I wish I could sing. I wish I could fly. I wish I could skip some parts of life and jump to where I want to be right now. I wish I was taller. I wish I didn’t have to stop dancing. I wish I could scribble all this directly onto the computer screen rather than press keys and expect them to be the words I want to see on the screen. I wish I could have the peanut butter flavored ice-cream from Baskin Robbins with hot chocolate fudge topping right now. I wish I could have the blueberry cheesecake from Daily Bread right now. I wish I could drive and go on a long drive right now. I wish I knew how to swim. I wish I could play on the swings without the park security stopping me. I wish I could go anywhere I want alone. I wish I didn’t have to get done with holidays so soon and get back to Bangalore. I wish I didn’t have to study history of architecture. I wish I could only study design and nothing else. I wish I had the opportunity to go and speak at certain places. I wish I could talk to Shashi Tharoor someday. I wish I could meet Ar. B.V. Doshi someday. I wish I could watch Stephen Devassy performing live someday. I wish I could scribble the way I want to. I wish I could go ahead and do the things I always wanted to venture into. I wish I could go for walks in the college campus in the night without the security asking me to go back to the hostel. I wish I could wear purple without people calling me Miss purple lady. I wish I could do sheesha every other day. I wish I could walk underwater someday. I wish I could get the entire spine length tattoo I wanted right now. I wish I could re-live the entire first year at college. I wish I get into Cornell or Berkeley after bachelors. I wish I had a better nose. I wish I had a flat tummy. I wish I didn’t have to put up with some stupid, non-sensical people. And finally, I wish this isn’t the end of my wishes!
"Dwell not upon thy weariness, thy strength shall be according to the measure of thy desire."
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Septic limb.
26/11…another date to be marked with an 11 like 9/11 or 7/11. Two months have passed by since the Mumbai terror attacks. And still we haven’t taken an action against the terrorists except catching one alive and keeping him in custody, making him vomit all sorts of information as to how it was planned and worked out. But what is done is done! What the hell are you going to do about it?! I wouldn’t support the idea of just attacking Pakistan and washing away the terror camps there. Just go and shoot them down!! Take a stronger stand on such cases and act like you care about it! Just remember that this attack could have been anywhere in the world. The terrorists just wanted the world to see it. And they chose India….Oh! How they enjoy and love doing it here!
Just think of it….hundreds of people shot dead…terrorists moving around the city without anyone getting hold of them…and then later camping at a five star hotel and shooting from there!! And the whole drama going on for about 50-55 hours!! And still nobody was doing anything! Oh yes, we applaud the marine forces….but weren’t they just trying to cover up their mistake of letting these terrorists come to India through the sea route which they were supposed to guard??!! Utter nonsense! We always stand helpless…and watch the drama…!
Now the attack has given stories for film makers to make films on….in their own perspectives. People have come forward cooking up stories like they saw the terrorists arrive at the Gateway of India and such. Why can’t we just stop brooding over what is over and try to do something about it. Oh yeah! We are all diplomats. All we do is sit and talk and clear it out. Like some breakup fight or business. Wonderful! Keep it up! Pakistan has always used India…they have never given into the allegations against them. Even if they get all the proof that they were involved, they are still not going to do anything about it. The world pities them…”oh such a poor country….girls don’t go to school there…men don’t find work…always on war…flooded with terrorist camps….oh how I feel sorry for them! Just leave them alone…don’t do anything to them. You’ll hurt them.“ Can’t you all just open your eyes and “look” at them?!!!! India agreed to the partition for good I think….otherwise that part of the country is just going to affect the rest of the country like a septic limb!! And they are trying to spread the infection to Kashmir, which fortunately is atleast immune to it because of India because Kashmir still belongs to India! Let that be the last word about it.
Just think of it….hundreds of people shot dead…terrorists moving around the city without anyone getting hold of them…and then later camping at a five star hotel and shooting from there!! And the whole drama going on for about 50-55 hours!! And still nobody was doing anything! Oh yes, we applaud the marine forces….but weren’t they just trying to cover up their mistake of letting these terrorists come to India through the sea route which they were supposed to guard??!! Utter nonsense! We always stand helpless…and watch the drama…!
Now the attack has given stories for film makers to make films on….in their own perspectives. People have come forward cooking up stories like they saw the terrorists arrive at the Gateway of India and such. Why can’t we just stop brooding over what is over and try to do something about it. Oh yeah! We are all diplomats. All we do is sit and talk and clear it out. Like some breakup fight or business. Wonderful! Keep it up! Pakistan has always used India…they have never given into the allegations against them. Even if they get all the proof that they were involved, they are still not going to do anything about it. The world pities them…”oh such a poor country….girls don’t go to school there…men don’t find work…always on war…flooded with terrorist camps….oh how I feel sorry for them! Just leave them alone…don’t do anything to them. You’ll hurt them.“ Can’t you all just open your eyes and “look” at them?!!!! India agreed to the partition for good I think….otherwise that part of the country is just going to affect the rest of the country like a septic limb!! And they are trying to spread the infection to Kashmir, which fortunately is atleast immune to it because of India because Kashmir still belongs to India! Let that be the last word about it.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Tickle your mind! It helps!
Let me start off saying something about this one particular teacher who I feel is worth listening to. He walks into the class in his usual khadi or any other natural clothing carrying a paper bag which is again handmade. So well…that itself explains him! Satyaprakash Varanashi.
“Art trains the eye; architecture strains the eye.” These were the first few lines that made me listen to him…and yes, many others followed.:) He teaches design, the most difficult to interpret yet the most important subject! While the other teachers strive to make a point, and make a protocol that we have to follow….Satya gives his viewpoint and then goes onto his usual style—“story telling” as I call it! But the most interesting part is that his stories don’t have an ending…its left to us on how we want to end it! It all just leads to one point…decide what you want to design! Maybe another person who I have come across who makes me think—apart from Shashi Tharoor.
“If you cannot hear silence, you cannot hear sound”……this one just made me scribble this -->The difference between a deaf person and a normal person is that the deaf cannot differentiate between silence and sound. A normal person can! There can also be another way to look at it…like….the power of silence can overpower sound so much that anybody can stay away from noise. And yes, noise and sound is different from each other.
Apart from some word-tribute…life’s the same…classes...submissions…dinners…bitching ;)…blahblahblah! Feels like I’m on some blueberry cheesecake diet or something…having a lot of it these days!HeHe! Blogging has gone down in the list nowadays. And well…when I sit to post something, a lot of things go missing from my head….like “bluebirds flying over the rainbow”.HaHaH! (Norah Jones)
“Speech is conveniently located midway between thought and action, where it often substitutes for both.”
“Art trains the eye; architecture strains the eye.” These were the first few lines that made me listen to him…and yes, many others followed.:) He teaches design, the most difficult to interpret yet the most important subject! While the other teachers strive to make a point, and make a protocol that we have to follow….Satya gives his viewpoint and then goes onto his usual style—“story telling” as I call it! But the most interesting part is that his stories don’t have an ending…its left to us on how we want to end it! It all just leads to one point…decide what you want to design! Maybe another person who I have come across who makes me think—apart from Shashi Tharoor.
“If you cannot hear silence, you cannot hear sound”……this one just made me scribble this -->The difference between a deaf person and a normal person is that the deaf cannot differentiate between silence and sound. A normal person can! There can also be another way to look at it…like….the power of silence can overpower sound so much that anybody can stay away from noise. And yes, noise and sound is different from each other.
Apart from some word-tribute…life’s the same…classes...submissions…dinners…bitching ;)…blahblahblah! Feels like I’m on some blueberry cheesecake diet or something…having a lot of it these days!HeHe! Blogging has gone down in the list nowadays. And well…when I sit to post something, a lot of things go missing from my head….like “bluebirds flying over the rainbow”.HaHaH! (Norah Jones)
“Speech is conveniently located midway between thought and action, where it often substitutes for both.”
Friday, October 31, 2008
SOS!
The other day I killed a cockroach and saw the white blood coming out. Not a very unusual thing because I always kill cockroaches when I see them. Hate the thingies on top of their heads! Anyways…call me a murderer or even go to the extent and call me an anti-cockroach person. I don’t care. Because I find cockroaches disgusting. But not scared of them. I’m scared of lizards. But I wouldn’t dare touch them. The difference here is that---I’m scared of lizards but not scared of cockroaches. When I killed it…this very big huge thought came to me. There are three different situations. And its funny the way, we humans react!
1.We are not scared of that animal or insect but we don’t want it. We are so sure that it will not do anything against us. So we kill it! And just get off with it calling it disgusting. (like my cockroach incident)
2.We are a little scared of the animal or insect but we still don’t want it there. We are not really sure if we will get hurt. In this case, we either try to kill it(take the risk)…..or run away! (like honeybees)
3.We are really scared of the animal or insect and we don’t even think about whether we want it there or not. We just run away!!! No thinking….no doing….only an escape! (like my lizard condition)
I guess there will be more to this. But these three could be the most general ones.
Another incident that happened today was when I was in the hostel-mess. I had just had snack and got up from my chair to go keep my plate for wash. My mind just went blank and I couldn’t feel myself for the 15-20 seconds it took me to walk upto the sink. But I still did it!! Its like my subconscious mind worked and controlled my body during that small period. Argh! That was creepy! Another case where this happens is when I’m walking down a road or something and I suddenly feel like I have taken two three steps instead of one step. Whether I really did that or did I just feel so…. I don’t know!
"Death doesn't really worry me that much, I'm not frightened about it... I just don't want to be there when it happens."
1.We are not scared of that animal or insect but we don’t want it. We are so sure that it will not do anything against us. So we kill it! And just get off with it calling it disgusting. (like my cockroach incident)
2.We are a little scared of the animal or insect but we still don’t want it there. We are not really sure if we will get hurt. In this case, we either try to kill it(take the risk)…..or run away! (like honeybees)
3.We are really scared of the animal or insect and we don’t even think about whether we want it there or not. We just run away!!! No thinking….no doing….only an escape! (like my lizard condition)
I guess there will be more to this. But these three could be the most general ones.
Another incident that happened today was when I was in the hostel-mess. I had just had snack and got up from my chair to go keep my plate for wash. My mind just went blank and I couldn’t feel myself for the 15-20 seconds it took me to walk upto the sink. But I still did it!! Its like my subconscious mind worked and controlled my body during that small period. Argh! That was creepy! Another case where this happens is when I’m walking down a road or something and I suddenly feel like I have taken two three steps instead of one step. Whether I really did that or did I just feel so…. I don’t know!
"Death doesn't really worry me that much, I'm not frightened about it... I just don't want to be there when it happens."
Monday, October 27, 2008
*TOUCHWOOD*
One post for two months! Well, thats the situation now....:S. Anyways...before I start of with something...a brief review of my September and October-->It was actually great! College...new people...submissions, submissions and more submissions!! Then zoNasa!! Am actually back on good terms with life I guess.Hehe.
Maybe my priority list has improved. And also the workplan. Just plain happy with the simple fact that my submissions are all on time and also that I'm satisfied with the work I do. Then, from 23rd Oct to 25th Oct, went to SIT, Tumkur to attend the zonal NASA fest. And it was like the most happening days of my college days so far!!! Truly an amazing experience! And to top all that...BMS won the second place!! The excitement is still high in the air! Will take some more time to settle down. New people...new ideas...and yes a whole lot of interaction with a whole lot of good architects! :D
Apart from all this...its a new day everyday. With it comes loads of fun and surprises...Just one line thats going to repeat again-->I'M HAPPY!!! *smiles*
----------"It was beautiful and simple, as truly great swindles are."-------------
Maybe my priority list has improved. And also the workplan. Just plain happy with the simple fact that my submissions are all on time and also that I'm satisfied with the work I do. Then, from 23rd Oct to 25th Oct, went to SIT, Tumkur to attend the zonal NASA fest. And it was like the most happening days of my college days so far!!! Truly an amazing experience! And to top all that...BMS won the second place!! The excitement is still high in the air! Will take some more time to settle down. New people...new ideas...and yes a whole lot of interaction with a whole lot of good architects! :D
Apart from all this...its a new day everyday. With it comes loads of fun and surprises...Just one line thats going to repeat again-->I'M HAPPY!!! *smiles*
----------"It was beautiful and simple, as truly great swindles are."-------------
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Starting new.
