Oh My GOD!

In continuation to my previous blog...

Since none had the address I gave up on GOD. One day, out of the blues, my kith and kin decided to give a green signal to my proposal. Something in me said that it was the Hand of GOD. So I wanted to thank GOD. I hit the bed that night thinking how.

The next morning. I woke up to an invitation card being slid under my door. The card read:

You are invited.
Pick up at 0800 hrs – GOD

I didn't believe at first. No one around me reads my blog to play pranks. Thoughts went deep. Something drew my attention. It was the every half-an-hour church-bell. What if this was true?

If this was GOD then I had only half-an-hour left. I didn't want to waste time anymore. I started to freshen up. All through my shower I was dreaming about riding on a white-horses-driven chariot in space to realize answers to perennial questions: Is GOD a He or She? Where does He/She live?

The moment hourly church-bell rang at 0800 hrs something drew me. All of a sudden I found myself with a kind old man. He was very friendly and was performing a routine security check. I told him about the latest airport scanners. He was amused. I didn't get a chance to mention that my dreams of chariot ride have been ruined. I can live without that.

Soon after formalities the old man led me to the GOD's room. He asked me to be polite and not to question the credibility of creationism.

The room was glittering. Everything in the room was fair and lovely. The GOD Himself was glowing. He was very bright. As in stars. As in Sun. I did notice only later that I got the answer to one of my perennial questions. Yes, the GOD was HE. He shook my hands firmly and welcomed me to His oval office. I thanked Him for what He did. He didn't take me serious. As if it was the only one He did to me. Fair enough.

I asked Him where he lives. He said His residence was just above his office. I said that He was lucky enough to have both at one place. 'Not always', He sighed.

He called someone to serve me with wine. He mentioned beforehand that it was not His blood.
Playing it down and safe, I praised Him all along.

Me: Your Omnipotence is beyond my imagination.
He: I doubt that.

"But I know for sure that I am potent enough", He winked while a beautiful and equally glowing woman served me a glass of wine. He introduced Her to me as His wife, the GODDESS. I was fascinated and knew that this meeting was taking me to another level. More personal with the GOD.

Me: So Is Da Vinci Code true?
He: I read that one. Pretty interesting.
Me: But?
He: I prefer not to answer that for my own sake.

Desperately wanting to move away from that topic, He shot a question at me.

He: What do people think about me?
Me: I narrated my encounter with a Catholic friend who tried to explain the GOD in his own way:

"Assume that you have an examination tomorrow. You know nothing about it till this evening. You cannot read or focus anymore. You pray all through the night. The next morning answers will flow out of your mind from nowhere and you will pass the examination."

He smiled and noted down the details of my friend in one of His diaries. I noticed the title of the diary: "List of prospective Popes". "Always keep your enemies within your sight", He said of His strategy. How true.

We discussed many things and I found His views very liberal. He was annoyed with the concept of abortion apparently. However, at some point, I asked about His views on condoms. "As long as it fits" was the response. He mentioned that "one size fits all is a scam". I gathered from his pitiful face that He was a victim.

His glowing face did become dull when I brought up the recent discussion on child protection. "All I can say is that, Children, please keep away from Priests" was His advice. I understood that He accepted his failure. He had no GOD to blame it on. Poor He. I didn't know how to console Him.

I jumped out of my bed hearing the buzzer. It was delivery of the book that I ordered, "The GOD Delusion".

Wow, what a dream? A dream-come-true dream!

Excuse me, am I on the right way to the past?

Never was I interested to discuss this until I myself am a victim. Interesting to know how a futuristic mindset, full of dreams, opens the door to the past bypassing the present. Absurd? Read on for more.

Indian weddings. A showcase of pride. Parents are the hosts. You are unmistakably wrong if you think their “to-wed” children are their pride. All Indian parents, irrespective of who, what, where, how they are, they have dreams about their children's wedding. Not the wedding plans that I am concerned about but choosing the right partner itself. Absurd 2. The only Unity for which the Thackerays may get along with rest of India. Fundamental right to marry whoever we want. The need for India today, more than any nuclear deal.

My entry.

I told my mom about a girl who I am interested in, of course to tie-the-knot. Not-so-surprisingly she was unhappy. Although she likes the girl, my mom thinks that our Gods may not like her Gods. In complex terms, the girl belongs to a different religion. Now I have to convince not only my mom but also the God, oops Gods! My mom somehow feels very obliged to answer the society if at all she agrees. Absurd 3. This could only happen in a country where no corrupt politician is obliged to answer anyone. We call it democracy.

My kith and kin were surprised and shocked on hearing this. Thanks to the fact that I was a calm and nice guy at home. I am afraid to marry anyone now for that matter. Take a moment. Imagine the day my wife announces that she is pregnant. All my kith and kin would be surprised and shocked again. Total chaos. Some of them might have to be rushed to emergency. Rest of them wondering how did I do and what was I thinking. Absurd 4. Only because I was a calm and nice guy at home. I wanted to tell them that I am calm but not stupid. Only that I couldn’t. Hey I am nice guy too.

