running thoughts.....

Dang - Place and it's People

2011-08-20T15:54:00.002+05:30

Dang is a well known place (district) in the South Gujarat and has around 312 villages, with it's administrative headquarters in Ahwa. It has plenty of natural scenery, water fall and wildlife. During monsoons it's one of the most beautiful places to visit. The lush green meadows, outfield, hills covered with mist and floating clouds would definitely mesmerize one for sure. Dang is around 140 kms from Surat. Five (Bharat Uncle, Pinkesh, Vatsal, Chintu and me) of us started from Surat around 2.30 pm in the afternoon and were lucky enough to reach Geera Falls in Waghai just before the sunset in the overcast conditions with persistent rains through out the journey. We clicked for a good time at Waghai and enjoyed the Geera waterfalls and the stream that was overflowing with the muddy water. The reddish kind of color in the water along with greenery made the gray atmosphere colorful. Waghai also has a huge botanical garden, which is said to be the second largest in Asia. The sun was already setting for the day and the less amount of time that we had with us, we let the botanical garden to explore for our next trip.

@ Waghai


Red mud water

Geera Waterfalls @ Waghai

It was time to call off the day, had to travel good 35 kms to reach the place of our rest and also to have our dinner in a lodge which was kept open after 9 pm on our special request. We had a night stay in Ahwa at the house of Pinkesh's relative. Chintu was already down and out by the time we're trying to settle in.

Chintu, already slided in

Next day early morning we moved to the sunset point in Ahwa to capture the monsoon morning beauty of Dang. The view from the sunset point was enthralling which had hills covered with greenery and floating clouds.

From Sunset point @ Ahwa

The day had just begun for us and with Bharat uncle's in depth knowledge of the place, who belongs to Dang and has spent most of his childhood in Ahwa made our trip a great journey. He took us through the interior places of the Dang which had amazing landscapes, scenery and lovely views. We then went to the famous yet less explored waterfall of the Dang known as Geera Waterfalls in Girimaal. The waterfall is around 60-70ft and the depth where it falls is around 300ft. Once you reach Geera waterfalls you don't have anything to eat or drink, one needs to carry food and H2O if planning to stay for couple of hours.

Landscape on the way to Girimaal

Geera Waterfall @ Girimaal

While moving back from Geera waterfalls, Girimaal, we passed through the Mahal forest which has a rich wildlife. Saw a leopard crossing our way in a fraction of second and a colorful chameleon passing across the road like a king.

Colorful Chameleon on the roads of Mahal

Ladies on the roads of Dang

People of Dang are as beautiful and colorful as it's place. The majority of the people residing here are tribal and Aadivasi who speak a different lingo other than the Gujarati. I got to click quite a few portraits of the men and women working in the field, moving on the roads with umbrellas, school children returning back to home in the rain.

Old lady and a girl fetching the
water from a hand pump

People passing through a
check-post in a Jeep

This trip happened almost after a year of planning with Pinkesh and I'm thankful to him. I'm grateful to Bharat uncle, without whom we would not have been able to explore the beauty of the Dang - place and it's people.

28 years and Champions

2011-04-04T11:05:00.003+05:30

It was 25th of June in 1983 that India had created the history by defeating the dominant side of the West Indies who were the giants of Cricket then. India had lost the opportunity of being crowned in 2003. The 2007 showed some decline in the men in blue in the first round exist with the likes of Greg Chappell. This didn't stopped the mighty Indians in conceiving the dream of winning the world cup of 2011. After lifting the T20 world cup in 2007, the men in blue were unstoppable. The inspiration and ambitions that were drawn from Gary Kirsten had no looking back. The God of the cricket didn't stop for 21 years to conceive and witness the most memorable day in the life of cricket. The Lankan Lions had to be given back the nightmare of 1996 and you can't ask for a better, bitter sweet revenge than this. Indian team was considered as the favorite when the tourney had started. They literally played like a unit of champions. Nothing could deter this men of blue along with whom were bleeding the billions. 4 wins, 1 tie and 1 loss out of 6 group matches. The bar was only raised up with every knock out match.

The team considered to be the strongest batting powerhouse in the world of cricket were highly criticized for their bowling show. We were chasing 260 in the quarter finals and defending 260 in the semifinals. Bowling performance in the quarter finals against Australia had shut some mouth by restricting 'em to 260 at Motera. The disciplined attack of Zaheer supported with Munaf and Nehra was just getting better by every match. The semi final against Pakistan was another masterpiece of a close enocounter. The score was not good enough to be defended without a disciplined attack of bowling where Nehra was criticised after his subdued show in the last over against South Africa in the group stage. But that could say the least.

And, finally it was the big final, giving back the memories of 1996 to Srilanka. The Tigers had their last roar over the Lankan Lions. The Indian sub-continent celebrated the glory with all fervor and gumption. And why not, it came after 28 years!

P.S. The feelings are yet to sink... :)

Don't buy Petrol

2011-02-15T17:13:00.000+05:30

I've been seeing this email from quite a few days now. And specially the price of petrol per liter is constantly 17 per liter from last 3-4 years. Every-time the price rises in India the same kind of thing comes up. Though the price per liter of petrol is lesser in Pakistan and Malaysia than compared to India, sad thing is none of us really look into the real price and circulate the email. There are countries like NZ, UK and Norway were petrol prices are higher (apprx. 70, 94, and 106) than India (I wonder if they too are cribbing by taking India's name) I'm putting down some links which shows the other side of the story.

http://www.kshitij.com/research/petrol.shtml

http://eurekatips.com/2011/02/02/petrol-price-in-pakistan-today-petrol-rate-in-pakistan-pakistan-petrol-cost/2751/

The below link shows the current prices of Europe, which is again higher than the price of petrol in India:

http://www.drive-alive.co.uk/fuel_prices_europe.html

Moral: It is good to worry and spread awareness about the basic amenities which is affecting all of us, but not at the cost of some rumour circulating emails... :-D

Festive Declines

2011-01-13T17:01:00.001+05:30

India has a very rich culture when it comes to festival and doesn't miss on celebrating a single festival irrespective of the religion. Lately, our own festival celebrations are declining to a good extent. The enthusiasm and joy of celebrations that I’ve seen during 90’s and in the early 2000’s is something vanishing now. Many move out to visit few places or stay indoors just making their lazy selves more comfortable. And some believe it to be the inflation and save by not being part of the celebrations.

The major nuance I feel is of the cultural change that we are going through in last couple of years. The working class which forms the major population of our nation is barred from the adequate leaves during our own festivals. The work culture is very much adapted with the western countries to which we provide major services in service industry. The time are set and leaves are mostly availed as per their calendar and have seen a cut short in our festivals. I broadly remember having 2 days leave during 14-15^th January which is now only restricted to 14^th January. Same used to happen during the Holi and Dhuleti which is again restricted to one day. The amount of enthusiasm that is seen during the celebration of 31^stDecember is broadly below par when it comes to the New Year celebrations after Diwali. We hardly get 2 days leave during Diwali which used to be of around 5 days previously. At least it’s good that manufacturing industry in Gujarat still observes and enjoys the 5 day vacation during Diwali which is unlike within the service industry.

Hope we all once again bring back the same energy, zeal and zest to celebrate our own festivals in a lively fashion as much as when we do while celebrating other festivals.

Natrani

2010-11-25T16:02:00.003+05:30

It was for the first time that I was visiting Natrani, Darpana Academy of Performing Arts. Was visiting the place to see the photo exhibition "PEACE" held by Nazariya. It was a good experience being there, seeing the exhibition and feeling the place located on the banks of Sabarmati. The calmness and the cold breeze of the winters made it more perfect. As PEACE was the theme, a group of students from Australia were performing a mime on Garba dance which is seen during the festival of Navratri in Gujarat. It was good to see the Australians performing here in India and the best part was the audience applauding them through out their performance by clapping and hooting and whistling. It was a good initiative to bridge the gap in this cross culture tradition.I wish the same, Indian students get to feel in Australia. Below is the small video of the performance:

A documentary movie "SHED NO MORE BLOOD" was followed by the mime act, which is based on the various uncertainty that the people of Nagaland have seen. After watching the movie one would certainly feel how safe and sound we're in Gujarat, whereas our brothers in the North-East are the victims of some factional groups. The case does not rest only with the Naga tribes, the same goes with the people of Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, Orissa and other states were Naxalism is helping to disrupt the communal harmony and the LTTE in the South. Are we becoming the victims of being the biggest democracy in the world?

