I might sound like a saint or like swami vivekananda sayin these things to you. This blog is not fully my idea, but inspired by something I read. But as a message to a few of my troubled friends, I want to say them that there is hope and never to loose that. One always should know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and hte meaning of the other stages we have to go through. Everything is a phase and it will pass.
What matters, is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished.
Did you lose your job? Not getting into IJPs? Not able to change the position you are in? Relationship came to an end? Best friend quit talkin to you and you are not able to catch up? Lost some one very close? Fought with Parents? Spent the new year night at office?
You can tell yourself you wont take another step until you find out why certain things that were so important and so solid in your life have turned into udst, just like that. But such an atitude will be awfully stressing for everyone involved: Your parents, your husband or wife, friends, childern, brother, sister etc.,.,
Everyone is finishing chapters, turning over new leaves, getting on with life and they will all feel bad seeing you at a standstill.
Things pass, and the best we can do is to let them really go away.
That is why it is so important (However painful it may be!) to destroy souvenirs, move, give lots of things away to orphanages, sell or donate the books you have at home, dress up yourself, catchup with old friends, take up a travel etc..,.,
.
Everything in this visible world is a manifestation of the invisible world, of what is going on in our hearts – and getting rid of certain memories also means making some room for other memories to take their place.
Let things go. Release them. Detach yourself from them.
Nobody plays this life with marked cards, so sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Do not expect anything in return, do not expect your efforts to be appreciated, your genius to be discovered, your love to be understood.
Stop turning on your emotional television to watch the same program over and over again, the one that shows how much you suffered from a certain loss: that is only poisoning you, nothing else.
Nothing is more dangerous than not accepting love relationships that are broken off, work that is promised but there is no starting date, decisions that are always put off waiting for the “ideal moment.”
Before a new chapter is begun, the old one has to be finished: tell yourself that what has passed will never come back.
Remember that there was a time when you could live without that thing or that person – nothing is irreplaceable, a habit is not a need.
This may sound so obvious, it may even be difficult, but it is very important.
Closing cycles. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because that no longer fits your life.
Shut the door, change the record, clean the house, shake off the dust.
Stop being who you were, and change into who you are.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! KEEP SMILIN :)
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
2 sets of 3 Idiots
3 Idiots! This isnt related to the movie! But somewhat relevant. Nandan, Bharat and me are the characters here and we are on our Entrepreneur Quests and a story on how we made stuff happen so far. I want this documented/blogged so that tomorrow, this story will be of a lot of value and reminds me of glory days.
It was the Summer of 2003, I stepped into BHS for my graduation degree in Electronics. Noisy class, boys shouting as usual, Girls, glamor, and lots of fun was a daily story. A lot of us went on to become the prestigious Middle Row Boys (MRB), patented by Bharat, and we were the kind of boys who were always under the scanner, always full of Action and activity. We were all upset about 1 thing, and that was in common we did not get through to the Favourite Engineering Course, either for less marks, or ranking or cuz of financial reasons, dad thought this was a better course or due to lack of self confidence we had dreamt about but we landed in this college. So our main aim was to make this place the best of our memories and learning. MRB involved Suraj ), Sujay, Chetan, Shankar, Me, Nandan, Bharat, Late Sidda, Ravi, Vinod, Chandu, Ferrari (srinath).,.,etc.,., Well they all have their nick names which I am not mentioning here, if I did, then I wouldn't be safe :) (kidding) but their nick names are hilarious and dont want to be making fun of them while they add so much to my character and memory.
Hitting on the English and Maths Lecturer, meetin near d Dominos, the Tea Addas, Bike trips, parties, pubs, oh it was total fun. Studies was piece of cake, and we surprisingly used to Fail and feel bad, and Pass and sitll feel bad about it. Eventually we all did become Graduates, but this is a story which has just begun, so dont expect an end to it.
I started working from June 2004 and have been working since then, so missed some of my college days but everytime I hung out with these golden guys, I felt I am 18... now I am 25, when I talk to these folks, they are bloody the same buggers they were and so, naturally I feel like I am in college again. Well, yes, there were hardly any space for girls :)... we did have shit lot of them, but, we kept them away from our memories' and fun space.
After 6 plus long years, in the year of 2010, it was June again, and we started 3ig Solutions. An Enterprise now in the Growth Phase. We are still missing Suraj, Vinod and Shankar who are a part of this but not with us. I want this Blog documented and read by them, so that they will know how much we need them today and how much they will value add to our history, present and future. Well, to you other 3 idiots, we are growing well and executing our plans with perfect balance and wisdom. But the only 3 of us are able to do so well, then with the rest of you we'll grow ultimately big. I need the readers comments who could help you 3 buggers decide whether or not to be the Entrepreneur and work towards the dream we saw the day you guys met me in 18th crs CCD or just continue with your current corporate life....
Now we have two clients, and a crore deal marketing signup with a company is coming up big this year and we are on the verge of making history, but history without characters like you wouldnt stand to be history!!
