Dancing In The Dark

'Anna'tomy Of A Disaster 2 !!

2011-12-30T23:39:00.000-08:00

A government acting under extreme pressure and stern time constraints. All political parties acting against their natural disinclination to formulate a law that would act as a deterrent to their debauched ways. A 'civil society' movement that lost the plot a long time back. A popular leader who got distracted from his pithy message on corruption by talking about 'flogging' and 'slapping'. And an apathetic populace who was too busy holiday shopping. It was the recipe for a disaster. And that's exactly what the Indian parliament hurtled to in the last week of 2011. A disaster !!

I had mentioned in my previous post, "Haste if of the devil". That's where I'd like to start this time. The Anna movement generated unprecedented support in it's crusade against corruption at the beginning of 2011. They did a stupendous job of it. But once they had flagged the issue they should have been a little more patient. Threatening the government every few weeks with fasts and rallies was never going to help.

The government rather reluctantly introduced it's version. They hoped to jam it through by the stipulated deadline. The idea I believe was to put anything out there that they could term the 'Lokpal Bill'. It didn't matter how weak or ineffectual it'd be.

They were able to jam the bill through in the lower house as they had the numbers. But the sailing was not to be so smooth in RS. Congress knew they wouldn't be able to muster the votes in the RS. So they decided to filibuster. What completely beats me is why did they shy away from a vote? In a democracy it's not uncommon for a bill to be defeated in the parliament/congress. It simply means that the bill doesn't have the confidence of the house in it's current form. It should be deliberated further and could be passed with some concessions/amendments. I fail to understand why the Congress considered this vote as a referendum on their governance. I guess after the FDI debacle Congress didn't want to lose another one.

The opposition led by the BJP insisted on sitting through the night and deliberating the 180+ amendements to the bill. But their brouhaha the following day made clear their sole intention. And that was to defeat the bill in RS, claim that the government didn't have the support of the House and the confidence of the people and demand fresh elections. The Congress is definitely culpable. There is no doubt about that. But the BJP cannot be exonerated in any way either. The Indian electorate is stuck between a rock and a very very hard place.

This was a defeat for everyone. The government, the opposition, Team Anna and the People of India. An opportunity that had arrived after many decades was squandered.

I once read a cynical journalist write, "Politicians everywhere are the same. To believe that they'd think about the people before they'd think about their own good is hopelessly naive". Unfortunately our politicians vindicated his remarks.

'Anna'tomy Of A Disaster !!

2011-08-24T19:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Anna,

Hope you're well! As well as someone who's not eaten for 10 days can be !! I write to you with a purpose so let me get straight to it.

Granted that the current government and the prior governments have been infested with the fungus of corruption. Granted that their moral fabric is steeped in malfeasance. And granted that their profiteering ways and complete disdain for the law is an utter abomination. And I know that people, myself included, are fed up of this mess. It's high time we act. But we should be cautious lest we commit a blunder. As they say, 'Haste is of the Devil'.

Now I don't know how big a fan are you of our constitution. But I'm sure you'd know that the Indian constitution was chalked out over a period of close to 3 years by a Constituent Assembly that comprised of people from a multitude of backgrounds, regions, religions and communities. The idea was to have a constitution that would consider the aspirations of each and every Indian, no matter their community, no matter their religion and no matter their gender. I wrote about it a little more here if you wish to read.

Now during this period there were many points of contention amongst the members of the Constituent Assembly. Disagreements about the Gandhian idea of village panchayats, affirmative actions and the status of Indian languages especially the idea of an 'official' language. The CA spent days and weeks and months deliberating these points. Spent a lot of time understanding every one's point of view and their concerns. Only then they came to a decision.

Now even though these are very important facets of our constitution they are still not as important and as far-reaching as the one that you are proposing. If these were debated and deliberated for months on end, don't you think the law that you're proposing needs a little more discussion? More and more people should read and discuss it. In my occupation we have a dictum that says 'the more the number of eyes that look at a piece of code, the more robust and less buggy it is'.

You've mobilized the entire populace of the nation. To spur into action so many people, people across age groups and people across social stratas, is no mean feat . And to do so in this age is just stupendous. The bumbling government is definitely on the back foot. They are now cognizant of the power of democracy. I'm sure they wouldn't dare go back to their state of lumber and lethargy. Negotiate with them. To get the bill passed in such a short duration and without due deliberation would be unwise. The repercussions of a bill jammed through like this could be severe.

Even if you feel that your version of the bill is 'the perfect one' I implore you to not let the 'perfect' be the enemy of the 'good'. Negotiate with the government.

And before that please have some juice !!!

Regards,

Vk Singh

For You, A Thousand Times Over !!

2011-07-11T23:12:00.000-07:00

Over the last few days I've had many matters vying for my attention. Moving apartments, parents visiting among many other things. But the issues that have taken the maximum toll are the ones pertaining Amir, Hassan, Ali & Baba. 'The Kite Runner' is an engaging tale. An engrossing one really. Amir's guilt, Baba's pride and Hassan's goodness & unflinching loyalty. The story thralls you and makes you feel all these in your gut.

'There is a way to be good again', this phrase from Rahim Khan is the perfect embodiment of the book's theme. That of sin and redemption. Amir gets a chance to atone not just himself but do penance for his father's sin too.

The story's about a lot of other things too. Love, friendship, betrayal, loyalty, shame, remorse & courage.

Baba says 'A boy who can't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up for anything'. Amir doesn't stand up for his friend once and rues it for many many years. He stands by the side while Hassan is scarred for life. His cowardice prevents him from helping his friend and his guilt forces him to drive Hassan & Ali away. He tries to move on but he cannot. Like a bad penny his past keeps turning up.

Baba's character is also an interesting one. On one hand he tells Amir that 'the biggest sin of all is theft. When you lie you steal someone's right to the truth...' and on the other hand never divulges to Hassan & Amir the biggest truth of their lives. As Oscar Wilde said, 'Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask and he'd tell you the truth'. Still Baba's character comes out as a strong one. Most of all when he risks his life to defend the honor of a woman when fleeing Kabul. His guilt engenders good.

The thing that struck me the most about the story was Amir's guilt and remorse. At one point he says 'I understood the nature of my new curse. I was going to get away with it' And that's perhaps a curse of the worst kind. Your guilt gnawing at you and nobody knowing about it. I guess that's the reason he wanted Hassan to hit him when they were at the hill. He had wronged Hassan but didn't get the comeuppance. No one reproached him ever. No one confronted him but his own self. When he's in a hospital bed in Pakistan and Farid tells him 'For you a thousand times over', he breaks down and cries uncontrollably. He remembers what he did to the last person who uttered those words to him.

The story ends with hope. Hope that Amir is able to build a bond with Hassan's son. Hope that one day he'd be able to forgive himself. Hope that one day he'd be able to sleep again!! I have the same hope for myself !!!

Viva La Raza !!!

2011-02-13T14:29:00.000-08:00

Generally I don't write this often. Roughly once a month. I just published a post a few days back but what happened in Egypt recently spurred me into writing another post.

"There are decades where nothing happens; and then there are weeks where decades happen" - these words are quite apropos in describing what transpired in Egypt. A popular uprising usurped the 30 year rule of Hosni Mubarak. In a matter of days the political landscape of the country changed completely.

Scenes in the news showed huge crowds in the streets. Air pregnant with emotion. Joy, tears, ecstasy, euphoria. Nehru said in his famous speech in 1947, "A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance". No other words could be truer in Egypt's context.

Democracy is something the Egyptians would have to wait for. But they've made a start. Democratic institutions take time to be set up and there is a possibility that it may all go awry if the wrong people get the reins of power. But the fear of the unknown cannot stop you from doing what is right.

The Egyptians had a dream, the dream of freedom, the dream of democracy. And they believed in that dream. And when someone believes in something, get excited by an idea then they can achieve it. And that's what the Egyptians did.

What we saw was the triumph of human spirit. The thing that in my opinion makes our species special. The spiritual and mental part of our humanity. Our ability to come together for a purpose and transcend the individual.

Long live this human spirit. And long live freedom.

Viva la razzza !!!

India After Gandhi !!

2011-01-31T23:24:00.000-08:00

I always tell my friends that I don't read as much as I'd like to. I attribute it mainly to the fact that I'm an out-and-about kinda guy. Every single day (even a work day) is packed with so many outdoor activities and there are so many things that I need to follow (like sports, politics, movies, economics, technology etc) that whatever leisure time I get I tend to spend it on these activities.

But over the last month or so I've managed to find the time to read 2 books. The first one was 'Too Big To Fail' which I read en-route to my brother's place in Arkansas (there's not much else you can do on a plane that's not much bigger than a bus !!). That book was just too good to put down. A true page-turner. Its a behind-the-scenes account of the financial meltdown. Awesome awesome read!! I highly recommend it to anyone with even a scintilla of interest in finance & economics.

But this post is for the second book. It's titled 'India After Gandhi'. And if the title didn't make it amply clear it's the story of India after the demise of Gandhi. In the foreword the author rightly points out that all history books in India seem to climax with the independence of India in 1947. We are 60 years past that point. But we don't have a book that chronicles the issues and challenges India has faced since.

This book describes the affair between India and it's destiny after their famous tryst on the 15th Aug 1947. India's problems did not end that day with the attainment of liberty. As the leaders of that time were to find out, they had just started.

The book talks abouts how independence came not to "one" but to "two nations". The anguish that was caused by the partition. Countless people died, countless became refugees, lives changed forever. It details the plight of refugees from both East & West Pakistan. I came to know so many things I had absolutely no idea about.