A candle was blown off
By a wind that came from the North
It was slashed on its face
And put to rest.
It may have darkened the arena
But the fumes keep it alive
Reminding the world
That it was once alive.
It is still waiting for someone
Who can bring it back to life,
But the hesitant hearts deprive
The candle of another life.
A life which might prove
Its might and strength,
Of will-power and determination
Which can help it stand
Alive, not weak,
When slashed again.
By a wind that came from the North
It was slashed on its face
And put to rest.
It may have darkened the arena
But the fumes keep it alive
Reminding the world
That it was once alive.
It is still waiting for someone
Who can bring it back to life,
But the hesitant hearts deprive
The candle of another life.
A life which might prove
Its might and strength,
Of will-power and determination
Which can help it stand
Alive, not weak,
When slashed again.
Some more boring chronicals.....
Firstly, please don’t question me about the long gaps between my posts nowadays. When I was in Riyadh, there was so much time to do different things. And even after doing all that I could, there was still time—which would just pass on! Okay now getting back to the present…..the Kerala trip was nice. Spent like half a day just sitting at home. The rest all got over by visiting relatives and all that. As usual! Although my train journey to Kerala was boring and slept most of the time, the return journey was pretty interesting. Scribbled a lot about the book I was reading, The Afghan. And witnessed a lot of funny and weird incidences.
Barack Obama has been declared the official Democrat candidate for the US presidential election and its like a Black in race for the White House!! Wonder if they are going to change the name to Black and White House??!! Hahahah! And ofcourse McCain is the other man.Blah!
Times of India has started a venture called Teach India. Its about collecting volunteers and teaching the poor who have no proper access to primary education. A very successful project. And a very good one too!
Another thing that happened was a racism issue that came up in Scotland Yard, where an Indian officer was victimized by a Brit. Don’t know how many of you noticed the news, but it just restates that racism is not a no-no in UK even now, after the Jade Goody-Shilpa Shetty issue.
I am back to college now. Classes started on 4th September and its been pretty much the same till now. But one thing is that the present class looks better than the last one. More cheerful and friendlier. Anyways…hope it all goes well !!
A lot of ups…even the more downs…and some un-noticed stuff too. Life’s pretty much the same. No new movies..no new books…no new restaurants….urgh!!! I guess I myself should do something. HMMM!!!
"Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale
Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man."
Barack Obama has been declared the official Democrat candidate for the US presidential election and its like a Black in race for the White House!! Wonder if they are going to change the name to Black and White House??!! Hahahah! And ofcourse McCain is the other man.Blah!
Times of India has started a venture called Teach India. Its about collecting volunteers and teaching the poor who have no proper access to primary education. A very successful project. And a very good one too!
Another thing that happened was a racism issue that came up in Scotland Yard, where an Indian officer was victimized by a Brit. Don’t know how many of you noticed the news, but it just restates that racism is not a no-no in UK even now, after the Jade Goody-Shilpa Shetty issue.
I am back to college now. Classes started on 4th September and its been pretty much the same till now. But one thing is that the present class looks better than the last one. More cheerful and friendlier. Anyways…hope it all goes well !!
A lot of ups…even the more downs…and some un-noticed stuff too. Life’s pretty much the same. No new movies..no new books…no new restaurants….urgh!!! I guess I myself should do something. HMMM!!!
"Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale
Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man."
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Like I care!!
Been more than a week after I reached Bangalore and for some reason it looked like my blog was getting buried again...So much happened in a week that I'm so confused as to what I should scribble now! Firstly, its been a great week in Bangalore after three long months in Saudi Arabia...though I definitely miss HOME!!! After a year full of unexpected happenings and "mishappenings", I really really look forward to a fresh start. And before college reopens, which is on 4th September, I have a five day "retreat" to Kerala!!! Yaaayy!
Well...now about all thats been going on...
Reading "The Afghan" now. By Frederick Forsyth. Its been pretty much fine till now. Has a lot of stuff I'm kinda familiar with...like Riyadh, terrorism, different types of Islamic belief and all that stuff.
OH OH OH!!! I put up some of my art stuff on the wall in my room last week. And I really really love the way it turned out!! (forget modesty)hehehe!
And yea I also got a new phone---> Nokia N82! Totally love it! (need I say more???) :D
Apart from all this...hostel is pretty much the same except its kinda silent now than before. And there are these fudged up rules popping out like fart-bombs and its sickening! And yea the mess food is still the same...HMMM!
There is another thing which I would like to state here...and believe me or not--->i quit drinking. Dont want to speak more about it. But yeah I guess I got bored of it or sick of it!!
So....! I guess thats it. Am still the same...obsessed with coffee(though it has no effect on me anymore!)...trust the UN to the core....blabbers about Jawaharlal Nehru and Adolf Hitler in the same tone....Dove freak (!)...art-y ...fanatic...scribbler! If I sound boring, stay away from me. I dont care! :P
"I think we ought always to entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. I shouldn't wish people dogmatically to believe any philosophy, not even mine."
Well...now about all thats been going on...
Reading "The Afghan" now. By Frederick Forsyth. Its been pretty much fine till now. Has a lot of stuff I'm kinda familiar with...like Riyadh, terrorism, different types of Islamic belief and all that stuff.
OH OH OH!!! I put up some of my art stuff on the wall in my room last week. And I really really love the way it turned out!! (forget modesty)hehehe!
And yea I also got a new phone---> Nokia N82! Totally love it! (need I say more???) :D
Apart from all this...hostel is pretty much the same except its kinda silent now than before. And there are these fudged up rules popping out like fart-bombs and its sickening! And yea the mess food is still the same...HMMM!
There is another thing which I would like to state here...and believe me or not--->i quit drinking. Dont want to speak more about it. But yeah I guess I got bored of it or sick of it!!
So....! I guess thats it. Am still the same...obsessed with coffee(though it has no effect on me anymore!)...trust the UN to the core....blabbers about Jawaharlal Nehru and Adolf Hitler in the same tone....Dove freak (!)...art-y ...fanatic...scribbler! If I sound boring, stay away from me. I dont care! :P
"I think we ought always to entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. I shouldn't wish people dogmatically to believe any philosophy, not even mine."
Monday, August 4, 2008
Cogito Ergo Sum !
Been quite some time since I scribbled something here. Firstly, because I have been going through some weird situations. Secondly, not in the mood. Simple!
Came across some stuff that caught my interest and....
1. United Nations Youth Assembly-->Its like a symposium held every year for the youth (duh!) from around the world, aged 18-26. Anyone can apply and if they get selected...they go to New York to attend the assembly! A whole lot of seminars, workshops, round tables, campaigns...and of course a chance to visit the United Nations Organisation!! And yes, a whole lot of fun too. It is conducted by the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation--an affiliate of the UN--to increase the youth involvement or participation in achieving the Millennium Development Goals(MDG) of the UN. Now that is something about what it is. And since the registrations have been closed for this year...well...I'm planning to attend it next year!!! :D Already spoke to my parents about it and they have agreed to it (kinda) !! :D
Maybe its just like a first step towards what I've always wanted to do-->work for the UN. Now dont start questioning me as to why I'm doing Architecture when I want to go to the UN. I have it all planned out. *fingers crossed* hehe.
2. "India has some very serious concerns about being treated on a par with developed, industrialised nations of the West, who spent 200 years making themselves rich and polluting the planet"--Shashi Tharoor.
Yes. We are concerned about this and also-> about the climate change and pollution and emission of greenhouse gases! But are we really doing something about it is a question that should be taken more seriously.
When Tharoor said THAT, Ban Ki-Moon on the other hand took a very applaud-deserving step towards fighting the emission of greenhouse gases right at the United Nations (where nations talk and sign treaties about it)!! He decided to cut-down on the air conditioning at the UN headquarters in New York and says it could also save $1 million in a year. As a result of the heating up at the headquarters in summer, he has also asked the staff to dress less formal and loosen their ties(haha!). Well it might seem like a small thing but it could well be the start of something good!
3. Indian Foundation for Arts(IFA)--> This is another one of those initiatives to preserve arts in India. But on a larger scale with larger funds and a stronger group of people managing it. They provide grants to people who have a proper plan to do something--like Manish Chakraborty, a conservation architect who wanted to restore a historical monument in Kolkata...Jayachadran Palazhy, who wanted to conduct an educational outreach program through movement arts...another Bharatanatyam dancer who wanted to help people through her breathing therapy dance...etc etc. Maybe the coming years are going to be about such people who are ready to take the initiatives to make a change!
Or maybe we are just too much bothered about all thats going wrong that we have blinded ourselves against our duties and responsibilities! And yea do check out the link below. Its something very thoughtful and yea--its not some lecture or a boring video. Check it out and you'll know. ;-D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eScDfYzMEEw
For now...I guess this is it. Well...things have been said in a rather serious tone...in the last few posts and maybe even this one. And maybe its time to get light again! :D...well..that'll be in the next post!
"The thought manifests as the word;
The word manifests as the deed;
The deed develops into habit;
And habit hardens into character;
So watch the thought and its ways with care,
And let it spring from love
Born out of concern for all beings…
As the shadow follows the body,
As we think, so we become."
--Buddha (563 BC - 483 BC)
Came across some stuff that caught my interest and....
1. United Nations Youth Assembly-->Its like a symposium held every year for the youth (duh!) from around the world, aged 18-26. Anyone can apply and if they get selected...they go to New York to attend the assembly! A whole lot of seminars, workshops, round tables, campaigns...and of course a chance to visit the United Nations Organisation!! And yes, a whole lot of fun too. It is conducted by the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation--an affiliate of the UN--to increase the youth involvement or participation in achieving the Millennium Development Goals(MDG) of the UN. Now that is something about what it is. And since the registrations have been closed for this year...well...I'm planning to attend it next year!!! :D Already spoke to my parents about it and they have agreed to it (kinda) !! :D
Maybe its just like a first step towards what I've always wanted to do-->work for the UN. Now dont start questioning me as to why I'm doing Architecture when I want to go to the UN. I have it all planned out. *fingers crossed* hehe.
2. "India has some very serious concerns about being treated on a par with developed, industrialised nations of the West, who spent 200 years making themselves rich and polluting the planet"--Shashi Tharoor.
Yes. We are concerned about this and also-> about the climate change and pollution and emission of greenhouse gases! But are we really doing something about it is a question that should be taken more seriously.
When Tharoor said THAT, Ban Ki-Moon on the other hand took a very applaud-deserving step towards fighting the emission of greenhouse gases right at the United Nations (where nations talk and sign treaties about it)!! He decided to cut-down on the air conditioning at the UN headquarters in New York and says it could also save $1 million in a year. As a result of the heating up at the headquarters in summer, he has also asked the staff to dress less formal and loosen their ties(haha!). Well it might seem like a small thing but it could well be the start of something good!
3. Indian Foundation for Arts(IFA)--> This is another one of those initiatives to preserve arts in India. But on a larger scale with larger funds and a stronger group of people managing it. They provide grants to people who have a proper plan to do something--like Manish Chakraborty, a conservation architect who wanted to restore a historical monument in Kolkata...Jayachadran Palazhy, who wanted to conduct an educational outreach program through movement arts...another Bharatanatyam dancer who wanted to help people through her breathing therapy dance...etc etc. Maybe the coming years are going to be about such people who are ready to take the initiatives to make a change!