The next performance was again a mime performed by a group of students from St. Xaviers college and was directed by Gaurang Raval. The act was beautifully presented on the current scenario of the traffic hindrances, cell phone obsession while riding/driving and other typical things that you get to witness while you hit the road. It was quite a good example depicted in the form of "અધીર અમદાવાદી" (Impatient Amdavadi)

P.S. Video's have been converted from HD to low-res.

Visit to Champaner - A World Heritage Site

2010-11-15T15:18:00.008+05:30

Children's Day could not have been better than spending a quality time with couple of friends away from the city at Champaner, a World Heritage Site located some 50kms away from Baroda. All of us were happy and to have spent a sumptuous Sunday, roaming around like a child from one place to another completely carefree.
The journey to Champaner began from Baroda on Sunday morning at 6 a.m. Me and Aekam on Yamaha Fazer and Ninad and Ronak on Bajaj Pulsar.
We were wandering to catch the early morning sunrise on Baroda-Halol highway and hit the road for about 20-25 kms to have a picturesque landscape and ended up our bikes in a village called Kotambi on the Baroda-Halol highway. I was bit disappointed as the sun had already started to rise and we're still searching a picture perfect place. From the information given by the local guy we ended up our biking adventure to the so called river of the village, which was actually a water stream. But that was satisfactory as we managed to get some good shots of the morning mist and the sunrise along with the villagers doing their house hold chores by the water stream.

Sun Rise @ Kotambi Village

Women performing household chore @ Kotambi Village

After a bit of satisfaction we started moving towards Champaner and saw some beautiful places on the way and capturing few of 'em. We reached Champaner and visited few World Heritage Sites which includes, Shaher ni Masjid, Jama Masjid, Kamani Masjid and Saat Kaman (7 Bows.)
Shaher ni Masjid is a beautiful location in the heart of the village with some nicely carved stones. So is Jama Masjid, but a bigger place in area having different entries to the place, an octagonal tank for the abulations, and beautifully hand carved stones and pillars with a Picturesque Pavagarh landscape in it's backdrop.
Out of all these the best place to be was at Saat Kaman which is located near Manchi in the ghats of Pavagarh while en-route. We went there after having our lunch at Hansraj Hotel near to the ST Bus Depot. You just don't feel getting back from there. The view of the whole Champaner and it's surrounding is just more than mesmerizing from around 2000 feet or so (just an approximation.)

Saat Kaman (7 Arches)

Panaromic View of Champaner from Saat Kaman

Kalpvriskha Carvings @ Jami Masjid

Foothills of Pavagarh

Thanks to Aekam, Ninad, Ronak, Aviral, Rushabh, Ashish, Ruchee and Vaibhavi who joined along made it a memorable trip.
P.S. Others had joined us lately at Champaner.

Love

2010-10-18T11:01:00.020+05:30

Love has always been a talk of time, may it be permanent or for time being, the tenacity remains the same for what so ever reasons. A friend of mine is in a dire situation of love trying to balance between his parents and girl friend whom he's willing to marry. And the battle has never been as easy as it comprehends. I just tried to gather some thoughts from few friends on how do they define love, to understand them better as it was always out of my kettle:

Amit Sharma: love is nothing but resultant of overlapping of the sinusoidal wave of trust & affection...

Binny Pandya: understanding, respect, sacrifice, commitment, loyalty, honesty and feelings between two individuals is called love...

Umesh Verma: when you feel so much of fear if someone leave you that is love...

Deepak Dubey: can't define dude :P

Neha Kanodia Gandhi: you can't wish unwell for that person no matter how hurt you are due to him then you know you love that person...

Ruchee Soni: love - trust, faith n Bonding between two...

Rahul Verma: when you hug someone and you're lost... don't remember anything...

Aekam Parmar: Love is an unconditional relation in which no materialistic things matters... what matters is two person living for each other...

Amresh Kumar: Impassioned affection, desire for partner's happiness at any cost...

Anushree Jain: Love to me is my own little world...

It seems like love makes everyone selfish and restricts them to only two selves. And forget that, apart from 'em no one matters, not even parents.

P.S. To me it has always been a word of four letters with 2 vowels, 2 consonants and yea of course not to forget 2 idiots who at times are ruined by a 3rd idiot... :)

Shah-E-Alam Roza

2010-09-27T13:41:00.009+05:30

Shah-E-Alam roza is some 550-600 years old and one of the famous roza's of Ahmedabad. I was visiting the place for photography. Shah-E-Alam roza has a Mosque, Dargah and Mehndi Roshan ki Haqiqat. Mehndi Roshan ki Haqiqat is also said to be Narsinh Mehta's Chatri (Umbrella) While talking to some people in the roza, they declined about the name which was published recently in one of the articles in a daily newspaper. I had visited the place during the evening and found some interesting things happening at the place. One of them was Lobaan, devotees offer prayer and people who are suffering from illness and who believed that they have deceased soul in them used to roll on the floor. Devotees used to lit up incense sticks, diya's and apply oil on their face and hands to stay away from illness and other bad things.

This was first time that I had experienced some dicey situations while visiting a mosque. Some people were quite apprehensive of us while we were doing photography. I was bombarded with so many questions which eventually were leading to a communal touch. Though there point was not wrong, I couldn't disagree with them. All I hope is let the PEACE prevail.

Muddled Mind

2010-08-04T13:42:00.007+05:30

From some good time my mind is not following my heart and seems like I'm saturated with the journey of work. The haste of thoughts are moving badly within me. Mind's muddled up and I don't see any other options as of now (though choice remains with me.) Every night is haunted by the thought that I've to be in office the next morning and same agitation prevails from waking me up. When I look at my retired dad, I'm always surprised and shocked to know how did he managed to work for 35 long years. It's only 7 years for me and I feel I can't take anymore of this crap. He's full of energy, enthusiasm and very much active for the rest of the day just like any other kid. What I feel is we don't have that much patience and vigor what they have.

Don't know what's wrong with me in working or may be I need a good long break for a while. I'm glad my life isn't perfect, this reminds me I'm real, I'm human like others, I'm me......

The Negative Side

2010-07-30T14:59:00.004+05:30

Had been thinking of this always the time I read the speech of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam (Ex-President of ROI.) Media over the time who used to spread the awareness amongst the common man has lately turned into the favours of the inside-outside goons. Most of the time casting the stories which leaves a high level of negative impact on the society, where people most of the time end-up brooding over the illness.

Again today morning, I read in TOI's Ahmedabad edition, one such incident where Sir Steve Redgrave and Kelly Holmes, who are on a visit to India took a sneak peek on the Capital's preparedness for CWG 2010. They appreciated the progress and the preparedness of Delhi, mentioning the infrastructure one of the best and of an International standard and termed it as an engineering marvel and believed that "India should now bid for Olympics".

Both of 'em lashed out on the Indian media stating "If I was the Indian media, I would have done positive stories about the event, about the country's legacy. Not all those negative stories which I am seeing on daily basis in the newspapers."

"71 nations will be participating and 80,000 people will be coming to India. Billions would be watching it on TV. All eyes would be on this event. What message are you delivering to world with negative stories? Holmes questioned.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam had once said narrated a story of his visit to a Nation which 24X7 was under the terror attacks, despite of all these he didn't found any of the stories on the front and following consecutive pages. The negation, was though covered and buried somewhere in the last couple of pages of the daily.

The statement of Sir Redgrave and Holmes was at the end of the article, which clearly shows callousness of the Indian media who is interested in concealing good things.

Seems like the only business that media seizes is from the attacks, anger and sadness. The iota of trust that people genuinely have is somewhere inhumed by the negative side of the Indian media.

Dad and the kid

2010-07-29T09:53:00.004+05:30

Last I remember, dad carried his son over a bicycle was some 15 years back. And yesterday night the kid got the same pleasure, though this time it was a bike (Scooty Pep). He wanted to ride the motorbike, but the kid, who has now grown up to be an adult had a lot of apprehensions as to how his dad would manage to ride at an age of 60+ with a foot problem. But the kid within my dad always wanted to do so without any fear and care. One of my friend's Scooty was lying at the apartment from more than a month, and as the grown up kid was not allowing the dad to ride his motorbike, dad took over the Scooty and had a merry-go-round in the nearby lanes during the afternoon. As I reached home in the evening after office, I took him over a ride positioning myself to back seat as a kid that used to have fun in the childhood, guiding him through the busy streets, where he rode freely and swiftly. Could see that immeasurable joy on his face which made him fell as he too belonged too this modern era of technology. This dictated a full stop to my apprehensions and gave me the confidence that he too could ride perfectly.