Then there was the onerous task of including the various "princely states" to the Indian union. It was as the author puts it "the hottest of all the hot potatoes of the time". Also the herculean task of drafting a new constitution. A constitution that had to take into consideration the aspirations of a multitude of communities, religions, classes & regions and had to allay the fears of minorities in a Hindu dominant nation.

In 1952 the first general elections were held. This was a formidable challenge to say the least. The issue of Kashmir was still unsettled in the 50s (remains unsettled till date). The book also talks about how the Congress leaders had always professed the formation of states based on language but how after independence they thought it wouldn't be wise to divide the nation, already marred by a bloody partition, any further . And how they eventually had to give in to the numerous protests in favor of linguistic states. How the leaders of the time handled the Naga rebellion, the Hindu Civil Code and India's foreign policy.

I've been through just one portion of the book up till now. I must say reading it drains you. It's not one of those books you can read for pleasure but a book that you should read nonetheless. I look forward to reading the rest of it !!

If you do too then we should talk afterwards.

For Frodo !!!

2010-11-29T23:38:00.000-08:00

For many months now we've seen the unemployment rate at an all-time high. For more than 2 years now the rate of home foreclosures has been hitting the ceiling. These are tough times for America. Made tougher by a Congress which is broken. At least that's what a majority of the Americans feel.

Most feel that 'politics' is winning over 'policy' when it comes to any issue in Washington. Both political parties seem to be suffering from an acute case of myopia and seem incapable of thinking beyond the 2012 election. What they don't seem to understand is that if they don't work together at this time, if they don't display bipartisanship in solving the plethora of problems facing the country at this time, no matter which party wins in 2012 it would find itself in a much deeper abyss and under tremendous pressure.

To say that the situation is complex would be a big understatement. Some congressmen are fixated on cutting the spending as they don't like the idea of America living beyond its means and owing large amounts of debt to foreign countries. Well it makes sense if you think about it! But others feel that this is not the time for austerity. The economy is in recession, the businesses are not spending and they are not going to as the domestic consumption has fallen. If the govt also tightens its purse strings at this time then the economy would go into a downward spiral in no time. A stalemate ensues.

Its common sense to extend the unemployment benefits to the almost 10% unemployed. When some argue against this by saying that this adds to the govt's spending, that's when you start to lose it. This is one spending the govt must do IMHO!!

Extending the 'Bush Tax Cuts' for the richest 2% Americans is yet another debate raging on in the Congress. Add to all this the numerous problems on the foreign policy front.

Now lets face it. We know that the Republicans and the Democrats have fundamentally different ideologies. That's why they are labelled 'conservatives' and 'liberals'. They cannot completely come together since they follow essentially 2 disparate doctrines about governance. But coming together and reaching some middle ground shouldn't be that hard. After all they've done it in the past right?! They surely can do it again. The country needs it more than ever now!!

Millions of Americans would hope they do come together for the sake of the country's future. So would I !!

For some inspiration the folks in Washington could read the following lines and act with valor. Take some tough decisions even though they may not be the best decisions politically. We need an Aragorn! And a Gandalf. And a Frodo and a Sam!!!

"A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. An hour of woes and shattered shields, when the age of men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight! " - Aragorn

Lets fight !!

Half a Billion Friends but How Many Really LIKE you ?!

2010-10-09T23:25:00.000-07:00

I'm gonna write this post, tiny the url and post it on my Facebook wall. I might tweet it as well. Linked-In perhaps not but I'm certain the link would be my gtalk status for a few days. And what would I be doing when I do all or any of the above. I'd be 'Social Networking'. Well actually..I'd be 'promoting myself' using social networking !! Not that I need any promotion :D

Now one thing we HAVE to mention when we mention social networking is Facebook. Its the only behemoth when it comes to social networking websites.

We've heard & read countless stories about Facebook over the years. Some credible, some incredible. Some inspiring & some downright silly. 'The Social Network' brings us the story behind all these stories. That of Facebook. It's inception and it's combative aftermath. It describes the stunner of an invention that Facebook is.

A little about the movie now. It comes from one of my favorite directors David Fincher. In the past he's given us Se7en, Fight Club and the like. The movie is fast and engaging and in a dimly lit theater it captivates the audience like a deft ballet dancer. It doesn't pull any punches. As a matter of fact it gets the maximum effect for it's jabs through some intelligent & unapologetic dialogs. It's hard to separate fact from fiction in this telling tale but you'd find yourself not caring so much about what is fact and what is not. You can call it a story of pure inspiration or of a jilted lover or of a socially awkward genius or of the pernicious effects of money. It doesn't matter. You'd end up loving it any which way. And yes you'd love the soundtrack too.

Here's my favorite quote from the movie:

Attorney: Okay - no. You don't think I deserve your (full) attention.

Mark Zuckerberg: I think if your clients want to sit on my shoulders and call themselves tall, they have the right to give it a try - but there's no requirement that I enjoy sitting here listening to people lie. You have part of my attention - you have the minimum amount. The rest of my attention is back at the offices of Facebook, where my colleagues and I are doing things that no one in this room, including and especially your clients, are intellectually or creatively capable of doing. [pauses] Did I adequately answer your condescending question?

And then there's the last scene. I'm not gonna spoil it for you. See it and love it!!

A movie like this comes along once in many years. Great drama, great acting and unremitting pace. It's got it all..Don't miss it !!!

And yes needless to say..you don't LIKE this post till you LIKE it on Facebook...LOL

Duniya GOAL Hai !!!

2010-07-07T01:05:00.000-07:00

"Some people think that football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much more important than that." - Bill Shankly

Football encompasses life, death and all that is in between. Its not merely a game. Its a lot more. A whole lot more. At the time it brings unbridled joy to a few it leaves another few misty eyed.

It teaches you how to lose and still not be a loser. Just look at the Ghanaian team. Even after losing the quarter-finals to Uruguay they were the brightest stars of this World Cup. Had their talismanic player Essien been in the fray who knows how far they would have gone!!

120+minute of the match. No time left for another roll of the dice. That penalty kick was IT !! Had Gyan converted that penalty it would have been curtains for Uruguay. But he didn’t. And breathed new life into the crestfallen Uruguayan players & fans. Uruguay went on to win the match in the penalty shoot-out. Shows that life always gives you a second chance. And I’m sure that Gyan more than anyone else would agree with this. He’d be back in 4 years to take his second chance.

Germans beating the Argentinians showed how important team work is. The world was raving about Messi and how he'd run amok this WC. But a bunch of boys (who had collectively not scored as many goals as Messi alone did last season) had other ideas! A great player and his even greater mentor were humbled by a group of boys as well-knit as my mom's sweaters !!

Ask Cardozo of Paraguay and he’d talk about a different lesson. One to the transient nature of life and everything in it. From being on the top of the world one day he went to hiding his face on another. He scored the winning penalty to eliminate Japan but then missed one against Spain. I’m sure his coach would have told him ‘Don't sweat it boy !! This too shall pass’. The good times don't last forever and neither do the bad times.

Ask Brazil and they'd have something else to tell you. 'Your anger is your worst own enemy'. A match they had in their pockets against the Dutch went all awry just because the 'Samba Boys' lost their rhythm and their cool.

And then Puyol showed us in the semi-finals that nothing is impossible (in life) if you put your 'head' to it ;) You see what I did there :D

What a game this football is!! What passion! What emotion!! Someone has rightly said "Ignorance of football is ignorance of life itself " !!

India Burning !!

2010-05-31T23:28:00.000-07:00

I sit in a far-off place, look at the plight of my country and shake my head in disbelief.

Another 100 people died in an incident last week. Some say that it was the work of the Maoists. Some say otherwise. The needle of suspicion has still not settled. Unsurprisingly politics is acting as the spring.

I read about the twin sisters, Shirin and Sharmin, who died in the accident. They were going to visit Mumbai for the first time and were mighty excited. Sadly they took the journey of no return. Anyone who outcries for the human rights of the Maoists or tries to romanticize their rebellion should have had one look at the girls' cherubic faces. Smashed by metal and smeared with blood they lay there in the wreckage.

What is this? What's wrong with these people ?!

Be it the "fake democracy" that Ms. Roy has been carping about. Or be it the excesses committed by the govt in the past. No reason is reason enough to do this. No cause is good enough for expiation.

Now we have to understand that we are a relatively 'young' nation. We are bound to have some problems. Every nation does. The US even after 150 years of its independence had problems of segregation and racial discrimination. I mention this since their situation then was quite akin to our situation now. The blacks were left to struggle in the dungeons of poverty & segregation while the whites enjoyed the fruits of the nation's progress. Similar reasons have been cited by the Maoists for their struggle.

What we need to see though is how they came out of it. Not by killing policemen & sabotaging trains. Not by burning bridges either. But through acts of non-violent protests and civil disobedience. Their acts engendered crisis situations which highlighted the inequities between the two races and entailed immediate action by the govt.

There were protests like the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Greensboro sit-ins. The whole movement was largely non-violent. And they did it in the face of severe oppression and violence from the whites.

Call me naive but I think that Gandhi guy had the idea right. So did King Jr.

An eye for an eye would leave the whole world blind !!

But who's gonna tell the Maoists ?! Ms. Roy ?!

Hazaaron Khwaahishein Aisi..

2010-03-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

"Hazaaron khwahishen aisi ki har khwahish pe dum nikle...

bahut nikle mere armaan lekin fir bhi kam nikle"....

