New Year Wish

Yeh. On the new years day, I would like to stretch myself on the grass, lay under the sun reading a book, with a few butterflies fluttering by, some contemplation on the flowing creek, and a glad to be alive kinda feeling, that is weather permeeting.

On a Stone's Throw

A stone is thrown.
Plop.
Ripples now. The lotus sways a little. Reflections of the trees are still steady, a little distorted though.
And lo. There's some wind in the leaves, filling the empty spaces.
A butterfly has come from nowhere. White and Yellow. Buzzzzzz. Some noisy insect in the grass declares its right to freedom of speech. Yes little one, you are the king here.
And Splash; ducks have flown in, stirring the water. Ripples of fluttering wings. Few dives. And now they have settled, wafting gently with their red feet. Our King here has become silent now. Perhaps tired. The delicate one flips about upon the blades of grass.
And only the colors of pervading green, stirr the silence now.
All that on a stone's throw ! Ha !

Smiles and Laughter

Here's an extremely funny retake (in progress) on the great Indian epic Mahabharat, by Aashray. I found it via Desipundit.
And here's another Ashray, with glorious smiles (discovered by mistyping aashray above).

AnyWays

[Mountains darken as sun sets in the West]
"Listen"
"What"
"It will not work out"
"I never liked your writings anyways"
"I think I knew it always. But then you know the habits. Morning promises do not last the evening"
"Too vulnerable"
"Yes. Too Vulnerable"
"What will you do then ?"
"I dont know. How about you ?"
"Something. We all have to do something. Such is life, we cannot do nothing. It doesn't pass otherwise. I will always dislike your writings, anyways."
"Now that is a comfort"
"What have they decided for you ?"
"They say I have a choice. But you know how it works. You choose from their choices"
[Sun has set. Mountains are giant dark shapes now]
"Have hope. Tomorrow will be another sunrise"
"Hands of the earth, about the mountains, Tagore had said"
"Perhaps earth is reaching for the stars"
"The sun, the giver of life to earth, will rise tomorrow and vanish the stars"
"But there will be stars. Anyways"

A question

You become what you fill your mind with
Or your mind becomes filled with what you are
What, is true ?

Old Sailor

Sits by the shore, a sailor, with his tattered boat
watching the endless waters
Strength fails him, Old that he is
Yet defy he must, and once again embrace the sea
To live, to die
Sailing Free

Hill in the Distance

There is a small hill, in the distance from my window.
It is where the geese seem to return to.
Now the sun sets in. Will we see a magical evening ? Perhaps.
The sky looks wide and open. Inviting. I know. That's where
the geese's home is. That's where they return to. There on a walk
once, I have seen a home, where some noble soul has a pond, a garden, some trees.
Some evenings, the retreating sun weaves a melody of colors. Those days the small hill suddenly becomes wonderful, hewed in purple pink and blue. Like the home of the fairies.
There are houses spread on it's slopes. A car had left a while ago, along the slope. It looked like a bug. It's quite in the distance, the hill, you know.
A bug returns along the slope. It's dark now, the evening has passed away into night, the sun has eloped with its light, into the mountains.
Perhaps tomorrow, will we see a magical evening.
Yes. Tomorrow.
Until then, we let the hill sleep, in shimmering lights.

Value of Human Life

Wired News Reports(link):

The sudden influx of drug companies to India resembles the gold rush frontier, according to Sean Philpott, managing editor of The American Journal of Bioethics.

Why ?

Companies are attracted to India not only because of the huge patient pool and skilled workers, but also because many potential study volunteers are "treatment naïve," meaning they have not been exposed to the wide array of biomedical drugs that most Western patients have, said Stefan Ecks, a lecturer in social anthropology at the School of Social and Political Studies in Edinburgh who recently published a paper on the marketing of antidepressants in India.

The article ends with the reason:

"Third World lives are worth much less than the European lives. That is what colonialism was all about," said Srirupa Prasad, a visiting assistant professor of medical history and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Hmm. What does value of human life depend upon ? My theory is, that in modern-day world, it depends upon two things:

• personal economic status,
• and economy of country/nation-state you live in.

So though personally a developed country poor human has lesser value with respect to his own country-men, but he still will be more valuable then its developing country counterpart.

By nature, life survives by exploiting another life, which automatically becomes a lower life. And for humans, survival means not just living, but fullfillment of wants. The more you are capable of exploiting, the more is the value of your life, the more your chance of survival (survival implying fullfillment of wants here, like want to live, want to good food, clothes, shelter, ferrari, beach-house, want to equal opportunity, justice, want to owning the justice department etc.).

And your capability of exploiting (and thus your value of life), I believe, depends upon your personal economic status, and the collective economic status of the nation-state that you live in.

Now here is where Ethics come in. What is an Ethic ? It is a correctional behaviour by humans and for humans, so as to minimize the disparity between the value of different human lives, so as to provide an equal opportunity towards survival, to them.

Ethics exist because humans have memory, personally, and collectively, and because humans have the want to survive. It is this memory combined with want to survive, which makes them intelligent, and enables them to demand equal opportunity towards survival, of theirs, or others, survival here being fullfillment of wants, including want to live.

Now if you have too much of ethics, or too many of wants, you will screw up the system. British had too many wants, they colonised India. Indian socialists had too many Ethics and too many hidden wants, they sacrificed development for social-welfare and keeping in power . And so the India as a nation state is a poor economy today, and Indians are thus being exploited as cheap labour, guineas for clinical testing, dismantling of junk, and what not.

My Envy

I envy Desi-Women in Sciences. Especially engg Sciences.
Ask why is that ? It's ok. I will tell anyways. It's kinda funny, but the fact is that usually the Desi-Male is to Desi-Female ratio in the Engg. Sciences, is mostly eight is to two, nine is to one, or ten is to waiting for someone. Imagine their luxury, that all they need to do is shed a sigh or cut a finger, and all eight-nine-ten suitors will leave no moutain unturned, to provide comfort. Like there's was this once when a new entry cut her finger, and people went on war-footing to recover-discover lost band-aids, expired antiseptic creams and what not. And so goes the story that Out of ten five were thrown in trash bins labelled as bhaiya, three were left mending their hearts with band-aid, and the rest two fought a duel, which was won by none, because the new entry already had someone.

(To be Updated)

To the Tree

This I say to a tree friend of mine
that you'll have leaves in no time
O friend, though it's you whose leaves have fallen
Yet this hope and this suffering
is mine

Notes

relevance of the old is in the nurturing of the new.
you don't think differently to disagree. you disagree because you think differently.
only when you hit an obstacle, do you realize how fast you were going.
beauty is everywhere and so is ugliness. you cannot adopt one and disown another.
it is ok to get pissed. but it is not to remain so.
it is pointless to reason everything. and it is pointless to discuss pointlessness. be silent.

Blog-Surfing might be a Habit

According to a research upon some unsuspecting rats in MIT, habits don't die, in accordance with the well known phrase 'Old habits die hard':

A new study in the Oct. 20 issue of Nature, led by Ann Graybiel of MIT's McGovern Institute, now shows why. Important neural activity patterns in a specific region of the brain change when habits are formed, change again when habits are broken, but quickly re-emerge when something rekindles an extinguished habit -- routines that originally took great effort to learn.

The full article can be read here
That can be an explanation why I can't stop reading blogs. And no, before you jump to conclusion, I didn't mean I was a rat.

It might not be your fault that you lie

Next time when you lie, just think it's in your genes. Atleast one research suggests so:

A USC study published in the October issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry suggests that the talent for compulsive deception is embedded in the structure of the brain.

People who habitually lie and cheat — pathological liars — appear to have much more white matter, which speeds communication between neurons, in the prefrontal cortex than normal people, the researchers found. They also have fewer actual neurons.

Read the full article here (I discovered the story at boingboing).
I wonder if the talent for lying "to avoid hurting others" is also due a genetic disorder, or order. And that reminds me of the innumerable times I and others have appreciated food cooked by someone, even though it was horrible, like this once when everybody exclaimed how different and good the tea tasted, only to be embarrased, when the host sipped and realized: "Jeez ! I put salt in this tea".

Music

Their hearts were tied with the strings of melodies
With the songs of the dusk and the beats of the dawn
Carefully, they held their love
Until their violins broke one day
and their voices died
But their songs live on
To tell the the tale of the hearts
that beat for music
that beat for love
And their songs, live on

Color of Pride

My friend navin has an interesting post upon certain mails that have been circulating among desis, which include a mail from a supposed Dean from IIT Madras, about national pride. To quote:

It took just 40 years. Last week THE day arrived. When Indian ambassador in Washington DC handed over a cheque of US$ 50 million to the US govt, two plane loads of food, medical aid and other relief materials were waiting to fly to the USA. Time to break the fast? With no bad feeling about the USA, and good wishes for the Katrina victims, this humble Indian feels proud of the distance India has covered in 40 years. Let's celebrate a New India!"

- Vijay Kranti.
Dean - IIT Madras
"
This and the previous mails that compared the Mumbai floods and the Katrina hurricane have taken Indian nationalism to a ridiculously laughable level. To be frank, this is the kind of jingoistic nationalism we might be well served to avoid. What is it about us that makes us want to shout it out so loud from the rooftops and tell people that "look, we are so good, look!". Or are we so insecure about our little realities inside that the fact that there were lesser casualties in Mumbai as compared to New Orleans or that our streets were not flooded as much as those in New Orleans becomes a nationally circulating email!