Awaiting your response, you may respond to me on my email or call me up folks
Whether or not you guys join, we all will be together and we'll keep our affection alive till we die and even after that :D
Rgds
Maddy
It was the Summer of 2003, I stepped into BHS for my graduation degree in Electronics. Noisy class, boys shouting as usual, Girls, glamor, and lots of fun was a daily story. A lot of us went on to become the prestigious Middle Row Boys (MRB), patented by Bharat, and we were the kind of boys who were always under the scanner, always full of Action and activity. We were all upset about 1 thing, and that was in common we did not get through to the Favourite Engineering Course, either for less marks, or ranking or cuz of financial reasons, dad thought this was a better course or due to lack of self confidence we had dreamt about but we landed in this college. So our main aim was to make this place the best of our memories and learning. MRB involved Suraj ), Sujay, Chetan, Shankar, Me, Nandan, Bharat, Late Sidda, Ravi, Vinod, Chandu, Ferrari (srinath).,.,etc.,., Well they all have their nick names which I am not mentioning here, if I did, then I wouldn't be safe :) (kidding) but their nick names are hilarious and dont want to be making fun of them while they add so much to my character and memory.
Hitting on the English and Maths Lecturer, meetin near d Dominos, the Tea Addas, Bike trips, parties, pubs, oh it was total fun. Studies was piece of cake, and we surprisingly used to Fail and feel bad, and Pass and sitll feel bad about it. Eventually we all did become Graduates, but this is a story which has just begun, so dont expect an end to it.
I started working from June 2004 and have been working since then, so missed some of my college days but everytime I hung out with these golden guys, I felt I am 18... now I am 25, when I talk to these folks, they are bloody the same buggers they were and so, naturally I feel like I am in college again. Well, yes, there were hardly any space for girls :)... we did have shit lot of them, but, we kept them away from our memories' and fun space.
After 6 plus long years, in the year of 2010, it was June again, and we started 3ig Solutions. An Enterprise now in the Growth Phase. We are still missing Suraj, Vinod and Shankar who are a part of this but not with us. I want this Blog documented and read by them, so that they will know how much we need them today and how much they will value add to our history, present and future. Well, to you other 3 idiots, we are growing well and executing our plans with perfect balance and wisdom. But the only 3 of us are able to do so well, then with the rest of you we'll grow ultimately big. I need the readers comments who could help you 3 buggers decide whether or not to be the Entrepreneur and work towards the dream we saw the day you guys met me in 18th crs CCD or just continue with your current corporate life....
Now we have two clients, and a crore deal marketing signup with a company is coming up big this year and we are on the verge of making history, but history without characters like you wouldnt stand to be history!!
Awaiting your response, you may respond to me on my email or call me up folks
Whether or not you guys join, we all will be together and we'll keep our affection alive till we die and even after that :D
Rgds
Maddy
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Making a Difference
yaaaaaahoooooooo!! yelled Raghu, standing on the top of the mountain near the evergreen forests of Dandeli and we all giggled as it continued to Echo.. We had reached a peak point of the cliff from which the whole earth appeared too small and dismal. Our packed food and the chill weather, greenery every where we saw, and with a company of friends, we had a successful execution of the much awaited Trekking plan in the summer of 1998. I was only 14 then and we were enroute to bath in the Moulangi Waterfall amidst the Kali River. Boy it was one memorable Trip!
Its a thick forest, and we kept walking on the small foot road that was made by the Tribal who live nearby who did a lot of Cattle grazing and farming. I still remember, they were called "Gowlis" means Milk Sellers. All they do is sell milk and Cattle, they never study, never bother to learn any other business and live in the Forest even till date. As we kept walking in the lonely forest, watching birds and the excitement to catch and play with Rabbits, we continued our journey towards the Waterfall. On our way, something interesting happened, which seemed interesting to me after a very long time and realized the worth of the lesson learnt was priceless.
We walked, in a distance we saw a man from afar. As we reached closer, we saw him throw something out of the bank of the river and into the river. When we asked, what he is doing, he said that its Summer and the river has dried up than usual and all these Star fish which are to reach Shivanasamudram (Sea/Ocean) are not gonna make it and due to lack of Oxygen they will die, so he continued throwing them all back. To be honest, there were more than a million of those Star Fish. My friend, Raghu wanted to help this guy or he sounded interested in saving the lives of the Star Fish, but after throwing about 4 or 5 ishes he gave up. We asked the Tribal that, there are so many of these star fishes, you cant save them all, and probably this could be happening on the other side of the bank also for miles and miles to go. "Cant you see you cannot make any difference even if you stand here and do this all day"... the Tribal so humbly smiled, (I still remember), he finished throwing another fish to the River and said "I already did make a difference to this one" and he continued, we continued walking without realising the graceful learning that man had given us even without going to school or knowing how the world works....amazing!
After a long time, now, when I went back to this event, I was not just surprised but dazed to see the moral side of it, and think, that life gives us so many learnings and it is those events that make us the kind of people we tend to become. For me, what I learnt was, even if it is small, I will make my efforts and attempts to make a difference! to help someone, to make someone smile, to this world, to mother earth and to everyone I know.
Love
Maddy
Its a thick forest, and we kept walking on the small foot road that was made by the Tribal who live nearby who did a lot of Cattle grazing and farming. I still remember, they were called "Gowlis" means Milk Sellers. All they do is sell milk and Cattle, they never study, never bother to learn any other business and live in the Forest even till date. As we kept walking in the lonely forest, watching birds and the excitement to catch and play with Rabbits, we continued our journey towards the Waterfall. On our way, something interesting happened, which seemed interesting to me after a very long time and realized the worth of the lesson learnt was priceless.