"A thousand desires/ambitions I have and each could consume my entire life,

A single lifetime would not suffice for the desires I have in my heart"...

I hope Mirza Ghalib is not turning in his grave after reading my translation/interpretation of his most famous couplet. I'm merely trying to help those who don't know his language very well !

No. I am not re-assessing or re-setting the goals of my life. That phase of life hasn't come yet. I think its still a few months away :p

But every time I read/hear these lines I think of all the things I want to do/be in life.

It's not that I've been all over hell's half acre and haven't figured out what I want to do. It's just that I want to do a myriad of things. I want to continue doing what I'm doing but I want do a lot more. Time or rather the lack of it would be the only dampener on my plans.

I am not one to brag but I am pretty well read now. I have completed two degrees but I think there is place to hang one more on my wall. An MBA from a reputed b-school might fit the bill.

I also want to go for the Indian Civil Services. I want to be a part of the solution and not the problem. I want to be the change that I want to see. I want to cut the red long tape of bureaucracy. "I want to be the idealistic civil servant" is what I'm getting at.

But here's the tricky part. If I do any of the above would I be able to put to good use my polemical skills which I can do if I go for a Juris Doctor. Not sure.

Anyways. Enough about professions I want to be a crackerjack at :D

There are other non-professional things on my wish list too.

First is to start a kick-ass 'Fight Club' with Tyler. Another is to get captured as a POW, escape to Tibet and meet the Dalai Lama.

Get my hands on a time machine and hurtle away to the Wild West at 88 miles/hr. Rechristen myself as 'Mr. Eastwood' once there and settle the unfinished business I have with 'Mad Dog' Tannen :O

I'd also want to meet Kate Winslet on a ship somewhere along the way. Oh yeah..and I wish to run the length and breadth of the US ala Mr. Gump as and when time permits.

Too much too ask for ?! I sure think so..

But we've got only one life. This is the only chance. Got to do it ALL in this one itself !!

The Homecoming !!

2010-02-19T21:38:00.000-08:00

"It's a funny thing about comin' home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You'll realize what's changed is you" - Benjamin Button, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Home indeed has not changed. I've come back after almost 2 years but it's just as warm as before. My bed seems to have shrunk though. Or perhaps I have grown a little.

Parents as well are very much the same. Mom is as nostalgic as ever and Dad is as equable as ever.

Mom's food is as flavorful as before if not more. I don't miss all the meat I had grown fond of. Starbucks 'Chai Latte' has nothing on her Chai. I've gone from 1 cup a day to 4 cups a day. Surely she has a secret ingredient that has me hooked. The 'Chole Bhathore' at the local shop are just as greasy and I enjoy them just as much :D

The city too seems very much the same. The weather's way more hospitable than the frigid cold of NY. The roads are a little more dusty than before but I'm told they would get better by October. October is when the city holds the Commonwealth Games.

The malls and markets are just as packed. Just as colorful. The movie ticket prices have surely gone up. Refreshingly so has the level of cinema.

My buddies are as delightful as ever. Though some have now become the lesser half from being the only half :D

Sachin's game is as sublime as ever. He packs a punch just like before :D

Everything seems so much the same. This is my comfort zone. Still only in a single week I'm ready to go back.

Do I miss NY? I guess I do.

Would I miss home as soon as I'm back there? I guess I would.

Letter To The Prime Minister

2010-01-28T00:58:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

Hope you are having a pleasant 2010.

It’s that time of the year again. IPL is coming and seems like the only thing our country (its people, its celebrities, its bloggers, its media-men) can talk about is that. Feels just like yesterday when all we could talk of was whether to provide security for the IPL matches or for the country’s general elections. We decided to go for the latter. I think that was a good choice.

Now the tomfoolery returns. This time it transcends the border. Pak players were invited for the bidding @IPL. Then snubbed. You know the deal.

It has caused a lot of umbrage across the border. Our nation is in a frenzy too. It's all we can talk about. Some of us are expiatory. Some are not. SRK comes out and claims that it was shameful that no Pak player was bid for. Mind you that he himself c0-owns one of the teams and could have bid for them if he so wanted to. The Home Minister says that he wants to see some Pak players play in IPL3. That guy Modi says that it was the teams’ decision and there was no pressure from the government. Now that's what gets my goat. Why was there no pressure from the Indian government?!

Why can't we present a united front on this issue to Pak and the ICC. Why can’t we (the government, the people, any private franchise like the IPL) stand together and say that its just not done. We are not going to play Pak in any sport or host their players unless the terror stops and stern actions are taken against the culprits. Any sporting ties with Pakistan should be severed for some time. Have we forgotten the pain of 26/11? When they killed those 200 odd people they didn't just kill them. They killed their families too. Their dreams, their aspirations too. Just ask someone who lost a loved one.

Just to be clear I have no hatred whatsoever against the people/players of Pakistan. Contrarily I have always believed that any Indian who hates anyone across the border should realize that these are the people closest to us in terms of their race, color, culture and so many other things. We both are very much the same. They do not hate us. Neither should we. Just because some loony terror groups cause us pain doesn't mean we condemn their whole nation.

But we can’t have their people kill our people and then have their players come in and make money hand over fist by playing in our country (esp the cricketers). We have to push their government (if there is one) every which way possible to act against the terror groups. Hitting them financially is one way. Any thing they utter about the IPL episode hindering the peace talks is a load of bull crap. The government establishment in Pak (if there is one) wants no peace. They've never wanted peace. All they want and have ever wanted is a diversion that takes the focus off their incompetence and ineptitude to do anything for their people.

The same goes for Australia. Till the time the Australian govt doesn't take action against the perpetrators of violence against Indians we should not play them or have their sportsmen play in India. They cant keep denying that the attacks are not racist. They have to redress the rogue nature of their people.

We should issue a strong statement to both the countries. For once BCCI's clout can be put to some good use.

Anyways I was a little busy over the last month or so. But work is better now. Give me a call if you feel like. Btw who are you rooting for this time?

Regards

Vk Singh

War And Peace

2009-12-31T13:18:00.000-08:00

“Only the dead have seen the end of war”.

As the world debates Obama’s decision on the Afghanistan War and anticipates the result of the troop surge there, I cannot help but acknowledge the veracity of these words.

The Iraq War has ended. The war in Afghanistan is very much on. One in Iran looms.

People dying virtually every day in Pakistan. Radical religious monomaniacs wrapping themselves in dynamite and blowing up innocent people. Maoist violence in India. Thousands vanquishing as a result. LTTE insurgency in SL that lasted decades, killing thousands. Genocides in Tibet. Israel-Palestine conflict. Iran-Iraq War. World War I, World War II. The list is endless. The casualties uncountable. The destruction unfathomable.

US may come back blaring the victory trumpet from Afghanistan but they’d forever remain leery of the Islamic nations. Who knows where the next threat could come up from? Iran for one surely hates the American guts. On the other hand Taliban could win the war but what can they possibly do that would make their people's lives better in the face of sanctions and isolation from the rest of the world. They'd then look for a new target to vent out their anger/frustration. Either way the war won't end.

If the Maoists’ secessionist tactics work and they get autonomy would they be able to prosper severed from mainland India? What would Pakistan gain by accquiring control of Kashmir when they can't do anything for the well-being of its people. No one is going to budge and only a few more million are going to die.

Obama posited in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, "For make no mistake, Evil does exist in the world. A non-violent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies. Negotiations cannot convince al Qaeda's leaders to lay down their arms. To say that force may sometimes be necessary is not a call to cynicism -- it is a recognition of history; the imperfections of man and the limits of reason."

This is perhaps a Commander-In-Chief justifying his war with glib speech or perhaps this is an erudite man making a very profound statement. Take your pick. I think it is the latter.

What a conundrum we are in. War is necessary for the upkeep of Peace.

New generations living in fear. Children struggling in refugee camps when they should be in schools building their future. Fathers burying their young sons. Ailing kids. Mothers with nothing to feed them. Houses razed to the ground in the calm of the night. Nothing but mere rubble on the streets. Nothing but mere pain in the heart. We better get used to this.

Oh and btw, a Happy New Year to All !!

Sachiiiiin....Sachin !!

2009-11-05T16:55:00.000-08:00

A billion prayers go up to the heavens whenever he walks into bat. A billion heads come down in dejection whenever his wicket falls. They dance deliriously when he flicks one past square leg. They chant cumulatively when he puts one past point. And the opposition watches wistfully when he plays the trademark drive.

Sachin’s 17000 ODI runs couldn't’ have come at a better time. I had been itching to write for the last few days but nothing fired my imagination till his innings of 175 this morning. I knew a post on Sachin would come sooner or later on my blog as he is one of the very few men who I admire and idolize. Today it is then.

I am going to eulogize him unabashedly in this post. So if you are not a complete Sachin fanatic like I am, this post is not for you :P I'd probably not say anything that has not already been said but this post is my 'two cents'.

From the day he was hit by a Younis bouncer and batted on with a blood stained shirt to the day he mauled the Aussies in Sharjah. From the day he smacked Akhtar all over the park to the day he gave cricket its most poignant moment (when he scored a century against Kenya coming back from his father's funeral). The 'Little Master' has gathered accolades unparalleled by any one else in the cricketing world.

Barry Richards has called him ‘Cricket’s God’. And God he is indeed.

The highest number of runs in both Tests and ODIs. The highest number of 100s in both Tests and ODIs. It doesn’t get any better than that. He is the absolute BEST. He IS the GOD of cricket. Period.