To me, technically, this is yet another spam playing upon my prejudices, my willingness, to feel good about myself, with any reason imaginable, any way possible.
I have something to say about pride, though.
People detest you if they cannot share it with you.
So if you display pride in your achievements, you'll be branded a snob. But give others a chance to share your pride, example, talk about how great your community is, or how great your culture is, and you'll be welcomed all hands.
Pride, you know, comes in many colors. All you need to do is, wear the right color.
And why do people wear pride ? Well, I can come up with many superficial reasons, like it motivates you, or it is your birth-right, or it lies in the genes.
However, if you look a little more, underlying every pride, you'll find a deep-rooted insecurity, arising from the commonality and mortality of beings.

Home ?

I think of earth as my home. But then home is a place of permanent residence isn't it ?
I was born here, I will live here for a while, I will die.
Surely then, this is not my home is it ?

Loss of Kindness

The loss of kindly feeling oft
From slightest things shall grow
Where all the fare is dry and spare
Resentments fierce may glow

I found it here

Uljhan

Kuch Baras Pahle hi ki toh baat hai
Jab Ghar ka Aangan chora tha
Yaad hai
Tab Aangan main aati-jaati hariyali thi
Mogre ki mahak thi
Aur neem ki kadwahat
Peepal ki Chanv thi
Aur Bargad ki Jatayen
Haan Yaad toh hai
Phir Aisa kyun lagta hai
Ki Jaameen ki dooriyan toh wahi hain
Par dilon ke phasle badh chale hain
Ki Tasveeron ki chamak to wahi hai
Par Yaadein Purani ho Chali hain

Aisa kyun lagta hai
Ki pheeki hoti mogre ki mahak
Awaz dekar kah rahi hai
Bahot Baras ho gaaye
Hamare Aangan ke Panchi ko Gaaye
Aisa kyun lagta hai
Ki Boodha neem pukar raha Hai
Bahot Baras ho Gaaye
Hamare Aangan Ke Panchi ko Gaaye
Ki Bargad Ki Sooni Jayaten pukar rahi hain
AbKe Baras
Jhoola Khali na rahe
Bahot Baras Ho gaaye Hamare Aangan Ke Panchi ko Gaaye
Shayad Peepal Bhi Asantosh main hai
Ke Na Koi uski daliyon par baith-ta hai
Na koi uski Chaanv Main khelta hai
Par Kuch hi Baras toh Huye hain
Panchi ko Aangan chore
Phir kyun lagta hai
Ki Panchi ab ghar lout chale
Ki Panchi ab ghar lout chale

Momentary

Now boarding the bus. Desi ? Beautiful fingers. Saphire in the middle finger. Long, slender fingers, clutching the ruffled black of the purse. No nail-polish. Khakhis and Navy-Blue T-shirt, sport shoes. Finely shaped jaw-bone, a look of determination. Hurriedly, yet neatly tied hair, a single knot, bundle of straight hair coming out, sideways.
Four birds fly in a distance, towards the mountains, passing the setting sun. Flying in a tapered N.
Alternating places, slowly retreating. Gliding, flapping now.
Ting. Her stop has come.
The birds are out of sight.
Hmm.

Days Flew By

Cute-Girl to Nice-Friend about Special-Friend: "We had a great time together. Days flew by - pata hi nahi chala"
Nice-Friend: "Accha. Did the days fly in a jet or a cargo ?"

Rumble On !

Life is a medical student, and you are it's Rat.

Eccentricity is the way of loner to seek attention, unknowingly, and the way of an idiot, knowingly.

"You are so hypocritical, conceited and full of deceit !"
"So what's your point. Why should I not be like that ?"
"It is so not right. I am displeased with you"
"Oh yeh, well it pleases me. Now Get Lost"

They, who say life is all about pleasure, are the ones most discontent.
They, who say it's all in the mind, are the ones most depressed.

Ignorance is bliss, and Stupidity nirvana.

Cognition

In a short but interesting interview in Walk the Talk by Shekhar Gupta, Dr V S Ramchandran talks about the rapid growth in comprehending the workings of human mind. Here's an excerpt:

What is your book Phantoms of the Brain about?

If you close your eyes, you have a very vivid image of your body parts—it’s called your body image. When you amputate somebody’s arm, the astonishing thing is that even after the operation the patient continues to vividly feel the presence of that arm. He himself is very surprised by this—he’s not stupid, he knows that his arm has been amputated. But he says, You’ve removed the arm, I don’t see an arm, but I vividly feel my fingers, my wrist, my elbow. This is called a phantom arm. It’s important clinically because many people feel excruciating pain in this phantom arm. Chronic pain in a real arm is hard enough to treat; how do you treat a patient who has pain in a non-existent arm?

It turns out that there’s a complete map of the body surface on the surface of the brain. When you amputate a person’s arm, a gap remains, corresponding to the hand, but which doesn’t receive any signals. Instead, the signals from the face invade that territory. It shows that there’s a great deal of malleability of connections in the brain—what we call plasticity. People didn’t realise it before we’d done that. That was the breakthrough. When you amputate the arm and you touch the patient’s face, the patient says, Oh, you’re touching my fingers. It’s a very simple clinical observation, but we said that the reason this happens is because the signal is now going to the wrong part of the brain. There’s been a cross-wiring, and it’s now invaded the vacated territory corresponding to the missing arm. This happens astonishingly fast, in clinical terms. In a couple of weeks, the face skin starts sending its sensory input to a new brain area. It’s radical because it shows that brain maps can change over distances of seven centimetres, even in the adult brain, challenging the clinical dogma that new connections cannot form in the adult brain.

.....

Going back to metaphor, it’s a big question. When Shakespeare says, It is the east and Juliet is the sun; when Tagore says of the Taj, It is a teardrop on the cheek of time—how do these people do it? Can you begin to approach this as a neuroscientist?

Another fascinating thing for me is human ability to spot, create and understand humor and humorous situations. What happens in the human brain, when someone says "This is funny !" And why does good laughter feel good ?

Kohra

Ab Ke Dhundh kuch aisi Chaayi hai
Ki Haath Ko Haath nahin soojhta hai
Ke Raah toh mahsoos hoti hai
Kintu Manzil Ka Aabhas Kho Chala hai

Upon Life-Partner

I appreciate the people who believe in "maid for each other".
After thoughtless deliberation, I have come to believe, it has to be totally give-and-take types for Life-Partnerships to succeed, and not become failed startups.
Hence, Maid for each Other, I tell you, is the secret formula of success.
Ok. it was a joke.

My Cravings

Include this. (That is a "Hakuna Matata" face. I can tell you that for sure)

Of all things, Udeshikaka is an infrequent meditator and urges us to go within. "Meditation happens best when it's at 4AM. Everything is quiet. You can go deep within," Udeshi-kaka says while looking around to see if anyone else is listening. Then he whispers, "And when you go within, you see this incredible white light everywhere. You have to merge yourself with that. But you know, we can't talk about this kind of stuff around here. Only those who understand, understand.

Full Text Here

Mysticism, I tell you, is very enchanting.

Content

It has been a while since I sat near the boulder creek.
A long while.
Yesterday, I laid beside the creek.
Hearing. Watching. Listening.
Then I talked to myself.
I reminisced of the day, when I sang for the trees and the ducks. and myself.
They watched me intently first, disinterested later. Yes, how silly. But it felt great tuning the song with flowing waters.
I was reminded of the day I sat near a bursting fall. My visa application had been rejected, sad at the thought of leaving That stream, Those stones. Those trees. That path. That fall. How selfish, an afterthought, a smile.
Such days, and some more.
Memories merged with waters. Flowing.
Giant trees overlooked upon me, reflecting a certain contention.
Yes. Contention it is, I thought.
I am content when I sit near these waters.

Reverse Effect

How do you make yourself tall ?
Pull your own leg
But before that
you need to exist

Crimson Sky

Wake up
Hearkens the Crimson Sky
Look, I bring to you
warm sunlight
the sailing clouds
the birds flight

Wake up
Dances the Crimson Sky
Look, I bring to you
chipmunks play
the mountains aglow
the gulls sway

Wake up
Sings the Crimson Sky
Wake up
Fades the Crimson Sky
Wake up
To the Crimson Sky
Wake up
To the color of crimson sky
To the song of crimson sky
To the dance of crimson sky
To the moment that is the crimson sky

Play with Philo

(Is like Bicycling to nowhere, just cycling)

They say, fool is the happiest person
because the fool doesn't know
what happiness is

------------------------------------

They say, such is the wonder of the mind
Each desires to have a good time
be it twisted, be it sublime

------------------------------------

Religion and Science both
Are the children of the mind
The reflex twins
When one goes wrong, the other feels the pain

------------------------------------

The moment I know something
I become a bank of the river,
a petal of the flower,
a sin of the sinner,
and then there is always the other side,
the other petal
the other eye
then there is good and evil,
god and devil

------------------------------------------------

Let compassion be my religion
and reason my science
Together they shall charter
The course of my life

-----------------------------------------------

Say, It's all in the mind
What's beyond the mind
Say, Is all the mind ?

