Losers !!!

Please....it is not audacious, it is not daring and it certainly is not well coordinated. Please stop the using terms that are reserved for when something is being protected, something is being rescued and something is being saved, all courageous actions. If someone wants to throw around adverbs and adjectives to describe the insanity that started it all and that is still unraveling at Mumbai, call it timid, call it cowardly and call it desperate (for attention). It does not take balls to walk into a crowded place and spray bullets all around and kill people. It does not require great degree of co-ordination to come prepared with arms and almonds, take unarmed people as hostages and remained holed up in some dark corners of a huge hotel, like some vampires afraid of the light, and count the seconds till their eventual and inevitable horrible deaths. So call them what they are. THEY ARE COWARDS. NOTHING MORE. NOT HOLY WARRIORS, NOT JIHADIS, NOT MILITANTS. PLAIN COWARDS. It is a waste of time and energy to even try to string together a rational argument/explanation for why such dastardly acts are perpetrated by ghastly ghouls. Oppression of minorities, Babri Masjid, Godhra incident, Mumbai riots and the aftermath bomb blasts - though these merchants of death try to cite the above reasons to incite a sense of shame and try to trip the country in guilt into thinking that, in some twisted way, it brought this all upon itself, make no mistake, this is not about retribution, this is not about revenge and this certainly is not about retaliation. This is about a bunch of losers, who have lost all purpose in life, trying to escape the misery in their own lives. And the only way they know - pulling down others with him, than pulling themselves up. For a little while, the losers have certainly managed to achieve their agenda. Yes, the entire country is awash with misery. Not because of the gloom or doom or even the prospect of it, but because of the natural human reaction to CARE about their fallen fellow beings, a trait that even the thoughtless animals possess, and something that these beasts have long lost. If anyone sees the country, and particularly Mumbai on its knees now, it is because it has bent down to feel sorry, express regret, and mourn alongside its fallen innocent and unwitting victims, and not because it has been BROUGHT DOWN to its knees. Losers, try to understand the difference between the two!

Idiots, you are not the first ones to launch a mindless attack and terrorize people into subjugation. Your ancestors, forefathers, and many others before came in from that same direction and have tried this irrational tactic from thousands of years, with waves and waves of invasions. This country is not new to attacks, and you are no different from them. (At least, some of those plunderers waged conventional warfares. They didn't hide in corners and shoot at the crowds from the dark). But in your puny minds, you failed to grasp a very simple fact. Your brethren Babar is no more, Ghajini is no more, Ghori is no more, Khilji is no more, but INDIA IS STILL HERE, and its people are still here, and its children and their children would still be here, proudly STANDING, long after you are gone. You are not misguided youth. Misguided youth torch buses and destroy government property, at worst. You are a frustrated lot. You are frustrated, because the rest of the world has left you behind, and marched towards progress on the road of betterment. You are frustrated because you don't see any prospect to look forward to, any hope on the horizon, in effect, any valid reason to live for. And so you take that frustration out on others. By killing others. You know what some people cursed with the same misfortune do in the country you attacked? They don't kill other people. At best, they curse their luck, and go on about their lives, as rag-pickers, as beggars, as bums. They do not cloak their impotence and frustration in some extreme interpretations of religious texts and go about massacring people. Your own religious text calls a Jihadi as a holy warrior, a pious soldier. But doing what you did, you are not pious, you are pitiful, and you certainly are not a warrior, you are, at best, a rabies stricken dog, which goes about biting and attacking people (and in the dog's defense, rabies infects the brain and its judgment. In your case, your interpretation of your religion proved to be your rabies).

All that you managed with your bullets and grenades, apart from taking innocent lives, is BRING A COUNTRY TOGETHER. Here is what is going to happen to the country and its people, after some of you are captured and some of you are mercilessly killed. NOTHING. The country will pick up the pieces, just like it has been doing from a long long time, and go about its way. The people will recover from the initial shock, and get on with their lives, just like they have been doing since eons. That is because terrorism, at best, can leave a scar, a scar that will mend and disappear with the passage of time. Terrorism cannot bring about a change of hearts, a radical revolution and herald in a new world you wished for where religious extremism is practiced and progress is turned back in time. It never had, and it never will, not here, not anywhere, and certainly not in civilized societies. You remain the pest you always were and always will be, that will be crushed under the foot of collective cause of like-minded agendas. The society recognizes you will not completely die off. As long as there is frustration, as long as there is false hope, as long as there are religious zealots spewing false prophecies, and importantly, as long as there is a loser pool that these false prophets can tap into, the society recognizes that attacks like these will continue, many more people will be martyred (you are not the martyrs, the people who are killed are the true martyrs, because their deaths would amount to something eventually, unlike yours) at the altar of freedom. The same city that you attacked many times before has become one of the important players in financial, social, political and cultural sectors in the world. And it has gone from strength to strength with each attack. And that alone should have given you an indication as to how hopeless your cause (if you can even call it that) is. And if you think, it is a masterstroke to target the guests of the country, and terrorize them into leaving the place, you know nothing about economics (among everything else). The entire world recognizes that this is not a problem of one country, one religion and one society. Just as your kind bandied together to become a border-less organization, the world is coming together to become a boundary-less society when dealing with your menace. In opening up the world that way, you forgot to realize that you cannot run anywhere, you cannot hide anywhere, no country will give you the protection and backing you seek without jeopardizing its own image and prospects in the eyes of the world. In effect, every ghastly action of yours is bringing the world one step closer. If prosperity does not bring the world together, this adversity certainly will. You false leaders may use the phrase - in the end, your agenda will be achieved - during your brainwashing sessions. But, the rest of the world does not use the term "In the end", there is no end here. We will prevail, and we will continue to do so and prosper, AT YOUR COST.

source - idlebrain.com

Losing my religion

The events of the last few weeks are freaking me out. Anil Kumble has gone, Sourav Ganguly will go, and the other three may not be far behind. I assume there is a large group of cricket fans in their mid-to-late 20s, like me, who are grappling with the implications. This transition is messing with our minds.

