Conversation with the rocks...

10th Dec 2011

Hampi, Karnataka, on the rocks.

What’s Happiness?

For me a delicate, temporary phase where extreme positivity surrounds you.

Why is it temporary?

It is temporary because incidents and events effect our convenience. Acceptance and surrender would make us positive again.

Acceptance or surrender; is it a compromise or escapism?

No, only after we accept and expand the zone of convenience we would be able to respond efficiently and positively to the situation.

So eventually, the zone becomes huge.

Yes, and we come to be higher degree or level of human beings.

Analogy 1: Falling off from the raft at rapids.

Response: Stay calm and breathe, you wouldn’t drown, if you remember, you are wearing a life jacket.

Analogy 2: In cricket, you hit a sixer only when you hit the ball out of the boundary line. Yeah... :-)

Is that why we like to travel?

Yes, as that’s the fastest form of expanding the comfort zone. Real learning and education takes place in travelling.

I have a fascination for rocks and the part of Himalayas that I come from aren’t rocky enough. I have fond memories of the sensuous Dhauladhar range and myself basking like a turtle for hours every other day at JNU. I had my first conversations with the rocks at JNU's Parthasarthy Rocks. Hampi has been a boon to me, for after years I have a place in Southern India where I feel connected to myself. 

A Girl and a Boy can be Best Friends...

Since, I am fighting one of the toughest debates here, this post will take some time to complete. Meanwhile, I begin with a snippet from the song "Dating" from the Superhit 2003 Telugu film 'Boys'. Its a very cute song in Telugu, where teen boys and girls are arguing with each other on Love vs Friendship. Where boys here behave very typically boys :-P , girls play their smart usual self :-) The boys call friendship as RAC (reservation against cancellation) while dating a confirm ticket.

Girls: ayyo love is full of pain poraa love is just a strain

I don't wanna love. I don't wanna love, love is not a game. Love is not a game

Boys: friendship ante RAC, love confirm cheyyave preyasii

Girls: friendship ante full safety, love lo ledoy guarantee

Boys (smirk): Yeah..I can clearly see, Dating is a fantasy 

Girls: ayyo love is full of pain, poraa love is just a strain

Well, in the film both barely legal Sidhartha and Genelia end up marrying each other and this really doesn't help me :-/ Notwithstanding which, 'i'll be back'.

25th Nov: karya pragati par hai.


5th Dec:abhi bhi karya pragati par hai.



15th Dec:abhi bhi pragati par hi hai. Kya karun, ye topic hi aisa hai...

15th Jan: Nahi kar raha.. #%#$^$%!! kya kar loge!!

Ram Rajya vs Us Post Azadi (UPA)

We are talking about Acient India / World / men and women of that time... soon after that they discovered little logic and rationale and moved up from the level when they were apes. Around Neanderthals... The dependency of one human being over other... where people grew and moved in groups. there was little understanding of devision of work. and since sex was what brought them maximum pleasure and it being the only form of entertainment especially when travelling and nature sighting was an occupation in itself full of adventures, hazards and discoveries. Eventually the population grew. Agreeably, periodic migration would have been a difficult affair and the first communities started developing.

Now, the teamwork that used to take place was a little more organised, not everyone would have gone for hunting but there must have been people making weapons, planning and mending shelters, sewing animal skins together... but since after all the eating, resting was done  there still was just one form of  entertainment. Equality would have prevailed but since women were most of the times in pain and in need of care the society became patriarchal. (Yes, it was also the genesis of the MCPs.) Children at this stage brought the sense of personal from the communal and with that must have come the realisation of individual from common.

With that knowledge which pulled I from Our and Me from Us, we compromised on "faith". Symbolically it best seems related to the Adam and Eve's Knowledge Tree. I am sure my theory too was a repercussion of a woman 's inception into a man's mind. (Joking Ma, sisters, ladies...)

This was also the time when the Birth of Economics took place.

A security was added to the transactions that took place between people. They have termed it as Barter. But since barter too was not foolproof in terms of efficient work being carried and while greed must have made its stance in the society, the progressing generations brought the system of currency. Yes, it was fool proof but evil. The beholder of it all was the most powerful.