Nay, do not rush, do not jump,
Say, where goes the river,
where goes the cloud
when there is no mind,
when I am blind ?

Nay, do not rush, do not jump
Say, who am I
If all is the mind
Why sings the bird
Why plays the child
If I am the mind ?

Say, It's good
to be kind
I don't know
Why it matters if there is nothing
beyond the mind

Say, the irony is
that I reason to live,
when I cannot
reason my existence

Out of the Way

Question. How do you go "out of the way", to help someone ?
Answer. Simple, step atleast five steps aside, away from the person.

Lame Paheli

Hara-Bhara Vrit-Vriqsha, Latakti Huyi Jatayen
Dali Par baithi Chidiya, Doud lagati gilhari,
Kal-kal bahti naadiya, Bhor ki bela, choti si kutiya
aur kutiya mein main
Kahan hoon main, aisa prashna mera, boojho ek shabda ka uttar ?

Answer: Camping. Hee.

Rhetoric

Beeteen Baaton Ki Yaad nahin Dilaya Karte
Beeteen Baaton Ka Kya Hai
Ve Toh Yaad Aa Ke Chali Jaayengi
Gam ki Kalikh se toh Hame Ladna Hoga
Aansoon Ka Saagar Toh Hame Paar Karna Hoga
----------
Manzil Ki Talaash Nahin hai
SHohrat Ki Pyaas Nahin hai
Paise Se Dil Rooth Chuka hai
Ghar-Baar Ka Sapna toot chuka hai
Aankhon Ko Thora Raham mile
Aur Dil Ko Thora Sookon
Bhatakte Musafir Ki Baas Yahi Aakhri Aas Hai
Yahi Aankhri Saans Hai
-----------
Kal tak maan-baba se kahta tha
"tumse pyaar karta hoon"
Phir Doston se kahta tha
"tumse pyaar karta hoon"
Phir Sochta tha
"us-se pyaar karta hoon"
Moorkh tha, samajh nahin paya
Aaj jaana hai
Main sirf apne-aap se pyaar karta hoon
-----------
Logon ne pyaar ko jaane kya kya naam diye
Kisi ne Bhagvan kaha toh kisi ne Jeevan
Lekin naam main kya rakhha hai
Paani ko ushi ne jaana hai
Jisne uska swaad chakhha hai
Aur swaad kaisa, ki jibhaan ko samajh nahin aaya
Shareer ko Rahat mili, aur man ne thandak ko paaya
------------
Main nahin Jaanta, Ki Bhagvan Kaisa Hota hai
Shayad Dopahar Ki Tapti Garmi main
Peepal Ki Chaanv jaisa hota hai
Main nahin Jaanta, Ki Pyaar Kaisa Hota hai
Shayad Gangotri se nikalti Ganga
Ya Shayad Vindhya Se Bahti Narmada Jaisa Hota hai
Main Nahin Jaanta, Ki Nishchal, Nishpaap, Nishkaam Jeevan kaisa hota hai
Shayad Baache ke kilkari
Ya Shayad Baagiche ke podhon jaisa hota hai
Main Kuch nahin Jaanta,
Lekin itna Jaanta hoon, Ki main nahin Jaanta
------------
Kavi Man Karta Hai Ki Baas likhta chala Jaoon
Saare Jag Ke Aandhiyare Ko Apni Kalam Se Mitaoon
Par Meri Syahi Ab Khatm ho rahi hai
Andhiyaare ki lou ab gahri ho rai hai
Lekin Mujhe Gam nahin hai
Itna mujhe maloom hai
Ek kalam rukegi, toh Hazaron Uthengi
Andhiyare ki lou chahe kitni hi gahri ho
Roshni ki chingaariyaan saare jag ko roshan kar dengi

Mangal-Pandey

Also Blogs.

Update: Some other desi celebs who blog: Shekhar Kapur, Deepak Chopra, Nandita Das, Rahul Bose, Suchitra Krishnamurty, Rahul Khanna. All At IntentBlog.
Discovered the link at IndiaUncut.

On God, Life and Everything

Q: If Ram and Allah are divided, what will the result be ?
A: Very Simple. One. Ram is the One. Allah is the One. 1/1 = 1.

Q: Why is everyone not one ?
A; Because then who will be tu (2), 3, 4, 5, you get the drift.

Q: Then how come there is one in everyone ?
A; Because 2 = 1 + 1, 3 = 1 + 1 + 1.. you can let go of the drift now.

Q: Why are C programs very selfish ?
A: Because they always begin execution with *main*

Q: How do C programs demonstrate UnionBazi, and Ekta main Taakat ?
A: You have to pile them together, yaani ki (meaning), compile them to make them work.

Q: Comp user, why there is no salvation for you ?
A: Because you "Execute" so many programs a day. On Top of that, you multi-task the execution !

Q: Ok. I understand all that. But how does computer mean everything ?
A: Yeh geek, you wait. Let me take out computer from your life, and you tell what is left ?

Do what you are Good At

You know how the saying goes, You should do what you are Good at.
Well, guess what, people usually don't like to do what they are Good at.
And they mostly want to do something they are not good at.
Because what you are Good at, is not always very interesting.
And then it's a choice. To do something you are Good at, and make a good living but dream of that something interesting which you would rather do.
Or, pursue the interest, and dream of a life where you would have a nice house at the beach, overlooking the mountains, with a green forest nearby.

ButtLine. It's difficult to find something you are Good at. But it's even more difficult to find something that you are Good at and is Interesting.

Makes sense ? No. Ok, I am not good at it.

Paint-Time

By A young friend, who paints, currently doing undergrad in Pune, India.

(Yes. It's Dimple, from Rudali I think)

Check out SeonnaHong's paintings. I discovered the link at BoingBoing.

Nothing New Under The Sun

This is such an age, when if you think you have a new idea, better do a reality check.
Even something silly like Caterpillar Conciousness. (If reality doesn't make your new old, see a therapist. You could still be saved.)
Infact, as the saying goes, If you are a startup company, and you are doing something that no-body is or has, pack your bags. Your failure is guaranteed.
(Ok. It is not that absurd. Startups need to make money.
To make money they need to have a service or a product which is either a new approach, or an improved one.
Now, given the limited possible solutions to most user-world problems with available supporting technologies for devising a solution, and so many people trying to make money, if all possible solutions haven't been tried, then you are in a field which either has no money, or doesn't exist.
And if you are in a field that doesn't exist, chances of your becoming next Ebay or Amazon, are .00000some ridiculously small Floating Point Number. So mostly, you will fail to make money. Makes sense. No. Try working in a startup. You'll know what I mean. But then Basic_Hope = 1/pi. Why ? Constant, you see. So we try to get real. I mean get the floating point. Now on that note, we have a pj. You can never get hold of a floating point, because if you did, it will no longer be floating. Mwhahahahaha.)

Song of the Moment

is first song from this movie

funny

Zen Questions, Funny Answers

Wish-Wish. Shwish.

Today's Wish. To watch this movie
Why ? Well. The word appeared in the mind from remote recesses.

Yeh Le !

Walking. Towards the tennis courts. There is a stray thunderstorm warning, but we want to play. There is lightening, and blue-black over the mountains. But it's ok. Courts are far from there. We need to cross the road. Cars speeding past by. Walk signal. A half broken CD lying on the road. Looking at the greenness of the trees. Friends says. "CD". Thoughts Interrupted. Hmm. I say "Chadh Ja". Back to the greenness again. Yes ofcourse, friend starts pulling out his hair :)

Time-Pass

There's no good movie playing in theatres.
So, I resort to another entertainment, another escape. Music.
Here's the song of the moment:

saanson ki saragam, dhadakan kee beenaa,
sapanon ki geetaanjali tu
man kee gali mein mahake jo haradam ayesee
joohi ki kali tu
chhotaa safar ho, lambaa safar ho, suni dagar ho yaa melaa
yaad tu aaye, man ho jaaye, bheed ke beech akelaa
baadal bijali chandan
paani, jaisaa apanaa pyaar..

One of my favorites. Beautiful Lyrics. I also like Rangeela Re.

Not Easy Eh ?

Psyche: What's new ?
Patient: I am tired of this world. I will retire to the forest. I want to spend the rest of my life alone, away from this world.
Psyche: Sounds Good.
Patient: Will you visit me ?
Psyche: I thought you wanted to retire from the world !

(Patient leaves)
Few days later

Psyche: You are in bad shape !
Patient: Very Upset. As I told you, I went to the forest, built myself a small hut near the river. Today a man passed by. He asked me what was I doing there. I replied, I was spending my life in seclusion, away from the world. He called me a stupid fool. I became very upset. We got into a fight. After a while he ran away. But I am very upset now. Why did he call me a stupid fool !
Psyche: But I thought you had retired from the world ?

Trinity

Optimist and Pessimist sat across the table, Eyes locked over a glass of water.
Pessimist, "This glass, is half empty"
Optimist, "Well, if you look at it another way, it's half full"
Thirsty came and drank the water.

Lessons: Many.
To not theorize, you must be thirsty.

Life becomes good or bad, when you have too much time to think about it.

