Shantaram

" I'd always thought that fate was something unchangeable; fixed for every one of us at birth, and as constant as the circuit of stars. But I suddenly realized that life is stranger and more beautiful than that. The truth is that, no matter what kind of game you find yourself in, no matter how good or bad the luck, you can change your life completely with a single thought or a single act of love " - Shantaram

What is Happiness

The number of things just outside the perimeter of my financial reach remains constant no matter how much my financial condition improves. With each increase in my income a new perimeter forms and I experience the same relative sense of lack. I believe that I know the specific amount needed that would allow me to have or do these few things I can’t afford, and if my income would increase by that much I would then be happy. Yet when the increase comes, I find that I am still discontent because from my new financial position I can now see a whole new set of things I don’t have. The problem will be solved when I accept that happiness is a present attitude, not a future condition” – -Hugh Prather

WC 2011 Rewind...

When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.

It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting....

The World at our Feet.....

02/04/2011.... Gut's, glory and redemption was my early morning FB status message, as we started preparing ourselves for the mother of all finals, the cricket world cup final. The quarterfinals and semifinals had already taken a toll on my mind and the last thing I needed was another humdinger. I am normally a non-superstitious person, but when it comes to make India win, then i cannot stop myself from jumping onto the superstition bandwagon to do my bit to make India win. The sad memories of 1996, 2003 and 2007 were all fresh in my minds and I simply avoided remembering the worst case scenario. During the break time, i jokingly called my brother and said don't wait for my call in the evening, it's all curtains for India now. It was just a friendly banter to annoy him as he was watching the match in a PVR in grandiose settings much to my chagrin.

Deep down my heart even i believed that even chasing the towering 270 something, we had the batting power to easily chase down the total. So when the Indian reply started i calmly took my corner seat on the sofa only to find to my horror Sehwag caught as a dead duck in front of  the stumps. What to do now, in frustration I changed position and sat cross handed with one of my legs dangling down...Eureka Sachin smashes one trademark straight drive. Yes i got my Totka, i thought, i will not change my position now. Come one Sach lets do it now, your 100th ton and we winning the world cup, the mere thought made me go high.......i remember sitting with fingers crossed for the entire Indian innings in the 2003 world cup Pakistan match to guide India to victory......THUNDERSTRUCK.....Slinga Malinga sends the master packing to the pavilion. I felt as if the Mayan prophecy of the end of the world came true albeit a little early and not on December 21st 2012 but on April 2nd 2011 with the epicenter at the Wankhede stadium. Crawling down in sheer angst i found a new position on the mattress where i repositioned myself and boy you bet i stayed there for long. With every single being chipped off and the youth brigade taking guard you could feel still being in the hunt. For me the turning point of the match was when Dhoni promoted himself the order. For a man awfully short of runs in the tournament, it was a very bold step. You could see the intent in his eyes and the assurance that the cup is not going anywhere. All great captains in the cricketing history have led by example and his single act propelled him to greatness adorned by the likes of Imran Khan, Arjuna Ranatunga, Kapil Dev, Ricky Ponting and Clive Llyod. All these men were world cup winning captains and more importantly had performed in the finals when it really mattered. MSD was not to be left behind. 

I never knew what it felt being a world champion. Few can argue that we were crowned the 20-20 champions, but it was more like having the starters and then left deprived of the full coarse meal. For a nation devoid of glory in team sports ODI cricket world cup is our best bet. 

Just as i was about to make myself mentally prepare to get ready for that big occasion MSD sent the ball towering into the crowds. It was a fairy tale ending, Indian captain chasing down a mammoth toltal and ending the world cup with a six. We not only just won the cup, we snatched it after it started to slip from our hands.

And then the most brilliant part. A feeling you can not sum up in words. Something ethereal, divine, out of the world, sheer ecstasy. You don't need alcohol to get high, it was one of those moments. I always joke that i don't know how it feels to cry because i struggle to remember the last time i had cried. With tears of joy gushing down my cheeks the first person i remembered was my younger brother. I still remembered the India's semifinal lost to Srilanka is 1996 and his tears after the match. This time also we had tears, but it felt great crying for a change.It was a sweet redemption for both of us.