Or maybe we are just too much bothered about all thats going wrong that we have blinded ourselves against our duties and responsibilities! And yea do check out the link below. Its something very thoughtful and yea--its not some lecture or a boring video. Check it out and you'll know. ;-D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eScDfYzMEEw
For now...I guess this is it. Well...things have been said in a rather serious tone...in the last few posts and maybe even this one. And maybe its time to get light again! :D...well..that'll be in the next post!
"The thought manifests as the word;
The word manifests as the deed;
The deed develops into habit;
And habit hardens into character;
So watch the thought and its ways with care,
And let it spring from love
Born out of concern for all beings…
As the shadow follows the body,
As we think, so we become."
--Buddha (563 BC - 483 BC)
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Dusted !
POVERTY -A QUESTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
Most people tend to perform the actions that require least effort, to think the thoughts that are easiest to feel, the emotions that are most vulgarly commonplace, to give rein to desires that are most nearly animal. And they will tend to do this even if they possess the knowledge and skill to do otherwise. But future is always uncertain. All the luxuries we have today might not be there tomorrow. All the happiness that has managed to stay with us might not stay longer. And this has already happened to more than one-fifth of the world’s population that lives in poverty!
Some kind of happiness is everyone’s birthright, and to be deprived of it is almost inevitably to become warped and embittered. We can no longer boast of our achievements in any field so long as we ignore the plight of a vast number of people who are compelled to lead a life of sub-human existence just because we don’t care about their basic problems of survival. Poverty is not only about having no money. It also deprives a person of food, adequate shelter, basic healthcare and education.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.” This right covers almost every parameter of poverty and the reasons that might lead to poverty. Because of weak government implementation capacity, potentially effective policies and programs often fail. Many view poverty-eradication as an impossible task, while there are others who realize the importance of innovative thoughts and careful steps to erase it from the face of the earth.
Having enough money to live in security is not always easy for some. For many poor around the world, small economic changes in income can affect the access to their basic needs. The poorest and most food-insecure people live in Africa and hunger remains severe in South Asia, where growing poverty, debt, economic decline, poor terms of trade and fast population growth have all contributed to the continent’s food problems. In India where more than 65% of its population strives on agriculture, every starvation death speaks volumes for the callousness towards millions of those who are too poor to buy food for themselves and those who depend on them. And this happens in a country where godowns overflow with food grains and rodents fatten themselves sneaking into silos and bins. And obviously, there is a stab of guilt and a sense of profound shame when people are seen struggling for mere survival while there is more than enough to feed the hungry stomachs. What a paradox! There is enough food for rodents but not for the starving poor because they can’t pay for it! In the words of the Indian Nobel Laureate, Amartya Sen, the problem is one of entitlement of access rather than the scarcity of food. It should be borne in mind that providing food to the poorest of poor is not a matter of noble-minded charity. It is the obligation of the State to guarantee each of its citizens the right to a better standard of living.
Education is another inseparable aspect concerning poverty. High poverty rates have been linked to low levels of educational attainment. Education is a must in the present world where every success has a history of hard work and pursuit of knowledge. And this pursuit of knowledge can only be accelerated through education which enables an individual to compete and succeed with his opponents. Therefore we also claim that the Darwinian Theory stating the survival of the fittest to be true.
Economic indicators are important but they provide only part of the picture. The numbers can hide a lot of human misery. And wherever there is suffering, human rights are violated. Being ‘developed’ does not mean that people in those countries can sit back and do nothing. People of the developed nations need to lend their help to those who do not have access to the basic need of living.
One has a natural inertia and a love for pleasure. You need the will power to overcome this inertia and develop the ability to make sacrifices in order to gain your coveted goal. With indomitable determination, there will be no wavering, no vacillation, no ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ and no hankering. “Whatever the depth of the river or lake, and whatever the condition of the water, the water lily always blossoms.” This should be our hope and faith for the future. Become master of the problems; defeat them and succeed!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thats a one and a half year old scribble!!
Had submitted this to the United Nations for something. Just found it among the old stuff and thought of putting it up here. Hmmmm....!
Most people tend to perform the actions that require least effort, to think the thoughts that are easiest to feel, the emotions that are most vulgarly commonplace, to give rein to desires that are most nearly animal. And they will tend to do this even if they possess the knowledge and skill to do otherwise. But future is always uncertain. All the luxuries we have today might not be there tomorrow. All the happiness that has managed to stay with us might not stay longer. And this has already happened to more than one-fifth of the world’s population that lives in poverty!
Some kind of happiness is everyone’s birthright, and to be deprived of it is almost inevitably to become warped and embittered. We can no longer boast of our achievements in any field so long as we ignore the plight of a vast number of people who are compelled to lead a life of sub-human existence just because we don’t care about their basic problems of survival. Poverty is not only about having no money. It also deprives a person of food, adequate shelter, basic healthcare and education.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.” This right covers almost every parameter of poverty and the reasons that might lead to poverty. Because of weak government implementation capacity, potentially effective policies and programs often fail. Many view poverty-eradication as an impossible task, while there are others who realize the importance of innovative thoughts and careful steps to erase it from the face of the earth.
Having enough money to live in security is not always easy for some. For many poor around the world, small economic changes in income can affect the access to their basic needs. The poorest and most food-insecure people live in Africa and hunger remains severe in South Asia, where growing poverty, debt, economic decline, poor terms of trade and fast population growth have all contributed to the continent’s food problems. In India where more than 65% of its population strives on agriculture, every starvation death speaks volumes for the callousness towards millions of those who are too poor to buy food for themselves and those who depend on them. And this happens in a country where godowns overflow with food grains and rodents fatten themselves sneaking into silos and bins. And obviously, there is a stab of guilt and a sense of profound shame when people are seen struggling for mere survival while there is more than enough to feed the hungry stomachs. What a paradox! There is enough food for rodents but not for the starving poor because they can’t pay for it! In the words of the Indian Nobel Laureate, Amartya Sen, the problem is one of entitlement of access rather than the scarcity of food. It should be borne in mind that providing food to the poorest of poor is not a matter of noble-minded charity. It is the obligation of the State to guarantee each of its citizens the right to a better standard of living.
Education is another inseparable aspect concerning poverty. High poverty rates have been linked to low levels of educational attainment. Education is a must in the present world where every success has a history of hard work and pursuit of knowledge. And this pursuit of knowledge can only be accelerated through education which enables an individual to compete and succeed with his opponents. Therefore we also claim that the Darwinian Theory stating the survival of the fittest to be true.
Economic indicators are important but they provide only part of the picture. The numbers can hide a lot of human misery. And wherever there is suffering, human rights are violated. Being ‘developed’ does not mean that people in those countries can sit back and do nothing. People of the developed nations need to lend their help to those who do not have access to the basic need of living.
One has a natural inertia and a love for pleasure. You need the will power to overcome this inertia and develop the ability to make sacrifices in order to gain your coveted goal. With indomitable determination, there will be no wavering, no vacillation, no ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ and no hankering. “Whatever the depth of the river or lake, and whatever the condition of the water, the water lily always blossoms.” This should be our hope and faith for the future. Become master of the problems; defeat them and succeed!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thats a one and a half year old scribble!!
Had submitted this to the United Nations for something. Just found it among the old stuff and thought of putting it up here. Hmmmm....!
Friday, July 18, 2008
On a serious note....!
What a mess!
Politics! Politicians! Nuclear deals! Just plain chaos...
And yeah, I deliberately pronounced politics and politicians separate because it happens to be two different ideas altogether nowadays. Congress says its doing nothing against the interest of the people of India. BJP says its all about Americanization. The Communist party says the Congress party betrayed their trust. And many others are talking about money and Cabinet posts being offered to them to take sides for the Confidence vote going to take place on 22nd july.
Firstly, about the coalition falling apart-->The Communists are just a confused lot! Before every General elections they seem to break away from the ruling party and drift towards the other major political power to have representation again next time. And ofcourse they are rising to be a third major political power apart from Congress and BJP as a result of their "souvenir collection"!!! I really do hope India does not change into another ideology-filled-Communist-ruling country! And its so going to root the country when in the present world we need to open up and become more "globally" social!
Next about the BJP stance-->They will do anything to stop the Congress from gaining something. A complete anti-American lot trying to bring back a modern version of Swadesi movement by denouncing anything that is anti-Indian or even anti-Hindu. And with incidents such as Babri Masjid demolition and Gujarat riots...I think we defintely should have had our take on BJP by now. They even have a history of a party President resigning just because he said Mohd Ali Jinnah was "secular". HAH!
Now about what the Congress thinks they are doing-->They are agreeing to some nuclear deal with the United States of America WITH the approval of IAEA! And the others oppose it just because they dont get to lick the candy! Simple as that!! The Commnunists could have got a chance but they wanted another flavour...aww!
Rahul Gandhi, who is in fact "politically sound" and getting to the higher strata of politics at a much faster rate, says: "Parties opposed to the deal had divisions within themselves" and also, "One has to take risks in life; if the government fails, so be it."
Its a government that the people of India elected. Let them rule! And stop stopping them from anything they do! Afterall, it was the Congress government who brought out the latest statistics about India's rising GDP and percapita incomes and the rest to public notice. And that is when the "21st century superpower" question came into existence. Until then...the BJP only did what is known as "keeping us in the dark" for they didnt want India to become noticed or active. They want India to develop on its own resources...use up whatever comes out of it...and survive as if India was not part of this planet! They want India to be something like the cliched term--self sufficient.
For now...this is the most televised drama and the most significant one too probably. Tuesday will decide if secularism and globalization still works for India or not...:)
"Measure twice; Cut once!"
Thats the Carpenter's Rule. It has many different manifestations and this one happens to be the simplest one. How very ironical since we all forget to do this. Sometimes we ignore it. Sometimes even the carpenter himself! And probably some failures and situations were outcomes of not following this so-called "golden rule"....!
Politics! Politicians! Nuclear deals! Just plain chaos...
And yeah, I deliberately pronounced politics and politicians separate because it happens to be two different ideas altogether nowadays. Congress says its doing nothing against the interest of the people of India. BJP says its all about Americanization. The Communist party says the Congress party betrayed their trust. And many others are talking about money and Cabinet posts being offered to them to take sides for the Confidence vote going to take place on 22nd july.
Firstly, about the coalition falling apart-->The Communists are just a confused lot! Before every General elections they seem to break away from the ruling party and drift towards the other major political power to have representation again next time. And ofcourse they are rising to be a third major political power apart from Congress and BJP as a result of their "souvenir collection"!!! I really do hope India does not change into another ideology-filled-Communist-ruling country! And its so going to root the country when in the present world we need to open up and become more "globally" social!
Next about the BJP stance-->They will do anything to stop the Congress from gaining something. A complete anti-American lot trying to bring back a modern version of Swadesi movement by denouncing anything that is anti-Indian or even anti-Hindu. And with incidents such as Babri Masjid demolition and Gujarat riots...I think we defintely should have had our take on BJP by now. They even have a history of a party President resigning just because he said Mohd Ali Jinnah was "secular". HAH!
Now about what the Congress thinks they are doing-->They are agreeing to some nuclear deal with the United States of America WITH the approval of IAEA! And the others oppose it just because they dont get to lick the candy! Simple as that!! The Commnunists could have got a chance but they wanted another flavour...aww!
Rahul Gandhi, who is in fact "politically sound" and getting to the higher strata of politics at a much faster rate, says: "Parties opposed to the deal had divisions within themselves" and also, "One has to take risks in life; if the government fails, so be it."
Its a government that the people of India elected. Let them rule! And stop stopping them from anything they do! Afterall, it was the Congress government who brought out the latest statistics about India's rising GDP and percapita incomes and the rest to public notice. And that is when the "21st century superpower" question came into existence. Until then...the BJP only did what is known as "keeping us in the dark" for they didnt want India to become noticed or active. They want India to develop on its own resources...use up whatever comes out of it...and survive as if India was not part of this planet! They want India to be something like the cliched term--self sufficient.