Sitting across the table, discussing endlessly, is one of the joys of friendship.

Believer and Non-Believer, both are same in that they only have theories. Only the one who has drunk the water, can tell you what it tastes like.

Comparison, can give the false perception, of an absolute which doesn't exist, often mistaken to be reality.

Without difference, communication would be impossible. Mind can only measure difference (This also comes from this book)

Good friends, can become enemies, over ideological divisions, each suffering thereby.

Past, Present and Future, are connected by the water in glass, as life in body.

Pessimist projects from the past (the glass had to be empty first), Optimist projects from the future, and both iterate in relative realities.

I am not thirsty :) and if was, I would have preferred Coke, at this hour. But yes, I have a glass of water on my table now, and I sure will drink it.

Mystic Muse

On a friends suggestion, I read Osho for a while. Got bored after sometime.
Now, I don't recollect much of what I read.
A mantra from his grandma, is one I think about sometimes:

Namo arihantanam namo namo
Namo siddhanam namo namo
Namo uvajjhayanam namo namo
Namo loye savva sahunam namo namo
Aeso panch nammukaro
Savva pavappanasano
Mangalam cha savvesam padhamam havai mangalam
Arihante saranam pavajjhami
Siddhe saranam pavajjhami
Sahu saranam pavajjhami
Namo arihantanam namo namo
Namo siddhanam namo namo
Namo uvajjhayanam namo namo
Om, shantih, shantih, shantih….

For translation, read here

What Trash !

Ok. I have just figured out that my code is trashing because linux 2.6 kernel has preemption and my kernel module is being removed before the daemon it started trashes itself, voluntarily. With no obvious solution in sight, my mind willfully wanders free, to search for one. Before that it visits some blogs. Again. Reads some news, again. And wants to write something funny for siphar. But writing funny is a difficult thing I tell ya. Like for example. There is a Microsoft mouse that sits on a dell mouse-pad, near a trash bin. What's funny in that ? Nothing. Like there's a sprint-pcs cell phone, near the unwashed coffee-mug near a napkin trash. Nothing funny here too. Then there's a lot of paper on my desk, deserving its space in a bin that is trash. Nothing funny here too. There in the corner lies a non-calorie sweetner, on the desk of a twenty-six year old, on top of a linux journal magazine, most of which was trash. You know, I can go on and on, and eventually jump to the conclusion that life is mostly trash. See now, I just gave a you a little peek into a trashy little world, and most probably all you can think of is nothing funny in trash. Hee. Ok, I better cleanup all that " ".

Now a mental exercise. If I were to rename five Bond movies with trash what will they be ? (Ek minute. The idea of discussing Bond and Bond related stuff, comes from no-url-left)
1. Trash Never Dies
2. The World's Trash is Not Enough.
3. License to Trash.
4. The Spy Who Trashed Me.5. You Only Trash Twice.

Have a " " free day.

Words and Heart

If they cannot reach your heart,
my words, they are of no use
And if they do reach your heart
for my words, there is no more a use

(Derived from a reading on Amir Rumi)

How Old is this Art

I am reading "A River Sutra", by Gita Mehta. It is tales within a tale, on the ways of human heart, the narrator being on a pilgrimage in the mountains of Satpuda and Vindhyachal, at the banks of Narmada. One of the stories is about a blind child, a Music Teacher and Amir Rumi, a Sufi saint who lived some seven hundred years ago.
So I was searching for Amir Rumi's Poetry, and discovered Amir Khusrau's. An interesting "Paheli" a small riddle, made me think about the tradition of cracking PJs. Here it is (and here's more)

Jab woh moray mandir aaway, sotay mujhko aan jagaway;
Padhat phirat woh birah ke achchar, Aye sakhi sajan? Na sakhi machchar!
(Whenever he visits my place, wakes me up from the sleep,
he sings the song of separation; is it the beloved, oh friend? No, its mosquito.)

I think at times, PJs are way to laugh off something that is on your mind. Giving a twist to thoughts in humorous direction, relieves you from the weight of the prevailing thoughts. May be it's a therapy. Who knows !
(By the way, don't take this junk from my mind to heart. It is just a silly muse, only meant to amuse, not to wonder, because if you wonder, there will be thunder. Ah. I suck at rhyming)

Lets Zazzle !

Zazzle lets you explore your creativity, dabble with simple creations.
Check it out. Little clumsy at first. Lots of steps to do. But kinda fun.
Here's my first creation
(The prices I must say, are ridiculously high)

The Moon is With Me

Last night the moon looked particularly beautiful.
Illuminated clouds. Faint moonlight. A symphony in white and grey. An unending drapery, with charming, everchanging shades.
You know, it is a wonderful retreat to take a walk in a moonlit night, alongside running waters. Watching the intermittent shimmers, listening to the sound of waters.
The silhouettes of trees, the silence of grass.
Bachpan main, Chandni raaton mein, main aur papa safed kurta pajama pahan kar kheton main tahalne ke liye jaaya karte the. Aur main papa ko apne school ke kahaniyan sunata tha. Papa aaj miss ne bola ki will ka matlab "Iccha-Shakti" hota hai. Par papa will to I will wala will hai. Phir yeh Iccha-Shakti kaise hua ? We would follow a Paggandi, in the wheat fields. Sometimes I would wave my hand over them, feeling their touch. Sometimes they would be taller than me.
When possible, I would stretch my eyes far and wide, to look at the moonlit fields.
I remember the times, when we had moved to the city, when I would run to the terrace to find out if the moon had come out, so that mummy could do her "Chand ko Urk(U as in fur) Dena".
And spending the night on the terrace, talking useless talks with a friend, or a cousin.
In my last days in clemson, I occassionaly used to go lie down in the Bowman Field, watching the moon, perhaps humming a hindi oldie.
I guess the moon has always been with me. It brings me a sense of peace. A feeling of beauty. A peace, that perhaps is a part of me.

Let's Go Out Tonight

Two fleas are courting
Flea 1: Lets go out Tonight.
Flea 2: No, I am too tired. I can't fly.
Flea 1: No problem sweetiee. We'll do a DOG
(Courtesy, a friend in Clemson)

Good Afternoon

Down there in the plush green, an old bunny lies stretched in it's favorite abode, the shade of the little pine.
And beside it, sits a restless little one, who rests to catch some breath, before it sprints again.

"Young and old see differently through same eyes" ~ Victor Hugo.

Not Much To Say

Today I have not much to say
My words are falling asleep
Tomorrow when they wake up
It will be a new day
And Perhaps they will say
Today I have much to say

Am listening

Jis Mahfil Main Shama Ho, Parawana Jaayega, from Sangam. Don't ask why.

Managing Techies

From Linux Documentation:

Everybody thinks managers make decisions, and that decision-making is important. The bigger and more painful the decision, the bigger the manager must be to make it. That's very deep and obvious, but it's not actually true.

The name of the game is to _avoid_ having to make a decision. In particular, if somebody tells you "choose (a) or (b), we really need you to decide on this", you're in trouble as a manager. The people you manage had better know the details better than you, so if they come to you for a technical decision, you're screwed. You're clearly not competent to make that decision for them.

(Corollary:if the people you manage don't know the details better than you, you're also screwed, although for a totally different reason. Namely that you are in the wrong job, and that _they_ should be managing your brilliance instead).

.
.
.

However, in order to prepare yourself as a kernel manager, it's best to remember not to burn any bridges, bomb any innocent villagers, or alienate too many kernel developers. It turns out that alienating people is fairly easy, and un-alienating them is hard. Thus "alienating" immediately falls under the heading of "not reversible", and becomes a no-no according to Chapter 1.

There's just a few simple rules here:
(1) don't call people d*ckheads (at least not in public)
(2) learn how to apologize when you forgot rule (1)

You can Read the full thing here

Name Games

A new day. Fresh Air. And some more sillyness.

Scene 1:

Three of us are walking towards the artist's point on the flagstaff summit. We will disappear into a thick brush of alpines, and appear on a cliff, which bequeaths a spectacular view of the snow covered mountains. I tell the visitor, to notto run if she spots a mountain lion. They are mildly concerned as to where am I taking them. My friend tells the visitor, "We should not trust him, he likes to walk, and if we don't stop, he'll take us God knows where !"
I say "Yeh, Right"
My friend says, "No. I am Serious"
Silence. Ruffle of clothes against the pines.
And I reply, "No, you are not Sirius. You are Vicky."