By the time this system was up and running we were at the time when Ram was the King. 2500 years ago. Yes, this post is an inspiration from Immortals of Meluha. And I wish they take the book to the schools for it is how history should have been taught to us. Harappan and Indus Valley Civilizations and how advanced and progressive they were. The more I read the book I realised how we have lost it all from having it all once, from Ram Rajya to sodomy. The Anna Hazare movement taking place at the time when I read Meluha brought about weird feelings in me.

Ram was a great King for he had devised a system that managed greed, affection and aversion. His Kingdom was one where there were no insecurities and man and society could progress to advancement and knowledge. But, all beautiful times come to an end and so did Rama's reign. It could have been 2 problems which brought about this end. Poor Leadership by successive rulers or an epidemic resulting in uprooting and migration. We have had brilliant rulers, kings but none matched the Ram Rajya like state of affairs which fulfilled all needs of its people while their desires were motivated with ambition and merit. Malice therefore never had a chance. Over the years many rulers identified closeness with the Ram Rajya in dictatorship, monarchy, anarchy, socialism, democracy but none of the systems could either manage the ruler or the ruled from putting forward his or her individual interest.

No one would have imagined however, the mind of the leaders so depleted to bring about a nefarious society. 

The last man who taught us of and achieved Ram Rajya at a micro level was Mahatma Gandhi. With him we were brought to freedom. With no remaining vocation and calling and the revolution coming to an end resulted in the sudden disorientation of the masses. In the span of 63 years we do not have any role models to talk about. That is also the reason why mythology has become a sought after theme for the cartoon channels. these toddlers imbibe the values and morals from cartoons on Chota bheem, hanuman, Rama which they do not see   anywhere in their environment. Nuclear families add fuel to the fire as kids don't meet their grandparents enough and parents themselves lead a hectic corporate life.

In the 63 years Post Azadi and the most recent decade of them in particular, has seen India go down in glory, grace and character. Years ago, a sculptor was rebuilding from scratch a God's idol as it had a small glitch on its nose. The idol was to be kept on a pedestal 20 feet high. His colleague asked him why is he undergoing so much of effort for who would know of the glitch on the nose from that distance? "I would know", was his reply. 

Today, we have our leaders with alleged criminal cases against them as credentials. Today, we have the most affluent and powerful seated in Tihar. The 2G spectrum allocation scam, Common Wealth Games scam, Adarsh society scam and Cash-for-vote scam – all recent scams heard about recently, lead under UPA’s tenure.

The Planning Commission affidavit claiming that persons consuming items worth more than Rs. 32 per day in urban and Rs. 26 in rural areas, are above poverty line.

Being based in Hyderabad now I can see that the party has lost face and credibility due to the Telangana issue and that they lack a strong leader to lead the party in the other parts of Andhra Pradesh.

The continued absence of UPA President and a spineless  Prime Minister has taken a serious toll on the UPA Government resulting in the damage caused to them at the Anna Hazare moment.

Two of its most politically experienced and intellectual ministers, Pranab Mukherjee and P Chidambaram, are engaged battling allegations against themselves where they could have averted the 2G Scam in the first place.

Here are a few links that shall speak on them more elaborately - 

1.top-ten-scams-upa-govt-under-congress-rule
2.Indian-upa-goverment-scam-list.html
3.List-of-scams-by-the-congress-led-upa-government
4.Rs 2,100 cr rural job scam in MP?

5.http://www.corruptioninindia.org/scams.php

I remember one of the greatest speeches by Charlie Chaplin from the Great Dictator.
"Soldiers! Don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you; who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel! Who drill you, diet you, treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder! Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men---machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have a love of humanity in your hearts! You don't hate! Only the unloved hate; the unloved and the unnatural. 

Soldiers! Don't fight for slavery! Fight for liberty! In the seventeenth chapter of St. Luke, it’s written “the kingdom of God is within man”, not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people, have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy, let us use that power.

My inspiration is a derivation of the sole factor that having understood the concept of Ram Rajya for the first time through that book its saddening to see our nation caught up with this. Being a nation that goes buck-wild on the name of Ram but is unable to fight these ruffians and goons. Yes, we shall also fight the evil within us but how long should we wait for a leader who makes the 1.2 billion of us believe that every one is a Mahadev! Har Har Mahadev!

Unke dekhe se jo aa jaatee hai munh par raunaq...

