Like the cotton wick of an oil lamp,
drawing out the oil from every nook,
every corner of the lamp;
wherever the traces remain- untapped and hidden,
To keep the fire glowing.
The oil is getting over and the light,
once glowing, is still burning bright.
Its just a matter of time, who can say, for sure ?
It flickers in the wind, almost about to die off,
And then, almost inexplicably,
it comes back to life; glowing a dull fiery yellow,
refusing to fade out into the darkness;
Not as bright as before,
But a lamp's a lamp so long as it has the fire
and the oil to keep it burning.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
The Blues
For the Blues in all of us!
Some have it..a little bit more!
Soon, change shall usher in!
But then, the more things change, the more they remain the same!
PS : I know what you are thinking... blue is still blue - not sky blue! I concur 100% dear.
Some have it..a little bit more!
Soon, change shall usher in!
But then, the more things change, the more they remain the same!
PS : I know what you are thinking... blue is still blue - not sky blue! I concur 100% dear.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Democratic attitudes
How different is Nandigram different than Godhra? We- the educated urban middle class and supposedly socially well placed– were shocked and voiced dissent against Narendra Modi for allowing the “state sponsored” genocide but why is there almost a muted, indifferent reaction to the state sponsored genocide that is happening in Nandigram? A people’s protest against acquisition of their land is quelled and suppressed forcibly, a ruling party’s cadre which runs the State Government cordons off the area, goes on a defensive warpath justifying the action taken, the police is asked not to interfere and people are killed. Who cares?
What is the farmer, the land tiller, the landless labourer’s contribution to the national economy ? Why can’t he give (sacrifice) his lands for the national benefit – the benefit of the ‘public’ at large. We definitely need our bigger cars, our high rise apartments, our huge malls, the plush multiplexes, designer brands, boutique restaurants - after all, we work so hard in air-conditioned offices and contribute to the gross national product of the country being its educated class.
It is disturbing to note that this non-inclusive pattern of development is being pursued relentlessly, in most cases in an autocratic fashion, alienating the vast poor underbelly of the country; we justify this snatching away of their lands and forcing a lifestyle change on them without putting in place adequate opportunities and choices for the displaced. We demand and expect that such a class alone repeatedly pay the price for the development of the nation, the fruits of which are reaped mostly by the affluent.
Is n’t there something intrinsically unjust and unfair in such an expectation? Whatever happened to balanced sustainable development and the democratic process? Does it end with singing paeans to democracy ?
What is the farmer, the land tiller, the landless labourer’s contribution to the national economy ? Why can’t he give (sacrifice) his lands for the national benefit – the benefit of the ‘public’ at large. We definitely need our bigger cars, our high rise apartments, our huge malls, the plush multiplexes, designer brands, boutique restaurants - after all, we work so hard in air-conditioned offices and contribute to the gross national product of the country being its educated class.
It is disturbing to note that this non-inclusive pattern of development is being pursued relentlessly, in most cases in an autocratic fashion, alienating the vast poor underbelly of the country; we justify this snatching away of their lands and forcing a lifestyle change on them without putting in place adequate opportunities and choices for the displaced. We demand and expect that such a class alone repeatedly pay the price for the development of the nation, the fruits of which are reaped mostly by the affluent.
Is n’t there something intrinsically unjust and unfair in such an expectation? Whatever happened to balanced sustainable development and the democratic process? Does it end with singing paeans to democracy ?
The Diwali News
Diwali is over and hopefully the glitz will end – for the various news channels. Dishing out inane Diwali fare with news hours virtually being converted into movie promotions, trailers, interviews with movie stars and wannabes on how they spend Diwali!
Sample this: Journalists ask the celebrities how they like to spend Diwali. The replies are on these lines: ‘A’ says she likes to light lamps and spend Diwali at home with her family eating sweets and bursting firecrackers. ‘B’, while lighting a flowerpot and wishing viewers of the particular news channel says she is against firecrackers! Incredible! ‘C’ goes on about how she always wears new clothes and performs a puja at her home on Diwali. How enlightening! (As we always thought people eat plum cakes during Diwali.)
An overdose of the ‘Six-pack’ Shahrukh Khan and Farah Khan going ga-ga over “Om Shanti Om” (But, where’s the peace, good lord?), the other ‘Six-pack’ in a white towel in the “White nights” inspiration in an outlandish green/blue studio set with Venetian canals inhabited by a pretty lady running around pillars and the guy mooning over her! Of course, if all this did not significantly increase our awareness of current affairs, there’s still more to come. What did our other heroes a.k.a cricketers do on their day off ? Go and watch the latest Diwali release.
(BTW, the news channels have not yet run a show on the six-pack status of our cricketers.)
That's just what we missed a little bit!