We walked, in a distance we saw a man from afar. As we reached closer, we saw him throw something out of the bank of the river and into the river. When we asked, what he is doing, he said that its Summer and the river has dried up than usual and all these Star fish which are to reach Shivanasamudram (Sea/Ocean) are not gonna make it and due to lack of Oxygen they will die, so he continued throwing them all back. To be honest, there were more than a million of those Star Fish. My friend, Raghu wanted to help this guy or he sounded interested in saving the lives of the Star Fish, but after throwing about 4 or 5 ishes he gave up. We asked the Tribal that, there are so many of these star fishes, you cant save them all, and probably this could be happening on the other side of the bank also for miles and miles to go. "Cant you see you cannot make any difference even if you stand here and do this all day"... the Tribal so humbly smiled, (I still remember), he finished throwing another fish to the River and said "I already did make a difference to this one" and he continued, we continued walking without realising the graceful learning that man had given us even without going to school or knowing how the world works....amazing!
After a long time, now, when I went back to this event, I was not just surprised but dazed to see the moral side of it, and think, that life gives us so many learnings and it is those events that make us the kind of people we tend to become. For me, what I learnt was, even if it is small, I will make my efforts and attempts to make a difference! to help someone, to make someone smile, to this world, to mother earth and to everyone I know.
Love
Maddy
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Story behind Christmas Tree
Source: Paulo Coelho
On Christmas Eve, the parish priest of the little village of St. Martin, in the French Pyrenees, was getting ready to celebrate Mass when he began to smell a delicious perfume. It was winter, the flowers had disappeared a long time ago – and yet there was this pleasant smell as if springtime had appeared out of season.
On Christmas Eve, the parish priest of the little village of St. Martin, in the French Pyrenees, was getting ready to celebrate Mass when he began to smell a delicious perfume. It was winter, the flowers had disappeared a long time ago – and yet there was this pleasant smell as if springtime had appeared out of season.
Intrigued, he went outside to look for the cause of such a marvel, and came across a boy sitting in front of the school door. By his side was a kind of golden Christmas tree.
“But what a beautiful tree!” said the vicar. “It seems to have touched the sky, for it gives off such a divine scent! And it’s made of pure gold! Where did you find it?”
The young man did not seem very happy at what the priest had said.
“It’s true that what I carry with me was growing heavier and heavier as I went along, and the leaves did get harder. But it can’t be gold, and I’m afraid of what my parents are going to say.”
The boy went on to tell his story:
“This morning I left to go to the big city of Tarbes with the money that my mother gave me to buy a nice Christmas tree. But when I was going through a village I happened to see a lonely old woman who had no family to spend the great feast of Christianity with. I gave her some money for her supper, because I was sure that I could get a discount on the tree I was going to buy.
“When I reached Tarbes, I passed in front of the big prison and there was a bunch of people waiting outside to visit the inmates. They were all sad, for they would spend the night far from their beloved ones. I heard some of them commenting that they did not even have enough to buy a slice of Christmas cake. Right there and then, moved by the romanticism of people my age, I decided that I would share my money with those people, who needed it more than I did. I would keep just a very small amount for lunch; the florist is a friend of my family and he would surely give me the tree, and then I could work for him all next week to pay off my debt.
“However, on reaching the market I found out that the florist I knew had not come to work. I tried as hard as I could to find someone who would lend me money to buy the tree elsewhere, but it was all in vain.
“I convinced myself that I would be able to think better what to do if I had something to eat. When I approached a bar, a foreign-looking boy asked me if I could spare him some money, because he had not eaten in two days. Since I imagined that the child Jesus must once have been hungry, I handed him the little money that I had left, and returned home. On the way back I broke a branch off a pine tree; I tried to make it look nice by trimming it, but it just grew as hard as metal and it’s far from being the Christmas tree that my mother is expecting.”
“My dear boy,” said the priest, “the perfume of this tree leaves no doubt whatever that it has been touched by Heaven. Let me tell you the rest of its story:
“As soon as you left that lonely old woman, she immediately asked the Virgin Mary, a mother like herself, to return to you such an unexpected blessing. The parents of the prisoners were certain that they had come upon an angel, and prayed thanking the angels for the Christmas cakes that they bought. The boy that you met gave thanks to God for satisfying his hunger.
“The Virgin, the angels and Jesus heard the prayer of those who had been helped. When you broke the branch off the pine tree, the Virgin bathed it in the perfume of mercy. As you walked along, the angels touched the leaves and they turned to gold. Finally, when everything was ready, Jesus looked upon the work and blessed it, and from then on, whoever touches this Christmas tree will have their sins forgiven and their wishes fulfilled.”
And so it was. The legend goes that the sacred pine tree is still there in St. Martin, but that its force is so great that all those help their brothers on Christmas Eve, however far they may be from the little village in the Pyrenees, are blessed by it.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Good Morning
In tough times, we look outside ourselves for things to change instead of looking inward, where true abundance resides. It’s tempting to downplay important values like generosity, integrity, and intuition. These niceties can take a backseat because we think the world needs to change before we can find wealth. But they are what make it possible to find prosperity, no matter what happens in the world around us. These inner traits help us reach our outer goals.
Of all the situations we've been through, from all the stories I have heard... and with all the people I have spoken with, one thing is certain that none of us want what we get when its not what we wanted! Sometimes its our fault, sometimes it isn't. No matter how frustrated you are, how disappointed you are, its so hard to stop thinking about a bad event that happend and thinking about the same shit over and over again only doubles your worry and pain.
I have had many talks with people in pain, I have heard many woes and tales about bankruptcies, dead end jobs, heartache, unrealized dreams and treadmills of trouble! but, all I have known, seen, felt and learnt what I got to say to everyone is "just be open to recieve what you get" and everything is a phase it'll all pass. so be nice and patient, spend time with your loved ones, give your best shot to sort out the issue, shed a tear on a worst case quietly and stick that smile back on and stop worrying or whining!! nothing works? then close your eyes and pray..that will definitely help in someway other... but remember, nothing works the way you want unless its planned to be that way!