Let me explain. For many of us cricket began in November 1989. Pictures of what went before are too hazy. I remember Allan Border lifting the World Cup but don't recall what I was doing then. So I can't connect Australia's World Cup win to my own life.

Sachin Tendulkar spoilt us. He commanded that we sit in front of the television sets. He ensured we got late with homework, he took care of our lunch-break discussions. He was not all that much older than us, and some of us naïve schoolboys thought we would achieve similar feats when we were 16. We got to 16 and continued to struggle with homework.

Then came Kumble and the two undertook a teenager-pampering mission not seen in India before. Tendlya walked on water, Jumbo parted seas. Our mothers were happy that we had nice heroes - down-to-earth prodigy and studious, brilliant bespectacled engineer. They were honest, industrious sportsmen, embodying the middle class.

When we thought we had seen everything, they reversed roles - Tendlya bowled a nerve-wracking last over in a semi-final, Jumbo played a match-winning hand with the bat. We were such spoilt brats that we pined for openers and fast bowlers. We cursed the side for not winning abroad. Such greed.

Economists would probably have predicted the bursting of the bubble. We had a deluge instead. One fine day at Lord's we got a glimpse of two new saviours: Delicate Timing and Immaculate Technique. Suddenly my group of eight friends was split into two camps. You were either with Ganguly or Dravid. In that period we even took Kumble and Tendulkar for granted. It was adolescent indulgence taken to the extreme.

When we played cricket on the streets, we had a number of choices. Left-handers were thrilled, defensive batsmen were happy, extravagant stroke-makers were delighted, the short boys didn't need to feel left out anymore, spectacles became cool, and freaky bowling actions were no more laughed at.

In such a state of bliss did we live our lives. We flunked important exams, shed tears over girls, crashed bikes, had drunken parties, choked on our first cigarettes, and felt utterly confused about our futures. But every time we felt low, we had an escape route. One glimpse of Dada stepping out of the crease, or Jam leaving a sharp bouncer alone, or Kumble firing in a yorker, was an uplifting experience. So what if India lost? Could any of those Pakistani batsmen even dream of batting like Sachin or VVS?

I remember Ganguly and Dravid soaring in Taunton, mainly because it was the day I got my board-exam results. And boy, did that provide some much-needed relief. I remember Tendulkar's blitz against Australia in Bombay because my dad, who thought cricket was a waste of time, sat through every ball. So connected were these cricketers to my growing up.

Now, after close to 20 years, my generation needs to brace itself for this exodus. Some of my friends, crazy as this sounds, have been talking of needing to revaluate their own careers. Others are realising they need to recalibrate their childhood definitions of cricket. "Part of me just died," said a college friend who was the kind of extreme cricket buff who memorised scorecards. "No Dada, no Jumbo. I'm positive I'll stop watching after Sachin and Rahul retire."

These players were not only outstanding cricketers but also great statesmen. However hard they competed, they were always exceptional role models. Now we dread the next wave of brashness and impetuosity. Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth are talented cricketers, but there's no way anyone would want a young kid to emulate either. The younger crop seems worse - a visit to some of their Orkut and Facebook pages tells you enough - and things may only get cruder in a cricket world when you can make a million dollars in a little over three hours.

"Our childhood is ending," said a friend from school, and in some way he was probably spot on. Tendulkar's retirement may mean a lot of things to a lot of people, but for a generation of 25- to 30-year-olds it will mark the end of the first part of their lives. Switching on the television the day after will be a serious challenge.

A Few Good Men !!!

Young men in sport are always rightly granted a leniency that older men are not. So this autumn, at the first uncertain innings by India's cricketing aged, at the first legspin spell with no reward, one word will surreptitiously creep into every conversation. Retirement.

These men, whose names stay in the memory just behind family, are clearly older as athletes, their skills fading gently like the evening light, but the question always is: how much of The Gift remains? The faithful will say, look at thousands of runs, hundreds of wickets, behind them. The critics will say: precisely, greatness is behind them. Should they go, stay, wait, make a deal? There is no perfect end anyway to a sporting life. Maybe only a Pete Sampras or a Michael Schumacher got close on that evening at the 2002 US Open or the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Every day pragmatism and sentimentality collide in India's cricketing universe. Once, I incorrectly thought Sachin Tendulkar should retire, then I changed my mind, now I just watch. Goodbye is awfully hard, for them and us, but it is getting closer.

We met the Great One in 1989, when he introduced himself to us. Tendulkar may have two children, but for my generation he is always favourite son.

Then the rest came. In 1990, The Precise One, a scholarly warrior who unveiled his spinning craft with devotion.

In 1992, The Defiant One, a steely, stylish man of amusing, aristocratic belligerence.

In 1996, The Intense One, cricket's student who batted like a monk upholding a vow of discipline.

And finally The Elegant One, who was a Japanese haiku master in a previous life.

They were, and are, our champions, our companions, our obsessions, our sporting best days and our very worst, a part of the calendar of our lives. Whenever life seemed to get away from us, when the water dried in the tap on a hot day, and bosses stank, there was always them.

