d bet someone’s gonna try squash or golf next time!!

Tag-a dhimi thaa!!

It’s a great gesture of my friend Mathew to have tagged me, and this is my first tag!! It gives me something to write about without thinking much of a topic!! Here we go…

1. Pick out a scar you have, and explain how you got it.

Unable to ‘pick out’ the scar I have coz it’s embedded to my body, but lemme explain how I got it!!…. It’s the one I have on my right knee… it was a result of trying to ape my sister who walked downstairs thru every other step, some time ago when I was in my pre-kg classes. My legs then were too small to cover the distance you see, and it was Humpty Dumpty had a great fall!!!

2. What does your phone look like?

It looks something very close in functionalities to what Graham Bell invented (or was that a discovery??), and very close in semblance to hmmmm… errrrr…. a mobile fone…

3. What is on the walls of your bedroom?

Recently painted, so my father’s said ‘No’ to all stickers.. bhoo hoooo..

Just kidding… in fact I have a clock that’s stopped ticking for close to a year now.. and I am not inclined in changing it’s cell and knowing the time while sleeping.. I like sleeping for as much time as possible.. time shouldn’t be a barrier to good sleep and rest!! ;-)

4. What is your current desktop picture?

My home PC has a Shungumugham beach foto taken by me… Office PC – well they keep changing it every now and then, and since it’s been a week since I went to office now, I am not aware of the latest ‘desktop hot chicks’!!

5. Do you believe in gay marriage?

Nopes, not by any means…. Better to be normal... even that might drive me crazy!!!

6. What do you want more than anything right now?

A little more than what I actually want!!! ;-P

7 . What time were you born?

I don’t remember the time.. I was in full tension then, praying for a safe delivery, that I forgot to get a glimpse of my watch!!! Neways, I guess it was a good time!!! :-)

8. Are your parents still together?

Praise the Lord!!! ;-P

9. Last person who made you cry?

iyyo… I am unable to remember the last person who made me cry.. if anyone can, please tell me.. wanna give him a thrashing… hehe.. :-)

10. What is your favourite perfume / cologne?

Nothing in particular… anything mild in fragrance will do …

11. What kind of hair/eye color do you like in the opposite sex?

Black and black… I think that’s a lot pleasing to be gazing at!!!

12. What are you listening to?

The Countdown for the GSLV. It’s been postponed to 6:20 PM IST. Hope it takes-off!!

13. Do you get scared of the dark?

Never.. I only get scared when there is absence of light!!

(I feel I have started thinking in the same frequency of Newton and Einstein; am expecting the next Nobel prize soon ;-P )

14. Do you like painkillers?

No thanks, I prefer tea and biscuits in the evenings!! :-)

15. Are you too shy to ask someone out?

Yes, why take the risk in such cases…. :-D

16. If you could eat anything right now, what would it be?

Thayir saadam (curd rice)

17. Who was the last person you made you mad?

The call-taxi fellow in Chennai. Well, last week I was in Chennai, and was to a place by call-taxi (had asked for a drop back home also). On my way back, the clutch failed, and the taxi broke-down. The taxi driver called up for a replacement taxi, and half an hour later when we called up to enquire the status of the replacement taxi, the fellow at the other end of the phone’s asking me, ‘Did you ask for a taxi sir? We don’t have it registered here, and there isn’t one available now sir. I’d recommend you to take an auto rickshaw back home. Please pay the metre bill before disengaging the taxi that has been broken down’.

It was already 9 at night and I was close to 12 odd kms away from my destination!!! :-(

18. Who was the last person who made you smile?

My dad. We were discussing world economics then!! ;-P

And I am tagging Hari, Abhy, Paddy, Krish and anyone else who wants to take up this tag.