Enough of crap for one day!! you guys read a lot Thank you for reading, carry on with your work!! :) Good Morning
Of all the situations we've been through, from all the stories I have heard... and with all the people I have spoken with, one thing is certain that none of us want what we get when its not what we wanted! Sometimes its our fault, sometimes it isn't. No matter how frustrated you are, how disappointed you are, its so hard to stop thinking about a bad event that happend and thinking about the same shit over and over again only doubles your worry and pain.
I have had many talks with people in pain, I have heard many woes and tales about bankruptcies, dead end jobs, heartache, unrealized dreams and treadmills of trouble! but, all I have known, seen, felt and learnt what I got to say to everyone is "just be open to recieve what you get" and everything is a phase it'll all pass. so be nice and patient, spend time with your loved ones, give your best shot to sort out the issue, shed a tear on a worst case quietly and stick that smile back on and stop worrying or whining!! nothing works? then close your eyes and pray..that will definitely help in someway other... but remember, nothing works the way you want unless its planned to be that way!
Enough of crap for one day!! you guys read a lot Thank you for reading, carry on with your work!! :) Good Morning
Monday, December 13, 2010
Happiness Mantra
ridin bikes fast, drivin cars lk crazy, drinkin more alcohol dan any1 in d party, changing GFs more dan any guy in d gang, havin d most handsomest of d boyfrn...making more money, buyin mor fones,dressin up tooo well,findin d meaning of love after a heartbreak, showin u're d best at work though u r insecure u r not, gossiping on a friend/enemy, shopping on d ones ur heart has set, goin out more, working very less, wanting to have more fun etc., phew!! this isn't bein happy at all!! this is inviting more sorrow to ur world!! just keep it simple..stay happy wit whatever u have..share a hug,make someone happy, give d brightest hello, warmest smile. truest value..then u'll always be happy, healthy, wealthy and Wise!!!! Good night
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Man who made my Diwali
Story of my Transformation!! 2 years back, it was very tough for me living in Hyderabad. It was the eve of Diwali, and with mixed feelings of having been homesick, alone and a part of a hectic work schedule i was finally on my way to go to Bangalore to spend my time with Family and Close friends. I had indeed become very sick and was cursing myself to have left my family for a Job not all that great, but hectic and tiring! I missed Bangalore and my previous company! Worst of all was that I had to beg for my leaves for Diwali which had never happend to me before!
With a lot of thoughts and questions of Ifs - like If I had not taken this job, if I had not left bangalore etc., running in my head I reached the platform to board the train. I had plans of going home and never coming back. With the usual rush, I was waiting for my space in the stampede and get in I looked around, I saw the sweetest looking old man standing with a Cane and a plastic bag. He walked very slowly towards the door and was trying to ask the "rush hour People" with the faintest voice where S4 compartment is. I am usually not always very helpful, not in the Railways with all meany money people around, yet for my surprise I reached out to help him and tried to find out his ticket details to guide him. He looked so confused and very worried. I tried to find out more information by asing if he had a reservation or if he rememberered when he was supposed to travel, but he seemed to become more confused with each question. he just kept saying "she said I have to go to Bangalore".
After much time, i was able to atleast find out that this old man was dropped off at the Kacheguda station by his sister-in-law and was told to go to bangalore wherehe had a family. she had given him some cash and told him to just go inside and buy a ticket. He had no ticket, no reservation! and because getting ticket reservation is nearly impossible I asked him if he could come back tomorrow, he said that she was gone and that he had no place to stay. he then said he would wait at the Station till tomorrow. Naturally, I felt a little ashamed and guilty of not being able to help him.
Here I was feeling very sorry for myself about being alone, homesick etc., when this great old man was sent to me to remind me of what being alone really meant! It broke my heart to pieces!
Immediately, I told him that we will get a ticket for him somehow after talking with the TC onboard and make sure he gets home. For my luck we could get him a Senior Citizens' ticket a lower berth and also the cost of that ticket fare was less, he got enough money to travel. As I was feeling proud about this whole act, about this time he started to look very tired, and when I stepped down from my upper berth to ask him if he was all right, I saw that his leg was wrapped in a bandage. He had been standing on it the whole time holding a plastic bag full of clothes. Recommended him to get some rest and he laid down carefully placing his plastic bag with his shaking hands.
We all slept. I hit my upper berth and crashed to sleep with my ipod on. And in the morning I recalled what all had happend and I realised with all the mess I had forgotten to have my dinner and also realised that even the old man had not eaten anything. I came down and he was already awake but yet tired, more tired than what he was last night. I guessed he didn't catch enough sleep, hurriedly got him breakfast. I tried to check if the bandage was alright and I noticed a small amount of blood on his bandage. I asked how he hurt his leg, he said that he had just had a bypass surgery and an artery was taken from his leg. Can YOU IMAGINE??? This man had had a heart surgery and then shortly afterward he was dropped off at the Kacheguda Station to buy a ticket with no reservation to go to Bangalore, ALONE!!