Scene 2:

Masala Restaurant. Four of us, hungry, sitting, waiting, talking nonsense. My friend is hyper, has unconciously picked up fork and spoon, perhaps to eat the table cloth. He yells "I am readddy. Where's the FOOD".
"No. You are not Reddy."
"Yes sucker. I know I am Muduliyar. And not Reddy"

Maali Aur Mein

Maali Kahta Hai "Shabdon Ki Maala Bun-na Band Kar, Aur Podhon Kon Paani De"
Main Maali Se Kahta Hoon "Tu Aapni Jindagi Ji, Mujhe Aapni De"
Bus Yehi Meri Kahani Hai,
Kabhi Maali Ka Kaha Maana
Toh Kabhi Apni Thani Hai

Aks

Aadhi Kalikh hai, Aadhi Parchhai
Tani Hui Bhrukuti hai, Aur Shikan-ranjit Aabha
Wahi Prashna baar-baar Dohrati Hai
Main Kuch aur Sun-ne ki koshish main laga hoon
Par Parchhai hai ki wahi prashna baar-baar Dohrati hai
Yeh Bhrukuti Kyun Taani Hai, Aur maathe par kyun Shikan hai
Tere Chehre Par Jhalakti Jaani-Pahcchaani Un-Bun Hai
Ke Kahan se Aaya hai, Kahan Ja Raha hai
Itni Kyun Ashanti Hai, Itna Kyun Khalipan hai

O parchhai, Tujhse Kya Kahoon, Uttar nahin hai mere paas
Keval Kalikh hai Aur Prashna hain
Keval Kalikh hai
Aur Prashna Hain
Aur Na Tu Peecha Chodti Hai, Na Yeh Prashna hain
Na Yeh Prashna Hain

Aadhi Kalikh Hai, Aur Prashna Hain

Mera Gaanv. Mera Desh.

People, pliss take no offense. I am as patriotic as your next door donkey. Just received these in forwarded mail. Can't read the artiste's name that correctly, though it seems to be "Morparia". And since we are in patriotic mood here, here's another author-missing-copyrighted joke that I heard recently. So this desi goes into a cloth-store and asks for "Desh Ka Jhanda". The shopowner brings the national flag. Desi looks at it. Examines the texture of the cloth. And Holds it up high in the air, carefully looking for holes, stray threads. After haggling about the price for a while, he looks satisfied, but gives a disinterested look and says, "Bhai-Sahab. Ismain Aur Color Dikhaiyye Na !!" (Yeh. I know. That's how desi women purchase saaris. "Bhaiya is main aur variety dikhao na. Yeh toh maine pichle mahine hi kharidi thi. Old fashion hai. Kuch naya dikhaiyye." Ah. that makes for another post some day. Saari Shopping)

Modern

Cosmetic of smartness usually leaves my face powdered with stupidity. But I am a modern human. Prisoner to self-vanity.

Bhagvan's Unhappiness

Top Ten Things God(Bhagvan) is VERY Unhappy about:
(This post is courtesy Navin.
He told me the first two. Rest are from my chaos)

1. When (in desi movies) daughter gets pregnant and the mother goes
"Hey Bhagvan, Yeh tune kya kiya"!
2. When (in desi movies) the heroine pleads to the villain
"Bhagvan ke liye mujhe chor do" !
Well, first of all, Bhagvan is not a human, forget male.
And secondly even if Bhagvan is a male, Bhagvan cannot bear 10 Thousand hindi-movie heroines.
3. When someone does a favor to someone-else and this someone-else says
"Bhagvan tera bhala karega" !
Now this, Bhagvan finds utterly ridiculous. Why should Bhagvan pay-back for some-one else !!
4. When the fodder-scam-rich official, tries to be humble
"Sab Bhagvan ki Kripa hai" !
Now Bhagvan categorically denies any involvement with fodder, fodder eating officials, and their fodder-humble richness.
5. When people say
"Bhagvan uski aatma ko shaanti de"
Now, first of all, Bhagvan doesn't know shaanti. And even if Bhagvan knew,
Bhagvan doesn't like that business.
6. When people ask
"Bhagvan ke liye Kshama/Daya karo"
Now, this is unfair trade. People expect/accept everything in Gods' name,
but then totally forget about Bhagvan. I mean if you are using the Brand
Name, you gotta pay royalty. Correct ?
7. When people prophesize
"Bhagvan tumhari Rakhsa Karega"
Ridiculous. Bhagvan ne Theka nahin liye rakhsha karne ka. Apne body-guards khud hire karne ko mangta.
8. When someone driving at 120 gets killed in an accident and people say
"Bhagvan/Allah ki marzi ke aage kiski chalti hai"
Ok. Now this Bhagvan finds laughable. Did Bhagvan tell you to drive at
120 ?
9. When the semi-naked yogis claim
"Bhagvan ki sharan main aao"
Now this is extreme infringement of personal space, private property.
Bhagvan doesn't like this at all. How would you feel if all the people
in the city came into your house. Haan. Haan! ?
10.When we go into religious custody, and ask the right to remain violent.
Now this, bhagvan doesn't like at all. At all meaning at all. Haan.

Jai Ram Ji ki.

Update: Ok. It has just come to my notice this other peculiar trait of humans to depend on bhagvan for water-travel. "Bhagvan teri naiyya par lageyaga". Now, out of goodness only, bhagvan has been navigating your boat for free. But when every second person on earth who doesn't know swimming, is afraid of water, and want's bhagvan to navigate the boat for free, bhagvan gets irritably tired. And so bhagvan pleads
People, thora taras khao
Apni naiyya khud paar lagaao !
Aur agar nahin hota
toh Paani main na jao !!

Weekend Bliss

Yay ! Finally a Holiday !!
This weekend I will wander in the streets of New York,
Take a ferry to the monument of freedom,
Meet old friends.

And for sillyness's sake here are some old pjs which I learnt anew

Q: B and D, always jog together, long and fast. D always sweats heavily, B never does. Why ?
A: Well, there is AC around B. mwhahahahaha.

Q: B and F are both critically injured. F will be saved, B might be not.
Why ?
A: There is GH (general hospital) near F.

Q: Why is Bombay Dying ?
A: Because Gwalior Sooting !

Q: What is the height of an average Indian
A: Duh.. Twice his half.

And for Star Wars fans Here is a cheap one
In the climaxes of climax, Master Jedi Obi-Van-Kanobi shouts to Aniken
"But You Were the Chosen One !", with a painful expression.
Q: What should have Aniken said ?
A: But you were Obi-One !

You can Scream

Hemangini Gupta of This is Mangs writes about a harassment experience and how she dealt with it. Years ago, twice in my life, I have encountered pedophiles, both in buses. First time, I didn't quite understand what was going on and was too shy to complain. Second time, I folded my sleeves up. Yet, now I wish I had complained, or done something, and hadn't let them go scot-free.

Love Marriage or Arranged

Somone recently asked me whether I would prefer love marriage or arranged.
I unfolded, "See, to me, there isn't much difference between love marriage and arranged, except for the risk factor. It is very analogous to investing in the share market. There are two ways you can invest in the share market. One is, do thorough research, explore different companies, their background, their market-fame, their family-name(read wealth, venture capitalist), invest somewhat for a while in a few, and then invest majorly in a couple for long-term. The other way is of the adventurer, who likes to trust the two sec instinct, and gets rest of the background-check grunt work by his agents (or the agents manipulate him, almost same), and then invests for long-term. Now where the risk factor is more, has always been a mystery because of the varied sample-space. The end goal you must understand, in both cases, is to get more and get good returns."

(To Be Continued, people take no-offense, this was in fun-faith )

Why not teach History like this ?

Excerpt from an essay on India's past, by Amartya Sen.
Discovered the link at MiddleStage.

One of the tests of the presence of a united perspective in calendrical terms, already discussed, is the identification of a principal meridian and a reference location (like Greenwich in Britain). It is remarkable how durable has been the position of the ancient city of Ujjayini (now known as Ujjain), the capital of several Hindu dynasties of India (and the home of many literary and cultural activities through the first millennium AD), as the reference location for many of the main Indian calendars. The Vikram Samvat calendar (with a zero point in 57 BC) apparently originated in this ancient capital city. But it is also the locational base of the Saka system (zero point in 78 AD) and a great many other Indian calendars. Indeed, even today, Ujjain’s location is used to fix the anchor point of the Indian clock (serving, in this respect, as the Indian Greenwich). The Indian Standard Time that governs our lives still remains a close approximation of Ujjayini time — five hours and 30 minutes ahead of GMT.

This makes me wonder, why don't we have such extra-curricular activities in our schools, where we are asked to explore the history and culture of our surroundings, write essays on it. Doesn't it make a much more interesting and inspiring history lesson, to go find what the state of learning was in my town, rather than memorize the date of Boston Tea Party ? Yes, it is important to know what went on in other parts of the world, but then, it should be equally important to know what transpired in and around the very place you live. In my schools, history lessons used to be a fixed number of chapters, and a fixed set of question answers. You miss a line and loose five marks. No one in my school ever taught me about the state of science, religion, politics, learning in my city in ancient times. Our history lessons used to be a bore, a period where you catch up on sleep, where the teacher made you stand up for half an hour to read the chapters aloud. And ofcourse it only gave us a sense of rote, and not learning !

Separately, We were only made to memorize that "India is a unity in diversity", but we never even learnt a percent of how that came about to be.

A Succesful Man's View

How Easy it all Sounds

Their Work

A better noon outside. Some clouds, mild sun.
A bunny family is at some serious work.
Their mouths nibble furiously at the grass;
and some food that a generous soul has sprinkled,
for them and the birds.
Two younglings look the most busy.
Sometimes they stop, hop and then their mouths disappear
in the grass again. So tiny.
I wonder what they talk when they take a break.
Perhaps something like "Phew, bro, lot of work
today. So much to eat. We'll play race in the
evening!"
A few birds fly in to join the merry eating.
All is harmony in their little space.
And the Sun smiles sweetly at them.