Frozen Mind

2010-07-24T12:23:00.008+05:30

It has never been so easy to keep the mind stable, that steady head over the shoulders. It keeps on flowing with infinite thoughts, thoughts that are born and die at the same time. Thoughts that keeps you awake, makes you gleeful and gloomy, thoughts that takes you to the space of no man's land, of unheard and unthoughtful. But still, mind triggers and keeps you thinking of the things that are unrelated and trivial and still you matter over mind. Sometimes we don't mind and yet matter a lot with the hallucinating thoughts.

The time keeps treading and so does the wavering thoughts of the sojourn. Would it ever shutdown the senses of the stupor before marking the almost surreal emptiness.

Want to have that zero-state-frozen-mind, with the myriad moments and the flowing time.

કે ચોમાસુ આવ્યુ

2010-07-03T00:20:00.006+05:30

Had a late night call with a client, by the time it was finished and we were about to move out from the office, we just heard some kind of noise. As we opened the window it was the downpour of the first monsoon rains. Just noticed quite a few moments on the way back to home while enjoying the happy good moments of the first monsoon rains. Here are some lines in Gujarati.

આભ રડયું ને આપણું અમદાવાદ ભીંજાયું

વીજળી ત્રાટકી ને આંખો ચમકી

મન ને તન ના ઉશ્કેરાટ ને ટાઢે પાળ્યું

ને જોયુ તો ચોમાસુ આવ્યુ

ચાલી નીકળી સૌની ગાડી

મન મા ઉભરાયો અંતર્નાદ

ને લોકો એ પોકાર્યો જયનાદ

ને જોયુ તો ચોમાસુ આવ્યુ

આનંદનગર રોડ એ છલકાયા લોકો

સવ એ માણ્યો વરસાદ નો મોકો

પાણી ભરાયા રસ્તે રસ્તે

હાલી ચાર પૈડા વાડી ગાડી બળદ ગાડે

ને હાલતા હાલતા પછડાઈ તે ખાડે

ને જોયુ તો ચોમાસુ આવ્યુ

શ્યામલ ચાર રસ્તા એ સામ સામે આવી ગાડી

આવી ગયો એ તાન મા ને ગયો એ અડી

માણેકબાગ એ છલક્યા પાણી

ને બંધ પડી લોકો ની ગાડી

આપી એક્સેલેટર કરતો ભક ભક ગયો હું નીકળી

ને જોયુ તો ચોમાસુ આવ્યુ

અંજલી ચાર રસ્તે દોડી ૧૦૮ ની વાન

આડી ઉભી આઈઓસી ના બંબા ની વાન

ચઢ્યો બધામા એક તાન

ને જોયુ તો ચોમાસુ આવ્યુ

દાણીલીમડા એ લાગી ટ્રક ની લાઈન

પણ હતું ત્યાં બધું એકદમ ફાઈન

જોઈ એક ટોળુ થયો હું ધીમો

જોયુ રૈન કોટ પેહરી ભીંજાવા ઉભો તો એક નંગ

ને જોયુ તો ચોમાસુ આવ્યુ

શાહ-એ-આલમ હતું સાવ શાંત

કાંકરિયા ના પાણી અથડાઈ પાડે

સાંભળી ને અવાજ પડ્યું મન ટાઢે

ને જોયુ તો ચોમાસુ આવ્યુ

પુષ્પકુંજ એ ચાઇનીસ, ઓમલેટ ની લારી એ થઇ ભીડ

પુનીત આશ્રમ ની ગલી મા હતો હું એકલો

નોતા કોઈ શ્વાન આજે પાછળ દોડવા

વરસતો તો વરસાદ ટીપે ટીપે

ને જોયુ તો ચોમાસુ આવ્યુ

પોહ્ચ્યો ઘર ની ગલી મા

ના હતા કોઈ બાળકો રમતા ફૂલ રેકેટ

ઘરના આંગણે આવીને રહ્યો ઉભો

માથું કર્યું નીચે ને નાકે મારી છીંક

ને જોયુ તો ચોમાસુ આવ્યુ

વીજ થૈને એમ તારું દૂરથી ચમકી જવું…

2010-06-17T11:45:00.003+05:30

The fond over Gujarati literature is increasing overwhelmingly in me. Posting some of the good one's from a well known Gujarati writer Pragya Vashi:

વીજ થૈને એમ તારું દૂરથી ચમકી જવું…

આભ ગોરંભે ચડી અથડાય છે વરસાદમાં
ને ધરાનાં ચીર પણ ધોવાય છે વરસાદમાં

કેમ એની આંખમાં શ્રાવણ વહે વૈશાખમાં?
રેશમી અલગાવ અહીં પોંખાય છે વરસાદમાં

વીજ થૈને એમ તારું દૂરથી ચમકી જવું
તોય મન તો દાઝવા લોભાય છે વરસાદમાં

લાગણી ટહૂકે ભીની આ સગપણોના આભમાં
તો ય કોયલ ભીતરે મુંઝાય છે વરસાદમાં

પ્રેમની સિતાર જ્યાં મલ્હારતી સૂનકારમાં
એક દરિયો આંખમાં છલકાય છે વરસાદમાં

એક છત્તર હોય તોયે કેમ એ આઘા રહ્યા ?
કોરી કોરી આ ક્ષણો વરતાય છે વરસાદમાં

ચોતરફ વરસાદ બસ, વરસાદ મૂશળધાર ને
બેઉ કાંઠે જિંદગી ધોવાય છે વરસાદમાં

-પ્રજ્ઞા વશી

This one is a beautiful romantic poem which builds a correlation of Rain with Love and Lightening, Life, Precious and priceless moments, Feelings and Loneliness....

સમજ

2010-06-17T11:40:00.005+05:30

Another one in Gujarati. Lately I've been falling in love very much over my mother tongue and just loving like anything to put down what ever strikes the spikes of my mind. This one just came out of a casual chat with a good net friend:

કોઈને કશુજ નહિ સમજાવાનું, જેને જે સમજવું હોઈ તે સમજે,
અને સમજાવા છતાં લોકો એજ સમજશે જે તેમને સમજવું હશે,
એટલે સમજ ની સમજ મા આપની સમજ ના બગાડવી......!!

First post in Gujarati

2010-06-17T11:31:00.003+05:30

Have been away from this for a while, just coming up with my first post in Gujarati. It's just a thought which came to mind while enjoying sleeping on the terrace during the summers (what most of the Amdavadi's love to do.)

ઉનાળા ની રાત ને ઊંઘવાને ધાબુ
મધમધતો પવન ને આભ નું ઓઢણું
થાક ની હઠ ને ઊંઘ ની વાટ
મન નો ઉશ્કેરાટ ને નિશા ની નિરાંત
વિચારો ના વમળ ને અર્ધજાગ્રત આભાસ
એકલવાયું તન ને મન ને મસ્તી
સ્વપ્નો નું સર્જન ને આશાઓનું નું ઉન્માદ
એમનું આવું ને મન ને છનછેડવું
પક્ષીઓ નો કલરવ ને પરોઢ નું આગમન
ફરી એજ સવાર ને કામ ની ઝાકળ ઝંઝટ......

Time Magazine's Quote on Little Master

2010-04-05T10:46:00.002+05:30

"When Sachin Tendulkar travelled to Pakistan to face one of the finest bowling attacks ever assembled in cricket, Michael Schumacher was yet to race a F1 car, Lance Armstrong had never been to the Tour de France, Diego Maradona was still the captain of a world champion Argentina team, Pete Sampras had never won a Grand Slam. When Tendulkar embarked on a glorious career taming Imran and company, Roger Federer was a name unheard of; Lionel Messi was in his nappies, Usain Bolt was an unknown kid in the Jamaican backwaters. The Berlin Wall was still intact, USSR was one big, big country, Dr Manmohan Singh was yet to "open" the Nehruvian economy. It seems while Time was having his toll on every individual on the face of this planet, he excused one man. Time stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar. We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will."

Infinity

2010-03-31T17:07:00.004+05:30

Infinity, what does it really mean - A totality of time without any beginning or an end which is boundlessness, immeasurability, immeasurableness, inexhaustibility, inexhaustibleness, infiniteness, limitlessness, measurelessness.