What’s remarkable about the man and the thing that I personally admire the most is that in spite of these histrionics he is still as humble as a child. Never has he got embroiled in any unpleasant incident on or off the field. Even as far less cricketers have instigated him time and again he has maintained his calm. Be it the overly-aggressive/abusive Aussies or the extra-zealous Pakistanis. They have all tried to disconcert him on the field with unkind words and gestures. But he has never stooped to their level. I think this comes from the fact that deep within he knows that he is far better than anyone else on the field. Far far better. So much better that no one even comes within sniffing distance. He sure knows it. He doesn't show it though. And that's what's great about the man.

The same bowlers’ appreciation off the field is testimony to this. Have a look here.

Needless to say young cricketers can learn a lot from him. His impeccable technique, unshakable concentration and unquestionable dedication. But more than anything else they can learn humility and dignity from him. They can learn how not to let success get to their heads.

I could go on and on till the time hell freezes over. I guess even beyond that. Such is his stature.

The world would applaud adoringly when he finally decides to leave international cricket. That is if ever it happens. I along with a billion others would wish that day never comes !!

I'm gonna shout till my throat goes hoarse "Sachiiin...Sachin" !!!

P.S. I know I have used a lot of superlatives/exaggerations/timeworn-cliches here. But then whats love if it's not corny ;) And we all love Sachin. Don't we ?!

Streets of Philadelphia !!

2009-10-05T01:51:00.000-07:00

So this weekend I saw the movie ‘Philadelphia’ for like the tenth time. I loved it for like the tenth time. Having seen it numerous times already, I don't really know why I decided to watch it again. Maybe I was caught up in a little nostalgia. Maybe I was missing Philly too much !!

Some of you may have seen the movie. Others may have not. To those of you who have not, I’d suggest you watch it at the first opportunity. To those of you who have, you’d know what I am talking about.

Tom Hanks is remarkable in the movie. I think he gives his best performance here. He plays the role of an AIDS afflicted patient with the sangfroid of a Sachin Tendulkar batting on 99. His portrayal of the battered Andrew Beckett is exceptional. If God himself were to come down and play the role I don’t think he’d be able to a much better job. Hanks makes you feel his pain vicariously. He makes you believe that the pain is real, the anguish, the desperation is real. To put it in broad strokes, he's done a tremendous job and I can’t think of anyone who would have done it better. Watch the clip above and you’d know.

A little about the movie now. Hanks works for a law firm and is one of their most promising attorneys. But he’s sabotaged by his employers when they find out that he's carrying AIDS and is a homosexual. More than the infection it's his sexual orientation that his employers can't handle. From there on, it’s a tale of Hanks’ struggle against this discrimination. Also about the change of heart that Denzel Washington (Hanks’ attorney) goes through during the case. How he goes from being a homophobe to pulling all stops out to win the case for Hanks.

The movie was ground-breaking when it came out. AIDS and homosexuality were things that were not talked about overtly. Making a mainstream Hollywood movie on those issues was a gamble. But it paid-off. And since then many directors have followed suit.

A slight digression. Well, not really !! I was in Canada some time back and witnessed a gay parade in Toronto. Thousands thronged the streets cheering those who were part of the procession. The crowd was celebrating and rejoicing with them. Some of the crowd was there to merely look at the cavalcade of oddly & scantily clad men /women. But I'm sure there were many who were in attendance to support 'Gay Rights'.

When I think about it I feel that the gathering there was a perfect microcosm of our society. Through the years some have come to accept homosexuality while others have not. And they won't. Some go to the extent of labeling homosexuals as 'criminals' (like many of my countrymen). Not too long ago I read about the furore in India over a High Court ruling that decriminalized homosexuality.

We as a society, you an me have certain ethos, at times certain religious beliefs that preclude us from accepting the behavior and lifestyle of homosexuals. They are different from us in their sexual preferences. Perhaps its not possible for us to respect/accept that. But there is one other thing that we can inculcate. Tolerance. We don't have to embrace them or champion their cause. But we don't need to cringe at them either. We don't need to ostracize them. Just as we tolerate people from different religions (or do we?), can't we tolerate people with sexual orientation different than ours? Think about it. Imo they HAVE to be given the same respect as anyone else in the society but tolerating/accepting them as part of the social milieu would be a start.

"Respect" and "Tolerance" are the keywords here. And the good thing is that the latter can occur without the former. Don't approve/respect their behavior if you can't. But don't loathe them too.

At a time when we have countless other problems like poverty, nuclear armament, pollution & climate change in the world, should homosexuality be our biggest concern ?! Lets take on the other issues first and then worry about a guy/girl who sways the other way.

I end with the most eloquent defense of tolerance and freedom that I have ever read.

"I disapprove of what you say but I'd defend to death your right to say it" - Evelyn Beatrice Hall

Lets try to do that !!

P.S. Two dedications this time ;)

First one is for my 'Big Bro'. Its his birthday on the 6th. Funny thing with him. He doesn't seem to get older, he just gets wiser :) Have a great day broda !!

Second dedication is for a my good friend from Pakistan, Aatir, who recently informed me that he's getting married come February. His temporary insanity of love is definitely curable by marriage ;-) Dude, just hang in there till then :p

24 Till I Die !!

2009-09-05T01:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, I want to be 24 till I die. 18 worked alright for Mr. Adams, but I'd prefer to be a good 6 years older. He had his reasons, I have mine.

When I was 18, I was in the second year of my college. Even though my parents have always been of the 'unstinting' and ‘he’s the youngest, let him spend as he wishes’ kind, I was still cash-strapped on most occasions. Now money is not the most important thing in life. I know that. People say it's Love. And I agree. The unfortunate thing was that I was in love with money...too many things to buy, too little money at hand. Now, that I am 24. And working. Well, yeah you infidels ! I am ;) And doing decently well at that. Staying in one of the costliest cities of the world, the money is still not enough for all the things that one could want, but its way better than what it was when I was 18. Whole another thing that I don’t desire a lot of things now. At least not the ones that money can buy. Refer 'Dad, I’m a Socialist'. So, there we go.

TwentyFour 1 – Eighteen 0.

Having broached the topic of ‘love’ in the very beginning let me take it a little further. Love of the lucre has been right up there on my list. Not far behind is, yes you’ve guessed it right, Girls. And mostly girls older than me ;) I still remember the time when I went absolutely crazy for a girl, only to find out that I was 18 and she was 21. I also remember that damsel-in-distress who I wanted to be the rescuer of. Sadly I was 20, she was 23. If I had a dime (even a cent) for every time this has happened, I would easily beat Warren Buffet to be the richest man around. Sigh... So as I was saying, due to this age barrier I couldn't hit on these swans. Well now that I am 24, I don’t have that problem any more. 24 is the perfect age. Anyone more than 24, I don’t want to hit on them anyways. Anyone less than 24 is now fair game !!

My four elder sisters are going to come after me with large steak-knives if they read this, so if this is the last post you see from me for a long time to come, please be the good samaritan and inform my parents. They’d appreciate it.

TwentyFour 2 – Eighteen 0

Another thing that I love about life at 24 is the freedom that I have. This partly stems from the fact that I am staying alone now. Since I'm away from my family I can be my own master. Stay out till late in the night, sometimes till early morning. Have a few beers here, there..everywhere!! The party just doesn’t stop. Needless to say I couldn’t drink when I was 18. Plus staying with my parents didn’t help. I remember cutting short many an outings with friends after getting a call from Dad demanding that I come home immediately.

TwentyFour 3 – Eighteen 0

3-0

Now that’s a margin comfortable enough to win a soccer match. And if it's good enough for my deities then it's good enough for me !! I have a few more reasons but they'd all come out in good time. Till then, Keep it real!!

P.S. This post is dedicated to my sister whose birthday it is today. Happy Birthday Sistah ;)

The Smile Train

2009-08-08T12:55:00.000-07:00

A ‘Smile’ is a small word but a it has big impact. In spite of knowing its importance, how seldom do we use it !! Frugal as we are with it, imagine the plight of those who cannot afford one.

Imagine not being able to smile at that special girl you see in the hallway each day. Imagine not being able to express your happiness at the gift your boyfriend just gave you. Imagine not cracking up at the funny antics of 'Laurel n Hardy' or 'Tom n Jerry'. Imagine not being able to smile ever in your life. Scary, eh? Maybe now you’d not be so stingy with those smiles.

Still there are countless kids across the world who live through this all their life. And the cause of their affliction are 'clefts'. Clefts are pandemic in many developing countries of the world. Millions are suffering with unrepaired clefts. As a consequence of these clefts they cannot speak properly. They're not allowed in schools and lead a life of isolation, humiliation and abject misery.

Yi Yun, a small girl in China lived through 11 years of this. Abandoned by her parents, unable to communicate and tormented by the society, she led a life of neglect and despondence. For 11 years she had no friends, for 11 years she was alone. Really alone !! But her life changed. The Smile Train arranged a cleft surgery for the girl, after which she was able to go to school. With training she also started to speak coherently. Some of her first words were a ‘Thank You" to her sugeon.

This is one of the numerous stories that I have received in emails since last summer, the time I had made a small contribution to the organization. The surgery didn't just put a smile on her face, but it puts a smile on my face ever so often.

I got an apartment recently and would probably get a car sometime soon too. As have most of you. These things make us happy and that's what they are meant to do. But its something that’s a given every day of our lives. Every time I’d get into the car, I know it’d give me pleasure to drive it around. The leather upholstery, the mean speed it gets to in 6 seconds, the awesome stereo system and what not.