Dear Jagjit Singh Sir,

It was sad to know about your being hospitalised. We pray for your good health and early recovery. We have grown up listening to you. You have been a part of our growing-up years as much as our best friends and the crushes we have had. You have guided us to unadulterated music, retained in us the liking and excitement for Indian music given the distractions that we had during that time. Thank you for being there for us whenever we were in a beautiful mood, on evenings when it rained and when we chose to be romantic. Your songs have been lullabys for us at really thoughtful or restless nights. So, you were the flavour that brought us to a romantic mood or an emotional and nostalgic mood. "Arre Jagjit Singh play kar de", was a line we frequently heard.

I wouldn't say I was always enchanted by your songs, but your voice was the first who introduced us to Ghazals. With time we also learnt and explored about the legends Mehendi Hasan, Ghulam Ali and Farida Khanum. I always think you could have brought about an element of wit in the Mirza Ghalib songs (which we must have heard a thousand times). The songs purposely sounded a little too tragic which the shayar doesn't mean to be. I believe he is more concerned about irony there. Were you a little nervous to experiment and put a flavor of creativity for it was a big project for you back then? Well, I always wanted to talk to you over this.

There was always an inner craving to see the Punjabi flamboyancy of Jagjeet Singh, to see him in his full colours and his grand avatar. It was beautiful to see you smile while you sang, clap your hands above your head, share a joke, talk to us, imitate a little and reveal us a little more about your self. The songs I shall mention below are the best of Jagjeet Singh for me.

It is a concern, that you have been doing an awfully lot number of concerts in the past 2-3 years. I guess it has been stressful. We want you to get well very soon. It would bring us peace when we sit down with friends and family listening to you. And when you have recuperated perfectly and you shall be offered to contribute to Coke Studio in future, please contemplate a lot. I wouldn't like to see you there. I wouldn't want any compromise with years of preserved and cherished Jagjit Singh's music.

Please get well soon and take care of yourself. You have been with us all the time and you shall forever be in our prayers.

With a lot of admiration and affection,

Yours Sincerely,

Udit

Kothe te aa Mahiya

Lara Lappa.. Lara Lappa...

Tera Chehra / Mashook ka Budhapa

Jind Mahi Je Chaleyan...

Jhuki Jhuki si Nazar

Tumko Dekha to ye khayal aya

Haske bola karo

Koi dost hai na raqueeb hai

Yaad nahi kya kya dekha tha.. 

(the last two songs are dedicated to Amardeep Rana, Aditya Dohroo, Yograj, Kehar Singh for all the nights we have spent hearing them. Yess... deepu mainu list yaad haigi hai... saara samon lai aunga... tussi dal-bhaat tayyar karo)

Couldn't help but share...

SENRAAN RA BAAIRYA

A beautiful song which intuitively I always wanted to hear. I feel so blissful listening to the pure, unadulterated music. I wish, my old friend and I could hear it together but like the baairya she has blown away.

Lyrics With English Translation - SENRAAN RA BAAIRYA : ASIF SAMRAAT & ZOE VICCAJI

(COKE STUDIO PAKISTAN 4, Episode 2)

senṛaan ra baairya dheemo madhuro ri baaj

listen, O breeze, softly and sweetly blow

dheemo dheemo madhuro ri baaj re baaireeya

softly, softly, sweetly blow, O breeze

senṛaan ra baairya dheemo madhuro ri baaj

listen, O breeze, softly and sweetly blow

tanri banṛaaoon dhola raaji taansali e lo

I make a serving dish, sweetheart, of my physical being

manṛe ri karoon man waar re baaireeya

and following my heart, I offer up my heart to you, O breeze

senṛaan ra baairya dheemo madhuro ri baaj

listen, O breeze, softly and sweetly blow

raajo ji padhaarya raaji mahal men e lo

when my prince arrived in the royal palace

doodaan barsyo mew re baaireeya

he brought such happiness and prosperity that it rained milk, O breeze

senṛaan ra baairya dheemo madhuro ri baaj

listen, O breeze, softly and sweetly blow

inṛ dis maan mhaaro raaji lo base re lo

in this direction, does my darling prince live

inṛdis aawe ṭhanḍṛi hinṛ re baaireeya

(for) from this direction, blows a fresh and cool wind, O breeze

senṛaan ra baairya dheemo madhuro ri baaj

listen, O breeze, softly and sweetly blow


http://www.themuzicworld.com/2011/06/senraan-ra-baairya-asif-samraat-zoe.html

I am a Cat Person!