After all these, I wonder. What did I really say? I like a girl. What could possibly have been their reactions if it was “I like a guy”? Beyond my imagination. It takes at least a thousand nuclear deals to transform a cat into a tiger.

Too many cooks in Indian wedding. Both literally and metaphorically. Convince many to marry one. Time is flying. Let me start my convincing with Absurd 3. Do you know where God lives?

Invasion

I am writing this from atop the World. Floating at 39000 feet above to be precise, provided the display is correct. I am flying to India from London for a month long vacation. This has been a very long day for me. Woke up at four in the morning and still up and flying. The time now is seven in the evening, of course GMT+1. I have never understood this mathematics with time zones. Nor am I interested.

I have witnessed the possible side-effects of invasion today. My British airways flight was from Terminal 5 of Heathrow airport, a newly built, well designed complex. As soon as I entered, there were Indians, everywhere. Not only the travelers. From desk to online check-in to security to gate, Indians, Indians and mostly Indians. I felt that I am already in India. I do know that there are specific areas in London, occupied mainly by Indians and its neighbors. But this is the first time in an airport, I see the dominance. I thought this is how invasion revitalizes itself with time in the other direction. It could be ‘the’ moment for proud Indians to take pride in their men who prove to be capable of ruling and disprove Churchill.

The moment lasts until you board the flight. Sorry, until you ‘try’ to board the flight. Our countrymen do not believe in reservations, at least in the ticketing though. Everyone tries to board the flight at once. I am sure of Usain Bolt losing if he wishes to try.

There was a typical south Indian family with more than a row of head counts aboard the flight. The key member of the family, who kept all the boarding passes apparently, was standing at the rear end of queue while others were almost at the counter asking the key member to jump the queue. Eventually he did. I imagined the railway stations of India. I realized that they feel at home. They had hand-baggage worth checking-in two. It took nearly fifteen minutes for them to settle down. We were all standing behind them waiting our turns. One of them even jumped from his window seat to the aisle ensuring that he doesn’t disturb the passenger at the center. It was funny to see because the passenger at the center was his wife. Very polite. The wife was indeed a step above him. She didn't consider sparing any of the cabin-crew. She always had something to ask for. At least biscuits. It seems, to her, it is a kind of ‘cash-back’.

My vacation has started from Terminal 5. How did I miss out all these fun for an year? Anyway, I don’t have to bother for one month from now.

Technically, Mom!

I should confess before starting to write that I love my Blackberry and Apple.

Looking back. I could not even imagine how I survived without a mobile phone or an e-mail address from the day I was born until the day I secured one. How could have my contacts been in touch those days? I can only wonder.

Today, on the contrary, I can be in touch with anyone I like and avoid anyone I don't. I can talk or at least send a message to anybody I want from anywhere. The frequency of communication has risen to the level of saturation. There can be no other way of better communication than what we have today. On the other hand, relationships have taken its toll.

If I don't receive an e-mail or SMS today, I feel left out. The day leaves a void in my life. Does anyone care about me? I am depressed. Same thing when I call someone and my call not getting picked up. It paves way to suspect whether I am being ignored. I am sure this is not just me. There are many billions around who would agree unconditionally.

The height of technology abuse.

Today even to wish our moms on Mother's day we depend on technology. Buy flowers and gifts on-line. Ask for "gift wrapped – direct delivery" to her. No time even to look at what we bought. No more time left to present her the gift ourselves on that day. How fair is that? This year it is even 'better'. I read somewhere today, of course on-line, that people complain on recession for not able to spend on gifts for their moms. Miles to go before they realize what their moms actually need.

I was born intelligent; education ruined me first; now it is the technology!

News

They were indeed news. I enjoyed while reading and felt while thinking about them.

American feather: The news that captured the front page of all leading newspapers couple of weeks ago. It was neither about economic policies nor war strategies. Not even the well criticized bail-out plan. What else was that? It was about the new 'first' dog, Bo. I was unaware that even a dog would get such a media attention. Either media has nothing else to report or the dog is unusual. Anyhow, it gives us a reason to 'Boo' Mr Obama!

Indian feather: The height of verbal assault by two of the leading Indian statesmen at each other. Petty bickering. They abused each other in public without realizing that it is not too far away from turning against them. Mr Advani and Dr Singh, please think about yourselves. Think about people too, when you find time!

Another Indian feather: Mr Karunanidhi, an octogenarian and a chief minister of one of the states in India, went on a fast against Srilankan government for man-slaughtering Tamil population in Srilanka and yet not ceasing fire. Mr Karunanidhi, the following are FYI. Marina is a tourist place not your bedroom. If something 'unfortunate' happens while fasting, Mr Rajpaksa would not be held responsible. Considering your age, it would have been clearly natural. Then why this drama? Before I forget, where were you when your son burnt alive three in Madurai for your own family reasons? In Srilanka?

One more Indian feather: Mr Narayana Murthy, chief mentor of Infosys. Ltd. He is well known, at least of late, for his exceptional 'foot-in-mouth' remarks. This time: "In India, articulation is mistaken for accomplishments". He stands as a perfect example for his statement. This is not the first time though. Mr Murthy always exposes his ignorance through interviews. Competitor to Mrs Palin.