My Search

I shall not go looking for good men
I know they are rare to find
But I shall look for goodness in men
And I shall reflect it in kind

Pic Time

Discovered Circle of Death through Indian blog-mela hosted by POV. Also checkout other pictures and Mohib's Photo Blog

Silly Syndrome

Once my Mamaji were scolding my younger cousin.
He was in great anger, and he yelled "Kameen Ke Bacche",
My cousin replied "Aap hee Ka toh baccha hoon".

One day, dad scolds Simbu "Gadhe ki Aulaad !"
Couple of days later, Simbu has again been mischievous.
Dad goes "Sooar Ke Bacche !"
Simbu innocently asks, "Papa aapne animal kaise change kiya".

Simbu's mother "Shaitaan, aaj tujhe khana nahin milega !"
Simbu goes to Papa and says "Papa, aap pados wali aunty se shaadi kar loh. Main jab bhi jaata hoon unke yaahan, mujhe hamesha aacha khana khilateen hain"

Slave to Morality

I have a few vague rules for myself, for this life.
One of them is, never leave someone in the middle. Majhdhar main nahin chodna.
And here I am, at 8:45am on a bright Saturday Morning, in my office, fullfilling the precept.
Life I tell you, is hard if you are on the drug of morality.
My advice to you: never fall in love with your higher self.
And if you do Do, pray that there is after-life or karma and rebirth, otherwise, reason tells me, we are wasting our lives chasing useless morals, when we could be joyously committing sins, conceits and deceits

Human-like

Today for the first time in my life, I met a PhD in Computer Science from UC Berkeley. And I must say, he was pretty human-like.

Nothing For Him

Shantilal Kaka came today. His grandson must have come, I thought. I remembered, how excited he was on his last visit for checkup.

"Kem cho Doctor Saheb, Ben kevi che, ane tamaro dikro ?"
"Kaka vaddha maja-ma. Tame beso"
(How are you Doctor Saheb, how's your wife and your son ?)
(Kaka, everyone fine. You have a seat)

I didn't have any patients waiting upon me, so I called the peon to get some tea. I liked listening to him. He reminded me of grandpa. Today he looked a different self. Visibly silent."Kaka, has your grandson come yet ?"

"Yes. He has come"
"So everyone must be happy at home"
"Yes. Very happy"

"Doctor Saheb, Everyone has come to meet him. My daughters and their husbands from baroda and ahmedabad. My two sons and their families from halol. Everyone is very happy to meet him"

Tea had come. He continued "He has brought a lot of things. Toys. Lots of them. Choclates. Jwellery. Clothes"

I imagined everyone gathering around him, in anticipation. Cheering as the items emerged from the boxes.

"Yesterday night, after dinner everyone gathered around him. One by one, he distributed the gifts. They all laughed and cheered". He looked into the distance. Somewhere into the walls. Or the window may-be.

"Par Doctor Saheb, Mhara mate kachu nathi layo (He didn't bring anything for me) ". Lines on his forehead had deepened. Tea was cold now. He stared at the tea with moist eyes. I called for the peon, to get the tea warmed. He got up "Saheb, Aaje naahin. Have Hoon chaalish. Ghare Waat thase". (Saheb, not today. I will go now. People will be waiting at home)

He wouldn't have gone home. He would take the trail into the Khets. He would only return when the tears had dried up. I knew no-one awaited him at home.

Once Again

It has been a long day at work, mildly succesful. The day breathes its last and the mind has suddenly remembered the old addiction. Much to the chagrin of the tired soul, it conjures up a sad story, a mournful song. The little happiness is being killed, piece by piece, moment by moment, by the bemoaning of something lost. A character. A life. A love.

Misery never ends.

Just so that you know

Manu has an informative post on pirated songs in Indian music industry Here. Though (personally) it doesn't make Illayaraja or Pancham Da any less great.
I know a lot of people will jump uppp and dowwnnn when they first hear this (who pirated what), but I would gently like to remind, that "pahle pat-thar woh mare, jisne koi paap na kiya ho".
(But yeah, Anu Mallick does suck usually)

Past Glory

Forwarded mails like these, irk me a lot.

"I am from India. India invented 0"
(Controversial. Wrong may-be. Please read "The Nothing That is: A Natural History of Zero", by Robert Kaplan)
"You know India invented the decimal"
"You know India is a 5000 year old civilisation"
"The world's largest diamond kohinoor is from India"
(OK that is False! Kohinoor isn't largest by far. And even if it is, so what?)
"I am from India"
"You know Yoga is the invetion of Indians"
(Yeh tell me, how many Indians do yoga today ? Do you, who forwarded me this mail)
"You know we've had teachers like Krishna, Buddha, Mahavira"
(Yeh tell me, how many Indians today follow their teachings!)

Do you ever say "I ate such delicious food yesterday. So I am full today and will not eat today".
Then why say "My ancestors did something great. So I am great"

You get the point of what I am talking about.
I must remember that my past glory is for me to feel good about it and not to boast it as my achievement on my life-resume.

Irony

I like watching tv. Listening to music. Going outdoors and enjoying the quiet. Because then, I am doing nothing.

Doing nothing unnerves me. I cannot sit without noise. So I turn on the tv. Or the music. Or go outdoors. Or just do something.

I am listening to

Aaj ki raat Charagon ki lau Ooncheen kar lo
Aaj ki raat Charagon ki lau Ooncheen kar lo
Ho sake toh, dil ki aag aanchal main bhar lo
Apni aag main jalna hoga, Aaj akele chalna hoga
Andhere main chalna hoga, Aaj akele chalna hoga

~ singer Arti Mukherjee, lyrics Gulzar, movie Khamoshi, music Hemant Kumar

you can find it here Khamoshi

Ideology and Men

When a lot of men get together under the umbrella of an ideology, they usually create violence. A lot of it.

Confused mind, I think is better than the firmly believing. In confused mind, atleast, there are possiblities. The firmly believing one is a closed cellar, where light rarely reaches. You'll say what about belief in God ? Well, tell me if belief in God is different than belief in God for myself, for my dreams, for my pain, for sorrow ? Give it a thought. Belief in God, I think, is a way of life. Belief in God for myself, is like any other belief.

The Spin

(With imagination, the quality will be bearable)

(A morning one and a half years ago)
It is 7:13am and I walk out of my apartment complex towards the bus stop. I find the sun has come out. The mountains are still covered with snow. A few steps and I see the stream. The sun rays glisten and gleam and glide on the flowing water. The water has become golden. It is less dirty then yesterday. The cold is mild and there a gentle breeze coming from the mountains. It feels good when it touches my ears. The surrounding is full of trees. There is a sagely tree on my left. It is white in color and there is slight golden tinge on it of the morning sun rays. Its branches are spread and is quite tall. The branches tenderly wave with the wind. A few birds are chattering sweetly. They make all kinds of sounds. I look up to see the birds. I am captivated by the lake gulls. They are flying low today. Two geese swiftly pass by. My eyes follow the geese for a while and back to watching the gulls. The breeze has grown in strength and I find a gull flipping. It spins three-sixty once. twice. thrice. four and five times. This is the second time I am seeing a bird do the vertical spin. It fills me with delight. I find have reached the lights and I am walking with my head up. I wait for the signal still looking up. The gulls are doing all sorts of flight manoeuvres. There is a delicate quietness around me. And my eyes are on the split tree. From distance it is pure black against the sunlight. From this angle I see two halfs, the split starting from a few inches from the ground to very high in the sky. The branches on both these halfs are spread in opposite direction parallel to my eye. A bird is singing sweetly. She is of the size of my little finger. Her throat is orange. She sings and pecks the branch and sings again. I look at her and I look back at the split tree. It has become one now. It is nature's masterpiece. From this angle it looks a whole spread tree. And I have reached the stop. A guy is smoking and shivering. I look around. The shops, the shrubs, the trees, the cars passing by all are being caressed by the wind. I feel life. I want to share my joy. I want to describe this lovely morning to somebody. I come and write to you. Oh yes. My lonely companion is perched outside my window. I should get back to work now.

Intelligence

I can talk intelligently. But that doesn't necessarily mean I am intelligent. It just means you aren't that well read, or trained in the art of discourse.

Conversely, I shouldn't mistake your apparent dumbness for stupidity. It might just be my knowledge's arrogance blinding my eye.

Innocent Conspirators

It was the hot summer of gujarat, mum-dad were out for shopping, and bhaiya and I were free to play as we willed. (We must have been very little, for all four of us easily used to fit on dad's bajaj ). We settled upon flying paper-planes. Bhaiya was good at making paper-planes. This time the paper-plane turned out to be world-class, if I may say so. We cheered the silly heights, smooth glides and erratic turns our paper-plane took.

But destiny can never see us happy, can she ?