For now...this is the most televised drama and the most significant one too probably. Tuesday will decide if secularism and globalization still works for India or not...:)
"Measure twice; Cut once!"
Thats the Carpenter's Rule. It has many different manifestations and this one happens to be the simplest one. How very ironical since we all forget to do this. Sometimes we ignore it. Sometimes even the carpenter himself! And probably some failures and situations were outcomes of not following this so-called "golden rule"....!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Blahphadella's Oh-So-Not-Happening-Chronicles !!
A lot of stuff happening...but all very general!
Till three days ago I thought I was going to leave Riyadh on the 30th of July. But now that has become 16th or 17th of August and that means I have one more month to go!!!...urgh! Seriously getting tired of this place but then...look at the brighter side as my friend wisely said-->Awesomacious food!!
Yeah thats right! :)
The day before yesterday Riyadh seemed more like India! Powercut!! For the whole day...:S....and considering the Arabian summer, no air-conditioning means you have just stepped onto a BarBQ grill! And over that it just made me think what I would do if there was no internet in Saudi Arabia...since it happens to be the only way to while away the whole day. But thankfully my laptop was charged enough and that resulted in me arranging and categorizing my whole music folder. And ofcourse listening to it! Something good.
During the time of my previous post it was all about Atif Aslam. This week has been all for One Republic and yes--->>> APOLOGIZE!
Also....some Japanese instrumentals (soothing!) and as always Jazz (luv it!)!!
Somewhere between all this Shashi Tharoor wrote something very much correct---"Every four years someone somewhere can be counted upon to say that the US presidential election is one in which the rest of the world ought to have a vote too, since its outcome has such an impact on the planet as a whole. But of course all the rest of us can do is to watch the process unfold from near or far."
That is like so true! They should consider it sometime. :D
But hey! Take a look at what is happening in India---the Manmohan Singh government is facing a huge threat from the other parties because of a nuclear deal with the United States. With the Lok Sabha elections coming up next year the other parties(mainly BJP) just want to bring out the de-merits of the present government so that they dont get power again (as ALWAYS). But what I'm against is--Do we the general public really know anything about this Nuclear deal?! The pros and cons and so on?? All of us arent nuclear experts or international policy experts. It is, as always, another drama put up to while away a few months, resulting in gain for some and loss for the others! Bah!
Next topic-->Stuff I cooked this time at home...not many though.
A whole lot of breakfast stuff...dont even remember what all! Then--Blueberry Cheesecake! Tried it for the first time and it came out good(for a first timer) except that it was a little too sweet. :D... I made Steamed Chicken Momos!!! Yes yes! And this was a huge success! hahaha! And ofcourse different variations of burgers and sandwiches. Yeah thats about it.
Saw Kung fu Panda twice! So much fun! Awesome dialogues!
"There is no charge for awesomeness; and attractiveness!"
Saw the two Hindi movies thats making big news--Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Naa and Lovestory 2050. Jaane Tu was good, but the other one sucked bigtime!
Also saw SemiPro. But if you have seen the Hindi movie "Goal"...this would be like the basketball version of it. But anyways fun!
Guess that wraps it up! ***i so dont want this to look like a diary!***
"The past is history
The future is a mystery
The present is a gift
that is why its called the present"
Till three days ago I thought I was going to leave Riyadh on the 30th of July. But now that has become 16th or 17th of August and that means I have one more month to go!!!...urgh! Seriously getting tired of this place but then...look at the brighter side as my friend wisely said-->Awesomacious food!!
Yeah thats right! :)
The day before yesterday Riyadh seemed more like India! Powercut!! For the whole day...:S....and considering the Arabian summer, no air-conditioning means you have just stepped onto a BarBQ grill! And over that it just made me think what I would do if there was no internet in Saudi Arabia...since it happens to be the only way to while away the whole day. But thankfully my laptop was charged enough and that resulted in me arranging and categorizing my whole music folder. And ofcourse listening to it! Something good.
During the time of my previous post it was all about Atif Aslam. This week has been all for One Republic and yes--->>> APOLOGIZE!
Also....some Japanese instrumentals (soothing!) and as always Jazz (luv it!)!!
Somewhere between all this Shashi Tharoor wrote something very much correct---"Every four years someone somewhere can be counted upon to say that the US presidential election is one in which the rest of the world ought to have a vote too, since its outcome has such an impact on the planet as a whole. But of course all the rest of us can do is to watch the process unfold from near or far."
That is like so true! They should consider it sometime. :D
But hey! Take a look at what is happening in India---the Manmohan Singh government is facing a huge threat from the other parties because of a nuclear deal with the United States. With the Lok Sabha elections coming up next year the other parties(mainly BJP) just want to bring out the de-merits of the present government so that they dont get power again (as ALWAYS). But what I'm against is--Do we the general public really know anything about this Nuclear deal?! The pros and cons and so on?? All of us arent nuclear experts or international policy experts. It is, as always, another drama put up to while away a few months, resulting in gain for some and loss for the others! Bah!
Next topic-->Stuff I cooked this time at home...not many though.
A whole lot of breakfast stuff...dont even remember what all! Then--Blueberry Cheesecake! Tried it for the first time and it came out good(for a first timer) except that it was a little too sweet. :D... I made Steamed Chicken Momos!!! Yes yes! And this was a huge success! hahaha! And ofcourse different variations of burgers and sandwiches. Yeah thats about it.
Saw Kung fu Panda twice! So much fun! Awesome dialogues!
"There is no charge for awesomeness; and attractiveness!"
Saw the two Hindi movies thats making big news--Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Naa and Lovestory 2050. Jaane Tu was good, but the other one sucked bigtime!
Also saw SemiPro. But if you have seen the Hindi movie "Goal"...this would be like the basketball version of it. But anyways fun!
Guess that wraps it up! ***i so dont want this to look like a diary!***
"The past is history
The future is a mystery
The present is a gift
that is why its called the present"
Monday, June 30, 2008
Let this be there amidst nothing...
Firstly---I still luuuvvv Germany!!! Not to justify anything. Germany played good yesterday and no denial of that. But I have to agree that they didnt show consistency throughout the tournament unlike Spain who played very well throughout.
The main thing over here right now is---SACK ROBERTO ROSETTI!! Two main fouls that Spain committed were given a clean chit and at one instance even the Spanish players were surprised to get the free kick!! He was the referree during the Germany vs Italy match during the Worldcup2006 and I guess that explains it all. He was biased!
About the Spanish game---Torres made a lot of mistakes before scoring that goal. Fabregas was the better player.
About the German game---Ballack even with the injury woes played really good. Schweinsteiger was completely marked. Klose and Podolski had a few oppurtunities to score but made it late. And Lehmann...*no comments*.
Ofcourse its very disappointing--->2002 worldcup final..lost to Brazil.
2006 worldcup semifinal..lost to Italy.
2008 eurocup final..lost to Spain.
And the same disappointing fact could also be put in a very positive way too--that Germany has probably been the only team who has, despite the negatives, managed to reach the finals or semifinals at all these tournaments!! The last they won was the 1996 eurocup...:-I
Another very funny thing is that those who supported Spain for the final were either fans of Portugal, Dutch, Italy or any other team!!!
Alright this post was actually started on 30th and I'm getting back to it only now! Some sort of scribbler's block and over that my internet connection sucks right now...:S
Spain deserved to win and Germany deserved to be only runners up...the final clarified it! But Spain still remains second favourites to me... haha!
I dont feel like writing anymore on that final--kinda out of touch with the feeling right now--after two days.
Other than football...I finished reading Man's Search for Meaning. Luv'd it!....First of its kind, but really good! Came across some very interesting lines in the book:
There is part where he explains about Existential Vacuum--"No instinct tells him what he has to do, and no tradition tells him what he ought to do; Sometimes he does not even know what he wishes to do. Instead he either wishes to do what other people do (conformism) or he does what other people wish him to do (totalitarianism)."
And another part where he writes about the meaning of life--"Each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible."
More stuff like this and pretty good explanations.
I guess I need some inspiration now for more sribbling and also a good internet connection to put some of it up here!
Oh...have been listening to a lot of Atif Aslam right now and must admit that this guy is reeeealllly wow!....His style is like so...effortless!! Alright...maybe the only person who has impressed me from the other side of the border...haha!..Sounds funny....and yes I hate the Backspace on my keyboard!
(I didnt find anything to end this--urgh!)
The main thing over here right now is---SACK ROBERTO ROSETTI!! Two main fouls that Spain committed were given a clean chit and at one instance even the Spanish players were surprised to get the free kick!! He was the referree during the Germany vs Italy match during the Worldcup2006 and I guess that explains it all. He was biased!
About the Spanish game---Torres made a lot of mistakes before scoring that goal. Fabregas was the better player.
About the German game---Ballack even with the injury woes played really good. Schweinsteiger was completely marked. Klose and Podolski had a few oppurtunities to score but made it late. And Lehmann...*no comments*.
Ofcourse its very disappointing--->2002 worldcup final..lost to Brazil.
2006 worldcup semifinal..lost to Italy.
2008 eurocup final..lost to Spain.
And the same disappointing fact could also be put in a very positive way too--that Germany has probably been the only team who has, despite the negatives, managed to reach the finals or semifinals at all these tournaments!! The last they won was the 1996 eurocup...:-I
Another very funny thing is that those who supported Spain for the final were either fans of Portugal, Dutch, Italy or any other team!!!
Alright this post was actually started on 30th and I'm getting back to it only now! Some sort of scribbler's block and over that my internet connection sucks right now...:S
Spain deserved to win and Germany deserved to be only runners up...the final clarified it! But Spain still remains second favourites to me... haha!
I dont feel like writing anymore on that final--kinda out of touch with the feeling right now--after two days.
Other than football...I finished reading Man's Search for Meaning. Luv'd it!....First of its kind, but really good! Came across some very interesting lines in the book:
There is part where he explains about Existential Vacuum--"No instinct tells him what he has to do, and no tradition tells him what he ought to do; Sometimes he does not even know what he wishes to do. Instead he either wishes to do what other people do (conformism) or he does what other people wish him to do (totalitarianism)."
And another part where he writes about the meaning of life--"Each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible."
More stuff like this and pretty good explanations.
I guess I need some inspiration now for more sribbling and also a good internet connection to put some of it up here!
Oh...have been listening to a lot of Atif Aslam right now and must admit that this guy is reeeealllly wow!....His style is like so...effortless!! Alright...maybe the only person who has impressed me from the other side of the border...haha!..Sounds funny....and yes I hate the Backspace on my keyboard!
(I didnt find anything to end this--urgh!)
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Politics--another football game!
Germany vs Portugal--->3-2 !!!
Turkey vs Croatia--->0-0-->1-1 by extra time-->3-1 on penalties !!!
Russia vs Netherlands--->1-1-->3-1 by extra time !!!
Spain vs Italy---> today's match !
Sheeshh that was one helluva quarterfinal result table at the Eurocup!!...Germany just outclassed Portugal...Turkey just slaughtered the Croats...and about the Dutch burial--I dont really know because I didnt watch it. Thought **the dutch are going to win anyway!**
Wonder what is in stock for the Spain-Italy match now. In the three quarterfinals so far, teams who were group toppers have lost and done and kicked out! Is Spain's fate going to be the same? All we can do is wait and watch!!
Germany is my team...so the goals by Schweinsteiger, Klose and Ballack were like chocolate sauce on peanut butter fudge flavour at Baskin Robbins!...considering the fact that Germans played amazing that day!...Luv'd it!!... :D
The Turkey-Croatia match was like...*cmon..somebody score!!*....But then little did anyone know what was going to happen in the last minute of the game! And well, for the comeback of the Turks--they deserved to win. But anyways they are going to be playing Germany next...and.....goodluck on that! hehehe
I missed the Russian revolution!!..Shucks! Slept through the whole day---the longest day of the year--June 21st! hah!...All I did was read the reviews and I figured it out that Dutch missed out on the chances and Russians displayed a swift and strong play.