I have all feathers now. But where is my hat?

Circus Begins

This time, not for kids but grown-up citizens. Most of us witness the magnificent clowns jumping, here and there, trying to cover-up a billion audience. Few of us applaud. A deck of cards with more than fifty-two jokers. Jokers alone. It is the time for India to choose better among worse. We proclaim it democracy.

I see many NRIs, in countries around the globe, taking pride in Indian democracy. Yet, they do not vote. It takes their time and money. Just for a vote. On the other hand, I am not proud at all and therefore. It is against the constitution to complete the sentence. But the constitution itself allows ineligible candidates to run for the top-job. How fair? By ineligible, I mean, a well learned-yet-powerless and an equally learned-yet-fanatic. Remember, we have only two options as we always had.

Experience alone governs; Not Age but vision matters. My ears are tired of hearing these conservative clichés. How do one experience when not given a chance? How can an octogenarian or a 'soon-to-be' lead India better? Do those conservatives, at all, know the reason for McCain's defeat.

Today's need is someone who thinks; not those who are tired of it. How often have you seen your grandfather taking a bold decision or act quickly? I would say, never, at least not under pressure. This being true, why do we elect ineligible candidate to lead, let alone contest. Three reasons. One, mere lack of candidates. Two, our dream of manifestos, though words only on paper, becoming real. Three, our love towards celebrities.

First reason is genuine. Most of us are away from India. Yet, we are very proud. We always talk about Indian politics and try hard not to do anything for it. Second reason, poor man's dream. It stops just there soon after waking up the morning after polls. At least for the next five years. Third reason is obvious. It is called democracy. In my words, ignorance.

Ignorance and dream are mere the side-effects of lack of leadership. I want the change. I remember, if you need a change, be one. Yes, I can be the change.

You know,
I have a dream!

Relic returns

"Prime Minister has directed me to do whatever possible....the bottom line is to procure the memorabilia" – Culture Minister Ambika Soni

Reading carefully the above statement by a cabinet minister, the word "whatever" signifies how desperate we were to take ownership of Gandhi's belongings. They were indeed the need of the hour for Indian Government, this week.

What made Dr Singh, a Cambridge educated Economist, to focus his efforts on this bidding? In other words, to become irrational?

At this point, I could only take a guess on Dr Singh's beliefs:

• Gandhi's sandals should take the 'privileged' priority over people of India due to approaching polls.
• India's vision will undoubtedly improve through those pair of steel-rimmed eye glasses.
• His watch brings good times in spite of recession and scams.

Let us all believe too, like Dr Singh, that India wakes up tomorrow in to a new era; peace and prosperity.

Today all of Gandhi's belongings are safe in the hands of an "Indian" liquor tycoon. Sounds amazing. Honestly, I do not know whether Gandhi deserves this. Slumdog versus Academy awards. But good for me, I realized Gandhi's value. It is US$1.8m. I cannot afford it anyway.

Increase of material comforts, it may be generally laid down, does not in any way whatsoever conduce to moral growth – Mohandas Gandhi

who needs moral growth, after all? Gandhi is dead already!

Paradise Lost

This post has nothing to do with John Milton's work.

I just signed off from a chat window. It was a little chat between my college friend and me. Nothing special about the chat itself. But something has driven me back in time. Those precious four years between 1997 and 2001 inclusive. I myself cannot define these years without losing its essence and hence I had to steal from Milton. Hope he would excuse.

I enjoyed those years like any other one in my batch. I made real good friends. Today's chat was not even about the college days. Still I am forced to think about the past. I cannot say those years were the best as there are miles to go still. But whenever someone asks me for my valuable years, I would not forget to mention those four.

I do not know how many others do this. But I have the habit of reading though my Diary-2001 at least once in every two months. It is where I learn about myself. My friends wrote their opinions on me; few good and many bad. I read through the lines every time and console myself of having quality people around me who bothered enough to point-out my negatives to me.

If I ask any of them today, they'll be polite in their opinions. Life teaches politeness and how to be good to others. On the other hand, life over-shadows perceptions. They may not reflect what they think. They are, to some extent, bound to say good things. But, in those four years, they were what they were. The diary is my treasure. The magical book that teaches me how-not-to-be rather than how-to-be.

All of us know that sand castles are to be washed away by the tides any time. No ones stops building one. I built mine too. The tides could not wash it away. I still cherish the way it was built not in hours but in years.

Globally Asymmetric

Believe it or not, every Indian citizen talks about culture today. I thought, why not me? I have the eligibility. I am Indian.

With overflowing patriotism, I referred Oxford dictionary. To my surprise, I found the word. How can such a 'conservative' Indian word present in Oxford dictionary? I reassured myself in a typical conservative way, English must have stolen it for their dictionary. Anyhow, my findings lead to the following:

culture• noun
1 the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively.
2 a refined understanding or appreciation of this.
3 the customs, institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or group.
4 the cultivation of plants, breeding of animals, or production of cells or tissues.
5 a preparation of cells grown in an artificial medium containing nutrients.