 Looking at the players and the over powering emotions one could not help but marvel how much it meant to them. And then the camera zoomed in on Sachin. With Vande matram being played in the background, you could see the Superman jumping in delight. An absolute fairy tale ending for him.  The only cup missing from his elite list of trophies was right there beckoning in front of him. The dream had finally been realised. More than any person in this entire world, this cup belonged to him. As Virat Kohli aptly summed after his lap of honour, he carried the weight of the entire nation for 21 years, it was high time we carried him around.

People often ask, which was the happiest moment of my life. I can say the night of 02/04/2011 was my best. I can die in peace now. Thank you team India.

Lines that make me think

1. All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

    Leo Tolstoy

2. All you who sleep tonight
    Far from the ones you love,
    No hand to left or right
    And emptiness above -

   Know that you aren't alone
   The whole world shares your tears,
   Some for two nights or one,
   And some for all their years.
   Vikram Seth

3.Sit, drink your coffee here; your work can wait awhile.
   You're twenty-six, and still have some of life ahead. 
   No need for wit; just talk vacuities, and I'll Reciprocate in kind, or laugh at you instead. 
   The world is too opaque, distressing and profound. 
   This twenty minutes' rendezvous will make my day:
   To sit here in the sun, with grackles all around, 
   Staring with beady eyes, and you two feet away.

   Vikram Seth

4. "A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes.

Status symbol means nothing to him.

A waterlogged stick will do just fine. 

A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. 

A dog doesn't care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, 
clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his.

It was really quite simple, and yet we humans, so much wiser and more 
sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not.

As I wrote that farewell column to Marley, I realized

it was all right there in front of us, if only we opened our eyes. 

Sometimes it took a dog with bad breath, worse manners, and pure 
intentions to help us see."

John Grogan (Marley and Me)

India Unbound

Goa, Pondicherry and Lucknow were conquered in 2010.

Pondicherry

 

Auroville

Starting from Pondicherry, definitely a different experience from other coastal towns.   Firstly a distinct French presence in the city and secondly an ensemble of people from different nationalities. Pondicherry's laid back streets and the idyllic walks are the musts for any traveler visiting the place. Nearby Auroville offers you the most natural settings for a weekend away from the mad town rush. The French breakfast and a pizza for lunch from the nearest pizzeria completes the french experience. My only bad memories from the trip was the short stay in Chennai. Chennai please stop being torturous. Off course how can i forget to add Mainu and Abhishek, who made the journey more memorable.

Next pitstop was Goa, third time in three years. Will i be third time lucky too. You bet i was. The best thing about the place is that it let's you be yourself. For the partying crowd you have the Calangute's and Tito's. For adventure seekers you have the water sports and the casino's. For the God fearing soul's you have the temples and the churches. For a nomad like me, I had an unending neverland to be explored on Manoj's bike. Surprisingly i had landed on a Diwali morning, with the city gearing up for the festivities. Before i forget, i should mention the picturesque town of Belgaum on our way. Belgaum to me seems to be a town right out of R.K.Narayan's book, through the window of my bus i could see many Swami's and his friends running in the streets. 

Day one was a low key affair mostly concentrated on the festivities and meeting fellow shippies.

Day two morning was brilliant with morning swim in Bogomalo beach but the afternoon proved to be a spoilsport. A damp day with incessant rain meant coming back and simply enjoying Goan sea food and beer.

Day three was exactly as i had planned with morning trek to Vagator fort. There is something about the point on the hill top which makes me feel that i will keep coming back to this place. One of the most amazing feeling you can possibly get is watching the nearby river coming and joining the Arabian see. You perched on the hill stop surrounded by green grasses can spend the entire day endlessly staring at the awesome scenery. As i describe the settings now, my mind is forcing me again to take the next bus and hit back Goa, such is the power of the place. It draws you towards it's charm.