I am not going to miss today's match--I want Spain to win (they happen to be my second fav in the tournament).
Apart from the footy syndrome...Shashi Tharoor has written another very interesting article today...and its titled "Do we get the politicians we deserve?". The first part of the article points out a rather obvious phenomenon--that majority of the American presidents are graduates either from Harvard or Yale! Even the present presidential candidature...Barack Obama is from Harvard. Hillary Clinton was from Yale. Alright McCain isnt from either.(haha). But another thing that the article pointed out was about the Harvard/Yale population which forms "less than two-tenths of 1% of the national population, but (have won) more than 83% of recent presidential nominations" !!
The second part of the article was about the educational qualifications of the Indian politicians. Well...there are people from Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge but are they really living upto all that? Alright now you may think that I feel only American degrees matter. No. I do not realy agree what the article says. Poilitics is more about leadership and decision-making. And I feel leadership is something you need to nurture on you own. Not taught by somebody.
The article also quoted a former minister of the Indian Parliament at a speech delivered at St.Stephens College(which produces a whole lot of Civil Servants of the country)--- "I look at you all," he said bluntly, "the best and the brightest of our fair land, smart, honest and able, and my heart sinks. Because I know that most of you will do what I did and take the civil service examinations, little realising that if you succeed, your fate will be to take orders from the dregs of our society — the politicians." He could see the shock on the faces of his audience as he went on: "Don't make the mistake I did. Do something else with your lives."
Lets just ignore those words and go back to the question again--Do we need politicians with degrees from celebrity-status universities? Or politicians who were rather more practical and self-learned? Both have its own credentials...and downsides. Anyways Tharoor always gets me thinking. :)
Thats it for a quick post.Goodluck to Spain (and Italy). Goodluck to graduates from Harvard/Yale.
"Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game, and dumb enough to think it's important."
Turkey vs Croatia--->0-0-->1-1 by extra time-->3-1 on penalties !!!
Russia vs Netherlands--->1-1-->3-1 by extra time !!!
Spain vs Italy---> today's match !
Sheeshh that was one helluva quarterfinal result table at the Eurocup!!...Germany just outclassed Portugal...Turkey just slaughtered the Croats...and about the Dutch burial--I dont really know because I didnt watch it. Thought **the dutch are going to win anyway!**
Wonder what is in stock for the Spain-Italy match now. In the three quarterfinals so far, teams who were group toppers have lost and done and kicked out! Is Spain's fate going to be the same? All we can do is wait and watch!!
Germany is my team...so the goals by Schweinsteiger, Klose and Ballack were like chocolate sauce on peanut butter fudge flavour at Baskin Robbins!...considering the fact that Germans played amazing that day!...Luv'd it!!... :D
The Turkey-Croatia match was like...*cmon..somebody score!!*....But then little did anyone know what was going to happen in the last minute of the game! And well, for the comeback of the Turks--they deserved to win. But anyways they are going to be playing Germany next...and.....goodluck on that! hehehe
I missed the Russian revolution!!..Shucks! Slept through the whole day---the longest day of the year--June 21st! hah!...All I did was read the reviews and I figured it out that Dutch missed out on the chances and Russians displayed a swift and strong play.
I am not going to miss today's match--I want Spain to win (they happen to be my second fav in the tournament).
Apart from the footy syndrome...Shashi Tharoor has written another very interesting article today...and its titled "Do we get the politicians we deserve?". The first part of the article points out a rather obvious phenomenon--that majority of the American presidents are graduates either from Harvard or Yale! Even the present presidential candidature...Barack Obama is from Harvard. Hillary Clinton was from Yale. Alright McCain isnt from either.(haha). But another thing that the article pointed out was about the Harvard/Yale population which forms "less than two-tenths of 1% of the national population, but (have won) more than 83% of recent presidential nominations" !!
The second part of the article was about the educational qualifications of the Indian politicians. Well...there are people from Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge but are they really living upto all that? Alright now you may think that I feel only American degrees matter. No. I do not realy agree what the article says. Poilitics is more about leadership and decision-making. And I feel leadership is something you need to nurture on you own. Not taught by somebody.
The article also quoted a former minister of the Indian Parliament at a speech delivered at St.Stephens College(which produces a whole lot of Civil Servants of the country)--- "I look at you all," he said bluntly, "the best and the brightest of our fair land, smart, honest and able, and my heart sinks. Because I know that most of you will do what I did and take the civil service examinations, little realising that if you succeed, your fate will be to take orders from the dregs of our society — the politicians." He could see the shock on the faces of his audience as he went on: "Don't make the mistake I did. Do something else with your lives."
Lets just ignore those words and go back to the question again--Do we need politicians with degrees from celebrity-status universities? Or politicians who were rather more practical and self-learned? Both have its own credentials...and downsides. Anyways Tharoor always gets me thinking. :)
Thats it for a quick post.Goodluck to Spain (and Italy). Goodluck to graduates from Harvard/Yale.
"Being in politics is like being a football coach. You have to be smart enough to understand the game, and dumb enough to think it's important."
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
" If I was going anywhere, I was running! "
***I was crippled. I couldnt move. I couldnt walk. I couldnt run. I wanted to feel the rush of the wind on my face when I run. I wanted to hear the voice my feet would make on its way through the dry fallen leaves. But the only thing I could do was to wait and hope for a miracle to happen. And when it finally did...I kept on running for I was scared! What if my legs gave away again? What if I stop and that will be a stop forever? I didnt want to be immobile again. I wanted to keep moving. I loved the feeling of the wind wiping my face. I loved it when it swished past my eyelashes. I was happy and that was all that mattered to me then!***
Alright now that was something that Forrest Gump made me do. All that matters is happiness! "Happiness must happen.And the same holds for success.You have to let it happen by not caring about it". People can say so very easily, but dont we all wish for happiness?? And most of the times, work towards it?? There is no one-way to happiness. It is in some way linked to satisfaction...from anything you do in life. But there are many other factors that contribute to one's happiness. It differs from person to person and yea...its a very personal thing. There are people who look for a reason to be happy. But there are others who find happiness in anything and everything. They just accept things as they are and derive satisfaction from it. It is not so easy but that could possibly be the best way to avoid being unhappy. Maybe the only way...because they are not a majority!! I know people who find happiness in a cup of coffee...the colour 'pink'...a haircut...a cigarette...a ride on the bike...sleeping long hours...dancing like no ones watching...music...alcohol...rain...etc etc!!!....Happiness lies in the smallest things. And the joy that you get in doing it is awesomacious!!!
"If there were in the world today any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, we could have paradise in a few years."
Alright now that was something that Forrest Gump made me do. All that matters is happiness! "Happiness must happen.And the same holds for success.You have to let it happen by not caring about it". People can say so very easily, but dont we all wish for happiness?? And most of the times, work towards it?? There is no one-way to happiness. It is in some way linked to satisfaction...from anything you do in life. But there are many other factors that contribute to one's happiness. It differs from person to person and yea...its a very personal thing. There are people who look for a reason to be happy. But there are others who find happiness in anything and everything. They just accept things as they are and derive satisfaction from it. It is not so easy but that could possibly be the best way to avoid being unhappy. Maybe the only way...because they are not a majority!! I know people who find happiness in a cup of coffee...the colour 'pink'...a haircut...a cigarette...a ride on the bike...sleeping long hours...dancing like no ones watching...music...alcohol...rain...etc etc!!!....Happiness lies in the smallest things. And the joy that you get in doing it is awesomacious!!!
"If there were in the world today any large number of people who desired their own happiness more than they desired the unhappiness of others, we could have paradise in a few years."
Monday, June 16, 2008
Some day I'll lift you up again Hitler...
Reading has always been a part of my day. I would end up reading something or the other.But of late, it has slowed down maybe as a result of me turning extremely lazy or that I really am not in a mood! Before there were times when a book used to be done by a day or two-three days time. And those were all fiction(let me state that clearly). But now I have been reading the same book since almost two months!Yes, two months!!
I dont blame it on the book. But I need something different. A change in the stuff I have been reading...This will be clear if I just take a look on the kind of books I've been reading in the past one year. The only fiction ones were--Harry Potter part 7, Riot by Shashi Tharoor, Show Business by Shashi Tharoor,One Night at the Callcentre by Chetan Bhagat and Mistress by Anita Nair. The rest have been---Bookless in Baghdad by Shashi Tharoor, The Great Indian Novel again by Shashi Tharoor and now Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler!...Oh I shouldnt forget Fountainhead by Ayn Rand--I personally dont feel like putting it in either categories, fiction or nonfiction. It had a story that revolved around well framed architectural and philosophical theories. Am readin Hitler's autobiography now...actually...But, finished another book by keeping it aside for sometime. That one was another fiction--Twilight Whispers. This one was one of those rosy love stories and I really needed one like that to take my mind off serious stuff. Anyways it did work a little I guess. Though there was a part in the story where one of the character has some link to Hitler's cruelties. Oh..one more coincidence-->Hitler's autobiography is still kept away for sometime. I took another book to read today-Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl. The author happens to have survived a life in the concentration camps. Yes, again Hitler!...It was all strange..the coincidences!!And the book is semi-autobiographical.So, has some stories from the camps. Its kinda freaky!
Well but this book is interesting. Thats about some thoughts crossing my mind right now. Hey Germany entered the quarterfinals of the Eurocup by defeating Austria and they played the real game! So happy to see them back to business...Next is against Portugal and that one is going to be a big match too!
For now..its just another one of those very wiseful words:
"Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them."
I dont blame it on the book. But I need something different. A change in the stuff I have been reading...This will be clear if I just take a look on the kind of books I've been reading in the past one year. The only fiction ones were--Harry Potter part 7, Riot by Shashi Tharoor, Show Business by Shashi Tharoor,One Night at the Callcentre by Chetan Bhagat and Mistress by Anita Nair. The rest have been---Bookless in Baghdad by Shashi Tharoor, The Great Indian Novel again by Shashi Tharoor and now Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler!...Oh I shouldnt forget Fountainhead by Ayn Rand--I personally dont feel like putting it in either categories, fiction or nonfiction. It had a story that revolved around well framed architectural and philosophical theories. Am readin Hitler's autobiography now...actually...But, finished another book by keeping it aside for sometime. That one was another fiction--Twilight Whispers. This one was one of those rosy love stories and I really needed one like that to take my mind off serious stuff. Anyways it did work a little I guess. Though there was a part in the story where one of the character has some link to Hitler's cruelties. Oh..one more coincidence-->Hitler's autobiography is still kept away for sometime. I took another book to read today-Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl. The author happens to have survived a life in the concentration camps. Yes, again Hitler!...It was all strange..the coincidences!!And the book is semi-autobiographical.So, has some stories from the camps. Its kinda freaky!
Well but this book is interesting. Thats about some thoughts crossing my mind right now. Hey Germany entered the quarterfinals of the Eurocup by defeating Austria and they played the real game! So happy to see them back to business...Next is against Portugal and that one is going to be a big match too!
For now..its just another one of those very wiseful words:
"Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them."
Friday, June 13, 2008
Book of life---Chapter of Secrets
.....water can take any shape it wishes to.but sometimes it tends to make mistakes too.whatever it does it enjoys.but sometimes it loses track and goes the wrong way.it trickles down the wrong stone at times.it gushes down the wrong carving.but there has been times when it did enjoy the trickling or gushing down.it was pure joy for the waters sometimes.it revelled in the feeling.thought the feeling was going to last forever.it made the waters feel special.it did last for sometime.twice this happened.and the third time the water acted against its joy.it clearly rejected joy.but then here comes the fourth curve.the waters would like to give in but it is still confused.what if the journey is going to be a repetition of what happened before.wary of giving in one more time.but it already took the first step.the waters have an option to take a step.eihter back or forward.but there is still time to decide that.the waters are just too illusioned.it itself is illusioning.the clear waters are just a disguise in itself.transparent but yet not so transparent.the first curve just couldnt get the flow of the waters.and so they fell apart.the waters were inexperienced and got infatuated by the beautiful curve.the second was just too perfect.and in this case perfection led to destruction.things shouldnt be too perfect either.for a small twist in the curve can destroy the joy.the third was of no real significance since the waters itself disregarded it to stay still for sometime.but being stagnant is no joy either and that is when the fourth curve came along.fresh and beautiful.but nothing can be said of it now.for the journey hasnt really begun.nor are they sure if it will go smoothly.leave it to destiny.....