Mathematicians say that infinity is one more than the largest number you can think of, but you can never reach it or define it. My life reached it, but alas, I had to pay a price at every nook and corner with all ups and downs which are immeasurable.

From my childhood days, I've always been fascinated by the word "INFINITY" and with due course of time I realized, something that really dilates infinity is nothing but "LONELINESS"

Simon de Beauvoir had said it nicely - "I am incapable of conceiving infinity, and yet I do not accept finity"

All I could comprehend about infinity is - "All you find at the end is yet another open end"

Cricketing Legend - Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

2010-02-26T19:00:00.005+05:30

It’s been 39 years, since the incipience of the ODI format in cricket. Many great knocks have been hammered by teams and so by the individual players. Many teams registered 400+ scores and one did chase the mammoth total of 434. It was South Africa who had chased this successfully against Australia. But this time around it was different; SA couldn’t chase 401 scored by the mighty INDIANS. This knock came with the power pack performance by the little master blaster Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Saeed Anwar of Pakistan had scored 194 runs against INDIA in Chennai in May 1997, by surpassing the individual record of Sir Viv Richards of West Indies 189 N.O. Saeed Anwar’s knock was equaled by the less known Charles Coventry 194 N.O. of Zimbabwe against Bangladesh in August 2009 but in vain as Zimbabwe had lost the match.

Everyone was expecting this record to be broken sometime by the cricketing legend SRT. Sachin Tendulkar’s bat speaks more than him and has always proved his critics wrong by the brilliance of his batting strokes. The batting strokes from the blade of the little master blaster don’t blaze off with force but also with the fine finesse.

Immaculate and impeccable performance by the little master blaster came on February 24, 2010 creating the history in world of cricket not only by being the highest run getter in an ODI but also reaching the first Double ton ever. Vengeance is seen in the batting of this cricketing god these days after being dropped out from the Indian squad in 2007 and being booed off in his home ground before 4 years, where his career was about to defunct. But nothing stops the boy within him to blaze his blade. He never lost the belief, which inspires us to aspire his heights.

Nothing stops me from watching the highlights of those mystical moments that were created by SRT in Gwalior. One of the best moment that I recall here is of the legendary hero hitting a ball pitched outside the off stump by Dale Steyn and SRT moving across the wickets, flicking flawlessly between the square leg and mid wicket straight to the boundary and Steyn shrugging his shoulders back on the way. Robin Jackman had only one thing to say during this impeccable innings, that the best thing to do is not to bowl Sachin. This is the only secret that would save the South Africans.

Post match presentation, when Ravi Shastri asked him about how he felt on being the highest run scorer in an ODI and getting the only double ton ever in the history of ODI cricket, this humble and down to earth said “I don’t know how to react to this, I dedicate this double ton to the people of INDIA, all those people who stood behind me during my ups and downs in last 20 years. It feels good that I was there at the end of 50 overs, and would still like to bat for another 50 overs at some stage and see that my fitness level doesn’t drop” The best one was when he replied to Ravi Shastri on being asked that, when would the bowlers get some respect and he nicely mentioned “As long as in my heart I know that whatever I'm doing good for the team at that moment, I'm going to go ahead with that” (in short as long as he stays in centre, all you bowlers out there, don’t expect any respect from this little master blaster)

I envy all those people in Gwalior who watched and witnessed the mystical moments of the double tons that came from the cricketing god.

Such is the Power,

Such is the Genius,

Such is the Class...

SACH is the GOD of Cricket, atleast to US (INDIANS).... he made us all proud.....Hats off, Bows and Salute to "SIR SACHIN RAMESH TENDULKAR"

Right Turn

2010-02-24T23:14:00.003+05:30

It was about 1.15 a.m. in the morning when we left from my ex-roomie Kailash’s wedding. Umesh was driving us back to his home. It was about 25-28 kms from Mayur Vihar Phase-III to his abode in Bhajanpura. We were moving from East Delhi to East Delhi and still had to travel some 30 odd kilometers, which once again made me feel how big Delhi has grown and expanded its territory. All this began with a right turn at Mayur Vihar. The next one, again a right turn at New Ashok Vihar or so called Noida mod (turn). We went straight for few couple of kilometers and one more right turn at New Seemapuri. After moving few kilometers from New Seemapuri we’re suppose to take a left turn which would lead us to Bhajanpura through Wazirabad and Shahadra. Right turn was so much on our mind that we started circling over Delhi highways. Around 2.00 a.m. we realized that we’re leading somewhere else. We had completely stuck for half an hour on the clogged highways of Delhi which were flooded with trucks. Delhi now a days is completely dug out to get it’s new look before the commencement of Commonwealth Games. Also, metro rail over-bridges are being constructed to facilitate the commuters. But looking at the current scenario it lives the commuters in dizziness. And this added to our muddle on which way to lead. And unfortunately we traveled almost 50 kms on the same roads and once again we reached to New Seemapuri from were this right turn had leaded us to a night safari of the Delhi highways. Alas, this night safari on Delhi highways we’re able to reach his home by 2.45 a.m. in the morning.

Voices

2010-01-09T12:45:00.002+05:30

I was off to ATM to collect some Vitamin M from the machine. On the way I saw a guy sitting at the end of the over bridge. Just stopped for a while to have a sneak-peek at what he was doing. I was in the center of the cross-road and an uncle impatiently honking me to clear his way without bothering for a bit. I found the guy trying to crack the iron rods from the lumps of concrete stone. One mind said to stop him from causing harm to the public property and the second stopped the first one and felt it to be an adage of his life which would earn him a piece of bread for the dinner.

As I reached the ATM, I got off from my bike with a welcoming spit of gutkha from a youngster. I was very much pissed off and was about to react and enter into a brawl with the young man same of my age. But than a thought ran in my mind saying "All I can do is control my reaction and not someone's action". With a cool head I approached him and politely said a hello and inquired about his literacy level. Somehow he managed to speak between his wobbling tongue mentioning graduate. Shy and sweat already covered his face. But that didn't stopped me to help him increase his literacy level and told him whether he would do the same thing standing or sitting at his abode. His face filled with guilt, finding for a scapegoat and managed to say humble words of sorry with a heavy sigh of sin he had committed!!

Vegetables

2010-01-08T20:16:00.006+05:30

Getting vegetables from market, a household chore at which I am okay types and is generally done by my younger brother. Whenever I have to get vegetables my dad makes a point to get it from the main market (as I laze around and get it from the near by market) for two reasons, one being for getting fresh and good quality vegetables and the other for the cost element compared to what I get from the nearby market. I don't know which one is driven by the other and most of the time I get 'em from the nearby market :)

P.S. After watching 3 Idiot's I was inquisitive to know the price of "bhindi" which is Rs. 20/kg, 8 bucks more than what is shown in the film. Thank god Raju Rastogi's mother didn't flaunted to the Ahmedabad market else she would have been overtly shattered!!

Down the Decade

2010-01-06T19:31:00.005+05:30

Didn't thought of it when I had stepped into the new millennium decade. The years faded away with some good memories, learnings, ups and downs with most of 'em unforgettable and some of 'em being spasmodic burst which are scattered unevenly down their. Don't know if this post is just coming out of some tremendous redundant over-thinking kinda thing which has catapulted me to go through the mental anguish of recollecting memories down the decade:

2000 - Shifted to our new HOME, was very much excited then!

2001 - Secured all India 6th rank during my 3rd semester exams...

2002 - As I wanted to do something good to my close friend, I became the reason of his break-up with his GF which I never regret and repent!!

2003 - Again stood all India 6th and was elated with campus placement for my first job but that didn't went for long.... also had a major crush on the gal I liked the most... was gathering some guts from few months to propose her and came to know that she was already into a relationship just before a month :(

2004 - Was an usual one, nothing much happened apart from a change in job which took me to Baroda....

2005 - Same usual nothing interesting happened though....

2006 - Changed the job and went to Noida, though those were the down days of my life but still learnt a lot... also proposed a gal!!

2007 - Was back in Baroda with a new company and hanging between yes and no!

2008 - Was tossed and turned upside down... but I still used to hang on with optimism and a ray of hope at the end of the tunnel which I had dug for myself!!

2009 - Came with more hopes which I felt would be full filled after 4 yrs... but as usual fortune didn't favored me, but was elated as I came back to my home after like 3yrs with yet another change in job!!

I hope this do not disconnect with the passing decade, CIAO!!