But if these men once exuded a certainty, now it is less so. Confidence comes, then it dries. Tendulkar has no control over his body's misbehaviour, Rahul Dravid no idea why technique abandoned him for a while without even a farewell note, Ganguly no certain explanation why timing briefly eluded him. Mind and body are in a slow divorce. These men have fought and defeated everything: selectors, derision, pitches, Australians, but age is beyond beating. Of course there are five-wicket hauls left in them, and strong centuries, and even great series, but they will arrive at a slower frequency. So why not go, leave to an applauding nation; why sit, in cricketing middle age, alone at home, as Ganguly must have, waiting for a phone call? He was reprieved, but still it's intriguing how many heroes become tragedies.

Competition is an addiction that keeps them here, that brings them back, an addiction so deep that even the perfect ending is somehow imperfect. In a way, this makes sense: how can finishing what you love most ever be satisfactory?

But in sport the fairytale ending is mostly an illusion. It can happen to a Steve Waugh but not more. Mostly men just fade from the memory. Or exit a shambles. Or go to a sigh of relief as Kapil Dev did. From our safe distance in jobs where we can work till we're 60, where no public calls for us to go, it is wondered: why do they still play, what for, what's left, aren't there enough runs and rupees? It is, in fact, an ignorant question: they play because they love it, because they ache for competition, because they don't do anything else as well, because they can still play. They achieved greatness because they believed in themselves, because they didn't give up, because they were problem solvers, it's inscribed in their DNA; so perhaps we can't expect them now to suddenly stop believing, give up, run from the problem.

Competition is an addiction that keeps them here, that brings them back, an addiction so deep that even the perfect ending is somehow imperfect. In a way, this makes sense: how can finishing what you love most ever be satisfactory?

Athletes arrive at greatness by believing, then proving, they are better than the rest. Muhammad Ali just had the chutzpah to say aloud what his kind think: I am the greatest. A Michael Schumacher would haughtily say to his interrogator in Japan in 2003 "I know pretty much every single manoeuvre in the book and that's why I'm the best at my job." For such men to admit they're not good enough, that other men (in the cricketers' case, younger men) are better, is indigestible. When they go, eventually, they'll gallantly say, "It's time to make way for younger men," but they're not really in the giving-way-to-anyone business. They've built their lives by leaping and scrambling over others.

And so these men play. They were good enough to be the best in India; now they must remain good enough to play for India. They have changed. They might compromise, gently and subconsciously: where once 80 was a minimum, now they might settle for 20 fewer. This deal is somewhat understandable. What is not is the appalling suggestion that they will be "accommodated" in the team as long as they agree to retire soon, so as to be given a fitting send-off. It puts individual before team, and these men surely will not stand for it.

They are exceptional, these five, great players and good men, and this is not easily found in sport. There is a reluctance now among sports people to play the role model, as if it is some unreasonable, excessive burden, but these men wore that responsibility with a fine dignity at most times. India is lucky to have had them.

I am less enamoured of world cricket these days. It is a noisy game, full of boastful official chatter, where manners on the field have become disposable, and Twenty20 threatens to derail everything else. The best love affairs, anyway, come in our youth, and these men I grew up with. Always I watched them. Now especially, even though occasionally it is painful to see them lurch and stagger, feet mixed up and bat late. But I have to watch. Because they're Great, Precise, Defiant, Intense, Elegant. Because soon enough, a few months, a year, whether they walk away or must be pushed, there will be an Indian team without the names Tendulkar, Ganguly, Dravid, Laxman, Kumble. Imagine that? I'd rather not.

Using Remote Desktop on Vista Home Premium

Steps to Add Remote Desktop to Vista Home Premium:

1. Download termsvr.zip here
2. Extract Termsvr.zip to a temp directory
3. Start "Command Prompt" in Administrator mode (Run As Administrator)
4. Run the corresponding batch file for your Vista edition
5. Allow TCP Port 3389 on Windows Firewall or any other firewall product.
6. Done

Its a bloody joke !!!

Thirty-two months after an Indian Institute of Technology professor was killed on the campus of the Indian Institute of Science and twenty-four months after the horrifying blasts in the heartline of Mumbai (the local trains), 'terror' returned to the pensioners' paradise that no longer is, shortly after lunch on Friday afternoon.

The question is not why Bangalore or Ahmedabad, but why did it take so bloody long?

Seriously.

Why did it take so long for these smart-asses to set off around twenty bombs just as people were readying themselves for the weekend, when they could have done it yesterday, or day before, or last week, or last month?

The rocket scientists dressed as 'intelligence sources' and 'security experts' are already busy adding one and one and making it eleven: It was a Friday and then Saturday. It happened at 1.30 pm or shortly thereafter. Ergo, you know who was behind them. Those bearded, fez-wearing, menacing-looking guys who procreate like hell, send their children to madrassas, and receive their cheques from strange places.

Any time now, the state government will start blaming central intelligence agencies for not alerting them. The Centre, in turn, will blame some unpronounceable outfit whose benefactors are across the border. By primetime, the prime minister (depending on the toll) will make a macho statement something to the effect of 'We will not cow down to terror.' The Union home minister, whose very sentence-construction sends terrorists scurrying for cover, will pronounce that 'such incidents will not deter the government from pursuing its policy of dealing with terrorists in a resolute manner.'

Tomorrow morning, the Congress which is in the Opposition in Karnataka will blame the BJP which is in power for being interested in anything but governance. The BJP in turn will blame the Congress for revoking POTA and making this a 'soft State.' Editor types will stand up and say it is time for 'moderates' to speak out.

And just when the TV guys were rubbing their hands in glee that something finally had happened to keep them busy over the next 36 hours, bam, the toll is just forty. How do they fill 'We, the People' and 'Big Fight' and 'Weekend Edition' this weekend?

Yes, it sounds all too flippant.

Forty people have been killed in two cities in two days, several more injured, how can we be so joyful and jokey about such a serious 'menace' like terrorism that is 'eating into the vitals of our system' and taking 'innocent lives'?

We would.

If they would.