I never really had seen of a situation like this, and I wasn't sure what I could do. Upon reaching bangalore, I learnt that he stays close to where I did and I got him to get down at theYeswanthpur station. I went through the address slip which he had in his hand and he said that where his daughter stayed. The writing had a phone number however it was all jumbled and wet in rain and we couldnt make out what it was. But I knew exactly where this place was. I got him an auto and told the auto driver to drop him off safe, explained him of the situation and the auto driver seemed helpful too. He seemed to recognize all the landmarks I said and picturize the actual place. Thank God the address mentioned in the note was in proper shape!
I bent down inside the auto and his wrinkled eyes looked deep inside mine as I gave the prepaid auto driver money. Then I patted the old man on the arm and told him everything would be just fine and asked him to call me when he will reach and wanted to say Goodbye,he said "Thank you" bent his head and started to cry! I cried too. It was a moment, I stood still! It was tough! Quietly tears just rolled down, auto left! tears went on!
With a lot of thoughts and questions of Ifs - like If I had not taken this job, if I had not left bangalore etc., running in my head I reached the platform to board the train. I had plans of going home and never coming back. With the usual rush, I was waiting for my space in the stampede and get in I looked around, I saw the sweetest looking old man standing with a Cane and a plastic bag. He walked very slowly towards the door and was trying to ask the "rush hour People" with the faintest voice where S4 compartment is. I am usually not always very helpful, not in the Railways with all meany money people around, yet for my surprise I reached out to help him and tried to find out his ticket details to guide him. He looked so confused and very worried. I tried to find out more information by asing if he had a reservation or if he rememberered when he was supposed to travel, but he seemed to become more confused with each question. he just kept saying "she said I have to go to Bangalore".
After much time, i was able to atleast find out that this old man was dropped off at the Kacheguda station by his sister-in-law and was told to go to bangalore wherehe had a family. she had given him some cash and told him to just go inside and buy a ticket. He had no ticket, no reservation! and because getting ticket reservation is nearly impossible I asked him if he could come back tomorrow, he said that she was gone and that he had no place to stay. he then said he would wait at the Station till tomorrow. Naturally, I felt a little ashamed and guilty of not being able to help him.
Here I was feeling very sorry for myself about being alone, homesick etc., when this great old man was sent to me to remind me of what being alone really meant! It broke my heart to pieces!
Immediately, I told him that we will get a ticket for him somehow after talking with the TC onboard and make sure he gets home. For my luck we could get him a Senior Citizens' ticket a lower berth and also the cost of that ticket fare was less, he got enough money to travel. As I was feeling proud about this whole act, about this time he started to look very tired, and when I stepped down from my upper berth to ask him if he was all right, I saw that his leg was wrapped in a bandage. He had been standing on it the whole time holding a plastic bag full of clothes. Recommended him to get some rest and he laid down carefully placing his plastic bag with his shaking hands.
We all slept. I hit my upper berth and crashed to sleep with my ipod on. And in the morning I recalled what all had happend and I realised with all the mess I had forgotten to have my dinner and also realised that even the old man had not eaten anything. I came down and he was already awake but yet tired, more tired than what he was last night. I guessed he didn't catch enough sleep, hurriedly got him breakfast. I tried to check if the bandage was alright and I noticed a small amount of blood on his bandage. I asked how he hurt his leg, he said that he had just had a bypass surgery and an artery was taken from his leg. Can YOU IMAGINE??? This man had had a heart surgery and then shortly afterward he was dropped off at the Kacheguda Station to buy a ticket with no reservation to go to Bangalore, ALONE!!
I never really had seen of a situation like this, and I wasn't sure what I could do. Upon reaching bangalore, I learnt that he stays close to where I did and I got him to get down at theYeswanthpur station. I went through the address slip which he had in his hand and he said that where his daughter stayed. The writing had a phone number however it was all jumbled and wet in rain and we couldnt make out what it was. But I knew exactly where this place was. I got him an auto and told the auto driver to drop him off safe, explained him of the situation and the auto driver seemed helpful too. He seemed to recognize all the landmarks I said and picturize the actual place. Thank God the address mentioned in the note was in proper shape!
I bent down inside the auto and his wrinkled eyes looked deep inside mine as I gave the prepaid auto driver money. Then I patted the old man on the arm and told him everything would be just fine and asked him to call me when he will reach and wanted to say Goodbye,he said "Thank you" bent his head and started to cry! I cried too. It was a moment, I stood still! It was tough! Quietly tears just rolled down, auto left! tears went on!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
The Foodies' City - Bangalore
For Vegetarians like me Bangalore is a Paradise! No where else can one find such abstract and diversified types of food except in our traditional Bangalore City. With City raining in every 3 weeks throughout the year the the food seems so customized for the kind of climate our city has. Its so magical!! No bangalorean can stay without eating the Butter Idly Vada or stay away from going to the Adigas, Yatrinivas or the Kamats!! Its so hard to resist the Chat corners, the Darshinis, the pani puris, and joints like cool join, chathouse, dosa bar, icynicey etc., are on the top of the list for pick n eat sections for their soups n sandwiches!! then comes the Ganesh Juice Centre, Milkshakes and Kulfi addas!! oh bangalore is full of these and thats another thing that makes the city so so special!
In cities like Hyderbad, the place lacks so much when it comes to breakfast and good food. If you are carnivorous then its a haven, be ready to hog a spicy oily biryani in the early hours of the day and keep burping n sweatin all day then you're a perfect hyderabadi and one may be proud about it you never know! I pity these non vegetarians!