Incipience of 21st Century

2009-12-22T20:31:00.024+05:30

There was so much buzz with 21st century about to begin. As the year 2000 was going to start, most of the brains were hyped by the millennium bug (Y2K) that would do wrong wonders in the world and vanish some information. A decade has almost past and everyone has moved ahead with some good or bad in life with a little or no trace of the trance they lived in. Memories have lost in the ashes of time. And as the first decade is nearing it's end, here are some of the reminiscence that I collected from my friends as to how the outset of the 21st century was special to them:

Siddhartha - I had my first major crush... and wanted to actually start going around with the girl (#1 Kamina...)

Kunal - Entered into 12th science stream

Deepak - Don't remember now... must be in school then! (Lazy ass to remember)

Umesh - My heart was broken number of times [I know how many times ;)]

Amit Sharma - I met my love and the prospective partner of life!!

Palmira - I moved to Canada

Arpit - May be I cleared my 12th

Vinod Panchal - Was on a bed rest for long time due to major illness (not a good way to start)

Ashwin - Graduated in Management with First Class

Nirav - Shifted to our new home and was in high school!!

Binny - Cleared my SSC with good grades...

Neha Kanodia - My first job :) (reason's to cheer)

Chinmaya - Passed 11th without getting failed (I don't know how many years you took to get into 11th)

Rahul - Was a child studying in 6th class and a girl proposed, which took me by a shock!! (aha, Class 6 and a girl proposing a guy)

Kailash - I had found a beautiful friend, who changed my life!! (surely must be a girl then)

Gowri - That's when I gave direction to my life.. [But still sometimes I find you direction less.... ;)]

Sarang - I fell in love!! [don't know when you would be successfull ;)- ]

Prateek - Learnt to ride a scooter (and you're left without your Pulsar these days...)

Amit Shah - I fell in love (Won't ask you more on this now)

Navneet - Scored "00" in Maths-1 and "06" in Maths-2 of the 11th class examination (Hats off to you mate!!)

Peenee - Joined the college (Days of Masti)

Kavan - I think some how I cleared my 12th Board exams :)

Radhesh - Break-up with my GF (Must be relieved then)

P.S. Got this idea from Siddhartha!!

Avatar

2009-12-21T22:03:00.005+05:30

I had never seen a 3D movie till sometime ago. A lot of hype was created for the Avatar. Office friends planned to watch this big flick together and after watching Avatar in 3D I was just looking for the words to describe it. Avatar is created with a great vision by James Cameron. He waited for more than a decade to bring it to the audience who by time had developed a taste for technology, creativity and imagination. Cameron brought it to the audience at the right time with high end use of the technology (CGI) available. There were lots of ooohs, aaahs, vows after the movie. Creativity and imagination had beaten the bestest with superb and immense amount of detailing. Nothing, just nothing comes close to it.... You just sit hold tight and don't dare and damn to move away from ya seat.... again exponentially intensified with the technology.... Definitely one should go and watch AVATAR in 3D... its worth spending your bucks!!

Weekend on an Island - Part II

2009-12-16T20:59:00.013+05:30

Lately I'm not finding enough time to complete this one and would shortly sum up in this one. We went to the hotel from station and left for the port to catch our ferry at around 6 am after refreshing and recharging ourselves for the rest of the day. In the beginning we ended up at the wrong port and had already given some "GHOOS" (bribe) to the security guard to let our rented vehicle get in and allow to drop and dump our luggage at the nearest point to the ferry. But all in vain. We started our journey to the island from "Nava Bandar" (New Port) in a ferry which took around 1.5 hrs to reach Pirotan Island. As it was Bakri Eid and no fisherman boats (small) were available and eventually we had to jump into 3 feet deep water from our ferry to reach the shore. Started playing Volley ball and had a good time in the shallow water of the shore finding some dead corals. We're the only humans on the island and were absolutely free to roam around. Later in the afternoon we spent some time in the built-up tents on the island and had our lunch (snacks). Followed with a visit to the Light House and got a better understanding from the care taker about its working and functioning. It was around 3 pm, the water had returned back with the low tide and it was a perfect time for the Coral walk. The care taker became our guide and took us for the coral walk in the Arabian Sea. We went almost 3 kms into the sea which otherwise is not possible without the low tide. The low tide and high tide has a cycle of 12hrs and the start and end timings depend upon the lunar period. It was amazing walking in the Arabian Sea and exploring the water species. We came across some fishes like puffer and other small swarms of black fish, jelly fish, variety of Coral - star, green, finger, etc. some ocean flowers, prawns, crabs, octopus. We were not feeling to move back, but had to return back from the walk around 6 pm as the cycle of tide was getting over and high tide would soon bring the water back to shore. We also had to get onto our ferry which was landed on the ocean floor 1 km away from the shore. We got into the ferry at around 7 pm and slowly slowly the water had started filling and made the boat float. The most part of the adventure began with this. The boat was very inclined on the one side and with the water filling it had started swinging on the either side and we were struggling to keep the balance of boat by moving from one side to the other side of the ferry. It was very much dark and nothing was visible except the the lights been flashed from the Light House. The high tide was on its high which kept us on high with boat stumbling in the waves created by the high current of the water because of the high tide. All were holding onto their nerves lying on the floor of the ferry. Each and every moment made us felt sinking in the sea with the swinging of the ferry in the high tide. Only one bravo Kailash was sleeping as nothing was happening around him, the reason he gave for the sleep was the fear (none of us could understand how a man could sleep because of the fear.) It took us around 3 hrs (in comparison to 1.5 hrs in the morning) to reach to the port from where we had started. It was midnight, we got our rented vehicle to the port and reached hotel at around 2 am in the morning after having our dinner (snacks). The next day on Sunday (November 29, 2009) we left for Khijadia Bird Sanctuary which is 15 kms away from Jamanagar. A haven for the bird watchers which has many Indian and Foreign birds nesting. And on the same day night we had our train back to Ahmedabad and Baroda.

It was a great time spent with the old folks. Hope we have much more of this to relax and enjoy ourselves away from the madness and chaos of the city, undue work pressure and the conking of the managers bull shitting on our head!!

Thanks to Sarang, DG and Jignesh who organised and managed the weekend excursion!!

I'm also posting the links of the moments captured at both Pirotan Island and Khijadia Bird Sanctuary:

http://picasaweb.google.com/ashish1712/PirotanIslandNationalMarineParkJamnagar#

http://picasaweb.google.com/ashish1712/KhijadiaBirdSanctuaryJamnagar#

P.S. Pirotan Island is a wonderful place to visit. Its the only kind of National Marine Park in Asia having varieties of ocean species. It's most famous for the Coral Walk!

P.S.S. You need to have a group of at least 10-15 as ferry ride is quite costly. It's more of unexplored and deserted island with no facilities and basic amenities available. One needs to carry the food and water which lasts for the whole day. One also need to take the Permit from the forest department, customs and port officer!!

Weekend on an Island - Part I - Journey Begins

2009-12-07T14:14:00.006+05:30

I’m just living, man and in a while would be just there, in that moment, in that special place and time. By the deep sea where silence pours into my heart, I love not madness of the man less, but naive of the nature more and more. Maybe when I get back, I would pen down about the vast abysses of time and space finding myself through the crevices of my own world!

This began with a splendid weekend spent on an isolated and deserted Pirotan Island situated near Jamnagar. Planning was in place from almost a month and my gang had forgotten me to include. But somehow after few stints things went smoothly and my name was added later on the permit to enter the Pirotan Islands issued by the Forest Department. I had to attend the ring ceremony of one of my friends before catching the train which had a scheduled departure of 19.25hrs from the boarding station. I was very involved with some of my old school mates to whom I was meeting after years and had almost forgot the clock ticking on its time. I had to rush hurriedly in the mad traffic of Ahmedabad. Even though I was speeding rashly, I still missed the train from the boarding station. I was bit anxious to miss out the train and looking for more help as even auto rickshaws were not ready to drop me at the Ahmedabad Junction. As usual everything was working against my favor. Somehow one old auto rickshaw driver was ready to drop me at the Ahmedabad Junction. I was badly stuck en route. It was peak hours and roads were jammed with two wheelers honking and the people busy enough to move away to attend their conking rings of the cell phone. I was holding onto my nerves. I reached the Ahmedabad Junction at around 20.03hrs and scheduled departure was of 20.05 hrs. Train was late by one minute and it would take 5 min from the entrance gate to catch the train which was moving from platform #5. I was on the over pass railway bridge and train had already started moving, while just running as fast as I could make my way pushing and dragging my self through the rushing crowd. Finally, somehow I managed to get on the last bogey of the train. I was traveling alone in the train and rest of the group in another as they were being fooled at the end moment on the Baroda railway station. They got their tickets booked through an agent and where not aware till the end moment by which train they were supposed to travel. They had left almost an hour (though train was running late by an hour) before my train had left. Anyhow I happened to meet them at Hapa station at around 02.30hrs, just a station before our destination and as my train was on time theirs had to halt to let go the train running on time. Finally we reached at Jamnagar at around 02.45hr and had our early morning snacks and tea and coffee!