The truth is security in India is a joke. You know it, the terrorists know it, it's just that our political and administrative and police masters think that we don't.

So, like Pavlov's pups, we are supposed to feel concerned about what happened in the 'IT capital' on Friday afternoon and the 'cloth capital' on Saturday evening; we are supposed to slam terrorism 'in no uncertain terms'; we are supposed to light a candle in our hearts and mourn.

For what?

Truth is we have been there, done that, and bought the lousy blood-stained T-shirt several times before: In Hyderabad, in Bombay, in Delhi, in Jaipur, and not necessarily in that order.

And you don't need rocket scientists dressed as 'intelligence sources' or 'security experts' to tell you that it will happen again in Hyderabad, in Bombay, in Delhi, in Jaipur, and not necessarily in that order, some time soon.

The truth is security in India is a joke. Unfortunately, it is on you.

Feeling better !!!

Feeling much better compared to last week... hopefully should update this blog on this weekend

Bored !!!

For those who are wondering why this blog has not been updated, let me declare that I am absolutely bored and in no mood to blog.

Currently the only quote applicable to my life is -

"Reality continue to ruin my life" ~ Calvin

Enjoy !!!

A long time ago, there was an Emperor who told his horseman that if he could ride on his horse and cover as much land area as he likes, then the Emperor would give him the area of land he has covered. Sure enough, the horseman quickly jumped onto his horse and rode as fast as possible to cover as much land area as he could. He kept on riding and riding, whipping the horse to go as fast as possible. When he was hungry or tired, he did not stop because he wanted to cover as much area as possible. Came to a point when he had covered a substantial area and he was exhausted and was dying. Then he asked himself, "Why did I push myself so hard to cover so much land area? Now I am dying and I only need a very small area to bury myself."

The above story is similar with the journey of our Life. We push very hard everyday to make more Money, to gain power and recognition. We neglect our health, time with our family and to appreciate the surrounding beauty and the hobbies we love. One day when we look back, we will realize that we don't really need that much, but then we cannot turn back time for what we have missed.

Life is not about making money, acquiring power or recognition. Life is definitely not about work! Work is only necessary to keep us living so as to enjoy the beauty and pleasures of life. Life is a balance of Work and Play, Family and Personal time. You have to decide how you want to balance your Life. Define your priorities, realize what you are able to compromise but always let some of your decisions be based on your instincts. Happiness and love is the meaning and the purpose of Life, the whole aim of human existence. Selfishness and hatred means darkness and sorrow of life.

So, take it easy, do what you want to do and appreciate nature.

• Life is fragile, Life is short.
• Do not take Life for granted.
• Live a balanced lifestyle and enjoy Life!
• Take regular breaks, enjoy Silence, enjoy Nature, enjoy YOURSELF!!!!!

Verse of the Week !!!

Fight one more round - James Corbett

When your feet are so tired that you have to shuffle back to the center of the ring,
fight one more round.

When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard,
fight one more round.

When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black & you are so tired that you wish your opponent would crack you on the jaw and put you to sleep,

fight one more round - remembering that the man who fights one more rounds is never whipped.

-- Good luck !!!

Quotes of the Week !!!

With the busiest week in the spring semester, I was unable to post the quotes and the verses for past week. However, continuing from where I left off 2 weeks ago, here goes the five quotes for the week ...

1. We are what we repeatedly do; Excellence is then not an Act but a Habit - Aristotle

2. Obstacles are those frightful things when you see when you take your eyes off your Goal - Henry Ford

3. Study as if you were to live forever; Live as if you were to die tomorrow - Mahatma Gandhi

4. We cannot prepare the future of our youth, but we can certainly prepare our youth for the future - Anonymous

5. To become what we are capable of becoming is the only end of life .... - Benedict Spinoza

--
See you next week !!!

Awesome Quote !!!

History is made by those who break the rules !!!

Keep Going !!!

One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
'God', I said. 'Can you give me one good reason not to quit?'
His answer surprised me...
'Look around', He said. 'Do you see the fern and the bamboo?'
'Yes', I replied.
'When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.
'In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit.'

He said. 'Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant... But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.'

He said to me. 'Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots. I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. Don't compare yourself to others ..' He said. ' The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern ... Yet, they both make the forest beautiful.'

Your time will come, ' God said to me. ' You will rise high!'

' How high should I rise?' I asked.

'How high will the bamboo rise?' He asked in return.

'As high as it can? ' I questioned.

' Yes. ' He said, 'Give me glory by rising as high as you can. '

I left the forest and bring back this story.

I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.

He will never give up on you.

Never regret a day in your life.

Good days give you happiness

Bad days give you experiences;

Both are essential to life.

A happy and meaningful life requires our continuous input and creativity.

It does not happen by chance.

It happens because of our choices and actions.

And each day we are given new opportunities to choose and act and, in doing so, we create our own unique journey.

Keep going...

Happiness keeps you Sweet, Trials keep you Strong, Sorrows keep you Human, Failures keep you humble, Success keeps You Glowing, but Only God keeps You Going!

Verse of the Week !!!

Smile

A smile enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give.

It takes a moment but its memory sometimes lasts forever.

None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, none so poor but he can be made rich by it.

A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, & is the countersign of friendship.

It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad & is nature's best antidote for trouble.

Yet it cannot be borrowed or stolen , for it is something of no value to anyone unless it is given away.

Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as no one needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.

--

See you next week !

Quotes of the Week !!!

Ok, here go the 5 quotes of the Week.

1. It is in the moments of decision that your destiny is shaped - Anthony Robbins

2. Faith is to believe what you do not see yet; the reward for this faith is to see what you believe - St. Augustine

3. Success doesnt mean the absence of failures; it means the attainment of the ultimate objective - it means winning not every battle but winning the War - Edward Bliss

4. Dreams are dime a dozen... Its their execution that counts - Theodore Roosevelt

5. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step - Lao Tsu

--

Check back again next week !