Day four had an anti climatic ending, with the visit to the temple town of Ponda. Marvelous architectural wonder's with loads of grandeur. The Hindu inside fell pure after last three days of binging and revelry.

Bye with a heavy heart to Goa and daddy to be Manoj. I'll be back says the soul.

Vagator

Pose-o-graphy

Finally was a visit to the Hindi heartland and the town of my ancestor's Lucknow.It was a short detour from my visit to Patna and boy what an amazing experience. Firstly the joy of meeting old friends, participating in a full marriage after 10 years of wait. Meeting all my relatives about whom i had only heard. The warmth of Lucknow is sure to stay inside me for long. Lucknow people really know there food and the mehman nawzi.

Lucknow Weeding

New Delhi, Tirupati, Mumbai and Bhopal are lined up for this year. Let's see how it turns out to be.

2010.....The year it was.....

Hi there,

Long time no blog,reasons... firstly lappy was in coma for a long while and secondly the overpowering sleep after office.

2010 zoomed past before you could realize. Much more disciplined and less chaotic than 2009 i must say. Mundane in many ways. Home to office and back has been the order of the day.

Some of fondest memories etched in mind are celebrating Holi at home for the first time after 7 years, the euphoria of finally landing up into a job after lots of if and buts and running out of good choices.Nitish drubbing Lalu big time and Sachin's 200.

Since it is nearly more than 10 days already into 2011. Lets forget 2010 and i hope to actively pen thoughts for this year.

Hasta Lavista 2010, bring on 2011.

Not Again....

“I am a Muslim” Kill me & call it “Collateral Damage” Imprison me & call it “Security Measure” Exile my people en masse & call it “New Middle East” Rob my resources, Invade my land, alter my leadership & call it“Democracy” .And now U R Burning the Quran what r u going to call this...

I am Bihar

I am the history of India,
I gave the world its first Republic,
I nourished Buddha to enlightenment,
I gave world its best ancient university,
My son Chanakya was the father of Economics,
Mahavir came out of my womb to found Jainism,
My son Valmiki wrote Ramayan, the greatest Epic
Rishi Shushrut, the father of surgery, lived on my soil
My son Vatsayana wrote Kamasutra, the treatise of love ,
My son Ashoka – The Great was the greatest ruler of India ,
I gave birth to Aryabhatt, the great ancient mathematician ,
I gave Ashoka Chakra that adorns India's national flag ,
My son Dinkar is the national poet of India ,
I gave the world its first Yoga University ,
I gave India its first president ,
I am the land of festivals ,
I am brotherhood ,
I am humility ,
I am the past ,
I am the future ,
I am opportunity ,
I am revolution ,
I am culture ,
I am heritage ,
I am intellect ,
I am farmer ,
I am power ,
I am literature ,
I am poetry ,
I am love ,
I am heart ,
I am soul ,
I am yoga ,
I am global ,
I am inspiration ,
I am freedom ,
I am force ,
I am destiny ,
I am Bihar ,
...Come with your dream
I will make it a reality

Let's Go.....

Pakis mere Bhai...Whyyyyyy???

Shameful, disgraceful, abysmal. ...

The greatest achievement  for a sports person is to play for his nation . The players represent a billion hopes and bring joy to the billion followers. What to do in return for the faith shown in you , "Match Fixing"...or spot fixing a mellowed version coined by the British Media. The truth is now out in the open, and there is no where to hide. Just when everybody thought that Pakistan cricket was resurrecting after flashes of brilliance shown this English summer, we are back to square one. You have a revamped side, a new coach, new staff support but that greed still remains. That lure of earning fast-buck and overnight stardom. The perpetrators should be given the strongest punishment and lets bring this nemesis to an end.