I am little confused. I thought culture is something like Creationism, by which I mean, should not be questioned. Just to be followed blindly.

Seriously, which of these are we referring to?

1 Certainly not this one as it clearly is an abstract idea of human intellectual achievement. I would not have been discussing this today had we accomplished intellectually.
2 The problem itself is a cause of no understanding at all, let alone refined.
3 We have 28 states/7 union territories. Every state has 'n' number of political groups where 'n' is large and cannot be counted. The only achievement of our country is that we are still together. And this can never be the 'culture' others are referring to.
4 There is food scarcity everywhere and farmer suicides are growing every year. If there is no food for us, breeding animals?
5 I don't quite understand this. And I am sure about others too.

Again, which one of these are we referring to? Please don't tell me 'culture' is a verb.

What is our problem with this imaginary noun 'culture'? Honestly, I do not know. I can afford only this much time to waste on culture. Further discussions might end up in uncultured comments. In my opinion, everyone has the right to have his/her own culture. Culture is an exceptional way of life. It is globally asymmetric.

To sum up:

Live simply, and let others simply live!

Inauguration

Loud and clear.

There cannot be any other inaugural speech as loud and clear as this. I am not an American myself. Still, I was awaiting this day just to hear Obama address not just the United States of America. He is pragmatic, charismatic, and magnetic. In less than twenty minutes of his inaugural address, he was able to summarize the entire eight years of Bush's pitfalls. Even Bush has to try hard to summarize better.

I am not supporting Obama because he's black or half-black. I am not even bothered about his color. In my opinion, he has a brain and he knows how to use it at least. During the crisis, people need hopes. They need someone to say that they can. They do not need their President to disclose his plans to save the economic downfall in his inaugural speech. Obama came out with hopes. Those who heard him were charged completely in twenty minutes. And remember, Obama's speech has driven not just the USA. In fact, it is too early to rate Obama. But one thing is for sure, he can do nothing to worsen the current situation in America.

My European friends think the other way. To them, a white can lead better. I asked them to take Bush as an example. One of them went to the extent of saying "Obama's mother was white and he was brought up by his white grandparents". And hence he may lead better. I still say, so was Bush and he proved it wrong today.

The actual issue.

Why am I talking more about Obama? I am not yet another guy who blindly admires his audacity of hopes. But there's something more to it and something that makes me think about India.

In these sixty-two years, India had never produced young charismatic leaders. Except for Rajiv, I don't remember any other younger face in power. He came to the throne only because he was the then assassinated Chief's son. Looking at Indian politics today, we are far behind. I have a unresolved question from the day I saw the movie "Ayudha Ezhuthu" or "Yuva" (in hindi). A question that dwells in me for a long time now.

Is it possible for me to indulge in politics and become a Chief someday when I'm fifty?

To be clear, I am not thriving here for power. In my opinion, a lot more can be done with power. A lot more good. The generation of today can heal the pain of grief. I am ready to do at any cost following the hopeful words of Obama:

If I can do it, anyone can!

Does a politically sensible honest opinion exist?

I was in the United States in November to attend a conference in Texas. I traveled around Austin with my colleagues. The group consists of three Indians and a guy from Cameroon.  To elaborate on us: I am very frank in my opinions. Politeness leaves by itself when honesty comes in. I am not bothered about to whom am I making a comment as long as I am to deliver an honest thought. It is always a negative in me.

All others, unlike me, would like to please others. No matter how wrong it is or how much does it deviate from their opinions, their intentions are to please those who are good to them. I wonder, how can you not be honest at least to those who are nice to you?? May be it is something beyond my knowledge and I am never going to understand.

Before getting in to the actual scenario, let me give my honest opinion on them. Oh, no! When I say honest I'm going to be impolite. So please excuse, let me move on to the scenario itself.

Along with one of them I was traveling to Wal-mart by taxi. The taxi driver was an American. He met all criteria to be an American: accent, polite, friendly, and most importantly obese. I would like to clarify here that I am not someone who makes fun of obesity.

On our way, the driver was engaging us in a lively conversation on our whereabouts. He suddenly said "I think there are no fat people in India; all are like you; slim and fit; I have never seen a fat Indian". One could sense at that time that he really means what he says. It may be because of the fact that he couldn't be one.

My good Indian colleague stepped in to his rescue. Trying to be polite to the American, he said, "it's a sign of wealth". By "it" he meant "obesity".  The driver vaguely agreed with him. I was puzzled. What? May be, Obesity is a sign of wealth in planet-X. Why would anyone make a comment that is least suited during the economic crisis? Instead of being nice and polite now you are indirectly making fun of his wealth during the crisis. 

Trying to step down the issue, I wanted to be honest and of course impolite by pointing the root cause. I said, "No... may be it's a sign of McDonald's". The driver understood and accepted the comment I made. He started laughing and said twice.. "huh, it's a sign of McDonald's". He couldn't cease his laughter until we got down.