Gajra 2008 - A memorable evening !!!

Last Saturday (April 5th), I attended my first ever program for the DFW Marathi Mandal - "Gajra" - and must admit, I was totally spellbound by the performances. Before going into those, I must say that I am impressed that there is a sizeable number of Maharashtrians in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. This Marathi Mandal has been functional for quite some time and having seen their organizational skills and the honest efforts of some senior members (Rane kaka, Pandit kaka, and a whole lot of others), I must admit I plan to attend all their functions in the coming months during my stay here in Texas.

So now to "Gajra". A 2-hour show that felt like just a small time due to the astounding performances given by 4 legends. We were lucky to not only witness them perform live, but also talk to them off-stage and chat on a normal level and also click some snaps.

Sudhir Gadgil

This man needs no introduction. He has recently completed 30 years in the field of Marathi media and he regaled the audience with his funny anecdotes, awe-inspiring experiences, and some real interesting observations.



Smita Talwalkar

This lady (though she prefers to be called a 'girl') has seen and done it all. The first lady to venture into Marathi film production and distribution, an amazing actress, a news reader and a wonderful human being. She had the audience in splits with her experiences in the fields on acting, producing, film-casting, and film-distributions. And she is amazingly proud of her upbringing and the fact that she is from 'Huzoorbag' in Pune.



Deepak Deshpande

The holder of the coveted 'Hasyasamrat' title on Zee Marathi, a professor by profession, and a magnificent human. His mimicry was top notch and he not only covered actors such as Nilu Phule, Sriram Lagu and Prabhakar Panshikar, he also mimicked politicians such as Sharad Pawar. His observational skills were seen at their very best when he mimicked the voices heard at locations such as ST stops, railway stations, and even airports in Japan.



Tyagraj Khadilkar

The winner of the first 'Sa Re Ga Ma' on Zee TV, and a wonderful singer and composer, he was the star of the evening. From mesmerizing everyone with his renditions of 'Omkara Swarupa' and 'Doul Morachya', to magnificently mimicking the voices of Kumar Gandharva, Ghulam Ali, and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, and even Dada Kondke, his performances were top-notch. And a special performance in which he sang in 3 different voices at the same time (Mehmood, Kishore Kumar, and Manna Dey) to sing the very difficult 'Chatur Naar' from 'Padosan', simply brought down the house.



I tried to record a small video of his mimicry of Dada Kondke which can be seen at -



All, in all, a magnificent evening !!!

Verse of the Week !!!

From this week I plan to add a 'verse of the week'. Since its the onset of a new year, its the perfect time to start a new dimension to the blog. Let me make it clear that not all verses are written by me so dont think of me as some great philosopher or poet...

Heres the first one ...

A Creed for Those Who Have Suffered

I asked God for strength to achieve. I was made weak so that I might learn humbly to obey...

I asked for health to do greater things. I was given infirmity so that I might do better things...

I asked for riches to be happy. I was given poverty so that I might be wise...

I asked for power to be praised by men. I was given weakness so that I might feel the need of God...

I asked for all things to enjoy life. I was given life so that I might enjoy all things...

I got nothing I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I, among all men, am most richly Blessed ...

Quotes of the Week !!!

Ok, I am back with my quotes of the week. The lazy person in me still does not permit me to post the 'quote of the day'. Hence here goes 5 quotes for the coming week ...

1. It is when we have given more than what has been asked out of us, that we have given our best - Anonymous

2. Belief is the thermostat that regulates our accomplishments - Anonymous

3. There is nothing permanent but change - Mahatma Gandhi

4. Two roads diverged in a wood; I took the one less traveled by others and that has made all the difference - Robert Frost

5. I am not discouraged by failure since every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward - Thomas Edison

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Check back again for next week's quotes !!!

Gudi Padwa

As another new year dawns on us, here is little trivia about Gudi Padva obtained from different sources on the Web. Right now, I am doing it manually; however, if my PhD thesis realizes into something good, this can be done automatically.

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Gudi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month. Gudi Padwa is celebrated as the New Year day by Maharashtrians.

Houses are cleaned prior to the festival. Colourful rangoli designs are drawn at entrances. New clothes are worn on this day. There is a family gathering and Maharashtrian delicacies are prepared for everyone. The Maharashtrians make puran poli or sweet rotis, soonth pak and usal.

Traditionally, bittersweet leaves of the neem tree (kadulimbachi paane) are eaten on this day. A paste of crushed neem leaves, cumin seeds, jaggery and salt is taken before eating any food in the morning.

On this day, gudis are hung outside the houses or in the localities. A 'gudi' is a pole on the top of which an upturned brass or silver pot called a kalash is placed. The gudi is covered with a colourful silk cloth and decorated with marigold flowers, coconuts, and mango leaves that symbolize nature's bounty. Gudi is worshipped by offering sandalwood paste, turmeric and vermilion. Then, boys and young men of the locality form a pyramid and the person on top of the pyramid breaks the coconut which is in the kalash.

Gudi Padwa is considered a very auspicious day. New ventures are begun, house-warming poojas are performed, and people also may choose to buy gold, silver or property on this day. There are some elgends behind the celebration of Gudi Padwa. It is said that the Universe was created by Brahma on this day and Satyuga (The Age of Truth and Justice) began.

It is also believed that on this day, King Vali was killed by Rama and Shri Rama returned to Ayodhya victorious.

This is one of the 3 and a half days in the Hindu Lunar calendar, whose every moment is considered auspicious.