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
My Inspiration.
First things first-->>This isnt going to be another biography of Shashi Tharoor!
An effective speaker...A successful diplomat at the United Nations...An amazing writer...and now into business. This could be the shortest about him. More than all this, he happens to be the most passionate Indian I've ever come across who writes, speaks and lives as a true Indian! Nobody can be more Indian than Shashi Tharoor even if he has lived most part of his life abroad. The best part of his writing would be the unique style of phrasing some very much noticed events or incidences like this one :
"Three years ago, India, a country that is 81% Hindu, saw a Roman Catholic political leader (Sonia Gandhi) make way for a Sikh (Manmohan Singh), who was sworn in by a Muslim (President Abdul Kalam). By contrast, the world’s oldest democracy, the US, has yet to elect a president who is not white, male, and Christian. "
Or maybe it is the fact that he's a person who can write or speak and give such hundreds of examples to make the others feel that India is better than any other country..! Everyone talks about the country being so diverse and colourful, but I dont think anyone can put it better than Shashi Tharoor:
(for those who are planning to skip what is quoted below---You're going to miss something huge here..!!)
"Well, how can one approach this pluralist land of snow peaks and tropical jungles, with 18 major languages on our rupee notes and 22 thousand distinct dialects (and some of these dialects are spoken by more people than speak intenrationally-recognized languages like Danish or Norwegian), inhabited now, in the sixth year of the 21st century, by over a billion individuals of every ethnic extraction known to humanity? How does one come to terms with a country, in whose population 40% are still illiterate, but which has educated the world's second largest pool of trained scientists and engineers? A country whose teeming cities overflow while two out of three Indians scratch a living from the soil? What is the clue to understanding a country rife with despair and disrepair, which nonetheless moved a Moghal emperor to proclaim "If on earth there be paradise of bliss, it is this, it is this, it is this." How does one gauge a nation which elevated non-violence to a moral principle, but whose freedom was born in blood and whose independence still soaks in it? How does one explain a land where peasant organizations and officials have attempted to close down Kentucky Fried Chicken as a threat to the nation; where a former Prime Minister bitterly criticizes the sale of Pepsi Cola in a country where villagers don't have access to clean drinking water, and which yet invents a greater quantity of sophisticated software for US computer manufacturers than any other country in the world? How can one determine the identity of an ageless civilization that was the birthplace of 4 major religions, a dozen different traditions of classical dance, 85 major political parties and 300 ways of cooking the potato? "
There is nothing confusing about anything he writes and he also makes his point very clear and unquestionable. Yeah there might be some of you who still doubt about India and all these glittery images. To those there is only one thing to say-->Believe in yourself and try to make a difference!...Gandhi said it the right way: "You should be the change you wish to see in this world"
Shashi has his own explanation for this: "I have been accused of being an optimist. But I define optimism as regarding the future with uncertainty. Pessimists always say things will go wrong. An optimist believes things just may go right."
About his UN career--He was an official at the United Nations since 1978. He has served as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Executive Secretary to the Secretary General and Under Secretary General for Communications and Public Information. He was also appointed as the UN Cordinator for Multilingualism. Tharoor was also a candidate for the Secretary General's post.
He's one of the high-profile Indian writers in English with nine books released, out of which two are works of fiction. Apart from this he's also a columnist in a number of newspapers. Many of his articles have created a whole lot of chaos...the recent one being the "sari incident" where he suggested that Indian women should try to get back to traditional clothing. And this evoked the feminist-minds to raise their voices....Anyways, this is becoming like a biography slowly....and I feel like some journalist!!! Hahaha!!!
All I have to say is he's awesome !! And when people spill out names like Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa and the likes...I'd say Shashi Tharoor! There so much in what he writes or speaks. And hey it is not like he doesnt do anything about them! Theres so much more I could go on quoting him and about him, but I guess I'll leave that to you all. www.shashitharoor.com . All the articles have been published there and.. there are some must-reads!!!!
This was a "short" say about Shashi Tharoor....hehe...I had been trying to do this since the time the blog started. Could only frame this much over here...the rest can be done through google or wiki. This is it from me.
Another take on a person over. I dont really want to do this anymore...but the flavours of my mom's special fried chicken is inspiring me to write one about her next...hahaha! kidding.
How can I forget this:
"Inspiration may be a form of superconsciousness, or perhaps of subconsciousness - I wouldn't know. But I am sure it is the antithesis of self- consciousness. "
Monday, June 9, 2008
Green means "go". Yellow means "slow down". Red means "stop".
This one is going to be a weird post...its all going to be about one person. I will not mention the name. Its just going to be a friend's take on her best friend...
The first time I saw this person was during the orientation of my architecture class...we were all introducing ourselves and he was the last person to do it. He had this smile on the face which I've never seen after that day(I've even told him this and he is still looking for the reason why THAT smile never appeared again)(and not that he's one big sad case alright)!
After that I see this person like a totally isolated being everywhere...in class and even in hostel...:S During the "intro" times...we had to make a list of our batchmates in the hostel with their birthdays. As I always considered him part of the batch, I went upto him one day in class and kept down this paper and pen and asked him to write down his. haha...and what he did was--smiled and said "I dont take it..". This was probably one of those first conscious efforts of interactions with this person. Yes, it was conscious! Sheeshhh! After one or two from my side, like any other person, even I left it there. You cannot do much if the other person doesnt respond right? And this was the major complain against this particular person!! We got our first design submissions graded and returned...and on the way back to the hostel he asked me how much I got...and this is where the real talking started. And from then on...I can call him my best friend in Bangalore! (oh btw it was not that I was desperate to talk to him or something....I just did something that nobody did...alright I might just look like I'm braggin over here..forget the explanation..urgh!)
About him as a friend in architecture class...this has been the best architecture brain I have come across. Even the HOD of architecture calls him a "master"...so that explains everything. Nobody can ever predict what his model or design is going to turn out like. And every time its something that has no relation to the previous. Truly original, practically possible and intelligent designs. And during the three-four hour talks over coffee, architecture has always dominated...afterall thats the only common link!
Apart from being the best person at work, he's also been there when I had to go through a whole lot of other problems. This guy has amazing philosophies and even the more amazing ways of phrasing it!!Haha! Always been there when you need someone to vent out heat..:D. And ofcourse I guess we all prefer mature people during serious times...Well atleast according to me...
Somebody who manages to be the best at work, communicating, thoughts and lots of other things....Theres so much to write but just making sure that I dont go too over the point..heh!
There were these times when he used to stay in the hostel...after class hours, while working on submissions...we used to sit and discuss works and other talks too with it...and this used to happen when we the first year girls were not supposed to go to first year guys rooms or anything...when all those restrictions were on.haha. There was also an incident when a senior even spotted me and asked me what I was doing there...! But well I have been frank with all of them. And yea I dont know if I should be mentioning this here but he was probably the only guy who had to go through a "different" sort of treatment at IH...hmm... I'll just write one incident which will explain it all---On the day he was leaving the hostel, I went up to his room. I see some new scars on his hand and forehead and go like.."new ones eh?"..and he said.."yea fresh ones from yesterday night.12-13 people"...Yeah..it became some sort of joke but why should he be taking all that?!...Most people in the hostel think he was in a way thrown out of the hostel. Yeah right!!
Oh he also happens to be the one who goes with me to all the restaurants and coffee shops and other places...haha...some fun and crazy experiences along with that...And even the two three visits to avenue road for architecture shopping and eventually getting lost over there and then searching the whole place for that one particular place where you get good dosas! Yeah basically, he is a major part of my life so far in Bangalore. All this is about him in a nutshell...lots of stories..lots of crazy jokes...and yes...evolution of architectural concepts....!
This post, to me, looks very incomplete..but well this much is enough.
Just one last thing--If you ever read this pale parasite...Thankyou. You'll always be my best friend no matter how much I keep talking about you, how much ever stupid I am...and how many ever bets I lose to you..haha.
"The time to stop talking is when the other person nods his head affirmatively but says nothing."
The first time I saw this person was during the orientation of my architecture class...we were all introducing ourselves and he was the last person to do it. He had this smile on the face which I've never seen after that day(I've even told him this and he is still looking for the reason why THAT smile never appeared again)(and not that he's one big sad case alright)!
After that I see this person like a totally isolated being everywhere...in class and even in hostel...:S During the "intro" times...we had to make a list of our batchmates in the hostel with their birthdays. As I always considered him part of the batch, I went upto him one day in class and kept down this paper and pen and asked him to write down his. haha...and what he did was--smiled and said "I dont take it..". This was probably one of those first conscious efforts of interactions with this person. Yes, it was conscious! Sheeshhh! After one or two from my side, like any other person, even I left it there. You cannot do much if the other person doesnt respond right? And this was the major complain against this particular person!! We got our first design submissions graded and returned...and on the way back to the hostel he asked me how much I got...and this is where the real talking started. And from then on...I can call him my best friend in Bangalore! (oh btw it was not that I was desperate to talk to him or something....I just did something that nobody did...alright I might just look like I'm braggin over here..forget the explanation..urgh!)
About him as a friend in architecture class...this has been the best architecture brain I have come across. Even the HOD of architecture calls him a "master"...so that explains everything. Nobody can ever predict what his model or design is going to turn out like. And every time its something that has no relation to the previous. Truly original, practically possible and intelligent designs. And during the three-four hour talks over coffee, architecture has always dominated...afterall thats the only common link!
Apart from being the best person at work, he's also been there when I had to go through a whole lot of other problems. This guy has amazing philosophies and even the more amazing ways of phrasing it!!Haha! Always been there when you need someone to vent out heat..:D. And ofcourse I guess we all prefer mature people during serious times...Well atleast according to me...
Somebody who manages to be the best at work, communicating, thoughts and lots of other things....Theres so much to write but just making sure that I dont go too over the point..heh!
There were these times when he used to stay in the hostel...after class hours, while working on submissions...we used to sit and discuss works and other talks too with it...and this used to happen when we the first year girls were not supposed to go to first year guys rooms or anything...when all those restrictions were on.haha. There was also an incident when a senior even spotted me and asked me what I was doing there...! But well I have been frank with all of them. And yea I dont know if I should be mentioning this here but he was probably the only guy who had to go through a "different" sort of treatment at IH...hmm... I'll just write one incident which will explain it all---On the day he was leaving the hostel, I went up to his room. I see some new scars on his hand and forehead and go like.."new ones eh?"..and he said.."yea fresh ones from yesterday night.12-13 people"...Yeah..it became some sort of joke but why should he be taking all that?!...Most people in the hostel think he was in a way thrown out of the hostel. Yeah right!!
Oh he also happens to be the one who goes with me to all the restaurants and coffee shops and other places...haha...some fun and crazy experiences along with that...And even the two three visits to avenue road for architecture shopping and eventually getting lost over there and then searching the whole place for that one particular place where you get good dosas! Yeah basically, he is a major part of my life so far in Bangalore. All this is about him in a nutshell...lots of stories..lots of crazy jokes...and yes...evolution of architectural concepts....!
This post, to me, looks very incomplete..but well this much is enough.
Just one last thing--If you ever read this pale parasite...Thankyou. You'll always be my best friend no matter how much I keep talking about you, how much ever stupid I am...and how many ever bets I lose to you..haha.