There was this huge debate between me and an old dear friend. I fought with her that there is no such thing as a Cat or a Dog Person. She insisted on it. Well, I realised day before yesterday (thanks to my dear sister Harika), I do am A Cat Person. I love Cats more than Doguss.

Initiating Friendship...

Gotcha...

Adding to my being a cat person is the fact that I had adopted two virtual pets long time back;these were cats again by the name of caffiene and nicotine.

The tickle and the neck rub...

A li'l more...

Purrrr...!

Meaow!

Anna Hazare : India's Most Wanted!

Dehi Shiva Bar Mohe Ihe,  Shubh Karman Se Kabhun Na Taron Na Daron Ari Son Jab Jai Laron,  Nischey Kar Apni Jeet Karon  O God, give me these boons that never shall I shirk from doing good deeds that never shall I fear when I go into battle And that with surety I shall attain victory. My Mom taught me this verse when I was a kid. Today, every citizen of our country needs to follow what the verse says and imbibe by it.

I felt very sad chatting with a very Dear Friend today. Well, I still would forever love him but it was sad to know what he feels about the most important day of India's history after the Jaiprakash Narain movement. He doesn't realise how important it was for all the people of India to come together. Today, all Indian languages  spoke one voice; united. Today, every Indian despite his or her religion, caste, gender, status stood with one another and fought for one cause. Today, every part of India cried Vande Matram!

16th Aug 2011

Dear Friend: Can sum1 remove dis stupid govt

Koi keh sakta hai these r politicians

12:25 PM 

me: u can 

use fb bbm

12:26 PM 

Dear Friend: These guys r nt at all diplomatic

Even I cud hav dealt wid this situation in a much better way

me: mk ppl realise that they are penalised and fired from their offices for unaccountability while the real corrupt are roaming scotfree

12:27 PM 

Dear Friend: No yaar u r nt undrstndng my point

My point is dat they shud hav let anna do watever he liked

12:28 PM 

People wud hav still voted 4 dem in d next elections

Bcoz they dnt hav an opposition

N indian people hav a very short memory

N den they cud hav got anna hazare killed by slow poisioning

12:29 PM 

me: ok so u dont want anything good fr the country

i see

Dear Friend: Hw do u knw lokpal bill is good 4 d country

do u want d country to be equal 4 all??

me: i hv read it

yes

shudnt it be

12:30 PM 

Dear Friend: Okk den tell me dis

No answr me dis

me: answer wat dear?

Dear Friend: Do u hav a servant in ur house

Do u have a maid or a servant

12:31 PM 

Itnaa kyaa likh rahaa hai

12:32 PM 

me: yes a maid does come and she is given all the benefits, chutti, appraisal, she notifies me for a leave , i notify her when not to come. we hav a healthy relationship where we chat as to wat she likes to cook. how is it made. i take care of her needs regarding her children or somewhere where i could help

12:33 PM 

Dear Friend: I just wanted a yes or a no

I m givng d xample

Nt u

So answr in brief

Okk

me: its just that she potentially does not qualify for a better job than housekeeping

Dear Friend: Nw wat will happen if u dnt hav a maid

Just answr wat I ask

me: i'll do al the cleaning mopping washing myself

cooking

12:34 PM 

Dear Friend: N wat abt ur house in del

Will ur mom b able 2 do

me: well yes.

only that she is growing old.

12:35 PM 

Dear Friend: So wat..just think she wnt get a maid frm nw on

me: ya on her own then

Dear Friend: Will all d houses in d country b able 2 do dat???

12:36 PM 

I will answer dat...its a no

12:37 PM 

me: if we do not have an underpriviliged society from tomoro yes we shall either have to do all that on our own or have a system like US

Dear Friend: Bcoz our country isn't dat clean...dat we cud afford not 2 clean our houses 4 2 days

Yes...dats right

me: where anyone in need of money could do all these services and be paid by hour

12:38 PM 

Dear Friend: So I dnt want dat we shud hav a system like US

Bcoz it will effect grwth of d economy

I think like a businessman

Growth is reqd at present

Yess but its tooo xpensive

12:39 PM 

U dnt knw hw many small scale industries will b effected by dis

Unemployment will rise

12:40 PM 

me: so i really dont understnd the point how being under priviliged is being corelated to being corrupt where the businessmen industrialists have milliions in the swiss banks which if were in india and been white money it could really help empower the underpriviliged

Dear Friend: Anna hazare kind of people dnt c dis aspect at all\

me: no i mean anna hazare is against the corrupt

Dear Friend: Yeah so underpriveledged wud hav money...