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So, here's wishing all readers of iBlog, a very happy Gudi Padva and a grand new year !!! Or in other words, "Nava varshachya hardik shubhechya !!!"

Life goes on ...

Definitely not written by me but still I can relate to some parts. Again, I am not the author and is just a copy-paste from somewhere...

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I hear curses...pinch myself...nope...not a dream. It's my roomie lying next to me and screaming. He's mad at my alarm going off at 6.30AM. Well, I can't help it if he sits up all night chatting with his friends, enemies and any other human being having a Yahoo ID! Ok...ok...I'll switch it off...slowly open my eyes, and I see my other roomie standing beside my bed.... bath towel around his waist, toothbrush in his mouth and giving me the look. "Wasn't it your turn to go to Walmart??...We are out of toilet paper!" Great! Looks like a fun filled day ahead.

After some quick formalities in the restroom, I manage to find a tee shirt among some pile of papers, popcorn and coffee cups. Thank God (well, actually, thank my roomie) for the deodorant! Time for a quick breakfast...as I enter the kitchen, my roomie walks out munching on a sandwich. "Forget it...that was the last one", he says half asleep. "What about cereals?" I ask. "Finished last week...there's some milk left...". Milk??...Only if I can find a cup in this jungle. Oh...forget it! One less breakfast won't reduce my life expectancy. I finally make my way out of the apartment not stepping on anyone or anything. As I walk out, I realize it's raining heavily. All I have on is a tee shirt and jeans. I stand there thinking of my options. I can either go back to bed or...hey! There's that guy living next door (don't know his name...they call him 'the guy with the car').

I see five guys wearing 5 layers of clothing, gloves, raincoats and under one umbrella...all walking towards his car. As he ! starts his car and fills up the parking lot with black smoke, I look at him and give him the best smile I could. "You need a ride?" he shouts out like a Hindi movie hero. Well, what do you think?, I say in my mind as I run towards his car. At least, I got to sit on someone's lap...much better than those worn out seats. Huffing and puffing, the car finally reaches school. I see all these people staring as six guys come pouring out of the car. I thank the 'guy with the car', when suddenly I hear this most gayish tune...something like a nursery rhyme I remember from two decades ago! It was his cell phone ringing.

Downloaded it yesterday, he tells me proudly and attends the phone. I hear words like..."talk faster"..."day time minutes"..."gas prices"..."classes"..."Priya needs a ride?"..."Sure no problem"..."on my way". As I walk towards the fridge (to be understood as our school building which likes to show off its air conditioning powers), I can see my friend, the 'guy with the car' pull out of the parking lot and driving off...DDLJ music blaring out of his 5 W speakers...with other noises from the car making it sound like a badly made remix....Some girl somewhere needs a ride I guess.

My brain starts to work as soon as I enter the Fridge. I was supposed to meet my proff today...oh well...I am only 10 minutes late and he must be getting used to it by now. After the meeting, I run to the computer lab and find myself a PC. Man, anyone who walks past the lab might think that the Chinese and Indians are so dedicated and hardworking and determined and studious...but only the privileged few know that while the Chinese are use the lab times to be dedicated and hardworking and everything else, the Indians are busy strengthening family bonds around the globe. (I would like to take a second here to thank that cool software that can integrate yahoo, rediff and msn messengers all into one!). After exactly an hour, I just have one more (out of the six) e-mail account to check. As I walk out of the lab, I see this human traffic heading for the exit. My proffs, the department secretary, janitor...I see all of them heading out. I look down at my watch and realize its 12...time for lunch.

'Lunch'- a word I knew before reaching this country. As long as the Civil Department offers courtesy coffee, I don't need lunch. I see my roomie by the vending machine, standing there like a lion waiting for his next victim. Finally, it happens. Two unsuspecting desi guys walk towards the machine. One of them - a nerd doing his Ph.D. is bragging about his research on developing an adaptive control chart to eliminate the difficulties of using a standardized control chart to control processes to his friend who is also doing a Ph.D. ,...well, ...to keep his visa status alive. As soon as they get their chips and cookies out of the vending machine, the lion ...oops!...my roomie goes to them and I see his hands disappear into the packs of food. Well, at least he knows to keep himself healthy (or should I say...filled??). After taking a one hour 20 minute nap in class, I pick up my assignments and head straight for the lab. You see, the probability that someone somewhere would have sent me a mail in the last two hours is quite high. And then it strikes

me again. I was supposed to meet a proff for chances on funding. Maybe another day. After deleting the twenty forwarded mails that reached my inbox in the last two hours, I walk back home, catching a glimpse of those flashy cars zooming past me. Someday...I think...

As I open the door to my apartment, I see my roomie sitting with a bottle of Corona and watching an Amitabh movie for the twentieth time??!! I tell him something's burning in the kitchen. "Don't worry...its aalu sabji...its for dinner", he comforts me. Aalu...again??

I ask myself as I find a spot to place my shoes. "Where's my laptop?", I hear a shout from the bedroom. "Check in the laundry basket", I hear a reply from the restroom. "Get off the phone...I wanna use the Internet!"..."Hey, its boiling in here...which chu**** switched on the heater??". My roomies...they are all here. "Lets all clean up the place", I say...hmmm...maybe they didn't hear me. I say it once more..."Lets all clean up the place", a bit louder this time. "Assignment due tomorrow!"..."headache"..."midterm day after"..."Aunt's cousin's friend online!"... come the replies! Oh well...might as well do it myself...

After I make some quick phone calls to my friends spread over from Alaska to Florida and also using up the last two minutes of my phone card to India, I decide its time for bed. I slip under my comforter cum sleeping bag cum bed spread and slowly doze off...thinking of sports cars, rock music, hot girls...and all the good things I used to think about while standing in line for the visa, under the scorching Chennai sun, outside the American consulate....