Soon after we are in to Wal-mart's, my polite friend came to me and murmured. You know, everyone knows it's a sign of McDonald's but you shouldn't have been rude to him by saying it. He was so nice to us. I replied him, it was my honest opinion and I should be honest to those who are nice to me.

The news spread to my other "polite" Indian colleague. I was told by him that even a joke must be politically sensible and my comment wasn't. I stand by my comment. No honest opinion is politically sensible or correct. If you know or find a politically sensible yet honest opinion, please do let me know. 

Until then I go with Mark Twain's quote,

"It's no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense."

I won the Euro 2008!!!

"What?? You must be joking, Arun. Are you OK?" would be your response to the title. But, I really did. Sorry, I forgot to mention the word 'bid'. Yes, I won the bid for Euro 2008. You know, the teams I guessed were exactly those who played the final on June 29, Germany and Spain. I still ask myself how. How did I choose those teams that exactly got through all other qualifiers to reach the final? I should confess that I had no idea what the teams are when I had to bid them.

Germany is always my favorite. I have no reason why. Germany, as a team, I considered them to be a better choice for the Euro cup. They may not have any star players. But somehow I am much inclined to bid on Germany irrespective of their capacity needless to mention not just in Euro. Still I was not sure about them as they do not always win. Hence I'm forced to pick another. Now which one to pick. There were only few teams to choose from making my life easier: Portugal, France, Italy and Spain.

Portugal and France, though having good track records, did not convince me to be the winners of the Euro cup. I would have blindly gone with France if Zidane plays for them still. But now, I'm left with just two to choose from. No doubt Italy was a good team and they never lost to Spain in Euro at least as far as I know. They strongly believed in this Superstition which could have been seen from their quarterfinals against Spain. It was the same day, June 22 in every Euro cup in the past, that Spain was defeated in the Penalties, irrespective of whether Italy deserved the victory or not. I do not like Italy for many reasons: one of them being the superstitious beliefs. Moreover I wanted a team that do not play against Germany until the final, if at all Germany reaches.

Germany reached the final after defeating Turkey in not-so-professional yet not-so-unprofessional way. This semifinal was very tense that no one believed Turkey giving-up until the final whistle is blown. They portrayed their never give-up mentality through-out the tournament. Still my favorites won adding not-so-much to my surprise. In fact I expected it well-in-advance.

I was in a dilemma on the final day of Euro cup. Though both of my teams are in and I'm going to win the bid anyhow, whom to support now. My favorites or ever-unluckies. I couldn't decide till the end. But I was happy to see, the unlucky, unfortunate, forbidden, forsaken team in spite of their tremendous potential, the Spanish, lifting the Euro cup after their spectacular performance through-out the tournament.

I pocketed a decent amount in winning the bid.
But,
How did I choose the teams correctly even before the tournament, still I wonder!

Can you CORNER the World??

The title might puzzle you. But I mean it. Yes, every country tries to corner the globe with the power of their boundaries. It has been happening all the time somewhere around the world. I always wonder how can someone be cornered in a meeting over a round table. Why I wonder? Because how can you find a corner in a round table??? :-)

I play badminton with a Bangladeshi couple, needless to mention my neighbors geographically. India always has border issues with Bangladesh and Pakistan from the day of Independence of these countries. While we discuss political issues, or even otherwise, I always mention the border issues we have with them considering that Bangladesh was after all a part of India. They always bounce back with the severe famine/flood/arsenic poisoning that was/is being created by India in Bangladesh. Yes, of course they are right. India showed its superpower over the small country, once a part of its own state by constructing controversial barrages that counts to at least seventeen over the rivers that flow in to Bangladesh, one of them being the famous Farakka barrage. Though known in history as a country never waged a war or wanted to capture its neighbors, India, failed to establish its reputation in Bangladesh. It even made me think of as a "trademark Indian non-violent concentration camp". Many of my countrymen wouldn't like me for this phrase.

Back to the subject. I always wonder about the infiltration and the related or unrelated terrorist attacks especially in India. India seems to be very special as the country itself has potential threats as his neighbors mostly indirect. Their pusillanimous brutal slaughtering of common people in India, with increasing head counts every month, has not been paused. Such neutered terrorists die for no reason after leaving the entire country agitated and panicked. If at all their mission was to isolate the country from its neighbors, YES they have done it, without mistakes.

Now terror stricken countries close their borders. The borders are indeed not so visible even to their neighbors. The nations have coined a common terminology to justify themselves.

Security threat is that very fancy, man-made, every nation's favorite terminology that keeps the boundaries safer than the countries themselves. For how much did every country buy their lands? From whom did they buy and when? Is Columbus a sole owner of America Or Vasco-da-gama owns India still?

We build our houses and erect walls around it to define boundaries. No doubt they enhance our privacy but at the same time isolate us from our neighbors which in fact ourselves. This is similar to the story about a lion cub in a herd of lambs. On isolation, eventually we forget our nature and become walls with no more love and humanity left in our hearts. We bother much about the external elements that cross our boundaries as we see them as security threats. Hence we are no more lions but lambs. By this I don't mean building houses without boundaries. It is merely to understand that these boundaries doesn't mean everything to us. Security would always remain as a primary concern to any nation that do not live in harmony at least with its neighbors. India is no exception.