Cyclone Phyan

2009-11-11T16:07:00.009+05:30

Sudden coolness in the breeze with the post monsoon drizzle, for sure it should have been winter, but these are just the pre effects of Cyclone Phyan! Even though some worse is going to befall, few places would be ransacked by tomorrow morning when Phyan would hit the coast of South Gujarat and Maharashtra, everyone out here is enjoying the sudden change of the environment. It has effectuated everyone at ease and make 'em laze around. I'm just sitting opposite to a window in my office feeling the coolness of the breeze on my face. Absolutely not willing to work and just indulging myself into nothingness, which I often enjoy these days with low workload. I'm enjoying the same state of silence that usually bewilders before the storm with heavy workload in pipeline for the upcoming days. Here I move downstairs for cuppa coffee and some pakodas with a stroll in the brisk windy weather and drizzles of autumn rain!!

P.S. Siddhartha just popped up in my mind as he's in Mumbai visiting a vendor. Hope he has a nice and trouble free travel back to Ahmedabad.

Terrific Tendulkar

2009-11-06T16:39:00.006+05:30

Still at the age of 36 with a prolonged career of 20 years into the highest level of International cricket the little master blaster is completely unmoved from his basic instincts. Yesterday's ton against Australia at Hyderabad once again testified the passion and dedication of Sachin Tendulkar. Scoring 175 of 141 balls was an impeccable and phenomenal performance by the little master. The rampant 175 by Sachin recalls the reminiscence of two consecutive tons against Australia in 1997-98 Sharjah series. The way he send the ball out of the park hitting high over the head of Hauritz mesmerized the Sixes he scored against the legend leggie Warnie. The brilliant pull shot over the mid-wicket smashing the ball over the boundary reminded one of the biggest six hit in an ODI to Andrew Caddick of England in the World Cup of 2003. But still this great knock by the little master couldn't bring victory to the Indian team. Though team India was so near yet so far from the win as they continued with their legacy of snatching the defeat from the jaws of victory once again by losing the game with a very close margin of 3 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja who didn't learnt from the mistake of the last match at Mohali proved himself a culprit for the consecutive second time. He threw away his wicket in Mohali and made the mockery of the situation. His poor temperament showed the lack in his mental ability to cope up with the pressure at the do or die stage. This also doesn't justify his place in the Indian team while neglecting the presence of Yusuf Pathan who blossoms in situations like this and is handy in the spin bowling too.

It happens rarely where Man of the Match award is given to a player of the side losing. Despite of India's loss Sachin was awarded the Man of the Match and was not at all appeased. The disappointment was clearly seen in his dejected eyes, body language and speech. When he was asked what keeps him motivated; the genius, down to earth and humble person had few simple words to say "It's passion, I care about playing for India and I have been absoloutely honoured to play for India for 20 years."

Go Away!

2009-11-06T09:43:00.004+05:30

Go away gal

Don't make me fall

I ain't gonna crawl

And stop your stupid brawl

Lemme be a solitary loon

Like an ox-cart driver in a monsoon

Don't hang me in your heart like a decorative festoon

Lemme have my own fate and fortune

As your footprints tarnish so very soon!!!

Nostalgic

2009-10-27T10:47:00.003+05:30

It's early morning walk in the brisk weather

Around the lake as we stroll together

Birds flocking of the same feather

Feeling the coolness of the breeze

which makes our breathe freeze

To be followed with birds chirping and tweeting

with some of 'em coughing and sneezing

To make or break is entirely your say

As things are balanced both the ways

All I can mesmerize "is let the winters stay

As little I want to Play"

P.S. These are nostalgic notions that awaken forgotten memories and inspire dreams . Hope I could turn back the tick-tock clock and once again cherish and nourish those carefree days...!!!

@Statistics

2009-10-26T10:32:00.005+05:30

I was just wondering how statistics could be co-related with the bikini's and I came across something which tumbled and made me rolling on floor laughing...

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital"... LOL what a co-relation has been developed, hope I had learnt this and could have done much better with the Probability and Statistics.... :P

Out of the running race

2009-10-22T13:50:00.003+05:30

Down there sitting on an aisle

Completely dark and so much surreal

Was so much gloom and yet so colourful

I moved on and found a face

of whom i had no trace.....

it was full of charm and grace

my heart started tumbling and rolling

like been thrown out of the race..!!!

Navaratri

2009-09-27T23:05:00.005+05:30

Was eagerly waiting for the festival to begin and had lots of zest and zeal to enjoy Navaratri as I was back in Ahmedabad after 3 years. Was dieing like anything to celebrate Navaratri back in Ahmedabad. Unfortunately was fully loaded with undue work pressure as one of my team member was suffering from viral fever and was off for the rest of the whole week. In last 10 days I ingrained the habit of stretching myself till late hours in purview to delineate the timeline. (which turned into deadline) The days of Navaratri passed with prolonged and grueling 12-14 hours of work including weekends and festive holidays. Slowly it started turning the worst Navaratri that I had ever seen in spite of being in Ahmedabad. Day before yesterday I was returning from the office and it was almost 11 in the night, I was completely drenched and tired with the work. On the way to home from office I found several road blockages and almost forgot that it was Navaratri ongoing and folks enjoying the festive mood devoting there selves to Ambe MAA. I still remember how we used to vagabond to collect the tickets and pass of the different venues and now when I had enough contacts for direct entries to the major of the venues I couldn't find time to play garba's. Today is the last Navaratri night and standing in the balcony I see one of my friend (who has returned from UK for Navaratri) waiving me to accompany her, and I have no zest and zeal left to push myself down from the second floor to play dandiya.

Visions For INDIA - Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

2009-09-11T11:51:00.002+05:30

I had received this email long back through a forwarding chain. Really we as a youth of this nation need to ponder upon this and make INDIA a better and a stronger nation. The article shows how easily we show our negligence towards the society and nation as a whole and pass the ball of blame game onto the government and it's associates.

"I have three visions for India. In 3000 years of our history people from all over the world have come and invaded us, captured our lands, conquered our minds. From Alexander onwards. The Greeks, the Turks, the Moguls, the Portuguese, the British, the French, the Dutch, all of them came and looted us, took over what was ours. Yet we have not done this to any other nation. We have not conquered anyone. We have not grabbed their land, their culture, their history and tried to enforce our way of life on them. Why? Because we respect the freedom of others. That is why my first vision is that of FREEDOM. I believe that India got its first vision of this in 1857, when we started the war of independence. It is this freedom that we must protect and nurture and build on. If we are not free, no one will respect us.

My second vision for India is DEVELOPMENT. For fifty years we have been a developing nation. It is time we see ourselves as a developed nation. We are among top 5 nations of the world in terms of GDP. We have 10 percent growth rate in most areas. Our poverty levels are falling. Our achievements are being globally recognized today. Yet we lack the self-confidence to see ourselves as a developed nation, self-reliant and self-assured. Isn't this incorrect?

I have a THIRD vision. India must stand up to the world. Because I believe that unless India stands up to the world, no one will respect us. Only strength respects strength. We must be strong not only as a military power but also as an economic power. Both must go hand-in-hand. My good fortune was to have worked with three great minds. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai of the Dept. of space, Professor Satish Dhawan, who succeeded him and Dr. Brahm Prakash, father of nuclear material. I was lucky to have worked with all three of them closely and consider this the great opportunity of my life.

I see four milestones in my career: ONE: Twenty years I spent in ISRO. I was given the opportunity to be the project director for India's first satellite launch vehicle, SLV3. The one that launched Rohini. These years played a very important role in my life of Scientist.

TWO: After my ISRO years, I joined DRDO and got a chance to be the part of India's missile program. It was my second bliss when Agni met its mission requirements in 1994.