But the kind of smile that the The Smile Train gives me is so much better. In fact it’s the best because it catches me off-guard. There I am going through the motions of my perfunctory life, oblivious to the fact that there is life outside work and in comes this email with a picture of a kid whose life The Smile Train changed. Sometimes it’s the only sunshine I see during the day. Never discount the element of surprise :)

Friends, if any of you would like to make a contribution please check out this website. You can make a one time contribution or a monthly one. That's my ulterior motive of writing this piece anyways. Also, it would be great if you could share the website's link with your friends.

The Smile Train

info@smiletrain.org

You can contact me too if you'd like any other information about the same :

vk.singhh@gmail.com

I exhort you to make this investment. The ROI is great. I can bear testimony to that ;)

Iran, Tiananmen 2.0

2009-07-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

This video of a young woman dying on the street has become the defining symbol of the rebellion in Iran. It's a rebellion where a government has turned on it's own citizens and is killing them without a scintilla of guilt or remorse. A rebellion where young innocent students are being killed unconscionably by the government's forces. A rebellion where opposition leaders are being house arrested to prevent them from stoking the protests any more. A rebellion where numerous journalists have been apprehended and harassed in order to choke the flow of news and information from the country.

Perhaps the last time the world witnessed such high-handed treatment meted out by a government to it's own people was in 1989 at the Tiananmen Square in China. Many parallels have been drawn between the two rebellions over the last few weeks.

Over the last week or so, the protests in Iran have died down. The government's crackdown on the protesters seems to have worked. The demonstration rallies have been few and not as massive as the earlier ones. Perhaps the rebellion is over too. But I'm sure it is going to change the situation in Iran in not so distant future.

Down the years the rebellion in Iran would be remembered for two main reasons.

For one it would be remembered for the brazen way in which the government stole it's own people's election. How a candidate who was immensely popular and the favorite to win (even was reported to be winning by 2/3rd majority votes at a time) suddenly lost by almost 11 million votes is beyond comprehension.

Second and more importantly the rebellion would be remembered for the role that 'Social Media' has played in it. As the Iranian govt blocked all news agencies to prevent them from reporting what was going on in the country and restricted the movement of reporters (even deported some foreign reporters to their home countries), the people of Iran found a novel way of letting the world know of the atrocities they were being subjected to. They found a new way to plan protests and discuss strategies. They used social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and Youtube extensively to make the world aware of their cause.

Iranian Twitterers, many writing in English, posted photos of huge demonstrations and bloodied protesters, detailing crackdowns on students at Tehran University. At one moment in time, it had become such a movement that Twitter postponed maintenance scheduled for early morning, California time, which was midday in Iran.

Just look at this link and you'd realize the extent to which Twitter was and is still being used for the protests. Give it a minute and see the number of new posts that it shows you at the top of the page. You'd find some spine chilling stories of the venom spewn by the riot police and militia in Tehran and other cities.

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23iranelection

You can also look here to view some images from the protests.

This rebellion has shown us what Social networking websites can achieve for us. They're not merely a way to share pics of your latest trip or a way to tell your friends what phone you bought recently. They are a great platform to come together for a cause. Surely this would go down in history as one of the biggest achievements of 'Social Media'.

People all across the globe have shown their solidarity for the rebellion in Iran. Players of the Iranian national soccer team wore arm bands to show their support and concern for their people when they played a WC qualifier match in South Korea a few weeks back. They were dismissed from the national team a consequence. U2 recently performed in Barcelona and showed their support to the dissidents' cause. Have a look here. Outside Iran numerous people are in constant touch with Iranians and helping them send information out to the rest of the world. They are going beyond the typical shows of support by setting up proxy IPs and trying to confuse the Iranian security services. Leaders all over the world have condemned the actions of the Iranian government.

Come to think of it. All this would not have been possible if it were not for these social networking sites. People outside Iran would have remained oblivious to the happenings there.

Hopefully the Iranian government takes notice of its people after this revolution and takes steps to improve their living conditions just the way the Chinese government did after the Tiananmen Square incident in '89. It did not spell the end of Communism in China but it definitely resulted in an improvement in the living conditions of its people. Here's demanding an encore.

Together We Can !!

2009-05-26T17:54:00.001-07:00

Scene 1: Queens, New York 2008

I remember I was quite tired that day. A long and stressful day at work had ended. My uncle called and asked me if I wanted to come over for a BBQ and some drinks. Though I was drained, I decided to go. The prospects of some good food and an enjoyable time with family beckoned. Though it just wasn't on the cards.

Just as I settled down in a cozy chair on the patio, I saw an old lady (probably in her 60's) wandering in the area around the houses. She was really old, I could tell from her rumpled skin. And she was carrying a huge sack on her back. She'd go from one dumping bin to the next looking for something. I didn't know what. I had never seen anything like that before. I had seen people taking garbage out for families but this was different. She was looking for something specific in those bins. Looking thorough the filth and dirt, she kept filling her sack slowly.

I curiously asked my aunt what this old lady was up to. My aunt told me that she was looking through all those dumping bins for empty cans and bottles that people threw away. She'd collect them all and return them to get 5/10 cents on each and that would help her get some food for the night.

My heart went out to her. I was morose. It was awful. I wondered how much worse could perdition be. Didn't feel like eating much after that.

I'm sure you've all come across similar situations some time or the other.

Should she (at her age) have to do that to feed herself? Turns out she does. And if she does then there is something amiss in our world. Something terribly amiss.

Just think about it. On one hand we have people who live a life of extreme indulgence and luxury and on the other there are those who lead a life of want and privation. Those benumbed by the cold when we are enjoying the warmth of our cozy apartments. Those who go without bread when we waste food at our lavish parties.

Scene 2: U of P, Philadelphia 2009

The last week or so was all about graduation and things related. Lots of nostalgia, lots of excitement and lots of friends. Nostalgia of leaving a place that I love. Excitement of moving to a bigger meaner city. And friends who came in from all corners for the BIG send-off from the university.

Amidst all this hubbub I met a friend after almost 4 months. A good friend and an even better human being. Somebody I could sit and let my hair down with. And that's precisely what I did.

We reminisced. Talked a little about studies, some things about work and a lot about life. I somewhere knew where the discussion would eventually end (going by our past discussions), but what I did not know was that this time around we'd both be willing to take it a step further.

One thing led to another and out came the idea of starting a community and a foundation/charity (hopefully very soon).

So yet another charity you'd say. Well, I do not have any response other than saying, 'Yes, yet another charity. This one is our contribution. This one is our attempt to give back to society'.

Another thing that you may ask is the cause that we are supporting. Well, why don't you guys tell us that !!

It could be anything that you bring to us. Anything from supporting a local school in your neighborhood to providing medical services for the indigent to educating the adults in your area. It's your cause and our money. Well partly our money and hugely the money of people who'd support us ;) And we hope to have lots of both.

We have the support of professors at our university. Mentors and friends working in big corporations. Friends in India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Turkey, Korea and the US. And if we have your support as well, we are sure we can achieve a lot.

We'd soon come up with a roadmap for this and also ways for all of us to contribute. Please let us know of any comments, suggestions or ideas that you may have either here or on the following community.

http://www.orkut.com/Main#Community.aspx?rl=cpp&cmm=90235871

We'd soon have a similar group on Facebook and we'd share that link too.

Lets come together for this cause. Lets rise above our personal desires and make a difference.

Lets be the pencil that God uses to write a love letter to this world :) This one's not mine though :)

Run Forrest Run !!

2009-05-11T01:50:00.000-07:00

That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of the university city ;) And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across the bridge into downtown. And I figured, since I have run this far, maybe I'd just run to the end of town. And that's what I did. When I got to the end of town, I figured, since I'd gone this far, I might as well just turn back, keep right on going.

Yeah yeah, I know these are not exactly my own words. You don't need to roll your eyes and make faces :) These words express the niceties of my ideas perfectly and hence they have been used.

I have always had a penchant for running, but it's only recently that I started running here in Philadelphia. On the streets of Philadelphia.

And running on the streets is so much better. Mainly for a couple of reasons.

For one I am not running on a treadmill at Pottruck (read local gym). So I don't find myself at the same spot even after running for more than an hour ;) I make progress, I move ahead and I go places. What's the fun in seeing yourself at the same damn spot even after running for so long? You might as well not do it !! You've got nothing to show for it :p

Second, it's way better than running in the park. I don't go round and round in circles. There are enough thoughts in my head which do that everyday. Thoughts that I want to get rid of but can't. Thoughts that I'd rather not have. Thoughts that keep circling my mind all the time. The last thing I need is me doing the same !!

And so I go downtown. So did George Costanza once. LOL

When you're alone and life is making you lonely
You can always go - downtown
When you've got worries, all the noise and the hurry
Seems to help, I know - downtown

This slight digression was for my fellow Seinfeld fans ;)

So as I was saying, I decided to run downtown.

Run fast and far. Fast because I'm no 'old man' and far because....well it's FAR. Far from home. Far from my worries. Far from everything. Far from life. And if anyone needs to be far (removed) from reality at this point, then I do !!

I run past all my worries, all my tribulations and all my stress. At the start of the run all my thoughts are with me. Thoughts about work/studies, personal thoughts and sundry other ones. All of them running through my mind. But as I run further and further, they seem to lose me one by one. And for good.