Life goes on...

Nostalgia

We have bid our farewells with teary eyes to our mothers.
We hugged our fathers and left without turning back.

We all came here, some long time back and some recently.
We all were alone in the beginning.
We missed our mothers cooking.
We missed the vada pavs on the road side.
We missed those days when we gathered with friends at a Cafe Coffee day and spent hours on silly but yet fun chats.

We missed that girl, whom we used to see daily in the bus, who may have smiled at us,who may even have talked to us in that angelic voice, if only we had the courage to talk. Most of us grew out of it over here. We all made new friends.

We all clung to each other. We watched countless movies.
We even learnt to cook and throw pot luck parties where we always played Antakshari.
We confess that we even smiled at those beautiful girls across the street.
We all took trips to India; some annually, some less frequently.
We all tracked the "sale" events at Sears and KMart.
We all went to Indian Grocery Stores, and bought Rice and Rotis.

Now what do we do? We all work in software, we go to the local temple to socialise, we attend movie screenings, and argue countless times that Honda Accord is better than Toyota Camry or vice versa. At times, late night before falling asleep we switch on the stereo and listen to that old Hindi melody or even Pula Deshpande which makes us remember the land that was ours. We recall the green grass, the muddy roads, the wet monsoons, the pretty girls that we never talked to.

We hear the words speaking to us from across the oceans:

A Mother who gave sour medicine to her son, because she wanted him to recover soon,who let her son move miles apart though the thought was tearing her apart, she let him go as she wanted him to be happy and successful, who hides her agony in telling others that her son is abroad.

A Father who understands his son's ambitions and the limitation and frustration he has to overcome of in India, who would not let his voice reveal that says "I'll miss you son !, I love you but am unable to express the feeling".

A sister who would not have her adoring one to escort her to help her out of troublesome situations, who knows she has to send 'Rakhi' by post,who wishes he would turn up for her wedding, if not atleast to fondle her baby that longs for a MAMA's (Uncle's) love & affection.

A friend, who is left with mundane tasks, unable to exchange the chirpy jokes & comments, discuss various thoughts from family, friends, politics, & economics, who visits your home because he still remembers you not only on a day but everyday. Who would jump with joy on
receiving a mail, who tries to keep himself free for all the days when his friend is coming back on a holiday.

Whatever our roles, it is only to say that we still love and care for you, wherever you are,you are still dear to us. We don't know what you have to go through, we only know we have love & wishes to give for you. You might have learnt or the circumstances might have taught you to handle emotions and that time and work are more important than feelings and their expressions but we are still in India and are still the same, waiting and wishing for those who moved away from India,

INDIA - a land of love, emotion & sentiments....

Aai !!!

Again an emotionally touching article that was lying around on my hard disk for many months.... If you understand Marathi, this one will strike a chord somewhere deep inside the heart ... (again, click on the below image for a much bigger and readable version)

Quotes of the Week !!!

Since I am too lazy to blog daily, I've decided to put 5 quotes every week.

Let me start with my fav 2 and then 3.

1. 'Winners dont do different things, they do things differently' - Shiv Khera

2. 'Tough times dont last, but Tough people do' - Robert Schuller

3. 'Every adversity carries with itself the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit' - Napoleon Hill

4. 'Success depends on readiness for opportunity; opportunity may come by accident but readiness never does' - Rayburn

5. 'Nothing worthwhile was every accomplished without the will to start, the enthusiasm to continue, and the persistence to finish' - Waite Philips

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Check back again for next week's quotes !!!

Zindagi !

At the very outset let me make it clear that the following verse is not mine. I got it as an email forward but its something I relate very closely to. Just click on it for a bigger readable version. Here goes -

Bowl it one last time Glenn !!!

I must apologize since this is not a new blog. Actually I used to blog on Yahoo 360 for quite some time however somehow the 360 concept never appealed to me. And since Google is almost taking over our life (GMail, GTalk, GoogleCalendar, Orkut, Blogger, ...) it is natural that I blog on Blogger. Somehow I find this Blogger website more easier to blog than a 360 or a Live Spaces. Ok, enough of yada yada yada....

Here is the Ctrl+C and Cntrl+V (copy and paste for non-geeks) of my old blog from 360. This was posted during the 2007 world cup and although its been a year, I am happy I put it before the 2011 world cup gets underway....

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Trying to stream a world-cup semifinal between Australia and South Africa was a tough task. However, considering the quality of giants squaring up in the arena, it was worth the effort....or so I thought.This was a less than rousing affair. The trouble with Australian professionalism is that it has become such a cliché that even watching it at its calibrated best can be numbing. Glory be flaws.

Yet, with a little filter of nostalgia even these hours of unremitting lopsided excellence are able to take on some warmth. To watch the chuntering maestro Glenn McGrath at work was to see an entire era of wicket-to-wicket back-of-length menace flash before the eyes, the eternal hypnotic torture of it. We will get to see it once more on Saturday. Once more only.

Few cricketers have been at once so level as McGrath and yet able to find another one. In an over, in a spell, in a day, in a series, in a season, he seems always to be operating at his peak. Still he is continually rising to occasions. Remember his ball to Sachin at the '99 World Cup? The one to Lara?

Admittedly Ashwell Prince played the stroke of a paralysed man and Jacques Kallis' foolishness brought the best out of a fine yorker. The touch of the master was in the Mark Boucher dismissal. It was the classic McGrath incision, Halal if you will. Off stump and just outside, a bit of wobble and bounce, caught first slip. Equally McGrathian was the impact: big semi-final, opening spell, six overs, 3 for 14, South Africa 27 for 5. The man is two months after 37. He looks it too. Australians were asking for him to be put to pasture before the World Cup. There you go.