THREE: The Dept. of Atomic Energy and DRDO had this tremendous partnership in the recent nuclear tests, on May 11 and 13. This was the third bliss. The joy of participating with my team in these nuclear tests and proving to the world that India can make it, that we are no longer a developing nation but one of them. It made me feel very proud as an Indian. The fact that we have now developed for Agni a re-entry structure, for which we have developed this new material. A Very light material called carbon-carbon.

FOUR: One day an orthopedic surgeon from Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences visited my laboratory. He lifted the material and found it so light that he took me to his hospital and showed me his patients. There were these little girls and boys with heavy metallic calipers weighing over three kg. each, dragging their feet around. He said to me: Please remove the pain of my patients. In three weeks, we made these Floor reaction Orthosis 300 gram calipers and took them to the orthopedic centre. The children didn't believe their eyes. From dragging around a three kg. load on their legs, they could now move around! Their parents had tears in their eyes. That was my fourth bliss!

Why is the media here so negative? Why are we in India so embarrassed to recognize our own strengths, our achievements? We are such a great nation. We have so many amazing success stories but we refuse to acknowledge them. Why? We are the first in milk production. We are number one in Remote sensing satellites. We are the second largest producer of wheat. We are the second largest producer of rice. Look at Dr. Sudarshan, he has transferred the tribal village into a self-sustaining, self-driving unit. There are millions of such achievements but our media is only obsessed in the bad news and failures and disasters.

I was in Tel Aviv once and I was reading the Israeli newspaper. It was the day after a lot of attacks and bombardments and deaths had taken place. The Hamas had struck. But the front page of the newspaper had the picture of a Jewish gentleman who in five years had transformed his desert land into an orchid and a granary. It was this inspiring picture that everyone woke up to. The gory details of killings, bombardments, deaths, were inside in the newspaper, buried among other news. In India we only read about death, sickness, terrorism, crime. Why are we so NEGATIVE? Another question: Why are we, as a nation so obsessed with foreign things? We want foreign TVs, we want foreign shirts. We want foreign technology. Why this obsession with everything imported. Do we not realize that self-respect comes with self-reliance?

I was in Hyderabad giving this lecture, when a 14 year old girl asked me for my autograph. I asked her what her goal in life is: She replied: I want to live in a developed India. For her, you and I will have to build this developed India. You must proclaim. India is not an under-developed nation; it is a highly developed nation.

Allow me to come back with vengeance. Got 10 minutes for your country?

YOU say that our government is inefficient. YOU say that our laws are too old. YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage. YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke, the airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination. YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits. YOU say, say and say.

What do YOU do about it? Take a person on his way to Singapore. Give him a name - YOURS. Give him a face - YOURS. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best. In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their Underground Links as they are. You pay $5 (approx. Rs. 60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM.

YOU comeback to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity. In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU? YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai. YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah. YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds (Rs. 650) a month to, "see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else." YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 kph) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, "Jaanta hai sala main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost." YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand. Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo? Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston? We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country why cannot you be the same here in India. Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay Mr.Tinaikar had a point to make. "Rich people's dogs are walked on the streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place," he said. "And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect the officers to do? Go down with a broom every time their dog feels the pressure in his bowels? In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan. Will the Indian citizen do that here?" He's right. We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility. We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick a up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms. We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity. This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to the public. When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl child and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? "It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry." So who's going to change the system? What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbors, other households, other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me and YOU. When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr. Clean to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand. Or we leave the country and run away. Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we run to England. When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government. Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money."

It is really asking for the retrospection on our morale duties and responsibilities towards the society and nation.

It is rightly said "To see the change, be the change"

Samvastsari - The Last Day of Paryushan

2009-08-23T21:11:00.003+05:30

The final and the most important day of Paryushan is Samvastsari. Samvastsari Pratikraman is done by most of the Jains in a group before the sunsets. It is a ritual of asking forgiveness from the teacher which is widened in scope to include family, friends and all other living beings present on the world. The culmination of confession is receiving forgiveness from all living beings and also granting forgiveness to all. This ritual of forgiveness is sometimes called the rite of "universal friendship". The spirit of the day is contained in the verse:

"KHAAMEMI SAVVE JEEVA

SAVVE JEEVA KHAMENTU ME

METTI ME SAVVE BHUYESU

VAIRAM MAJHAM NA KENAI"

Which means : I forgive all living beings from the bottom of my heart without any reservation who may have caused me any pain and suffering either in this life or previous lives, and I beg for the forgiveness from all living beings from the bottom of my heart without any reservation to whom I may have caused pain and suffering in this life or previous lives, knowingly or unknowingly, through my actions, talks or deeds. Let all living beings know that I have friendship with everybody and I have no revenge (enmity) towards anybody.

Paryushan Parva - 2

2009-08-20T22:29:00.020+05:30

Beginning on the fourth day of Paryushan, it is customary for Murtipujak Shwetambar to read the Kalpa Sutra, a scripture which recounts the life of Lord Mahavira - the 24th Tirthankar of the Jains. On the fifth day Mahavir Janam Vanchan (Birth reading of Lord Mahavir) is read out by the monks, which says the 14 dreams of his mother before his birth,

Dream of an elephant
Dream of a Bull
Dream of a Lion
Dream of Laxmi
Dream of Flowers
Dream of a Full Moon
Dream of the Sun
Dream of a large Banner
Dream of a Silver Urn
Dream of a Lake filled with Lotuses
Dream of a Milky-White Sea
Dream of a Celestial Vehical
Dream of a heap of Gems
Dream of a Fire without Smoke

followed by the story of his birth, life and liberation (Nirvana). It also recounts the lives of other Tirthankara and the rules of Paryushan.

Derasar's (Jain Temples) are decorated with flowers, leaves, candles, sandalwood and rangolis (which is called as Aangi) during all days of Paryshun. The fifth day of Paryushan during which Mahavir Janam Vanchan is read from the Kalpa Sutra, Derasar's are specially decorated with great Aangi's in the evening.

I'm posting some of the snaps of Aangi decorated in a near by Derasar from my home that I took today (Fifth Day of Paryushan)

Paryushan Parva

2009-08-20T21:28:00.009+05:30

Paryushan - The festivals of Jains meaning "abiding" or "coming together" starts somewhere in the mid of the rainy season from Shravan Vad 12 till Bhadrapad Shudh 4 which lasts for 8 days (shwetamber). It is also a time when the laity take on vows of study and fasting with a spiritual intensity similar to temporary monasticism. Paryushan concludes with a time of confession and forgiveness for the transgressions of the previous year.

These 8 days are said to be the most auspicious days for the Jains. Unlike the festivals of other religion where it is celebrated with fun and flare, the festival of Paryushan ordains the jains to observe the universal supreme virtues in daily practical life with meditation and prayer which provides an opportunity for looking within and towards the teachings of the Tirthankars for the guidance. Besides assuring a blissful existence in this world and the other world for every living being, it aims at the attainment of salvation - the supreme ideal for mundane soul. The devotees observe the 8 days of Paryushan with different kinds of "Tapasya" and "Upasana". One cannot consume any fruits or even a grain in our upvaas. The upvaas can be of any numbers depending upon the will power of the person. They may be of a day or two or 8 days, 16 days, and even for 31 days. To live without food for such a long time seems to be difficult. But the person who observes fasts for so many days feels like living in a sea of energy. Our body gains energy indirectly from the food we eat, while we gain direct energy from the cosmic energy that flow into us through the medulla oblongata at the bottom of the brain. But as I earlier mentioned this kind of acceptance of energy depends upon the will of the person and the mental set-up. The greater the will, the greater would be the flow of energy.

During the days of Paryushan Jains often take time off from work and eat a much simpler diet in addition to their routine diet. They avoid eating roots like potatoes, onions, garlic, green vegetables, etc. which entails killing the entire plant. People become conscious, rather I would say extra conscious while observing all these so as they commit as minimum sins as possible. We forbid ourself to abide to things like eating and drinking during the day time as nothing is allowed after the sunset. It's a perfect time to reflect and retrospect on the way I breathe my life. Hope we continue this way for the rest of 357 days of the year and respect the lives of other living beings as much as we do for ours....

@ wise

2009-07-30T10:53:00.001+05:30

Yesterday I was Clever and I tried to change the Inevitable,

Today I am Wise and I changed myself.

Disappointment

2009-07-28T14:30:00.003+05:30

When we wish something or

try to achieve something,

Life gives us a gift called

DISAPPOINTMENT.....