The only thought that remains after a while is to make it to my destination and of course not fall flat in front of that cute chick coming from the other side :p

After a while the body says no, but I listen to the mind and keep going. That's what we all do everyday of our lives. Isn't it? Run after our dreams, after our ambitions and aspirations. Even when we feel sick and tired of it, we keep going.

We often pan it and claim that it's a bloody 'Rat Race' of which we don't want to be a part of. But truth be told, the day we'd stop running would be the day we'd stop living.

"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle - when the sun comes up, you'd better be running."

And So, I keep running.

I've seen many people running to the sound of their favorite songs on their ipods. I personally don't like doing that. I have tried it a couple of times but I'd rather hear the sounds of the world around me.

The hubbub at the pubs on the side of the road, the gush of the river when I pass the waterfront, the loud roars of music from the frat houses (when I take a detour) and last but not the least, the mellifluous chatter of the 'american girls' as I pass them. The way they add a zing to their conversation is amazing. It has a singsongy qualiy to it. It's like music to my ears. And I never get tired of hearing it :)

So what I am getting at is that running is amazing and I love it. There is no aspect that I dislike except when I counter people who are faster than me and run past me. But I think that's alright. Because that's life. There would always be people who'd be smarter than you, faster and quicker than you. It hurts to know this but it's true :)

What I'd really like to do soon is a long run on a beach and with vacations here and Florida in sight, that may not be a 'distant' dream (if you see what I did there) !!

I end with these lines from Jesse Owens. "I always loved running... it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs."

The strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs !! And those two would take you FAR !!

P.S. Not that it's any of your business, what title I give to my posts, but this one couldn't be more apt as yours truly's name means the same as For(r)est !! a.k.a Jungle ;)

An Affair with New York

2009-03-16T03:13:00.000-07:00

Studying in Philadelphia, and having some family in New York has helped me form a close bond with both these cities.

In the last two years or so, I have been to NY numerous time. Most of these visits were merely jaunts, with a few somewhat elongated stays and one prolonged fling last summer.

Its a novel spectacle each time that I go there. It shows me things I never knew or imagined it had.

At times I do tell my friends how much better I think NY is as compared to Philly. How much more titillating and exhilarating it is. How I careen uncontrolled on its streets. How blithely is my time spent when I am there. Doing this almost gives me the feeling that I am cheating on Philly. Like cheating on one's wife with another woman !!

Looking at the two cities I realize how stark the differences are.

Philly is like the Mrs. She is demure. She is sedate. Docile too. And scenic. At least the Philly that I know is. The city has some sordid sides but then I've never seen them.

NY is like the mistress. She's ravishing, scintillating and enticing. Perilous and treacherous. She's smokin' hot. She's a siren. She's a seductress.

Profuse with all the carnal pleasures she's got an inexplicable, secretive quality that attracts you to her.

The big billboards and neon lights are much like the mistress' jewels. They dazzle the eye. Her fast pace gives the vicarious feeling of a fling. Gives you an adrenaline rush that you've not known in a long time. You disremember all your worries. You can do nothing but have a good time with her.

She has always lived up to my expectations. Never has she disappointed me.

But then after a few days I grow blase of her glitter. That's when I long for home. That's when I long for Philly.

And so I start the journey back to Philly. Away from NY, away from it's salacity. I tear my temporary NY subway card, the checks and other tidbits for the binges I had while I was there. Its like destroying all evidence that I was out with someone, before going home.

When I reach Philly, she embraces me with open arms. That's the place where I really get a true sense of home. There's a warmth that I can find no place else. I am a happy man when I am there. There's an air of reassurance that surrounds me. Even the sleep is that much more sound. And when I get up in the morning, look out of my room's window, I can see how beautiful she is. Its like waking up next to the Mrs. and realizing that she's all that you'd ever need. She's innocent, she's pretty and she's the one who makes you really happy.

But the dog that I am, I know I'd leave her soon. Probably forever. Go away and ensconce in NY. That's what I did with Delhi !!

I'd miss her though :-/

Stirred, Not Shaken !!

2009-03-02T02:35:00.000-08:00

So, finally this Saturday I got a chance to watch the much touted 'Slumdog Millionaire'. I think it was the Oscar win that whetted my appetite beyond any resistance.

After having heard so much about the movie and it's plot I already had an inkling or two on how it would roll. One reason for still watching it was to see how it has been done. How does a slum boy go about changing his fortune and how all the experiences of his life come together on one single day to help him do the unthinkable.

Now having watched it, I would say I am a little disappointed. Had it lacked the Oscar it would have lacked the disappointment.

Sure it's a film well made and a story well told. The eternal 'Rags to Riches' idea amalgamated with the boy's 'Never Say Die' spirit and his relentless efforts to find his love. I mean who doesn't love an underdog. Right ?!

But I think the 'Big Idea' that separates an exceptional movie from a good one is still missing. I simply think that it is not in the same bracket as some earlier winners of the 'Best Picture' trophy.

I can recount a few.

Look at something like Forrest Gump. A simpleton who is prone and invincible to the world. The story of an innately good guy who refuses to make the trade-offs that me and you make every day of our lives. Remember the lines, "Run Forrest Run" or "Life's like a box of chocolates..."? I'm sure you do. I wonder how many lines from Slumdog we'd remember 10-15 years down the line.

Another one that comes to mind is Titanic. A gorgeous tale of a romance that couldn't be. A story from the annals of history. A story that everyone knew for so long. Still the movie managed to shake every soul that watched it. And it still does. Over and over. There are so many scenes from the movie that have stayed with us. I still remember the one where Rose jumps back on to the ship even as her rescue boat is being lowered, to reunite with her lover in the face of certain death. I looked for such a scene in Slumdog. Couldn't find one.

LOTR-Return of the King. A movie that is simply incomparable in it's magnificence. A movie larger than life. So stupendously large that even the superlatives fail to describe it. Totally incredulous, still made so believable.

There is a long list worthy winners. But then there are some which IMHO bring the prestige of the 'Best Picture' trophy a tad down. 'The American Beauty' is one. Nice movie with some great acting by Spacey but Oscar worthy? Hmm..I'm not sure. Same is the case with 'The Departed'. I guess what happens in these cases is that they are really the best picture that particular year. The best among averages if I could say.

If I could, I would do away with giving out the 'Best Picture' trophy if no movie is worthy of it. But then again if I could do things off my wishlist, there are many other things higher up than this ;)

I would digress a little and comment on one more aspect. I have read that many people back in India have taken an exception to how the movie shows India in bad light. Plenty of acidulous remarks have come it's way.

But we need to ask ourselves. What does it depict about India that is untrue? Don't we have child trafficking? Don't we swindle our tourists and take them for a 'ride' (both figuratively and literally)? Sometimes we do even worse. Aren't we riddled with religion and caste based riots even 60 years after independence. Don't we have children in our slums that lead a life of want and privation? What is it that we are taking an exception to? If we do not like somebody holding up the mirror to us, then we should not roll out the red carpet when foreign directors come to our land in the first place.

I do have my own reservations about the movie. But it's got more to do with the way it depicts people from India than the situations in India. Not a single character in the movie who is Indian is shown to be good. Except for the main protagonist of the movie who by default has to be good. Is India all about goons and child traffickers? Even the quiz show host tips the boy to a wrong answer. No one is India is inherently good. Is that the message?

Well, this discussion could go on and on. Hence I'd stop coz my main intent was not to talk about this.

Last few words are reserved for Rahman and what a great talent he is. He is truly exceptional and deserves all the recognition that he is getting. He can stand shoulder to shoulder with any international music talent. Kudos to him!! Though I think some of his earlier work has been better but then, the Americans have never heard it.

In the end, I'd only say that SM is a good movie. Not an exceptional one. Not a spectacular one.

I am simply Stirred, not Shaken !!

Yeh Dil Maange More !!

2009-02-02T02:37:00.000-08:00

There's something about Bernie Madoff !! At first glance, he does not come across as the most striking personality in the group. If anything he is understated and unassuming. Not at all flashy. He's not somebody you'd be able to trust your money with easily, just for the sheer lack of flair that he exhibits.

But people still did. That's because when you watch closely you notice the demeanor of a man who's got everything under control. Who whether speaks or not, is still the man in-charge in the room. Being powerful is like being a lady, if you have to tell people you are, you probably aren't. And that's why Bernie prefers to keep mum. Whenever I watch him on TV, I always feel that he's still got another card up his sleeve and he'd probably get out of this unscathed, barring his reputation of course.

Surely Madoff is not the kind of person one would expect, leave alone suspect, of doing what he did. Running the biggest Ponzi scheme of all times. The Wall Street always knew there were skeletons in it's closet. But when something like this came out with Madoff's name associated with it, it's surprise and shock element swelled that much more.

Madoff has served as the chairman of the NASDAQ in the past. It was one thing that he pushed for greater accountability and transparency in the business during that time. Quite another that behind closed doors he himself was hatching the biggest fraud of our times.

Well, I have read a lot about Madoff and people have got numerous things to say about him. One thing that resounds through all their views and opinions is that Bernie was a "smart" and a "decent" man.

A trading expert, Jim Angel has this to say of him. "Here's somebody who didn't need to start a scam to become a multi millionaire many times over. And yet apparently there must have been some 'flaw' in his makeup that led him to get into this mess and to dig himself deeper and deeper."