Most of hyderabad's breakfast items are borrowed from the neigbouring states and it so appears that they've not done a good job. Be it the shabby onion uttapam/dosa (in which 500gm worth of onion is stuffed) or the dry skinny masala dosa!! The Idly are as hard as a brick, the chutneys lack taste and odour, and customer service is at worst ever in the world! they've to be taken to bangalore, beaten up and made to eat the right dosa!
Bangalore has restaurants like Janata hotel, Brahmins Coffee Bar, Veena Stores, Central Tiffin Room, Vidyarthi Bhavan, Roti Ghar, the Adigas Joint, Kamat joint, tens of thousands of darshinis the North Karnataka Special restaurants like Pi retaurant, Nalapaka, Yatrinivas, and concept restaurants like Hallimane, Goudarmane, or be it the outskirts food joints like the ones near maddur n mysore n tumkur!! and I am not talkin about chinese or barbeque or 3star 5 star restaurants or baristas or coffee days etc.,
I miss bangalore for a trillion reasons! No wonder Bangalore is rated to be the best livable city in the entire India and tops at #4 in the best cities to live in the entire Asia!! Cities like Hyderabad is at #29. Kolkata is at #27, Mumbai the worst is at #31 and delhi at #11.
Oh this is Benne Dosa (Butter Dosa) try this if ever you go to bangalore and you would realise what real dosa is :) No offense to you but its the fact! You may feel hurt about me criticizing your city, but you've to see some more cities, eat some more dosas
This is the Yummy Rava Dosa!! Sluurrrrp! It'll melt in your mouth, its juicy, aromatic and refreshing!
Now this is in Chamraj Pet and its one of the oldest of the restaurants! Order a Idli Vada with Butter and I bet you will have your eyes closed in Awe and wonder with what a normal idli vada can do to your taste buds! Now thats what is called Heavely Taste! Even Idli Vadas were coupled in heaven!!
Here comes the king of all dosas the Masala Dosa. Masala Dosas should be crisp, and full of butter or ghee, with the potato curry in the middle while the endoderm of the dosa (inside part) smeared with red chili n garlic chutney!! served with red chilli chutney, coconut chutney and yummy toor dal sambar! Its a delight you would appreciate if you were a real foodie!! If you are a non vegetarian and look down upon the veg food then you arent even a foodie! a foodie should love food. Be it anything. Its a sad part if you are a non- vegetarian, thats secondary.
There are over 1500 type of dosas served in Bangalore if you scout the restaurants!! Target Areas are the clean green old part of the city - Rajajinagar, Mallehswaram, Basveshwarnagar, Vijaynagar, Chamrajpet, Banshankari, Jayanagar, Basavangudi etc., In these areas the air is so clean that you can feel your lungs when you breathe!! Dont believe it? visit once ;) Its still maintained green and ultra clean! Also try Akki Rotti (rice rotti), Raagi Rotti, ucchal chutney, Karabath, chowchow bath in MTR near lalbaugh, Bisibelebath in Adigas, Mosaru Vada (curd vada) in any darshinis of ur choice, dont forget our own traditional Puliogare in the Iyengars hotel, Vangibath (brinjal Rice), Kesari Bath, and not to forget those hundred type of paranthas available!! Visit the Famous UD - Upahara Darshini!! Delight is assured!
To sum up, what makes Bangalore so Beautiful is not just the food or the weather or the opportunities, its the people who've lived there add to all of this! There are people living in Bangalore from all over the world and country, they are living in bangalore still because they are given space in the broad hearts of the Bangaloreans! They better understand and be aware of the Value of it.
In cities like Hyderbad, the place lacks so much when it comes to breakfast and good food. If you are carnivorous then its a haven, be ready to hog a spicy oily biryani in the early hours of the day and keep burping n sweatin all day then you're a perfect hyderabadi and one may be proud about it you never know! I pity these non vegetarians!
Most of hyderabad's breakfast items are borrowed from the neigbouring states and it so appears that they've not done a good job. Be it the shabby onion uttapam/dosa (in which 500gm worth of onion is stuffed) or the dry skinny masala dosa!! The Idly are as hard as a brick, the chutneys lack taste and odour, and customer service is at worst ever in the world! they've to be taken to bangalore, beaten up and made to eat the right dosa!
Bangalore has restaurants like Janata hotel, Brahmins Coffee Bar, Veena Stores, Central Tiffin Room, Vidyarthi Bhavan, Roti Ghar, the Adigas Joint, Kamat joint, tens of thousands of darshinis the North Karnataka Special restaurants like Pi retaurant, Nalapaka, Yatrinivas, and concept restaurants like Hallimane, Goudarmane, or be it the outskirts food joints like the ones near maddur n mysore n tumkur!! and I am not talkin about chinese or barbeque or 3star 5 star restaurants or baristas or coffee days etc.,
I miss bangalore for a trillion reasons! No wonder Bangalore is rated to be the best livable city in the entire India and tops at #4 in the best cities to live in the entire Asia!! Cities like Hyderabad is at #29. Kolkata is at #27, Mumbai the worst is at #31 and delhi at #11.
Oh this is Benne Dosa (Butter Dosa) try this if ever you go to bangalore and you would realise what real dosa is :) No offense to you but its the fact! You may feel hurt about me criticizing your city, but you've to see some more cities, eat some more dosas
This is the Yummy Rava Dosa!! Sluurrrrp! It'll melt in your mouth, its juicy, aromatic and refreshing!
Now this is in Chamraj Pet and its one of the oldest of the restaurants! Order a Idli Vada with Butter and I bet you will have your eyes closed in Awe and wonder with what a normal idli vada can do to your taste buds! Now thats what is called Heavely Taste! Even Idli Vadas were coupled in heaven!!