National Flag

This post in basically to discuss the recent controversy on wearing National Flag... whether right or wrong?

Asked personally I would say it is wrong choosing the color and pattern of a nation's respectful flag to wear. This was the same view I put forward when I was discussing with some of my colleagues at the cafeteria late last week. Not surprisingly I was asked... why not to wear? In spite of not having a reason, I promptly threw mine at them... why to wear?

Though none around the globe could figure out how many colors do exist exactly, at least to my knowledge I heard of the count that goes beyond trillions. With trillion colors, together with innovative thinking, theoretically an infinite number of designs can be made which also includes the nation's flag designs. There are 193* countries around the globe. Leave aside 193 designs from infinite patterns... still have infinite patterns(?). Again my question stands upright... why those 193 when you have much more whose count you couldn't even imagine??

For the "why not?" question posed on me, I would reply in this way. Did we ever ask "why not?" or try to act against the following rules?

When we visit a temple...
a) we don't enter with our shoes on, never had God asked us to do so though.
b) we are not allowed to enter "Karpagraha" in temples, supposedly where God dwells.

We don't ask them "why not?" for the reason that we fear for God and the justification we make for ourselves is that we follow the ethics. If ethics and cleanliness are an issue in temples, they are very needed in National Emblems too. Every nation's flag has its own history and meaning...needless to mention dimensions too. I couldn't imagine anyone wearing something of dimension ratio 3:2 without making alterations... if at all desperate enough to wear.

National flags are emblems representing countries... neither just a cloth containing patterns nor mere a fashion garment. These are the symbols that honor a soldier even after the life by covering his corpse symbolizing his service to the nation.

Its yours whether to follow the ethics or not...

A bit about Indian National Flag...

India adopted the familiar horizontal tricolor of saffron, white, and green with a blue Ashoka Chakra at the center with the colors representing Hinduism (saffron), Islam (green), and hoped-for unity & peace (white). The spoked Ashoka Chakra is the "wheel of the law" (belongs to the 3rd-century BC Mauryan Emperor Ashoka).

AFFINITY Or IDENTITY?

I know someone who traveled across two of the European countries recently on a business trip for three weeks. I knew him for more than four years now. He is quite a good guy with absolutely no bad habits, helpful and one who is more inclined towards spirituality. More to say he is an ascetic who try following the austere life of Buddha. He is an athlete too who spends his evenings jogging around.

I am penning down here to express my disappointment on how anyone (not only this guy) who come across a place with serene environment, respect for others, traffic obedience, hardly-seen beggars -- can "just-like-that" think about migrating to that country leaving behind their own nation. It doesn't matter if they just migrate. But the justification they make in the form of complaints against India can never be accounted for.

The major justifications are

a) People are very friendly there. Even in elevators or metro trains, they say "Hi" to me though they didn't know me. In metro train, when I carry a luggage, an European whom I never had known before spared his seat for me to stand comfortably.

b) The environment is pollution-less.

c) Traffic rules are strictly followed.

d) Government considers everyone equally. Any unemployed citizen gets a monthly stipend from the Government to find his bread.

Here are my views as a reply to the complaints.

a) Have you ever said a "Hi" to a fellow Indian, who you do not know before of course, in a public place? Try smiling at someone you get to see daily on the road at least from tomorrow. I'm sure you definitely will hear him say a "Hi" when he sees you next time.

b) A bit of statistics

EUROPE
Area of Europe (land) : 73,36,500 sq.Km
Number of Countries : 45
Area per Country : ~1,63,033 sq.Km
Population per Country: ~1,02,35,455 (July 2006 est.)
INDIA
Area of India (land) : 29,73,190 sq.Km
Population : 1,09,53,51,995 (July 2006 est.)

A nation whose area is almost 28 times lesser than India will be clean, tidy and pollution-less for this obvious reason. And India too is not so polluted as we think. There are many other countries that pollute the entire globe indirectly.

c) Maintaining of rules in such a vast Country like India whose area is 29m sq.Km is not as simple as we think. Yet the traffic police are to be seen in every traffic signal maintaining the traffic... needless to say not all are corrupt :)

d) If you see the population statistics, India is >100 times larger than any EU country. Still in India there are slightly more than 20 percent of the population are below the poverty line. Another 15 percent are unemployed. How can a Government be expected to pay 40 percent of its population in spite of corruptions/scams? Still Government pays indirectly though not directly for downtrodden.

I agree that India is developing for long time and many countries who had started their journey long after us are now stabilized. Still India has its own respect in the World arena though it was mislead almost all the times. The solution for this is certainly not complaining India being settled abroad or taking off from India to a pollution-less, serene country where we lose our identity. Being here and doing something for India's development will make her shine better.

Need for the day is Affinity or Identity?? - Its our choice!!!

Do currencies have the right value?