Makes me wonder what this 'flaw' really was. Was it an urge to show the world how smart he was? If not through his work then through his duplicity. Did it all start out as a mere gamble and then turned into a compulsive exercise to gain approval and adulation of his clients. Since he could not give a performance commensurate to the applause, he decided to sham. He surely would have known that his luck would run out soon but still he didn't stop. What made him squander, with wanton disregard, the money of numerous people many of whom were close friends. Was he totally oblivious to reality? Or was it just the plain old sin of "greed" that got the better of him.

Some point out that it was "greed" which was the cause of this huge scam. And I couldn't agree more. And not just Madoff's greed, but the greed of his investors too. Madoff is no doubt to be blamed and he would (probably) serve a long long time for that. But what about the investors?Doubts about the double digit returns year after year were blanketed only by the investors' greed and ignorance. They blindly followed the maxim of "Bernie knows !!" but the blindfold on their eyes was really one of their own greed. When something appears too good to be true, it is probably not. And that's what it precisely was. Well in hindsight everything looks 20-20 but I bet there were signs and red flags all along which the investors just ignored. And in the process became the "willing victims" of Bernie. Ah, an oxymoron !!

It's always difficult to draw a line between ambition and greed. Ambition is good we are taught. Greed is not. But the line that divides them is really thin. Often times its difficult to tell on which side we are when in pursuit of something. That big pent house, that second or third car or that beach house down south !! Who's to say what's ambition and what's greed. Hedonism really dictates much of what we do. And hedonism is a close relative of greed.

Madoff may have initially desired only to build himself a decent name on the Wall Street. And may be he started out alright too, but at what point greed usurped the dominion of his mind, nobody knows, not even himself.

And it's not just the case with him. It's the same for us all. Are we all not victims of greed? Isn't it greed when we keep seeking ways to make more and more money. When we fall preys to the "quick money" schemes. Isn't it greed when we are doing a job we don't even love just because it's monetarily rewarding? And is it not greed when we despise taxes and find ways to evade them.

So, what's the way out? Who knows... Greed is difficult to exorcise because most of the times we don't even know that it's taken control of our selves. But if we do know that we are in it's possession, one remedy could be following the maxim of "Simple Living and High Thinking" as advocated by Gandhi. Or may be learn from the Bible, "Food and raiment and with that I shall be content". Again, akin to many philosophies, they are much easier to preach than practice.

The repercussions of Madoff's deeds are many. On the honest brokers and traders, it has put a tremendous pressure of convincing investors to come back to the markets. Many charities whose money was with Madoff have been shut down and the people they were helping have turned out to be Madoff's biggest victims eventually. And as some have suggested this act of Madoff's has fuelled feelings of Anti-Semitism across the globe.

But more than anything hasn't this scam once again reinstated greed as the biggest sin of all? Sure there are pride, sloth, gluttony, anger, envy and lust. But greed really beats them all. And on it's pervasiveness alone. Not all of us are slothful. Some are short-tempered or envious. But greed is a strong desire in almost all of us and is extremely difficult to overcome. It's a beast bigger than any and no "silver bullet" is yet known that could kill it.

"Greed" my friends, is the biggest and deadliest of all sins. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise !!

ManU 3 - Chelsea (Nil) I Love Soccer Still !!

2009-01-11T19:37:00.000-08:00

Having slept really late this Saturday night, I wasn't particularly keen on getting up (relatively) early this Sunday. But then a friend called and asked me to come over to watch the Manchester United and Chelsea clash with him. After having not followed, leave alone watched any football for the last few months, I was happy to let another match go by and enjoy some extra sleep time instead. But the friend persisted and called me a second time, to check if I had gotten out of bed. So, reluctantly I pulled myself out of it.

As I reached his room, he had plenty of snacks ready to see us through the match. Okay, so he made me get up early when I didn't want to but perhaps it would not be all that bad, after all.

Man U were playing at home, at the Old Trafford. A stadium which can seat more than 75,000 fans and is still packed to capacity week in and week out for every match of the premiership. For the uninitiated, the 'premiership' a.k.a. the EPL is the domestic football league in England ;) I didn't care to explain what ManU and Chelsea were because even the 'uninitiated' would know about them. And if they don't, then they ought to !!

So, the match got underway but nothing particularly exciting happened for a good part of the first half. Me and my friend, both United fans ( trust me not to share a beer with a Chelsea or an Arsenal fan) were a little disappointed to see some of the United players not really in the groove. We were already in one ;)

Some chances here and there but the trigger on this match was finally pulled, when in the injury time of the first half, Vidic gave United the lead. This was moments after United were denied a goal through Ronaldo's header. The refree didn't think they took the corner right, so it was not fair. But who cares what's fair !! All we want is to see our team win !!

But as we saw the ball go into the net a second time within seconds of the first, we were relieved to no end and felt as if the greatest justice of all had just been done. Exasperation one second, relief the next !! Just two of the huge gamut of emotions which the game's got up it's sleeve.

The second half had the prospects of some more goals. Hopefully at the right ( right - wrong) end of the pitch. As Chelsea would need to attack it would open up opportunities for United. By this time, I was totally engrossed in the match. I didn't know why I had not been doing this all these months. Well, maybe because of the semster work but now I was ready to put all of that behind me, and watch the second half !!

2 more goals came United's way in the second half. Rooney scored one and Berbatov the other. At the end of it all, United were the victors 3 to nothing. In the second half, they played much better.

It was perhaps not the greatest of displays by them, but it made me remember all the great things about the the team and the players. Ronaldo, who's got both 'right' feet. Rooney's immense power and grit. Giggs and Neville, the war horses. The now well settled Evra and Vidic, and the rock solid Van Der Saar at the back. Not a lot of stars, but the right mix of some good and a couple of special players. As my dearest friend always says, and I agree, "That's the perfect recipe to win".

The season till now has been a little wobbly for United but now they are back on track. They trail the leaders, Liverpool ( yeah, I know !! ) by 5 points with 2 games in hand. I really think the match yesterday was the turning point for them this season. They beat another serious title contender, they are in good form now, pretty much the entire squad is fit and when you can afford to put players like Carrick and Tevez on bench, you know you've got a good team.

So, here it goes Liverpool. I've said it. The 'Red Devils' are back in business and they have tasted blood too, 'Blue Blood', Chelsea's blood ;) Watch them come and take the title for a second year running !!

P. S. Red Devils Still Rule All ... All !!

And This Too Shall Pass

2009-01-01T05:09:00.000-08:00

Often times have I heard this and even oftener have used it in some context or the other. Is there another phrase which is so apt at all times? How much does it express! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!!

Recently while watching a Julia Roberts movie, I heard this phrase for the umpteenth time. Well, this time I just felt the urge to look for it's genesis. I had known the meaning all along, but this time I wanted to know about the first time it was used and in what context. Though it seems to hold true in almost any.

Well there are a few stories that try to explicate the origin and most of them relate to King Solomon. Some say that the King once decided to humble his minister, Benaiah Ben Yehoyada, by asking him to get him a 'magical' ring which he knew never existed. When asked about the magical power, the King told Benaiah that it was a ring, seeing which a happy man becomes sad and a sad man becomes happy. The minister was in a fix now. Days passed and months. He wandered to find the ring without much success. Then one night, as he was taking a walk he passed an old shabby jeweler and decided to inquire if he had heard of such a ring, though he thought it was futile. But his luck was to change. The old guy took out a plain gold ring and engraved on it the letters, 'This Too Shall Pass' in Hebrew, and gave it to him.

The next day, to every one's surprise, Benaiah presented the ring to Solomon. And with it came to the King, the realization of the impermanence of all his might and wisdom.

So, that is one story. There are some others but the idea remains unchanged. What has come shall pass as well. The pinnacle of all accomplishments, the nadir of all defeats. The highest of all highs and the lowest of all lows, all would pass us.

When we are low, it makes sense to be an optimist and look forward to better times and work hard to get there. But what about the times of jubilation, times of success and achievement? Are we not supposed to be happy and take pride in our accomplishments? Of course we are. Everything we work on, everything we create is a piece of us and if we can't take pride in it, it's all of no use. But at the same time, there has to be a sense of "non-attachment" that we must have towards everything. Be it the work we do, be it our family, be it our friends, be it times of utmost happiness and be it the darkest dungeons of despair. All is transitory. All shall pass.

This sense of "non-attachment" if achieved could be the greatest of things. It does not stop us from going out and pursuing our ambitions and dreams, but saves us a lot of suffering. By realizing the fugacity of these things, we would not end up becoming a slave for them. Its probably much easier to sever ourselves from all earthly things and lead a monastic life. What is much more difficult is to be a part of this world and attain a sense of disengagement with all things transitory.

Buddha also recognized the same and hence his 'Five Remembrances' among other teachings include the following two:

All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.

My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

Osho also echoes somewhat similar sentiments through the following lines:

"The fool goes on missing everything. The wise man enjoys everything. He enjoys the day and the night. He enjoys life and he enjoys death. He is a non clinger; in non clinging is bliss."

We need to be careful though in not looking at these teachings and developing a bleak outlook towards life. If anything, these teachings should help us realize their importance even more. People we love, work that makes us happy, things that we find pleasure in, they are all of paramount importance. They are all important facets of our lives. We should never shy down from enjoying these things for the fear of losing them one day, but being "non-attached" at a level would not really hurt.

So, here's hoping we can achieve this sense of "non-attachment". Hoping we succumb to neither glory nor despair !! Because everything shall one day pass !!

Time to Reclaim our State !!