Here comes the king of all dosas the Masala Dosa. Masala Dosas should be crisp, and full of butter or ghee, with the potato curry in the middle while the endoderm of the dosa (inside part) smeared with red chili n garlic chutney!! served with red chilli chutney, coconut chutney and yummy toor dal sambar! Its a delight you would appreciate if you were a real foodie!! If you are a non vegetarian and look down upon the veg food then you arent even a foodie! a foodie should love food. Be it anything. Its a sad part if you are a non- vegetarian, thats secondary.
There are over 1500 type of dosas served in Bangalore if you scout the restaurants!! Target Areas are the clean green old part of the city - Rajajinagar, Mallehswaram, Basveshwarnagar, Vijaynagar, Chamrajpet, Banshankari, Jayanagar, Basavangudi etc., In these areas the air is so clean that you can feel your lungs when you breathe!! Dont believe it? visit once ;) Its still maintained green and ultra clean! Also try Akki Rotti (rice rotti), Raagi Rotti, ucchal chutney, Karabath, chowchow bath in MTR near lalbaugh, Bisibelebath in Adigas, Mosaru Vada (curd vada) in any darshinis of ur choice, dont forget our own traditional Puliogare in the Iyengars hotel, Vangibath (brinjal Rice), Kesari Bath, and not to forget those hundred type of paranthas available!! Visit the Famous UD - Upahara Darshini!! Delight is assured!
To sum up, what makes Bangalore so Beautiful is not just the food or the weather or the opportunities, its the people who've lived there add to all of this! There are people living in Bangalore from all over the world and country, they are living in bangalore still because they are given space in the broad hearts of the Bangaloreans! They better understand and be aware of the Value of it.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Whats Next after this?
The British colonial rulers loved the weather in Bangalore. As they described it, it was 'Europe without its freezing winters; India minus its scorching summers.' They gave it all sorts of affectionate sobriquets. Like the 'air-conditioned Indian city', 'the poor man's Ooty'. And with it's beautifully balanced seasons of temperate warm months, mildly-bracing winters and seasons of gentle showers, this was the month of April showers which brought the May flowers.
A decade ago, Bangalore (now Bengalooru) led the large cities with the onslaught of summer ” hot, dry and dusty; in February, Bangalore was the hottest big city in India, while Delhi and the north were shaking off the cold winds of winter blowing in from the Himalaya. After Independence, those colonials 'stayed on' settled in the hills. They made a lovely little township on the fringes of Ooty and the military settlement of Conoor.
Our friend, Old Joby was among the nomadic settlers of Bangalore who finally decided to settle in the city 20 years go. After years of service in Madras (Chennai), his parents who had braved the scorching summers of Tamil Nadu, decided to settle in Conoor near Ooty which had been the summer resort of the Governor of Madras and his entourage.
But, Ooty in summer was a rather different proposition from Coonor in the winter and the north-eastern monsoon.
After a year of hilly 'English' summers they fled the arthritic rainy months in Coonoor and settled in equable, pleasant Bangalore.
When our family came to settle in Bangalore (in the 1910s), on an occasional summer day the mercury would apologetically touch a maximum of 28 or 29 degrees, before a sudden April shower would douse the flames.
I wonder what she and her descendants would have done in today's Bangalore summer with a maximum heat of 38 and 39 degrees, water shortages and deforested parks and roads. I wonder where they would have gone next?
God Save Bangalore and all the huge pile of people piling in to make it even worse!
A decade ago, Bangalore (now Bengalooru) led the large cities with the onslaught of summer ” hot, dry and dusty; in February, Bangalore was the hottest big city in India, while Delhi and the north were shaking off the cold winds of winter blowing in from the Himalaya. After Independence, those colonials 'stayed on' settled in the hills. They made a lovely little township on the fringes of Ooty and the military settlement of Conoor.
Our friend, Old Joby was among the nomadic settlers of Bangalore who finally decided to settle in the city 20 years go. After years of service in Madras (Chennai), his parents who had braved the scorching summers of Tamil Nadu, decided to settle in Conoor near Ooty which had been the summer resort of the Governor of Madras and his entourage.
But, Ooty in summer was a rather different proposition from Coonor in the winter and the north-eastern monsoon.
After a year of hilly 'English' summers they fled the arthritic rainy months in Coonoor and settled in equable, pleasant Bangalore.
When our family came to settle in Bangalore (in the 1910s), on an occasional summer day the mercury would apologetically touch a maximum of 28 or 29 degrees, before a sudden April shower would douse the flames.
I wonder what she and her descendants would have done in today's Bangalore summer with a maximum heat of 38 and 39 degrees, water shortages and deforested parks and roads. I wonder where they would have gone next?
God Save Bangalore and all the huge pile of people piling in to make it even worse!
The Whatifs and for what we live for?? We dont need success, we need excellency!
Of all the questions we leave unanswered the one that comes back to haunt us the most is “What if…”
What if I’d taken that course in my Degree?
What if I’d the good sense not to?
What if I’d proposed this girl?
What id I’d been born in this job market?
What if….?
What if I’d planned a little less?
What if I’d lived a little more?
What if I’d chucked it all and started my own company?
These What if’s are never idle fantasy. These are our hopes, dreams and desires.
Logic and reason are the naphthalene balls we use to pack them away to a sandock called ‘Someday’. But, when the day comes we are too old, too poor, too tired or too lazy.