"The time to stop talking is when the other person nods his head affirmatively but says nothing."
Friday, June 6, 2008
Bangalore and---> Germany!
Bang-galore! Ban-galore! You decide what you want...Alright alright...that line has been repeating quite a lot...But seriously ..it goes with this one too...:D!
Infact I didnt want to go to this place. I wanted to study in Delhi...But well you cannot make decisions on your own ALWAYS!! Parents didnt agree to Delhi. And that is how I ended up in Blore...and its been an okayish journey so far. The best thing I like about Blore are its restaurants!!! Amazing places like Frescos at Cunningham Road....The Only Place at Brigade Road....Fame at Kamannahalli....etc etc etc....each place has its own speciality and that is what I like about them. And ofcourse...the coffee shops!...I really miss Just Chocolate at Jaya Nagar though...Wish it reopens!!...Hmm...And how can I miss out on momos from Taste of Tibet!...Another thing is places to go around without any particular aim...like this one full street-->>Brigade or even...MG Road!! I like MG road more than Brigade...maybe because its got Gangarams and Higginbothams AND Barista!!....Well now thats really a treat for me!!haha!
This listing could just go on and on...and well..that will make this post boring...Oh! Eurocup is starting tomorrow!!!....Had been waiting for this since the time Germany lost to Italy in the 2006 worldcup.....And the situation looks very positive this time!! Germany is on top of the table as favourites and has a very strong team with the main guy---->>>Micheal Ballack in the best form ever!!..And thankfully Joachim Loew has gone by the books of Jurgen Klinsmann....Sad only about one thing...no Schneider...and no hope of an Oliver Kahn substituting Lehmann!...I still feel Germany should have played Kahn and not Lehmann for that match against Italy in the semifinals.....hmmm..well..past is past!!
Anyways--its very clear---I want Germany to win the eurocup2008!
Thats it for now...I really really really feel good being back here..even if its for general posts. Someday, when I'm in the real mood for it, I shall post something about my amazing country---still in love with it !!
"The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want."
Infact I didnt want to go to this place. I wanted to study in Delhi...But well you cannot make decisions on your own ALWAYS!! Parents didnt agree to Delhi. And that is how I ended up in Blore...and its been an okayish journey so far. The best thing I like about Blore are its restaurants!!! Amazing places like Frescos at Cunningham Road....The Only Place at Brigade Road....Fame at Kamannahalli....etc etc etc....each place has its own speciality and that is what I like about them. And ofcourse...the coffee shops!...I really miss Just Chocolate at Jaya Nagar though...Wish it reopens!!...Hmm...And how can I miss out on momos from Taste of Tibet!...Another thing is places to go around without any particular aim...like this one full street-->>Brigade or even...MG Road!! I like MG road more than Brigade...maybe because its got Gangarams and Higginbothams AND Barista!!....Well now thats really a treat for me!!haha!
This listing could just go on and on...and well..that will make this post boring...Oh! Eurocup is starting tomorrow!!!....Had been waiting for this since the time Germany lost to Italy in the 2006 worldcup.....And the situation looks very positive this time!! Germany is on top of the table as favourites and has a very strong team with the main guy---->>>Micheal Ballack in the best form ever!!..And thankfully Joachim Loew has gone by the books of Jurgen Klinsmann....Sad only about one thing...no Schneider...and no hope of an Oliver Kahn substituting Lehmann!...I still feel Germany should have played Kahn and not Lehmann for that match against Italy in the semifinals.....hmmm..well..past is past!!
Anyways--its very clear---I want Germany to win the eurocup2008!
Thats it for now...I really really really feel good being back here..even if its for general posts. Someday, when I'm in the real mood for it, I shall post something about my amazing country---still in love with it !!
"The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want."
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Partying and People..and the surfacing of racist Indians!
There is a saying that goes like..."the truth that hurts should not be said". I shall be following this golden rule for this post. :). Now to start off....parties in Bangalore have been a completely different experience of socializing. Things were on a more calmer side back in Riyadh. But yeah I enjoy both. The only thing you need to keep in mind is-- you should know how to balance between both these types. People in Bangalore too are a different lot.
I dont know how many of you will agree to this but Bangalore is another one of those "melting pots" (America being the other one)....where people come from different places and backgrounds and blend into the culture in Bangalore...(most of them). Some even lose their own identity during the process. But some ofcourse do manage to keep up their original selves!! I may sound like one big geek or something here but there are some very weird thoughts that once crossed my mind and almost went to questioning myself! And also...with this whole americani-zation debate going on throughout the country, things just seem to be aligning back to position. In the beginning of this year, when the whole issue of Racism in Cricket had become a big controversy with one of our fellow young Indian invloved...Shashi Tharoor(oh yes!! "him" again people!!!) had written an article voicing his thoughts about it. The article had in a way questioned the mentality and behaviour of "young Indians" and I wrote something back to him regarding the same issue with my experience along with it. It went like this...
"the day after the whole issue was in the news I was on the train to palakkad from bangalore and there were a few foreigners and tamilians in my compartment. train journeys are always interesting. they were having a talk about marriages in india. the foreigner lady asked the indian if love marriages happened in india and he said 'yes but only about 10% of the marriages are love marriages.the rest are all arranged" . she was surprised and went like 'only 10%??"
and then he asked about her country and she said that there were no arranged marriages in her country. a lot of enquiries like that followed. and the indian obliged enough to answer her questions and clear her doubts. she went on to read the newspaper later and saw the news of the racism issue at the cricket test matches happening betwen india and australia. she mentioned that aloud and asked the indian whether such things happened in india too. the reaction from the indian was like he hadnt heard what she said or that she was talking a language he didnt know!!
why should indians act like this even now? why couldnt he just justify the situation as most indians would do?or why couldnt he say something about it?
and to talk about the whole issue...you said something about 'under-educated young indians' perpetuating racism. is this about the same 'young indians' who are the proud 'future' of the country?!"
It all ends with a question which would have millions of answers and justifications but the question is "when do finally end all this?"...Isnt it time that we sit down and really think about we are doing? And do something about it? Well...just make sure you are at the right place at the right time doing the right thing!
Now that went a little off the track towards a serious direction. Things are supposed to be very general, light and blah for these posts...hahaha! Now to talk about the people I met at bangalore....there are some wonderful, talented, intelligent, humour-filled, strange, stupid....people. (the list would just go on).
I am not going to be writing about any particular person out here so ..lets just end it like that...:D
The thoughts about the movie I am going to watch now is interfering the signals right now and...hopefully next time I sit to pendown a new post.. "not" before watching a movie!!...For the time being its just another quote to end this not so happening or evident post:
"In case you're worried about what's going to become of the younger generation, it's going to grow up and start worrying about the younger generation."
I dont know how many of you will agree to this but Bangalore is another one of those "melting pots" (America being the other one)....where people come from different places and backgrounds and blend into the culture in Bangalore...(most of them). Some even lose their own identity during the process. But some ofcourse do manage to keep up their original selves!! I may sound like one big geek or something here but there are some very weird thoughts that once crossed my mind and almost went to questioning myself! And also...with this whole americani-zation debate going on throughout the country, things just seem to be aligning back to position. In the beginning of this year, when the whole issue of Racism in Cricket had become a big controversy with one of our fellow young Indian invloved...Shashi Tharoor(oh yes!! "him" again people!!!) had written an article voicing his thoughts about it. The article had in a way questioned the mentality and behaviour of "young Indians" and I wrote something back to him regarding the same issue with my experience along with it. It went like this...
"the day after the whole issue was in the news I was on the train to palakkad from bangalore and there were a few foreigners and tamilians in my compartment. train journeys are always interesting. they were having a talk about marriages in india. the foreigner lady asked the indian if love marriages happened in india and he said 'yes but only about 10% of the marriages are love marriages.the rest are all arranged" . she was surprised and went like 'only 10%??"
and then he asked about her country and she said that there were no arranged marriages in her country. a lot of enquiries like that followed. and the indian obliged enough to answer her questions and clear her doubts. she went on to read the newspaper later and saw the news of the racism issue at the cricket test matches happening betwen india and australia. she mentioned that aloud and asked the indian whether such things happened in india too. the reaction from the indian was like he hadnt heard what she said or that she was talking a language he didnt know!!
why should indians act like this even now? why couldnt he just justify the situation as most indians would do?or why couldnt he say something about it?
and to talk about the whole issue...you said something about 'under-educated young indians' perpetuating racism. is this about the same 'young indians' who are the proud 'future' of the country?!"
It all ends with a question which would have millions of answers and justifications but the question is "when do finally end all this?"...Isnt it time that we sit down and really think about we are doing? And do something about it? Well...just make sure you are at the right place at the right time doing the right thing!
Now that went a little off the track towards a serious direction. Things are supposed to be very general, light and blah for these posts...hahaha! Now to talk about the people I met at bangalore....there are some wonderful, talented, intelligent, humour-filled, strange, stupid....people. (the list would just go on).
I am not going to be writing about any particular person out here so ..lets just end it like that...:D
The thoughts about the movie I am going to watch now is interfering the signals right now and...hopefully next time I sit to pendown a new post.. "not" before watching a movie!!...For the time being its just another quote to end this not so happening or evident post:
"In case you're worried about what's going to become of the younger generation, it's going to grow up and start worrying about the younger generation."
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Put two bricks together--that is also architecture!
Time for something about my course--Bachelor of Architecture!
There are many ways of defining architecture and you may choose what seems to be right according to you. After all, what you build will be whats in your mind and not somebody else's. The architecture at BMS--well, now this is something that you need to worry about. haha!! Not that they dont teach you anything...and not that they suck. But you need to have just one little precaution--Prevent it from influencing you! Never let what you learn here(if you do) or the people interfere with your idea of architecture. You may alter it but not completely influenced by all this. The department is considered to be one of the toughest departments of the college and so goes their rules of attendance requirements(grr!)....and submissions and...impression on teachers!!...And if you manage to score good in all these, you get the degree within 5 years time. Or else....well..you'll have to wait for a year or two more! And also...(mis)labelling yourself as a day scholar would be an advantage. Well apart from all these, the subjects are pretty interesting except for history of architecture, which like any other history can be passed by sleeping. Then there is design, building construction and materials, engg graphics, visual arts, workshop(not the mechanical one) and structures. Then we also had something called Communication skills where the teacher would show off her communication skills and the students would just sit there and do nothing. No offense!
Alright this looks very negative. Now to look more positive---things have become more serious now. I mean I've started taking architecture more seriously now and have started to frame a fully-formed definition slowly. And have also learned the ways of going about it. Maybe this is what all the negatives are for....everything happens for a reason right?
Have come across new names and new styles of architecture. Thus the list of favourites have changed with Tadao Ando, a Japanese, topping the list. Its amazing how he creates wonders by removing or omitting unnecessary adornments. Keeping it simple is the mantra I guess! But the art of landscaping and the intriguing beauty--the Baha'i Mandir(aka The Lotus Temple) still interests me...
Sustainability, Aesthetics and complexity(with simplicity)--the three dimensions of architecture I would like to see in anything I design.
This is architecture to me!
For you or anyone else it can be something else---"Architecture is music in space, as it were a frozen music” ...or..."There are three forms of visual art: Painting is art to look at, sculpture is art you can walk around, and architecture is art you can walk through.".....
There are many ways of defining architecture and you may choose what seems to be right according to you. After all, what you build will be whats in your mind and not somebody else's. The architecture at BMS--well, now this is something that you need to worry about. haha!! Not that they dont teach you anything...and not that they suck. But you need to have just one little precaution--Prevent it from influencing you! Never let what you learn here(if you do) or the people interfere with your idea of architecture. You may alter it but not completely influenced by all this. The department is considered to be one of the toughest departments of the college and so goes their rules of attendance requirements(grr!)....and submissions and...impression on teachers!!...And if you manage to score good in all these, you get the degree within 5 years time. Or else....well..you'll have to wait for a year or two more! And also...(mis)labelling yourself as a day scholar would be an advantage. Well apart from all these, the subjects are pretty interesting except for history of architecture, which like any other history can be passed by sleeping. Then there is design, building construction and materials, engg graphics, visual arts, workshop(not the mechanical one) and structures. Then we also had something called Communication skills where the teacher would show off her communication skills and the students would just sit there and do nothing. No offense!