Hallucination

2009-07-23T19:45:00.008+05:30

I tried before I stay put down in history

If I had won, it was like a victory

If I lose, it's still a mystery

Wasn't ever given a choice

Never between a virtue or vice

No more gilding of the illumination

who is refrained from the reverie of rejuvenation

and now, I am all out of the enamored Hallucination

At exigency, my heart now sings....

a cacophony of "TATTERED ROOTS AND WOOING WINGS"....

Bike Trip to Mt. Abu

2009-06-17T08:58:00.027+05:30

An excursion after a very long period of time....

It was weekend, and had to freak out. There was a cricket match organized from our office. I was bugged off and wanted to stay away from the madness of the city and it had been a long while I had an outing and that too a biking trip. We were planning to have from last month and hopefully managed with this one. Four of us Gowri, Sarang, Abhinav and Me (on two bikes) were emphatic to have a bike trip and planned one for Mt. Abu. It was almost 250 kms from Ahmedabad. Three of them started from Baroda on Saturday morning. As per the plan they were supposed to reach Ahmedabad by 7 am from where I was joining them. But just at the time of expedition Gowri's bike had a Flat tyre and our trip was delayed by almost 3 hours. They reached ahmedabad at around 9.30 am and after a break we started for Mt. Abu at 10.20 am.

We went through Mehasana, Siddhpur, Palanpur and to Abu. It was great time riding our bike's at a top speed of 110 kms/hr. Speeding up at the maximum and racing between the two was awesome. Where Gowri used to play some hide and seek on the highway. The highway was beautiful especially from Palanpur to Abu. A grand scenery could be easily viewed from the highway with fog covering the Aravalies.

We reached Mt. Abu at around 5.30 pm. Brisk of wind in weather made us relaxed and full with zest on the way from Abu road to Mt. Abu. It was great riding our bikes in the Ghat areas of the Mt. Abu

After having some rest we directly went to the sunset point and had a splendid view climbing to one of the secluded rocks, thanks to the pop-corn boy who showed us the isolated place. None of us was willing to get down after the sunset as we all were enjoying the calmness and serenity of the place away from the unharmonious and grisly sights of the city. Especially away from the workplace, I still remember Gowri saying "kitna accha hai yha, na koi target, na koi deadlines, na koi project aur na koi manager". Atleast we had nothing for mutiny at the weekend against the resistance of undue workload and pressure especially during the regression and recession days... :)

Returned from the sunset and it was already dark, people were turning back from different sight seeing spots and building traffic along the streets and honking of horns from the vehicles once again resembling to the madness of the city which made the cool and calm atmosphere unharmonious and noisy. The streets were all lit up with people wandering around the shops and restaurants fully packed with huge queue's awaiting their turn to grab some edible food after a nice outing at different spots around the Mountains.

After having some sweet delicacies at different restaurants we turned back to our rooms and had a good sleep for the rest of the night. The next day we started moving to two other beautiful spots. One being the pilgrimage of Delwada Jain Temples and other one Gurushikar, an another religious place having a temple of Dattatraya which is located at one of the highest peak around the mountains. The sculpture of Delwada Jain Temples was simply amazing and awesome. It took 14 years to build the temples at a cost of 18 millions and 53 lacs in the year 1031 A.D. with 1400 masons and 1200 labours.

Finally we started moving back at 12.30 pm on Sunday for Ahmedabad. We made it to Ahmedabad at 6.00 pm with an hour and half break at Palanpur for lunch. It was bit risky riding our bikes against the winds blowing at almost 40 kms/hr drifting our bikes on the highway. But that didn't impede our passion from riding at almost 95-100 kms/hr and reached Ahmedabad effectively in 4.30 hours covering 250 kms. And from Ahmedabad Gowri, Sarang and Abhinav left for Baroda.

Overall it was a great trip and all four of us enjoyed it. In hindsight awaiting in frisson for much more trips coming up with the rainy days ahead and I (hopefully all of us) would not rebuff the idea of organising such wonderful trips.

Satisfied Saturday

2009-05-31T10:25:00.003+05:30

It was fifth saturday of the month and we were working (Generally we have off on fifth saturday of the month). We all were in no mood of working today. And anyhow we were just passing the time by doing some important technical discussions related to some projects. Meanwhile around we got a news from our Manager that our Director is going to give a party to everyone in batches. We were bit shocked and elated too. Just sometime before lunch we were asked to assemble for some announcements. Everyone was talking as of what's going to take place. The lunch time started and everyone assembled. We saw the Director was enraptured with a big smile on his face and started his speech on a happy note saying today is a landmark day in the history of the company one being we are working on the fifth saturday and the most prominent news was we were doing good business in last two months and achieving the target in this recession making some good profits for the company. Said few other things on the company doing good business and announced a half day off (which we all deserved). All were in gay and rejuvenated and started celebrating the weekend.

Distinct Approach

2009-05-23T09:18:00.012+05:30

Dedicating this to few of my friends and ex-colleagues.

I had always cherished myself being in the technical field. I had met some IITians and admired them for their distinct approach. I always wondered why I myself feel their approach to be distinct.

Few months back, when I changed my job, I got chance to work with an IITian, Amresh a Mechanical Engineer from IIT Kanpur. After meeting him and sharing the same workplace, I got to learn many more things and that really increased my admiration. Few days back, while having a casual chit-chat, our discussion moved to “how the IITians think and approach”. And he was sharing few of the traits that are taught to them during their course of study. The first and foremost came as the attitude what IITians are made to believe on the very first day of their joining IIT (when they are just out of the school) is that "They are the best of the best." This attitude starts brimming from thereon. There is no looking back since then. And this belief gives them the motive that they can’t deliver something lesser than the best. They have a very straight, centered and a systematic approach. They believe in never taking things as they are dictated or directed by anyone and everyone without knowing the nitty-gritty of the smallest matter. It's always hard for them to approach a particular problem or thing without knowing or aligning them to the overall picture. The habit of “always think big with every minute detail” is profoundly incarnated in them. The same is reflected whenever you need some help or suggestion from them, be it technical or non-technical.

There’s a lot to be added in this list, but what I felt to be important was that a mere collection of what they feel will not do any good. It's rightly said "If you aim for MOON, then only you would reach at the top of the TREE." If we can change our thinking as they have done over a period, then for sure sky is the only limit.

Elections

2009-04-12T22:59:00.003+05:30

An interesting article today in a gujarati daily newspaper encouraging the people to vote for the upcoming LOKSHABHA ELECTIONS. It seems to be a good initiative to encourage people to go out and vote to choose their right leaders. The article says "The parents of those students who will go and vote during these elections will be given 2 marks additional in the subject of CIVICS." This step is taken by the principal Shivraj Pimpurde of a school named "GYAN PRABHODHINI SAIKSHANIK SANSTHA" in Pune, MAHARASHTRA. And on the other hand there are few youths saying "I ABSTAIN TO VOTE AGAINST THE INCOMPETENT AND SELF-CENTERED POLITICIANS, SHAME ON INDIAN DEMOCRACY." I don't understand how much fare is it? Is it the shame on the INDIAN DEMOCRACY by abstaining to vote or making INDIAN DEMOCRACY feel SHAME by refraining to vote?

Intoxicating Desire... Perhaps Unknown to ME...!!!

2009-04-10T20:38:00.018+05:30

Well, the thought of desire seems to me like an endless journey, which is perhaps unknown and unveiled. Getting more and more materialistic rather than unable to relinquish the grip of bondages that we hold on. It is about capturing the significance of life, in every bit of a moment. A bit in moment that may have lasted for a day, a week, a month, an year or for ages. It is the anticipation of being with it for every moment, the thoughts that have crossed our mind intermittently and yet you have to feel it deep within. It is a taste of a passion - a hunger - a burning which is placed in soul. It is the prerequisite to experience you again and again. It is the longing to feel again and again for what you have achieved and what you want to achieve.

lost in the vast abysses of space and time

2009-04-08T23:28:00.000+05:30

I don't know what is inspiring me and forcing me from inside to write here. Alot confused and don't know from where to begin. There's so much to pen down, but don't know what impedes me to do so and still keeps me in a dilemma. Feeling like I have lost in the vast abysses of space and time and finding myself through the crevices of my own world where I am walking on the boulevard of broken dreams. Don't know what are those dreams and yet running behind them to have a glimpse. Will add on further as I discover farther.