As we were enjoying our little play oblivious of the sithering outdoors, tragedy struck. One of us (presumably I, for I was good at spoiling things) launched the plane with such perfection, that it rose 20 feet high (yes, the hall was quite big and spacious, government quarters you see, or may be it was just our littleness that exaggerated the heights) and landed perfectly on-to the tube-light. Now what ? How coulde we let our precious go ! So we decided upon a pencil sharpener (remember those steel ones) for our rescue mission. Now what happens when you throw a sharpener at a tube-light ( I think it was I who convinced bhaiya that it will work). The inevitable happened after two or three rescue missions. In one perfect dash, the sharpener struck the tube-light; the tube-light broke with a thundering sound, creating giant fears in our little hearts. Tube-light shocked, we quickly recovered. There was quite some time before mum-dad would be back from their excursion. We put our innocent minds at work, to come up with a believable reason for the disaster. And after a while, Eureka !
"Mummy ko bolenge, ki chidiya apna ghonsla bana rahi thi, aur usne tuble-light todi"
"Teri mummy nahin manegi"
"Arre manegi. Bus chidiya ne tuble-light todi. Theek hai"
"Theek hai"
Mum-dad came and ofcourse, mum asked about the tube-light.
"Kya hua, kisne kiya yeh, jaroor anshul ne kiya hoga" (She asked lightly. She must have been in a good mood, may be because she got to empty dad's pocket that day).

Tense moments.

"Nahin mummy, maine nahin kiya. Chidiya ne kiya. Bhaiya se poocho"
Bhaiya meekly nodded, a yes.
(Ofcourse we had cleared away our sharpener, got our plane back, and removed any traces of mis-doings that might have caused suspicion)Mummy laughed "Chidiya ne kaise kiya !"
"Mummy such main chidiya ne todi tube-light"
"Accha theek hai, tum log dusre kamre main khelo, yahan kaanch hai"
So mission impossible was successfully accomplished. We had got our plane back, and blames away from our backs. We gleefully (and thank-heartedly) retired to another room, enjoying our conspiracy to the fullest.

That was when bhaiya became one of my best friends, a memorable time.

Post for Post's sake

I am chokingly disillusioned with fame fancy and fondness.
But I am a competitive person born and brought up in a competitive world, unfit for simplicity.
So I go on with my daily life, filled with obnoxious complexity.
What a tragedy !

Unrelated, I visited the ruins of Pueblo People in Mesa-Verde, Colorado.
I brought home the Kiva with me. And the Sipapu.

Illusion

I close my eyes and ask
Where then, is my center ?
Where is the seat, where I reside ?
Who asks ?

Overflow

The pot has overflowed. The more I drank, the more it filled. The more it filled, the thirstier I became. Now my house is flooded. And the housekeeper is miserable.

Error: Page doesn't Exist, File not Found

Where is the world, when I am asleep ?
And am I a file in Gods system, so that when dead, God's query will return an Error: Page doesn't exist. File not Found.

Tigers Agony

And the Tiger said to man "God, what have you done !"

A pleasant evening

I had finished reading my book. The sun had set but it wasn't dark yet. There were clouds in the western sky, with varied greys. The weather outside seemed too pleasant, to sit inside. Too lazy to go for a walk, I thought.
I took a couple of chairs outside, stretched myself, and sat looking at distant clouds and trees.
Cool winds were flowing gently.
I realized, I hadn't done that in quite some time now. Sitting in verandah, or the backyard, in silence, feeling the winds.
The trees were as enchanting as the clouds. I listened to the sound of distant cars whizz past by.
It was a pleasant evening.

Order

Consider the lilies of the field,
how they grow;
They toil not, neither do they spin;
And yet I say unto you,
that even Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these.
-Bible

E-Goddess needed

I need E-Gods. Wouldn't it be cool, if there existed an E-God whom you could pray to ? Nah. I want an E-Goddess. A benevolent E-Goddess. So that when my code crashed, I would pray "O E-Goddess, fix this problem of mine, and I promise, I will offer twenty E-mails to you".

Alas, there's no E-Goddess. Reality is so hopeless.
What the heck. I will invent my own. My E-goddess will be E-one. She will be the one. And she will be even to all. And her E-ternal message would be

" YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND "

(And don't even ask if E-one is the one, how could she be even. Only you, and no-one else, can answer this question. And for that you'll have to be OUT of your mind)

Unrelated, my friend mrsgollum has a post which links to a wonderful lecture by Isaac Asimov. Do visit.

A song from Gitanjali

On the slope of the desolate river among tall grasses I asked her, `Maiden, where do you go shading your lamp with your mantle? My house is all dark and lonesome---lend me your light!' she raised her dark eyes for a moment and looked at my face through the dusk. `I have come to the river,' she said, `to float my lamp on the stream when the daylight wanes in the west.' I stood alone among tall grasses and watched the timid flame of her lamp uselessly drifting in the tide.

In the silence of gathering night I asked her, `Maiden, your lights are all lit---then where do you go with your lamp? My house is all dark and lonesome---lend me your light.' She raised her dark eyes on my face and stood for a moment doubtful. `I have come,' she said at last, `to dedicate my lamp to the sky.' I stood and watched her light uselessly burning in the void.

In the moonless gloom of midnight I ask her, `Maiden, what is your quest, holding the lamp near your heart? My house is all dark and lonesome---lend me your light.' She stopped for a minute and thought and gazed at my face in the dark. `I have brought my light,' she said, `to join the carnival of lamps.' I stood and watched her little lamp uselessly lost among lights.

-RabindraNath Tagore

I didn't understand. Yet it is melodious.

Morning Conversations

"Hey there."
"How are you today ?"
"Doing Well ?"
"Aha ! I see new leaves. How green they are ! You look lovely today. So alive"
"My Bus has come. See you tomorrow."
"Have a nice day"

The tree listens carefully, never interrupting, never replying.

"Hey sweet-heart"
"Yeh, I hear your song"
"Doing well ? Alright, be nice. Bye"

The bird is charming and gracious. Breathing melodies with poise.

"Hey Dude, Stay clear of the roads"
"These cars have no mercy, no compassion"
"They are dead you know"
"Stay in the fields. Cross at night. It's safer."

The prairie-dogs and the bunnies look, stop, hurry and scurry.
These are nothing. These are morning conversations.

Resting Buddha

It's mid-afternoon and I take a break from frantic typing,
to peek outside my glass cage. There, under the shade of a planted pine,
rests a bunny, engulfed cosily in the softness of grass.
It's eyes are the most lively eyes I have seen today.
Not the drowsy eyes. Not the dull eyes.
Not the "yeah another day" eyes.
It is silent, unmoving. Like the light that surrounds the shade.
Once in a while it flicks its ears.
Its meditative repose brings a sudden smile to my face.

ADDS

I just realized, I suffer from ADDS when the internet cable is connected to my computer. I wonder whether there is a software engineer in this world who can resist the temptation of surfing web, the sin of checking emails.

Revolution

The greatest revolution must be the one which will impart each human with the seed to think for self. But there is so much fear and unknown in that path, that I suspect all humanity will ever see it.

When will man learn to not follow an ideal just because he has nothing else to follow ?

On Emptiness

Not even an ocean of happiness can fill a bowl that is empty of love.

On Silence

One has to go into the whole nature of silence. There is silence between two noises. There is silence between two thoughts. There is silence between two notes in music. There is silence after noise. There is silence when thought says, "I must be silent," and creates artificial silence, thinking it is real silence. There is silence when you sit quietly and force your mind to be silent. All those are artificial silences; they are not real, deep, uncultivated, unpremeditated silence. Silence can only come psychologically when there is no registration whatsoever. Then the mind, the brain itself, is utterly without movement. In that great depth of silence that is not induced, not cultivated, not practiced, there may come that extraordinary sense of something immeasurable, nameless.

-Krishnamurti

Meditation is not Premeditation.

Freedom

"Freedom, is not outside. It is inside. And this, no one can make you understand. But do not worry. One day you will" once said an Old man, to me.
Reasoned I have, his saying, but understood I have not.

I have seen the flight of the eagle. And the quiet of the valley.
I have heard the song of the trees. And the buzz of the bees.
I have felt the warmth of the grass. And smelt the fragrance of the mud.

(Incomplete: you are invited to add to it)

Bull-facts

Q: If some humans are bull-headed, what about bulls ?
A: Bulls are still bull-headed. They don't like human heads.

Q: If some humans say bull-shit, what do bulls say ?
A: Waaaannnnnnnn

Q: Why do bulls like bulldozers ?
A: Because it puts them to sleep (Bull dozer)

Q: If bully is bull-like quality in humans, what are those in bulls ?
A: Many!

Q: What is a Bull-Market ?
A: When humans get crazily excited seeing "Green" all-over in the stock Market, that's called a Bull-Market.

A walk in the dunes

That's me.


"How insignificant" !

love and die

Guy: I love U
Girl: What ??? How dare you !
Guy: And I love x, y, z. Infact I love all the alphabets from a to z.

(This one not mine)
Guy: If you don't become mine, I will die.
Girl: Ok, here's 10 rupees. Get Black-Chaap Kali Mehndi and dye well !

Mistrust

(A,B and C have know each other for years)
A: So, do you have girlfriend ?
B: No.
A: I don't believe you. There must be someone.
A: Common, tell me.
B: Ok. I have two. One in India, Another here, in US.
A: No way, I don't believe you.
A: I have heard from my "sources", you do a lot of smoking and boozing. Smoking toh I do, par no beer or wine. I went to this party once and my aunt tried to force it down my throat, I said no. No alcohol.
B: Accha!
A: So how often do you smoke and drink ?
B: I don't.
A: No way, I don't believe you.
Few banalities later conversation ends

A: You know B has two girlfriends. And B was telling me B pukes pretty often, because of heavy drinking.
C: Accha ! Yeh, I talk to B every week, B never mentioned.
A: Arre I have my sources. Pakki Khabar hai !

some days later
A: You never call me.
B: That doesn't mean I have forgotten you.
A: But C said you talk to C every week.
B: No, I haven't talked to C in months.
A: Pata nahin Bhaiya. I talked to C and C said you talk every week.