This happened during a summer half-a-decade back in Chennai, a Southern Indian city which is famous for its peak temperatures during mid-summer. Chennai'ites perish on failing to quench their thirst.

Along with my Mom and a friend, I went for shopping. On our way back home, we stopped at a refreshment stall on a railway station platform buying soft drinks. The table of the stall was shared by us with an old man who was busy crunching. He was poor by his looks, not a beggar though certainly. On completion of his plate, by then we were half way through our drinks, he glanced at our drinks. He must have been thirsty. He asked me the cost of the drink. It was six rupees by then and so I replied. On hearing, he raised his eye-brows exclaiming "Six rupees?" and left the place. I was sure that he couldn't afford to buy one. His way of exclamation shook me for a second and is still fresh whenever I think about this. Though my mom asked me to buy him one, I didn't for I knew he was not a beggar and he might not accept things for free. I couldn't finish my drink and was just gazing at the poor old man whose wobbled walk leaves behind a perennial question.

This was the same incident that made me think about the famous quote...
"I wept for shoes until I see a man without legs."

An NRI Engineer's Diary...

This is an informative diary that I received by mail. Though I don't know who wrote, this one will draw the attention of the readers for sure.
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As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in software Engineer and joined a company based in USA, the land of braves and opportunity.

When I arrived in the USA, it was as if a dream had come true. Here at last I was in the place where I wanted to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about Five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India.

My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat.

I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards.

Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down. FinallyI decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days.

I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant an was actually enjoying shopping for gifts for all my relatives and friends back home.

If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I spent home one week going through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate. In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays soon and they cannot wait for long.

After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after them, we (I was lucky and managed to get the visa of my wife early) returned to USA. My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling Indiaincreased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week as she also has to call her parents. Our savings started diminishing. After two more years we started to have kids.

Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children. Every year I decide to go to India. But part work, part monetary conditions prevented it.

Years went by and visiting Indiawas a distant dream.Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn't get any holidays and was stuck up in the procedures and thus could not go to India. The next message I got was my parents passed away and as there was no one to do the last rites the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents passed away without seeing their grand children.

A couple of more years passed. Much to my children's dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down.

I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA. My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India. My 2 children and I returned to USA after promising my wife I would be back for good after two years. Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and my son was happy living in USA. I decided that enough is enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India. I had just enough money to buy a decent Two-bedroom flat in a well -developed locality. Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby place of worship. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode.

Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this? My father, even after staying in India, had a house to his name and I too have the same, nothing more. I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM. Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me. Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be performing my last rites, God Bless them.

But the question still remains " Was all this worth it? "

Road to Dehradun II

Here I'm... back after a short nap!!! The second part of my trip follows...
The first of the two nights in the train towards the Capital of the World's largest democracy went well. As the train was in the neighboring state, we didn't feel the "Cold". We were in II sleeper and very near to the rest room. So Venkatesh and Sachin had no problems in smoking near the rest room. One will guard the other from the railway guards on smoking occasions, failing which they would have been penalized. The food hunt of Sachin started in the early morning with a tea followed by Idly-Vada. Being ready to miss them for a fortnight, I ate well. I got my Mein Kampf with me. Though it served the purpose fully only when I was traveling from Delhi to Jodhpur and back, I read it for a while. After reading the preface and a few pages about the early life from the "so-called dictator" Hitler's auto-biography, I realized that the book is not just for a travel time-pass. We had everything that passed by our cabin, needless to mention - only food stuffs.
When I was young, I used to think about the Northies as rich and royal citizens. I dreamed of people there as Kings and Queens. My ignorance rose to its peak when I imagined north as a heaven having no huts and only palaces and forts. These are due to the true fact that I had never been to north and I know only Taj Mahal and few other forts there. My dream castle began to collapse as the train slowly entered into the northern India. I saw beggars everywhere, it is common in India though. They come in the moving train and ask for money and food.
It was bitter cold as it was winter. Venkatesh, a Southie wanted to enjoy(!!) winter as he too was on his first visit to northern part. He, the Superman (as named by Sachin and me during this trip) wanted to travel in the train without winter wear and whenever asked said he was enjoying the cold and was very comfortable. As he was saying the word "comfortable" we witnessed the word being type-written by his teeth. Sachin and I burst into laughter and will never forget this incident. At last we reached Delhi after a tiring one day and two nights train journey, my longest train journey ever till now. In Delhi, Anjana's brother and sister-in-law came to receive us with breakfast. I was so hungry that I didn't even get introduced to them as my only concentration was on the breakfast. The breakfast didn't disappoint me and was indeed good.
We reached Dehradun in the evening by around eight after a six hours journey in a bus from Delhi. I never experienced such a cold weather in my life till that time. Dehradun, being a valley surrounded by hills, the temperature was slightly above zero degree C. We heard Venkatesh saying "I feel a bit cold". Again everyone burst into laughter.
We reached our accommodation by an auto carrying all of us with our luggage. It was a good hotel where Sachin and I / Venkatesh and Abu / Anjana and Jeyasudha shared rooms. Abu, carrying a camera with him, took snaps of everyone. These snaps will make each of us cherish those beautiful moments we spent whenever we come across them. In fact while I was writing this blog I was searching for that folder in my laptop to see them once :)
My next blog will be on my stay in Sachin's home for two days before I left for Jodhpur. I'll try to post it as soon as possible.