N there standards will rise

me: he doesnt own a union in favor of the maids or housekeepers

Dear Friend: Wid dat there costs

12:41 PM 

me: yes

so is it wrong

Dear Friend: So it ultimately effects d whole system

me: are u telling me that you purposely want the system to be corrupt

12:42 PM 

u purposely want children to labour in ur factories

r u telling me that ur all intentions are malicious

if yes i do not see u in a different light than the politicians and this government

12:43 PM 

Dear Friend: Yes...there is no need 4 dis kind of a bill

Every country has its systems

N our country runs on dis system

Every1 curses d politicians...den y doesn't go into politics

Yesss

Yess I c it dat ways

me: well dear ppl r getting into politics

Dear Friend: Dats hw country wud grow

me: hv u heard of TISS

Dear Friend: Yess I hav heard

12:44 PM 

me: http://www.swechha.in/about-us/core-team

Dear Friend: Okk as per u..who is d next pm of d country

If elections were 2day

me: they have recently represented india in the united nations

they are doing whatever it takes

12:45 PM 

Dear Friend: ‎​Okk as per u..who is d next pm of d country

‎​If elections were 2day

me: well, that's exactly the question which remains unanswered n shud not be answered

i dont want a rahul gandhi

12:46 PM 

therefore i want anna's campaign to be so impacctful that congress doesnt win enuf votes

Dear Friend: Y shudnt it b

Open ur eyes

12:47 PM 

me: well congress has a history with scamsi in the past two years

Dear Friend: If rahul gandhi stands 2day...65% of d country votes 4 hi$

me: i think my eyes r oopen n ur mind shut

Dear Friend: Him

Bcoz nda doesn't hav a candidate

me: they wont cos congress has had a bad past?

12:48 PM 

Dear Friend: Dude...every industrialist wants dem 2 b in power

me: cwg, kalmadi, hiela, 2g - chidambram,

shiela

i agree

Dear Friend: Y didn't u do???

me: but does the common man?

12:49 PM 

i pay high taxes

Dear Friend: Small industrialists want dem

me: i pay for expensive food

i dont get facilities

i stand in ques

Dear Friend: Online

Get online

me: dude i guess i got to be a li'l selfish

Dear Friend: 2 avoid ques

12:50 PM 

me: where "I" is comprising of 100 crore of us

Dear Friend: Okk gtg

Talk l8r

me: yup u get below-line

12:51 PM 

2 know reality n avoid asking ques

The Chat continues on BBM. 

Dear Friend: 1sardar ko Chand Pr bhejne ka Faisla hua.

Aadhe raste me sardr ne Rocket se niche chalang lga di or chillaya dhoka salo Aaj to Amawsya hai,Chand to niklega nhi.

Dear Friend: Do u knw hw many yrs it took 2 get independence

Dear Friend: ....

Dear Friend: Tell???

Dear Friend: Do u hav an answr

Udit: Brb

Dear Friend: Okkk...

Dear Friend: Did u read d breaking news

Udit: No

Dear Friend: Read my status

Dear Friend: N u wud fall off laughng

Dear Friend: Did u read

Udit: Ya

Dear Friend: Okk tell me dis...u knw people r in custody in a stadium

Dear Friend: Chatrasal

Udit: Yes yes

Udit: Mere ek do juniors bhi hain yar

Dear Friend: Hahahaha...hw r they doing there toilet over there???

Dear Friend: Do u think anna is doodh ka dhulaa kinds

Dear Friend: ???

Dear Friend: Is he nt corrupt...

Udit: How?

Dear Friend: Y is he doing all dis 4?????

Udit: 4 u? I guess...

Dear Friend: Publicity....

Dear Friend: Who r d people chanting his names???

Dear Friend: They r not common people...but people sent by bjp,rss etc

Udit: At 70? Do u think? His daughter in law stays at a village house in a torn sari. Is it d same wid lalu's 9 kids or karunanidhi's whole clan?

Udit: Well I was at a march yesterday wher ther were ppl frm google india, fb india, tata, convergys. I think u r purposely being pessimistic. Ek bar acha soch ke dekh

Udit: Chal bye

Udit: Off to anothr rally at hyd.