2008-12-16T00:36:00.000-08:00

Twenty days on from the day when a paralyzing dismay had engulfed the city of Mumbai. So, where are we now? What is the status quo now ? What has changed and what has not? What has the government done and what have 'We' the 'People of India' done?

Lets talk about the government first. Fingers have been pointed at Pakistan for not being able to put a leash on militant activities in it's territory. Pakistan under pressure from India and the world, has taken some steps to appease them.

According to some foreign policy analysts, if Pakistan is implicated in these attacks, it could take these two nuclear-armed states to the brink of an all-out-war. Well that could really be the intent behind these attacks. At a time when Delhi and Islamabad were talking peace and the new civilian regime in Pakistan was taking some meaningful steps to reach out to India, these militant groups were desperate to put a kibosh on the talks.

Well lets leave that part for now because only time would tell what happens eventually and whether the steps the two governments have taken reach any logical conclusion.

Coming to the part about the people. Lets see what has changed there. My gripe once again is that we are busy putting the blame for the attacks on our neighbor, but we refuse to see all that's wrong with our system.

I was watching one of these 'citizen journalist' shows on IBN recently. This retired Colonel from J&K took their crew to the Jammu railway station and debunked on national TV the lack of security there. The police personnel who were supposed to be present at a certain spot were missing, the CCTV installed right next to that place was 'Out of Order'. People were coming out and going in without any checks. He also showed an alternate way to enter the platforms area from around the barbed wired boundaries, thus circumventing any security checks.

This is not the case of just one railway station. I am sure there are many more of the same across the country. The cops and security personnel are not the only ones shirking their responsibility. Just about every place you go, this laxness can be seen.

So, what is it that needs to change? Well, too many things to even list out!! The partisan politics that has been the bane of our country since forever. The long 'Red Tape' in bureaucracy that has prevented us from making some hard decisions in the past. The sleaze of corruption that had stained our social and moral fabric. The averseness of educated and competent people to get into politics and government jobs. The social and economic situation of a large strata of our people. And lastly and perhaps most importantly, the 'capitalist' mindset and attitude that has debauched our entire population. It has an overbearing influence on not just our education system but on just about every aspect of life. In spite of all the problems that our country is in, it is still the love of the lucre that guides our people. There is no sense of social responsibility. Hence, more than anything, this needs to change.

So, where do we start ? Since there are so many things to do, its easy to sit back and not do them. But we should know, "All that is needed by evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing". And that's what we have been doing or rather not doing for the past so many years.

I had mentioned in my previous post that a very common excuse that we make for not doing anything is that it is not possible for a single person to change the system. Why not do it as a group then?

"Well, I am doing my job well. I am not corrupt, I abide by the law at all times and that is the maximum I can do" is surely good but perhaps not good enough. To clean up our system, we would need to do more than just that. Definitely we can start by doing all of these things, but the magnitude of the problem necessitates our involvement at a much deeper level.

I am sure that our generation has got tremendous potential. We all are educated, we all know that numerous problems plague our country and to be frank, none of us wants them. Some of us are doing some work too at whatever level we can. What we need to do is to consolidate these efforts, and come together in much greater numbers. As long as we stay fragmented, the maximum we'd be able to do is 'to do some cleaning in the nearby slum clusters', 'improve the conditions of that neighbourhood public park' or 'provide some food or clothing to the indigent in our area'. If we come together we can achieve so much more. We have to go at the problem in great numbers. Only then is there a chance to succeed.

We can form groups, large groups. We could start at at a local level, but what we need to proclaim at the very outset of this movement is 'freedom'. Freedom not from a foreign rule, but from our own selfish selves.

If we think that our politicians are the problem, then we need to replace them. But since all the alternatives are equally bad, we would need to replace them with new people. People from within us. New people who are better, who are educated and can do the right thing.

Its really difficult to achieve this when all the people who are capable of doing the work have other options which are much more lucrative. But that's the place where we need to stop and aks ourselves a few questions. Is education just a means to make big money ? Of what use is it if it does not help us realize our social and civic responsibility? Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. And if it does not do that, it has not served its purpose.

I know these things sound too idealistic, but perhaps the time has come to turn to idealism. Clearly, (capitalism) is not helping !! Also, I know that things are not going to change overnight. They cannot. The effects of so many years of corruption and irresponsibility, cannot be undone so soon. But we have to make a start now.

I end with these line from the great American philosopher and psychologist,William James.

"The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives".

And that's really all we need to do !!

Terror Attacks Again !! Aren’t we all responsible?

2008-12-01T20:20:00.000-08:00

And so it has happened again!! This time it was the elite who were the target. There are loads of discussions in the media this time, both print and visual, there is a lot of furor among the people this time. This time definitely something would change. Patience is running out. This time the sacrifices of all our heroes would not go waste. This time the buck has to stop with someone. This time..

But wait, aren't these things we had said and claimed the last time around as well. The last time this happened in the capital city of Delhi, the last time this happened in the IT capital Bangalore, or the last time this happened in Assam and Ahmedabad. So, why do you think this time you can sit back and hope for a different ending? I don't think the administrators would change anything. To be honest, I’m not sure if they are capable of changing anything.

A few allegations made inside the Parliament. A lot more mudslinging outside it. And that would be the maximum action you’d see our politicians swing into. To expect anything beyond that would be stupid.

What we need to look at is why our intelligence agencies and security systems seem so fragile in comparison to these terrorist organizations. I understand that the people who do these attacks are well-organized and meticulously plan their every move, but are they better planned than the intelligence agencies of our country. If that is the case, doesn’t it make you feel insecure? Officials and politicians would opine otherwise but all evidence is to the contrary.

Is it this easy to get into a metropolitan city through a sea port, that too fully armed with guns and other explosives? Why were they not stopped at the port? How did they enter the city in the first place? Looks like somebody did not perform their ‘due diligence’. Is it this easy to breach the security of a major city in our country? These are some glaring questions that need answers.

Clearly people who are vested with the responsibility are not fulfilling it. These people could be in the government, these people could be in the bureaucracy and these people could be you and me!

Having being in the US for roughly a year and a half now, I have realized that there is one major difference between their intelligence agencies and ours. They are much smarter and much more aware of what's happening in their country, barring a couple of instances of course. Back in India, the agencies don't seem to have a clue. I have seen no security checks of any sort, any time I board a bus or a train here. That’s because they don't need that. Since they do not allow people to get into the country, until they are certain that the person is not a security threat. In India, we don't know as to how many people are living illegally in our cities. In spite of security checks at just about every place you go to, be it the shopping malls, be it the theatres or the metro stations, these things still happen.

Why do you think it's so easy for these people to come into our cities and stay there? Once again, its people like you and me who are not doing their duties diligently. Officials in almost all government offices are corrupt. Fake passports, fake identities are not difficult to fabricate. You pay somebody a thousand bucks and you have a brand new identity, who nobody can dispute. What I am getting at is that the system is rotten to the core. And corruption is the biggest evil that plagues us. I believe that it is this pervasive evil which is the cause of all our problems. It boils down eventually to the fact, that these people are putting their own selfish motives over their country's best interests.

But isn't that what we all are culpable of?

It’s time we change our attitudes and do something about it. Because if educated people like you and me would not do anything, then nobody else can and the next time terror strikes it could be me and you at its receiving end.

Some common arguments that are echoed are ‘what can I do alone? Just one person can’t change the entire system !’ and I think it is indeed true. Let’s not try to do it alone then, let’s do it together. Let’s do it in great numbers.

For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack !!

More soon…

This one is for my friend Anish, who was perhaps the only reader of my last post, roughly a year back :p

Dancing in the Dark !!

2007-11-23T14:52:00.000-08:00

I get up in the evening, and I aint got nothing to say

I come home in the morning, I go to bed feeling the same way

I aint nothing but tired, man Im just tired and bored with myself

Hey there baby, I could use just a little help

You cant start a fire, you cant start a fire without a spark

This guns for hire even if were just dancing in the dark...

- Bruce Springsteen ( from the famous single 'Dancing in the Dark' )

Circa 1984 , these lyrics were penned by the famous singer, in an irked mood from an argument with his manager. These quite aptly describe the frustrations in his career around that time. But the lyrics are much more than that. I can't help but wonder if this isn't the state of mind of quite a few of us, often bored and seldom blase with the mundane stuff we do day in and day out. There are times when you just want to get away from everything, times when you can't take it anymore.

My first memories of the song are from school. It was one of those songs that used to frequent the interlude of the annual music fest. I never cared so much about the lyrics back then. But roughly ten years and countless experiences later, I see where the singer is actually coming from.

Sitting in my dorm, I listen to this song late into the night and at times, into the wee hours of the morning.

Solitude is good as it gives you a chance to contemplate. Think about things that otherwise would have whizzed past you. This is precisely what it has done for me. It has given me a chance to see things in new light, or perhaps I should say, in new 'dark' !! I mean, I pretty much do all this thinking late into the night !

I never was too much of a writer, and just for the record, I don't consider myself one, even now. But over the last few days, thoughts have been coming to me at the pretty much the same rate as the, as the...as the.....drat..I think I missed one there ;) What I mean to say is that they have been coming to me at a pretty rapid rate, so thought I might as well share them with you. Hence, the idea for this blog.

Through the coming posts on this blog, I intend to share these thoughts as well as some experiences that I have had over the last few months.

And also, this first post is for a special friend who's always inspired me to write and who in fact, to a large extent, is responsible for whatever I write, good, bad or ugly :) Except for the semester papers, which I write for grades !!

So, till the next time, it's Peace :)