With the departure of McGrath, shortly after Warne and shortly before Gilchrist, an epoch in cricket would be completed. Expertly, precisely and more humorously than given credit for, the job has been done. McGrath leaves Australian cricket in a better shape than he found it and whether Australia will make the most out of it - well, only time will tell ...

Men of Honor

Just lazing around on a Friday evening with not much to do (kya karein, leg still not fully recovered) and wanted to see a good old movie. Didnt want to see a new one (or rather an unseen one) since too bored to follow the plot. Also exhausted all my stock of movies as well as tv shows such as friends, everybody loves raymond, etc. Hence, was trying to recollect a movie which I've seen (hence know the plot) but not seen so many times that I know it line by line (a la Andaaz Apna Apna). I suddenly recollected on movie which I had seen 3 yrs ago.

I remember when I was in NY after my MS, me and my roommates used to go to the public library and rent a ton of movies (the library allowed upto 10 movies over a week). Although dont remember all, some of the good ones we saw included - behind enemy lines, pink panther, james bond (almost all), jurassic park, ben hur, and of course - Men of Honor.

For some reason, I loved this movie. Since its a very popular movie, I wont post its review (google it if you want to know the review). However, I just recollect two memorable quotes from this movie that are motivating every time I read them. Here goes -

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Billy Sunday: Think you deserve to be here, don't ya? Fraternizing among navy men? Think you're as good as they are? How 'bout me, cookie? You better than me?

Carl Brashear: You're damn right I am!

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Carl Brashear: Forgive me sir, but to me, the Navy isn't a business. It's an organization of people who represent the finest aspects of our nation. We have many traditions. In my career, I have encountered most of them. Some are good, some not so good. I would, however not be here today were it not for our greatest tradition of all.

Captain Hanks: And what would that be, Chief Brashear?

Carl Brashear: Honor, sir
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Have a nice weekend !!!

Earth Hour: Hype or Necessity?

So tomorrow is Earth Hour. An hour in which some 20 odd famous cities of the world will shut down power for one hour to warn people about global warming. Was browsing through a number of news sites and saw diverse reactions from people. A number of reputed news agencies (although they were once reputed, now are nothing short of being tabloids) such as times of india, rediff, etc. have followed a typical blind man's approach and criticized about India's absence in this initiative.

When I read some of the biased articles I was amused though not surprised. After all most of these editors sit in air-conditioned offices, drive air-conditioned cars and again sleep soundly up in their air-conditioned houses. Maybe they are not aware of the buzz-word 'load shedding'. Many and I mean many cities in India have been subjected to load shedding in peak summer heat. No power for 5-10 hours a day in cities where temperatures soar above 35 degrees almost daily, where farmers are forced to shut down their activities since their farming equipments require power (which is not provided), and where students are expected to give exams in dingy classrooms with no lights or fan due to power cuts? Aren't these Indians doing their bit for global warming?

Besides if these tabloids are so concerned about global warming, let me ask this - why does Times of India spend so much power on lighting for the no-good filmfare awards? Couldnt they shut the crap out of the mouths of saif and shahrukh, wind up their show in 30 minutes and save power for more than 3 hours instead of wasting it on hideous crap?

So my simple answer to the question posed by these news sites as to why India didnt participate is - "The world may just follow earth hour, however thousands of families in India follow an earth day"

Life

As I sit in my chair with a sprained knee, torn ligaments and a muscle tear with not much work and lots of idle time, myriad thoughts crossed my mind. On one hand was the nostalgia of the time that flew, and on the other was the uneasy motivation of the time that has not yet arrived. Last November, I suffered a personal loss that can never be repaired. I did not just loose my uncle but in fact lost a friend, a guide, or simply put - a part of me. A number of such incidents over the past few months have helped me put life in the right perspective. Sometimes we get involved in our work to an extent that we begin to believe that work indeed is our life. However, it is NOT. In the midst of conference submissions, research progress, and university life, we tend to forget that after all there exists a life beyond all this. Many a times, we take things and sometimes even life for granted only to realize how shallow our thinking can be.

I am neither a philosopher nor a religious prophet, and I am sure even if I was the most wise person, I would never be able to answer the questions - 'what is life?', 'why are we here?', ' where are we in the bigger scheme of things?'. In the midst of this chaotic thoughts, I got a beautiful poem in my mailbox and decided it to put it here. It is a beautiful collection of words that really sum up the situation of life on the day when this will all end for us.

"When tomorrow starts without me, and I am not there to see,
If the sum should rise and find your eyes, all filled with tears for me,

I wish so much you wouldn't cry, the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things, we didnt get to say,

I know how much you love me, as much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too,

But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand,

And said my place was ready in Heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind, all those things I dearly love,

But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye,
For all my life I'd always thought, I didn't want to die,

I had so much to live for, so much yet to do,
It seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you,

I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad,
I thought of all the love we shared, and all the fun we had,

If I could relive yesterday, just even for a while,
I'd say goodbye and kiss you, and maybe see you smile,

But then I fully realized that could never be,
For emptiness and memories, would take the place of me,

And when I thought of worldly things, I might miss come tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow,

But when I walked though Heaven's gates, I felt so much at home,
When God looked down and smiled at me, from his great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity and all I've promised you,
Today your live on Earth is past, and here it starts anew,

I promise no tomorrow but today will always last,
And since each day is the same, there's no longing for the past,

But you have been so faithful, so trusting, and so true,
Though there were times you did some things you know you shouldn't do,

But you have been forgiven, and now at last you're free,
So won't you take my hand now and share your life with Me"

So when tomorrow starts without me, dont think we are far apart,
For every time you think of me, I'm right here in your heart...