Dear Friend: Hahahaha...all d best..

Dear Friend: I'm thinking achaa only

Dear Friend: Dnt worry u will c it in loong term

Udit: I m trying to b non violent

Udit: Else I would hv told u - g**** mara

Dear Friend: Okk tell me only 1 thing

Dear Friend: Hw long it took 4 us 2 get indpendence

Udit: The day we thought we want independence. We were independent.

Udit: One day, one moment?

Dear Friend: Lols...

Dear Friend: It took 100 yrs

Udit: Hw mny nwspprs were there tht time

Udit: Hw mny were literate

Udit: And Hw mny were like u!

Dear Friend: Dnt worry...its gonna take 200 yrs dis time

Dear Friend: Let india win a wrld cup

Dear Friend: N we will c wat d media says

Udit: So again I wudnt ask u to g**** mara

Dear Friend: Will it cover anna or india

Udit: Pls jake g**** mara le

Udit: Ph** off k****

Dear Friend: Dude....2day is day 1...

Dear Friend: I will ask u after 2 weeks

Udit: Sure

Udit: Thousnds of ppl r here

Udit: Jus wntd u to kno

Udit: Bye

Dear Friend: Dnt worry

Dear Friend: I knw

Dear Friend: They r indians...n all hav short term memory...

Dear Friend: N plzzz do me a favour

Dear Friend: Can u sk dem does ne 1 knw wat were d points dat anna hazare wanted 2 include in d lokpal bill

Dear Friend: N wat does a lokpal bill do...apart frm reducing prices 4 dem...

Dear Friend: Dnt answr 4m urself but ask people

Dear Friend: N lemme knw

Udit: Anyway a lot of corporate is here. They hv d bill copies in their hnds. One is discussing d clauses.

Udit: Oh I guess you r Comparing wid d images of delhi.

Udit: Dnt wrry its vry orgnised here

Dear Friend: Yesss

Dear Friend: Okkk

Dear Friend: If people knw wat they r protestng 4 den its good

Dear Friend: But here its bhaed chaal

Udit: Yahan pe is samay bhed chaal hi chahiye bhai

Udit: Ek hi direction mein jaana hai yar

 

At Indira Park, Hyderabad

Just a few hours before Anna was said to be released yet Anna refused to leave jail till he gets unconditional permission to fast

And our conversation continues (17th Aug 2011)

Dear Friend: Dude watever u sent me yestrday was just magical...n eye opener
Dear Friend: Thnk u...
Udit: U drunk in d morning?
Dear Friend: Nopes....
Dear Friend: I'm in my senses
Dear Friend: D readings n wat I'm watchng has made me more anti anna
Udit: Hahahahahhha did u read my blog?
Dear Friend: Yess
Dear Friend: I'm doing a lot of reading dese days
Udit: Hahhahhaaa....
Dear Friend: Wat hahahahaaaa
Dear Friend: Did u c star news yestrday
Dear Friend: In d night
Udit: No y?
Dear Friend: It took out d air out of anna hazare's movement
Udit: Really
Udit: Hv u heard abt twitter?
Dear Friend: They xposed dat people protestng dnt knw wat they r fighting 4...
Udit: Jus search annahazare on twitter
Udit: Knowin its against corruption is enuf
Udit: Wat more?
Dear Friend: No it isn't enuf
Dear Friend: Ts blindfaith
Dear Friend: Its
Udit: I dnt wanna b ruled by fools, ruffians, goons
Udit: I fight against them
Udit: Isn't tht enuf
Udit: I cnt let n idiot decide fr me
Udit: Its frustrating dude
Udit: Pls try n read a few nwspprs
Udit: Hindu if possible
Dear Friend: Hmmm..
Dear Friend: Its frustrating 4 me 2 c hw dis govt is acting...so cowardly...they dnt hav an opposition...n still they r gettng threatened
Dear Friend: 4 wat???
Dear Friend: I wud hav dealt wid d situation in a much better way
Udit: Hv u been a class monitor?
Dear Friend: These fuckers hav made anna hazare a national hero
Dear Friend: Yess
Dear Friend: N I hated it
Dear Friend: Many times
Udit: Now the govt is d monitor of 120cr ppl and its a monitor wid massive guilt. And wat more all d students r making noise
Udit: Atlst u had no guilt
Dear Friend: Nthng
Dear Friend: Wat more???
Dear Friend: Its like I read 2 newspapers everyday...ok

Eulogising Facebook... (Honestly!)