Alright this looks very negative. Now to look more positive---things have become more serious now. I mean I've started taking architecture more seriously now and have started to frame a fully-formed definition slowly. And have also learned the ways of going about it. Maybe this is what all the negatives are for....everything happens for a reason right?
Have come across new names and new styles of architecture. Thus the list of favourites have changed with Tadao Ando, a Japanese, topping the list. Its amazing how he creates wonders by removing or omitting unnecessary adornments. Keeping it simple is the mantra I guess! But the art of landscaping and the intriguing beauty--the Baha'i Mandir(aka The Lotus Temple) still interests me...
Sustainability, Aesthetics and complexity(with simplicity)--the three dimensions of architecture I would like to see in anything I design.
This is architecture to me!
For you or anyone else it can be something else---"Architecture is music in space, as it were a frozen music” ...or..."There are three forms of visual art: Painting is art to look at, sculpture is art you can walk around, and architecture is art you can walk through.".....
Sunday, May 25, 2008
The IH !!!
International hostel !!
A place where nothing is impossible. That would be the only line required to explain it all. The fact that I decided to write about the hostel first is because this place means a lot to me in a lot of ways. For anyone who has lived in the IH, it would be the same. It all started with me not getting admission into the girls' hostel. Therefore I ended up in the IH which is co-ed(yea those who didnt know it was--Dont raise your eyebrows!) and is mainly for the foreign students and NRI's. The day i got admitted to room#15, I met my roommate Janet Carol Machado!(amazing name isnt it?)...she was pretty cool and even met another first year there--Yugasree Setra. It was just the three of us then. I met them when i went to see my room. After i had bought stuff for my room i came back to the hostel, but I had to wait for my roomie to get back from outside. So met a senior and went down to the mess for dinner with her. That was the only moment in the hostel when i felt like "oh, I'm new to this place". And the same night we three were called into the same senior's room for our first "intro". There were like 5-6 seniors in the room and we had to introduce ourselves. They seemed like a pretty okay lot. And that is when I met another first year--Kanta Ganguly. And that is also when I found out that my roomie and Yugasree had already created some chaos in the hostel. All this continued..for sometime. More first years came and on the day college started, 3rd September, we had something called a common session where the first year boys and girls have their "intro" session. Dont know why but all these sessions bored me a lot. I even remember a senior once asking me "you dont talk much?"...that was only because I was bored. No straight questions to anyone...no specific person being targeted...and before you proceed to answer, somebody has already started! So that was about the sessions in general. Oh we also had this dresscode thingy that we should only wear salwar-kameez. Now that was one thing that annoyed me. Not that i am not used to wearing salwar-kameez...but it used to be very irritating to handle your dupatta when you are working in class...architecture! Hostel started off with all this and later proceeded to stranger stuff....... I got a single room somewhere around the end of October and also internet connection! Another thing about the hostel is...my sleep routines got messed up badly and a lot of other problems along with it. In many ways IH was different from other hostels in the country. It was just DIFFERENT! Some people look at you because you are from IH and some avoid you!
About the mess food---it sucks! And considering this comes from the first year mess prefect...its close to truth. Thus you end up eating out quite a lot and trying out new places. I must say that bangalore has amazing places to eat at. A whole range of restaurants to choose from and thus many ways of spending the cash you have...
About the events that took place so far--there was an official interaction day where you get onto the stage for your "intro"session...and a lot of other things follow that. In the evening you have to perform on stage. Something like a song, dance or skit. Loved the experience of preparing for it with my hostelmates. Then we had freshers' party like in any other college. Then we had an IH party in the hostel, again for the freshers. Then came hostelday programmes...dance and singing competitions, sports etc etc. It all ended up in a mess!! so the whole thing got cancelled. Then there was farewell for those leaving the hostel this year and i missed this one.
We have a curfew time called 10.30 pm but its just there. Nobody cares. So again you make use of it...clubbing, eating out, late night movies and such. Not that everyone in IH is like that but some are. And also not that people go to the extremes of doing all this.
Once you get adjusted to the place..its fine. If you dont feel like its the right place and that you wont be able to adjust--LEAVE! Also if things are not going alright--Leave!...Thats it. If you can live your life and if you think things happening around you are not going to bother you...STAY PUT WHERE YOU ARE!
There is lot more to say about this place and all that will be part of the posts that follow.
"This isn't good or bad. It's just the way of things. Nothing stays the same. "
A place where nothing is impossible. That would be the only line required to explain it all. The fact that I decided to write about the hostel first is because this place means a lot to me in a lot of ways. For anyone who has lived in the IH, it would be the same. It all started with me not getting admission into the girls' hostel. Therefore I ended up in the IH which is co-ed(yea those who didnt know it was--Dont raise your eyebrows!) and is mainly for the foreign students and NRI's. The day i got admitted to room#15, I met my roommate Janet Carol Machado!(amazing name isnt it?)...she was pretty cool and even met another first year there--Yugasree Setra. It was just the three of us then. I met them when i went to see my room. After i had bought stuff for my room i came back to the hostel, but I had to wait for my roomie to get back from outside. So met a senior and went down to the mess for dinner with her. That was the only moment in the hostel when i felt like "oh, I'm new to this place". And the same night we three were called into the same senior's room for our first "intro". There were like 5-6 seniors in the room and we had to introduce ourselves. They seemed like a pretty okay lot. And that is when I met another first year--Kanta Ganguly. And that is also when I found out that my roomie and Yugasree had already created some chaos in the hostel. All this continued..for sometime. More first years came and on the day college started, 3rd September, we had something called a common session where the first year boys and girls have their "intro" session. Dont know why but all these sessions bored me a lot. I even remember a senior once asking me "you dont talk much?"...that was only because I was bored. No straight questions to anyone...no specific person being targeted...and before you proceed to answer, somebody has already started! So that was about the sessions in general. Oh we also had this dresscode thingy that we should only wear salwar-kameez. Now that was one thing that annoyed me. Not that i am not used to wearing salwar-kameez...but it used to be very irritating to handle your dupatta when you are working in class...architecture! Hostel started off with all this and later proceeded to stranger stuff....... I got a single room somewhere around the end of October and also internet connection! Another thing about the hostel is...my sleep routines got messed up badly and a lot of other problems along with it. In many ways IH was different from other hostels in the country. It was just DIFFERENT! Some people look at you because you are from IH and some avoid you!
About the mess food---it sucks! And considering this comes from the first year mess prefect...its close to truth. Thus you end up eating out quite a lot and trying out new places. I must say that bangalore has amazing places to eat at. A whole range of restaurants to choose from and thus many ways of spending the cash you have...
About the events that took place so far--there was an official interaction day where you get onto the stage for your "intro"session...and a lot of other things follow that. In the evening you have to perform on stage. Something like a song, dance or skit. Loved the experience of preparing for it with my hostelmates. Then we had freshers' party like in any other college. Then we had an IH party in the hostel, again for the freshers. Then came hostelday programmes...dance and singing competitions, sports etc etc. It all ended up in a mess!! so the whole thing got cancelled. Then there was farewell for those leaving the hostel this year and i missed this one.
We have a curfew time called 10.30 pm but its just there. Nobody cares. So again you make use of it...clubbing, eating out, late night movies and such. Not that everyone in IH is like that but some are. And also not that people go to the extremes of doing all this.
Once you get adjusted to the place..its fine. If you dont feel like its the right place and that you wont be able to adjust--LEAVE! Also if things are not going alright--Leave!...Thats it. If you can live your life and if you think things happening around you are not going to bother you...STAY PUT WHERE YOU ARE!
There is lot more to say about this place and all that will be part of the posts that follow.
"This isn't good or bad. It's just the way of things. Nothing stays the same. "
Friday, May 2, 2008
blah- part 1
i am so confused that i dont know how to start...this is like after so long!!! almost a year!! phew...finally i'm here again...knew i should get back to this sometime but never felt like...with so many things going around...well people, this is going to be a general post.nothing about my country. nothing about any such topic. this is going to be something very very general. so well...i'm in bangalore now.yes the garden city. i am supposed to be doing bachelors in architecture at bms college of engg here. but due to some reasons i will be doing it only from sept 2008. dont ask me what i'm doing right now because that question is currently invalid. :I after coming here...learned a lot...did a lot of new things...met a whole lot of new ppl. for the posts thats going to follow this one..i'll be just looking back at these 8-9 months in india. hostel..architecture...partying...people...bangalore...and then the rest---everything will be included.
Friday, June 8, 2007
White Beauty!
There is only one materialistic existence dedicated to a human emotion....and that too the most beautiful emotion, love............The Taj Mahal!!!.........Breathless!!! That would be the right word to express myself the moment the white beauty came into sight from the Agra Fort at Sikandra. Shahjahan built the beautiful Taj Mahal for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. At the end of his life, Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son, Aurangzeb, in the fort, a punishment which might not seem so harsh, considering the luxury of the fort. It is rumored that Shah Jahan died in Muasamman Burj, a tower with a marble balcony with an excellent view of the Taj Mahal. The white beauty would have been gleaming in a golden aura at the sunset....the most beautiful time of the day!! The love he had for his wife has been explicitly potrayed as the greatest token of love.....the Taj Mahal.......Situated between lush green gardens....stands this magnificient monument that keeps opening up its layers of surprises as one climbs onto its complete whiteness....floral carvings on the marble entrances....the inner chamber where rests Shahjahan and Mumtaz...........everything has been carefully sculpted.......and even now....the glory of this great monument appeals to global population who have seen better technology and steel and glass......but this historical marvel will always rule them out!
There is one more site that hasn't got as much recognition or apprecation as the Taj...but is as beautiful as Taj Mahal is.....The Baha'i Mandir!!!.....White marble structure...carved and curled into a blooming lotus....with nine pools around it.......Step inside this beauty and you shall feel like the luckiest of all...............silence....................away from the cries and shouts of the world...away from all the human-like world! You feel like you are silently...peacefully....stealthily...sailing away in a lotus.......the "white lotus".........every moment you spend there will be like the most beautiful moments of your life...with no bars to thoughts or freedom!!!.......
White is the theme and life of both these beauties...a colour so pure...serene...and without flaws....fresh and bright at the time of sunrise.....gorgeous and golden at the time of sunset!!! Peaceful yet arresting in the moonlight!!! Thats the power of this calm colour....white......its a sign of victory for some.....its a sign of loss for others....its a sign of love for some...its a sign of emptiness for others.....its all at the same time...white!!!....The most colourful colour with no colour of its own......it lends colour to your life!!!
There is one more site that hasn't got as much recognition or apprecation as the Taj...but is as beautiful as Taj Mahal is.....The Baha'i Mandir!!!.....White marble structure...carved and curled into a blooming lotus....with nine pools around it.......Step inside this beauty and you shall feel like the luckiest of all...............silence....................away from the cries and shouts of the world...away from all the human-like world! You feel like you are silently...peacefully....stealthily...sailing away in a lotus.......the "white lotus".........every moment you spend there will be like the most beautiful moments of your life...with no bars to thoughts or freedom!!!.......
White is the theme and life of both these beauties...a colour so pure...serene...and without flaws....fresh and bright at the time of sunrise.....gorgeous and golden at the time of sunset!!! Peaceful yet arresting in the moonlight!!! Thats the power of this calm colour....white......its a sign of victory for some.....its a sign of loss for others....its a sign of love for some...its a sign of emptiness for others.....its all at the same time...white!!!....The most colourful colour with no colour of its own......it lends colour to your life!!!
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