For a country ravaged with flood and terrorism, cricket brings the only hope and smiles on the wary faces. With no country willing to tour Pakistan, this is what the players do given a chance to perform on foreign soil. Pakistan never had any dearth of youngsters and talent. New talent will crop up again,lets hope for a new beginning.

The Gratitude List : F.R.I.E.N.D.S

1. All the endless chatter and gyaan...gibberish or trite...
2. The borrowed stuff, which was never returned back...the shampoo bottle, the surf packet or the tie...
3. Endless middle page sheets and a pen, to survive a lecture...
4. The pen drive, returned without the cap on...
5. Syllabus simplified, photocopies and the portions to be skipped.....(abey kya kya important hai isme..)
6. The bhaskaooed cake from the birthday celebration...
7. The proxies...
8. The midnight/early morning railway stations pick ups/drops....
9. "Tonight the heroes will rise again"...exams after exam...
10. Midnight maggi, macroni and the bingers....
11. The Banne Nawab biryani, the kalyani biryani and then the Shadaab Biryani..
12. The 5.1 megapixel camera phone, please upload the pics yaar..
13. For allowing to give the intro session in the presentations and then quietly slip away..
14. The borrowed bike returned with Rs.20 petrol filled up in the tank...
15. The swagger of the new denim and the borrowed party shirt...
16. The morning bathroom songs...
17. Please washing machine chalana seekha de yaar...
18. The hunt for the traitor...
19. The hunt for the one whose toeprints where found on the western pot seat...
20. "Bikul tension maat lo" and "Maan ke chal ki tu hero hai"...

Lets Simplify.....

An ordinary day back from office turned out to be a great adventure trip. Heavy downpour, turned the city into a watery graveyard. With hopes of getting a cab on time to home dwindling due to heavy traffic jam in the city, we decided to walk and hire an auto. One good downpour is good enough to expose the Low-tech infrastructure in the Hi-Tech part of Hyderabad. As you leave behind the plush Hi-Tech working area, you are greeted by arterial clogged roads, with people having the worst driving sense and traffic rules bent haywire.

Finally after a lot of ordeal, we managed to get a shared auto and i hung on next to the driver on the front seat. Wading through pools of water and a snaring traffic jam, you could see hapless yuppies exasperatingly waiting in their plush cars. Finally after half way through the journey, with no signs of any traffic movement, we decided to walk our way back. Walking back, passing through all the cars and bikes and jumping over pools of water and slush was fun. School days revisited.

Every one complains about the traffic jam, but he is the part of that traffic jam, in fact he is the traffic jam if he does not put his thinking cap on. Lets simplify dude. Have some driving sense, cops be proactive to manage things and drivers please follow basic traffic rules. Every one needs to get back home. But it is better late than never. The mad rush lead you no where.

Now back home safely, lying on my cozy bed and closing my eyes feels like getting a thousand hugs from one million lightning bugs. One more day i survived. Time to pamper myself, binge and have a good night's sleep.

Letter to a lost Freind...

The holy month of Ramzan is here and the first pious soul who comes into picture is you. This post is for you in a hopeless despair. Now I worry for you a lot. Your silence and non-existence in our lives makes me think a lot. What on earth can make the most lively creature around us make him go so silent and that too without a warning. 

Some people get along instantly but some friendships develop slowly as a result of mutual admiration for each other. I guess the latter is true in our case. And then gradually you became the guiding force before i could realize. A friend who would lend his patient ears and then come up with wonderful solutions in the most non-assuming manner. You lended your shoulder every time i needed it, and now that i need it the most you are not there for me.

In the coming years people may forget our friendship but they may never know how much you meant to me. I need a good laugh, a good hearty laugh. All my one-liners have dried up. Resurface please and let us be how we used to be.

Had gone to hostel last week, went near your room. Summing what i felt...

Morning comes and morning goes with no regret
And evening brings the memories I can't forget
Empty rooms that echo as I climb the stairs
And empty clothes that drape and fall on empty chairs

And I wonder if you know
That I never understood
That although you said you'd go
Until you did I never thought you would