This blog is for all those friends who, I believe that,’ve met eachother with a reason, a reason to achieve something, call it Destiny, fate, etc., but everything in life that happens has a meaning and happens for a reason, that reason can make or break our lives. This is for the type of people who cut all the bullshit and seize their moment. So they would not wake up one day with regrets. Of course we see markets and opportunities and need gaps. But, most importantly, we need to stand in front of the mirror and see our true selves.
That self tells us that its meaningless to sell soap just because you are said well to do so.
Being a corporate slave is the easy option but not the one that is felt good about doing what you are ought to do. Just ask yourself, Why is that there is always someone else who rates your life in terms of Marks n Numbers everytime you write the exam? Why is that someone else sets your question paper for the whole year you studied? Why is that you report to that someone called Manager? Why is that you are a SOMEONE to the CEO of the company you work for? Who are they to decide your life? Why have you let that someone control your own life? Your Manager sits and writes down your hike for the year, and you are not happy about it, then why do you take the crap from him? Who is he to stop you from Achieving your dreams? I have always thought about this, and now, I am on my own path. Critics are everywhere, but I know that no statue has ever been erected in the honor of the critic!! I never listen to them, but I have my vision, my Goal, my Dream and my Challenge which keeps my life going.
Trust me guys, all the men who took the Entrepreneurship path had one thing in common, Persistence and they believed in themselves. It was never easy, they went through all the downs to finally scale up high. Read the below stories. If you have a pulse in you, then it’ll beat hard enough in your veins to get the real adrenaline pumping!!
THE Entrepreneurs
Deep Kaira (Makemytrip.com)
Deep went into business the way every entrepreneur dreams it will happen: a venture capitalist offered him a $2 million to start up. But with the dotcom bust he had to invest his life savings to buy back his own company. Makemytrip.com is today India’s and US’s leading Travel Portal
Nirmal Jain, (India infoline)
Nirmal shut down his information services business in 1999 and put all his eggs in the Internet basket. His gamble paid off and today India Infoline is one of the country’s biggest online trading platforms.
R Ashank Desai, (Mastek)
From a middle class family he was an outright. In the early 80s much before IT was a buzzword, Ashank Desai setup Mastek along with a couple of friends. Mastek was the first company to focus on India as a Market and is today one of the top 15 IT companies in the country.
Shantanu Prakash, (Educomp)
Despite a regular middle class upbringing, Shantanu went into business while he was doing his BCom. The entpreneurial streak continued after the MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. His company Educom is today the leading provider of digital content for schools across Indoa.
Sanjeev Bikhachandani (Naukri.com)
Sanjeev is India’s most successful internet entrepreneur. For close to a decade he stuffles on the sidelines but never gave up on his Big Idea. In 2006, naukri.coim became the first dotcom of IPO on an Indian Stock Exchange.
Then there is Vinayak Chatarjee who made Feedback Ventures, there is Jerry Rao who formed Mphasis, Vikram Tahwar made EXL services (fortune 500), Deepta Rangarajan who made IRIS, etc there are a lot more!! Hundreds and thousands of them. They could’ve chose to work in a company and be just like you, right? Why do you think they chose this way, the hard way, the hard way of entrepreneurship? That’s for you to think…. Read on…
Back to our discussion
A few topics that will help us to start thinking in the direction of some of the few.
The Usual Success
Here is what most of us think;
I am good at what I do, I am a very good asset to my company!! I need to be the most productive guy in my team. All the jazz about technology entices me to do more!! And I get paid 35000 rupees at the end of the month!! Which is quite a good bet!! I will become a senior Engineer, then a Manager someday, I even have plans to do MBA. I will save all my costs including my innerwear costs and pay up for the friggin MBA fees (by some crap university whoz only getting rich by ur fees) so that someday I will be a Manager, a Project Manager, Area Manager n so on.
I am also planning to get married , have a nice wife, a car, a nice house and kids, a dog... it goes on.. then Will grow old and visit some holy places , travel, and finally die as everybody does.
I ASK YOU, IS THIS WHAT WE LIVE FOR?? Is THIS success to YOU? Whats the CHALLENGE in programming or designing or even handling a team just because you are told you are good at it and you have to do so? Arent you a Believer? An Opportunist? Don’t you have a Vision? It’s a Shame if you don’t.
Hoping you are motivated enough to spend your spare time into something of your own, let me come to the main part of our talk,
The Plan
Guys, here is the plan.
Lets meet for the occasion to talk things through, a small request and it is that we need to stay committed, work as a team, even if we scratch our butt out, we need to stay focused towards our vision and never give up.
Key Points of Action
1. Meeting in june – Decide Venue
2. Drawing out a plan of action
3. Scripting our strategies
4. Roll out a work plan
5. Responsibility Sharing
6. Future time table
7. Forming a Team
8. Assess our potential, baseline the investments and outline the recurring cost.
Please feel free to put in your suggestions, ideas and thoughts into this. Lets all work as a Team..
Lets Rock with it, Roll with it!! We’ve got nothing to lose if we do it anyways, but, if we don’t, we lose everything!! Including our real self!!
Happy Realization… and yes, Keep thinking, towards innovation!! Self Excellence is the best Excellence.
Lets Rock!!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Endless Questions in a Timeless World
If these things are just 'One' thing that we could've seized and then changed the world over then there we have other 'things' which are always in bulk!! Why is it always so many problems, so many worries? so many things to do n remember? Why so many responsibilities? Many sorts of pain, misery n disappointments? so many heartbreaks?
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