"Facebook should be limited to young users only, since they engage more with the product, have different type of interactions and are the largest growing segment in any country". 

This was the topic of a recent Webinar I participated in. I am so happy that the Webinars are catching up in the Indian social marketing space with much enthusiasm. This was what I had to say.

I beg to differ!

My mom and all her sisters and brothers use Facebook more often than me. Infact, they are fulfilling their pursuits through Facebook. Matchmaking! Spying on their Kids! And the one noble pleasure of getting back to their old friends. How could we devoid them of this joy of reconnecting with their friends and companions. They were a little late to grab the technology but then I must assure the FB management they are hitting in huge numbers and so do the trends say.

Socially and emotionally, Facebook is doing a tremendous job of bridging the generation gap. Parents now understand when they see that a hundred other kids do have a girlfriend or a boyfriend, do have vices, do party (day and / or night). That's opening them up. At the same time they are getting aware about their kid's interests, hobbies, affiliations. They do see that the kid is reading, he is rejoicing in music, he is supporting causes... that the kid has a good conscience.

The business point of view, well, I have an understanding that if this Target Group is given emphasis, it would do great wonders. Since, the youth is already hooked and addicted, we could segment ourselves to the new TG. Apps, that bring back the flavor of the past. Communities that keep them engaged with their roots, with their interests, with their followings shall develop huge following and That's Where We Place an Advertisement!!!

The largest segment in the country might at times become dormant but here is an opportunity which we should not overlook. We have now an opportunity to connect the 40 and above age groups to the young. If we could possibly do that, the excitement shall forever be there.

So the point that we take home is that we never end the Excitement that Facebook has brought in the lives of its users!

thinking aloud...

i just saw the movie 'the adjustment bureau' and i feel wierd right now. i mean much has happened in our lives because of the choices we made. and that one big choice that we stood by and how difficult it was to weigh it from the other option. n we still dont kno if it was the right one or that we would regret it forever.

in a recent conversation i was told that our positivity and the instinct to stay optimistic makes us say "whatever happens does happen for good". some say its escapism from the reality, whatever that went wrong. the others say its karma.

so we have free will in here as well. and bruce almighty's morgan freeman says, never stop free will. ( u could read more on this at - http://franksatheisticramblings.blogspot.com/2011/02/bruce-almighty.html and to watch it - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6et2ZSodS0g&feature=youtube_gdata_player)

so u understand my state... trying to bring all thoughts together... reach a conclusion. but this should take time that's an answer worth the weight and thought process.

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run

I had been lazy all this while to upload the photos of the trek to Uttarkashi. I had been occupied as well and was waiting for a beautiful day for these pictures bring back to me the beautiful times. Maybe when i read through my blog again I shall give it captions as well, but maybe the captions would be very brief for the value they hold.

Summers bother him and his recreation is a dip in the water. Thanda Paani naroo yara tere.. Sang sang chalna tere.. (Click to play the song)

Notice the green Meadows.

Vanity and Pride. (We deserve it there)TrippedSo am I.... Tripped!The way we feel it - It's different!Good that you'd noticed the meadows before.Reflections... the history, the mystery and the gift.That smirk... (Not again!!)And throws an attitude as well.EpipahanyAnd I said it to them, "Pahadiyan di Shaan Vakhri!"
(I love Irony)

mumbai blasts 2011 - whom to blame?

Sawaalon ki ungli, jawaabon ki mutthi sang lekar
Khoon chala... Khoon chala...
kuchh kar guzarne ko khoon chala khoon chala

We need an answer this time.

No sooner when we were getting used to this at the airports (terminal 3 Delhi) and the five stars Corporate Conferences we have serial blasts in Mumbai once again. also, its been commomwealth, its been 2G, its been Radiagate, its been doping and recently its been Telangana. I was welcomed in Hyderabad, the city which is Internationally popular as Cyberabad by a 48 hour bandh. Serial blasts in Mumbai were seriously not wanted right now to further dampen the spirits of Indians. How long can we joke among our global associates and partners saying with embarrassment "welcome to India ji".

All of us our doing our bit to safeguard the image of india under all circumstances and contribute through accountability to our professions but in this case who shall we put the blame to? The casual police, the sheepish government and its Bodies like RAW? I do want an answer this time!