Castle - I

On a sunny day, I was witnessing a boy and a girl in their early teens playing on the silent sea-shore. They seemed to be blessed and vivacious. They were trying hard to build a castle in sand near the shore. They planned as if the castle was their own and was about to be the eight wonder. The castle was built with doorways, obesliscal towers, moats, even aisles and railings.

After an uphill battle for an hour, they succeeded in their mission. They were very happy on seeing their own castle built in sand though. They were in their Cloud Nine. The accomplishment lasted for meager time until the tides washed away their castle leaving behind the heaps of wet sand.

I expected the children to burst into tears, devastated by what had happened to all their hard work. But they surprised me.



They ran up the shore away from the water, laughing and holding hands, and sat down to build another one. I realized that they had taught me an important lesson.


Everything in our lives, all the complicated structures we created spending so much time and energy are merely like sand castles. They will be knocked down by huge tidal waves at any instant. Only our relationships endure. Only those who have somebody's hand to hold will be able to laugh and start the work building from the scratch.

PS : Can you guess who the Chaps are in the last photograph?
Clue : The great Olympians of 1936 Olympics (commonly known as Hitler's Olympics) at Berlin.

Road to Dehradun - I

Dehradun, a beautiful valley located at the foot of the Great Himalayas in the Northern India. I had been there from Chennai, almost the other end of India, the past December. I was accompanied by a few of my friends doing their Masters with me. Though the trip was quite official, it turned out to be a memorable one. In total, there were two girls (Anjana & Jeyasaudha) and four guys (Me, Sachin, Abu & Venkatesh). The trip had a messy start due to the "most responsible" Sachin. He was supposed to make a poster for his presentation at Doon. But till the morning of December 9, the day we had to leave for NewDelhi by TamilNadu express at 22hrs, me & Sachin were very busy in preparing his poster. Everytime after it was done, he would rush to his Supervisors (unfortunately he had two Supervisors) and both of them were making corrections all the time in his poster. Finally, we landed up with the poster which was certainly not the one we started with. It was around 11hrs, we left for Mount road to print the poster, the busiest road in Chennai.

We found a poster printing shop but the guys were out for Namaaz. We were asked to come in 30 minutes. At that point of time, half-an-hour seemed to be a hell lot of time. So we went out in search of other shops. We walked, walked and walked... landed up in shops but ended up in vain. At last back to pavillion...to the first shop after an hour (though we thought 30 minutes was a lot more time to wait) and gave the stuff that we had taken in USB drive for printing. The printing took hardly another 45 minutes. Meanwhile, we went to a hotel near by and had some snacks though having quit the lunch. I got a call from Jeyasudha and Abu saying that two call taxis were booked to pick us up by 1830hrs from our hostels. Sachin grew angry as he had to pack up things still. We collected the printed poster and rushed to the campus in auto as it started drizzling. On the way, Sachin called Venkatesh, who booked the taxis without his & my permission, on his mobile and asked him to cancel one of the booked taxis and to let us come on our own.

Reached the department by 1630hrs and Sachin rushed to his supervisors to show them the poster (hopefully with no more corrections). He came back to the lab with their positive feedback. As soon as he entered the lab, Abu became a scape goat for us. We started asking him as to how can they book a taxi without our consult, though he claimed he was unaware. Venkatesh came to us and said he cancelled a taxi. But he along with Anjana, Jeyasudha and Abu would go in one. Now Sachin and myself started bugging Abu to come with us. He said he would. Sachin left for his room to pack things and promised me to come to my room by 1900hrs. suddenly I got a call from Abu by around 1730hrs saying that he booked a taxi for himself and would reach the station directly. He didn't want to go with either of the teams. It seemed to be ridiculous at that time. I didn't want to sit on his nerves anymore.

I called Abu by around 1830hrs to confirm his position. By then he had turned cool. He agreed to come with us in our taxi. So I cancelled his booked taxi and asked him to come to my room. He and Sachin came to my room by 1900hrs and we started our journey to NewDelhi, my first time journey to North India... my first time very long distant journey in train(ofcourse the one I like the most in all modes of travel). I was also scared inside for one thing... that was for my favourite South Indian idly and sambar... which I would certainly not get for the next 20 days. Still I was dare enough to face North India for the first time especially to face Jodhpur all alone.

When the train started with a jerk, we were over joyous. We were thinking about our journey being started with a jerk. We occupied almost three quarters of that cabin leaving the two side berths for others. Sachin started his work.... calling and buying anything and everything that passed-by our cabin, needless to mention food stuffs. Though blamed, he never stopped buying and never paid too. In fact everyone of us enjoyed eating all those one day & two nights journey but neither stopped blaming Sachin nor eating. The first night(well...its the first of the two nights journey) went peacefully as we didn't cross Andhra border. Let me explain the reason for the previous statement in my forthcoming parts.