(Insecurity has a secure home in the heart of the one who has the illusion of possession)

Silent Psyche

Why does Psyche never suggest anything ?
Because listening, is a good therapy.

(And the more Pysche listens, the more patient will speak, and that's always good, cause the Psyche charges by hours)

To do. Not to Do.

Psyche: So you suffer from over-anxiety ?
Patient: Yes. I have so many things to do. Anxiety is killing me. I wish I had
nothing to do.

Some days later

Psyche: How are you. Finished everything you had to ?
Patient: Yes.
Psyche: Why then, the visit ?
Patient: I am so bored. Boredom is killing me. I have nothing to do.

Chronic Illness

Pysche: Why are you depressed ?
Patient: I have nothing left to be depressed about. It is so depressing.

This my friend, is called Innovation

Apparently, UP sports minister has found a novel technique to make India win more medals in Olympics. Indian Express Reports:

‘‘Nats (roadside entertainers) have basic talent for gymnastics, while Mallahs, Kewats, Vindhyas, Nishads and Kashyaps are natural swimmers and divers. Similarly, Ahirs, Ghosis and Gaddis are natural wrestlers while Bahelias, Adivasis and Aherias have inherent talent for archery,’’ says Chowdhary.

:
:

‘‘So far, we train the cream of society and succeed in shaping hardly one sportsperson (of international calibre). But if we start training on caste and community lines, we can shape hundreds of sportspersons every year,’’ says the Minister.

I am sure honorable minister's findings will be exploited at national level. So here's a glimpse into next Olympics. Announcer for Swimming event: "First Event. Indian candidate. And what is this new technique. Why is he yelling and splashing water", and the Indian candidate drowns.

Mantriji, who is graciously accompanying the Indian Olympic team inspite of his busy schedule, is summoned. Everyone is looking at mantriji while he wrings his hands in air "But he bhas a kashyap, he is a naturaal sweammer. It is not phassible".

Shock and dis-belief in the Indian camp. Mantriji summons his research team and orders them to find out why a kashyap couldn't swim. Team researches web, and book on aadim jaatis and concludes that Kashyapas and not Kashyaps are natural born swimmers. Mantriji is very angry. He sets up a committee on how this mistake could have happened.

Meanwhile, there's unrest, fear and panic in the Indian camp. They have unanimously agreed to withdraw participation from Olympics, because they are afraid they have been wrongly classified, and fear disastrous consequences. It is a rumour that the Indian swim candidate died because Gods were displeased with him.

Mantriji, whole-heartedly agrees with Indian team, spends the rest of days vacating in Olympic city, while awaiting the results of the committee.

India has returned without participation from Olympics. A committee is working on correcting caste based classifications. Hopefully, by next Olympics we'll be able to participate. All is now in hands of God (Well, the committee is awaiting the descent of Lord Krishna himself, to explicitly state the Varna Vyavastha).

Parineeta

The music of Parineeta is gentle on the ears. Lyrics are mostly, hollow, but music doesn't shred. (To listen, linux users can use a combo of real-player and www.hindifm.com)

Death Of Philosopher

One fine day, thought began trying to understand the thought that was trying to understand the thoughts. We don't know what happened next, because the philosopher died.

Since then, it is advised that philosophers don't think on fine days ! Why die when you can enjoy another fine day.

Killing Dead

(Cautionary Warning: Those of weak heart, do not try. Some memories might be corrupted ir-revocably)

No. You were wrong. It is not about digging graves to kill the dead again. Cheer up! It's a simple thought experiment. If you like it (in all possibilities you won't) kudos to me, and if you do not, curses to me. Here:

Next time when you are nostalgic about a some-one (example, a potential companion in lost times), visualizing what had been, fantasizing what could have been, replace the some-one with a grotesque human form that you've most recently seen. Now return to your past and re-play.

What happens ?

If you did try this and are now cursing me, here's a medicine. Laugh at yourself, for being stupid! (It will certainly help)

And if you liked this insanity, try this too. Instead of replacing others, replace yourself, in your past. And re-play. Does it break a cycle ?

Nayi Hawa

(This is without much thought)

poorab ki kis hawa ne mera darawaza khatkhataya hai
Yeh konsi bayar hai jo mujhe baagiche main bula rahi hai
Yeh kiski awaaz hai jo mere kaano tak aa rahi hai
Main toh apni tanhai ke andhiyaare main gumsum baitha tha
Yeh konsa ujiyara mere aangan main aaya hai
poorab ki kis hawa ne mera darwaza khatkhataya hai

Is dastak ka jawab toh mujhe dena hi padega
Is baar toh poorvai ko andar aane dena hi padega
Yeh main hi toh tha, jisne deewaron ka mahal banaya
Yeh main hi toh tha, jisne darwaazon ko band karwaya
Maine hi layi thi tanhai, Aur maine hi kiya tha andhera
Ab darwaze ko khol kar, roshni ko andar aane dena hi padega

Change

When I was a child, my parents tell me, I had limitless zeal. For everything. They had made me memorize our then address, "Doctol M Te Dupta, Mophichal-Offichal, Khakhalia Dujalaat" (Doctor M K Gupta, Medical-Officer, Khakharia Gujarat). So that in-case I slipped through their fingers, for a fantasy toy-world or an animal-jungle, some-one would return the lost property. I used to eat sand, hide in mogra-bushes and run after squirrels. And throw my biscuits to crows and play with water. And climb windows. Once I ran towards a labalub-talaab (an overflowing pond). Death then, was unknown to me. This was a different me. Twenty-five years of life, and not a trace of that childhood remains. And the infinite zeal, has been reduced to an integral limit.

ek subah

chhan(from chalni, filter)
auns(dew)

badalon se chhan kar dhoop mere aangan main aai hai
Wahan door mere aangan ki dhalano se dhoop ke rekhayen haule se mil rahin hain
aur yahan mere aangan ki hariyali ne auns ki muskan chadhai hai
badalon se chhan kar dhoop, mere aangan main aayi hai

Udhar rekhaon ke bandalon ne aakash ko bhavya banaya hai
aur idhar mere aangan ke phoolon ne mahak ka rang chadhaya hai
Badalon se chhan kar dhoop, mere aangan main aayi hai

ab mere aangan ke panchiyon ne aasman main chalang lagayi hai
ab maine aangan main apni kursi lagayi hai
aur Subah ki dhoop ab mere mun main utar aayi hai

badalon se chhan kar dhoop, mere aangan main aayi hai

Siphar

mandir ki ghanti ki har awaaz ke beech main hai siphar

aasman ki gahrai main hai siphar,
waadiyon ki tanhai main hai siphar
jindagi ka agaz hai siphar
jindagi ka anjam hai siphar
yeh main nahin kahta, yeh kahta hai siphar

yehi hai palon ko samay main pirone wala
yehi hai sanson ke risthon ko jodne wala
Risthon ke bandhan main hai siphar
Aur Insaan ke mun main hai siphar
Yeh main nahin kahta, yeh kahta hai siphar

Pahle kuch nahin tha, sirf tha siphar
Phir huyi roshni aur phir huya andhera
Ab andhere main hai siphar
Aur roshni main bhi siphar
Yeh main nahin kahta, yeh kahta hai sihpar

Imagine

Taking my weekly dosage of scientific america (www.sciam.com), I found A Transparent Enigma. Read with patience, if you will.

No Oxygen Up there

In life, I do not want to rise high, because there's no oxygen up there, and people wear silly masks !

Fear, Faith and Reason

Fear and Faith can make a stone out of a man. It is not that the liberal man is not insecure and has all the answers. But he faces his fears and questions his beliefs. Both are ways of life, yet to choose, I need to reason. And it takes more courage to question myself than to question others.

Eliminated P

A Poster in my bus says "The wrong pass could take you right to jail". Someone eliminated the P. The message now looks like:

"The wrong ass could take your right to jail. Using a fraudulent ass is illegal and is a punishable crime. Buy your ass legally. Don't take a chance. Don't even think about buying it from someone on the street. The RTD makes it available in select stores, King Soopers and Safeway. Make sure you get your ass from one of these. You can also get your ass online at www.rtd-denver.com"

(Not my idea. Some innovative ass-enger did that)

Rest Today

"Rest a little my friend,
come here, sit with me
We'll trace the clouds in the sky
and watch the birds fly

What is it that whispers the wind ?
Look now, the leaves speak in a murmur
What secret do they reveal ?

Rest a little my friend,
come here, sit with me
We'll watch the running stream
and remember a childhood dream

What is it at that laughs the water ?
Look now, the stones have joined its merriment
What unknown game do they play ?

Tomorrow, when the sun rises, you can go
But be with me tonight, we'll lie in the grass
and talk of the starry night
Rest a little my friend,
Tomorrow you can go,
But today, come here, sit with me"