I have been recently listening to the standup comedians of the fame of russel peters and his army of jokers in canada. well they are really pissed of with the 7/11 status that they have been awarded and specially how the world now looks up at a brown man.

Keeping these aside the objective of the blasts could be destruction, to reclaim power, to cause insecurity, but my dear terrorist and whatever your name is, these incidents, thanks to you only bring our people together. Such is the greatness of India and none of your blasts can kill that.

Coke Studio India - Great Expectations

When Coke Studio India was launched on 17th June I was on a trek to Uttarkashi and of the many things I missed there, it was one. Of the first few things that I did on returning was watch the Videos on Youtube. Well, I was disappointed.

Yes I had great expectations with Coke Studio India. I had imagined fireworks in my mind when I would have heard the music. Well, it was not even close. However much in my voluntary effort to disbelieve I garnered the courage to hear them again and found the lose patches.

It seems to me that the Project of an Indian avatar of Coke Studio was undertaken in much hurry. While Coke Studio Pakistan resulted from a beautiful intent to the cause of music which took years to popularise and gradually reached everyone's heart, the Indianised version looks like a commercial prospect.

The core that is missing here is "The Magical Blend" where traditional and folk meets modern and contemporary music. The music hits you hard like being beaten off track. You don't seem to enjoy it as you suspect the sanctity of the music, the musicians and the singers. You tend to be skeptical of it being a mere attempt to imitate Coke Studio Pakistan where everyone in the premises looks so indulged in music and getting a kick from the performances.

Well, my perception is very minutely changing and I am optimistic that it would change eventually as more music is made and Coke Studio India learns from its follies and feedback.

I so wish to share my list of worst and best songs as I would want the optimism and the spirit of music alive in me. Cos its said that dukh baantne se kam hota hai and happiness is best when shared!

Tip Top & Me Dolkar Shankar Mahadevan Khagen Gogoi
http://bit.ly/r9snVn

Mr. Gogoi renders beautiful music and as Shankar opens his mouth he's in deep wonder, "abe kahan le ja raha hai". I fail to understand the relevance of bringing together an Assamiya song expressing love with a song sung by Marathi fishermen.

Vethalai Kailash Kher Chinna Ponnu
http://bit.ly/oU0OZk

Well, no collaboration of music and Kailash Kher's exclusive attempt at writing Sufi lyrics as the MTV caption describes it. But a highly entertaining song. CUTE I would say by looking at the expressions of both Kailash and Vethalai. But what are the three bugging slothful girls doing here! The above is their only contribution in the entire series; they clap well at least.

Yaar Basinda Tochi Raina and Mathangi
http://bit.ly/ne5fD5
Well the best example of north not meeting south (Notice the expressions of the two singers). If listened to individually these are beautiful. Aren't we in awe of Mahaganpatim from Morning Raga? Well, Carnatic has been among my favourite form of Hindustani music but then....... Why did they do it?

Bichuaa Sunidhi Chauhan Mousam Gogoi
http://bit.ly/nBlbzm
One among my favourites so far for the amazing percussion and for Sunidhi.

Jiya Laage Na – Shankar Mahadevan, Khagen Gogoi, Megha Dalton, Akriti Kakkar, Leslie Lewis
http://bit.ly/rv2lOh
The best and only track with a great Blend, a great Jugalbandi... the instruments being awesomely played especially the guitar. And it has Akriti Kakkar... who the....... is she?

Maula Maula – Divya, Qadir
http://bit.ly/nbcG9q
WOW!! A great rendition to the Sufi song. Amazingly brought together.

Chitthiye – Sunidhi Chauhan & Wadali Brothers
http://bit.ly/iUZKUa
The song from Henna reminds me of my birthplace Kullu (Just have a look at the video of the original song and see the river Beas flowing behind. The white water is overpowering.) In Sunidhi Chouhan, the singer, I see my beloved soulmate, the mischievousness, the effortlessness, the confident expressions, that smirk of conviction. I pray she does smile. What I love the most of the song is the childlike devotion for music of the Wadali brothers. The Senior had to be discharged from the hospital for the recording on his insistence.

I make it a point to ignore the lethargic 3 girls sitting on their bums and any contribution of theirs particularly in this song otherwise which the song is the most beautiful from Coke Studio India so far.