Sample this: Journalists ask the celebrities how they like to spend Diwali. The replies are on these lines: ‘A’ says she likes to light lamps and spend Diwali at home with her family eating sweets and bursting firecrackers. ‘B’, while lighting a flowerpot and wishing viewers of the particular news channel says she is against firecrackers! Incredible! ‘C’ goes on about how she always wears new clothes and performs a puja at her home on Diwali. How enlightening! (As we always thought people eat plum cakes during Diwali.)
An overdose of the ‘Six-pack’ Shahrukh Khan and Farah Khan going ga-ga over “Om Shanti Om” (But, where’s the peace, good lord?), the other ‘Six-pack’ in a white towel in the “White nights” inspiration in an outlandish green/blue studio set with Venetian canals inhabited by a pretty lady running around pillars and the guy mooning over her! Of course, if all this did not significantly increase our awareness of current affairs, there’s still more to come. What did our other heroes a.k.a cricketers do on their day off ? Go and watch the latest Diwali release.
(BTW, the news channels have not yet run a show on the six-pack status of our cricketers.)
That's just what we missed a little bit!
Friday, November 09, 2007
Saawariya?
Its all over the TV channels and hoardings across the city. The big launch of two star kids and a big budget Diwali release of the Hindi movie "Saawariya" (meaning beloved in Hindi) all over India and of course the rest of the world (thanks to our NRIs).
But I am greatly concerned. Concerned about how this movie would be received in the State of Tamil Nadu which speaks a language called Tamil. I wonder how the junta would react to the movie in Tamil Nadu and hope it does not end up like what it means in Tamil.
Such political incorrectness! Perhaps SLB should have asked some Tamil speaking person for an alternative title to release the movie in Tamil Nadu.
Some years back, while I was staying at a paying guest accommodation in Chennai, one of my roommates was from this place ("Ooru" she used to say) called Gobichettipalayam in Erode District. She did not know Hindi at that time and was not aware of Hindi movies/songs etc. So those being the Lagaan days, one morning I was humming the song "O re chorey" from Lagaan, moving to a high-pitched frenzy to "Saawariya…" as the lady singer goes in the song. Suddenly, this roommate sits up alarmed and asks worriedly "What's wrong with you ? Why are you singing this early in the morning?"
I stare at her for rudely interrupting my rhythm. And then it dawns on me- that very second.
"Saawariya" in Tamil roughly translated means "wish to die"!!!!
Good luck to Saawariya in Tamil Nadu!
Interesting signature line of a senior colleague :
"Speak less to the people whom you like most...Because if they can't understand your silence... they can never understand your words."
When would speech be considered 'virtuous'?
At the right time.
And pray what is the right time?
Only time will tell!
Ughhhh!
"Speak less to the people whom you like most...Because if they can't understand your silence... they can never understand your words."
When would speech be considered 'virtuous'?
At the right time.
And pray what is the right time?
Only time will tell!
Ughhhh!
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Blue Sky!
DISCLAIMER : The below write-up is an exceptionally talented piece of the “nonsense” genre. Any reference to a living person is purely and definitely intentional and coincidental. However, the writer refuses to take responsibility for any aftereffects thereof. One shall continue to read and get bored entirely at his/her risk.
This is all about The Blue Sky! Not just some blue sky but The Blue Sky. (Its important).
Aaaah! I so love it! The blue sky – in all its various hues and shades. Reminds me of a mobile service provider’s commercial which goes “green grass, blue sky…”
The blue sky with all the green paraphernalia too. Of warm, happy, sunny days filled with moments of fun, good cheer, mirth, delight, contentment, exhilaration, bliss....
But alas! The blue sky has become grey, cloudy, darker …And its starless, stark and barren now.... Reeking of Sorrow, despair, disappointment, frustration, misery, gloom, desolation, loneliness, forlornness, wretchedness.......
PS : To whomsoever it may concern : idhu poruma illa innum venuma ? Unnodu wish ennakku command!
This is all about The Blue Sky! Not just some blue sky but The Blue Sky. (Its important).
Aaaah! I so love it! The blue sky – in all its various hues and shades. Reminds me of a mobile service provider’s commercial which goes “green grass, blue sky…”
The blue sky with all the green paraphernalia too. Of warm, happy, sunny days filled with moments of fun, good cheer, mirth, delight, contentment, exhilaration, bliss....
But alas! The blue sky has become grey, cloudy, darker …And its starless, stark and barren now.... Reeking of Sorrow, despair, disappointment, frustration, misery, gloom, desolation, loneliness, forlornness, wretchedness.......
Goodbye Blue sky! Neele neele ambar par chand ab kahan aayega?
PS : To whomsoever it may concern : idhu poruma illa innum venuma ? Unnodu wish ennakku command!
AJ!
One of my early posts was about her and her first meeting with her fiancee. She finally got married on the 21st October after almost a year of eagerly waiting and anticipitating this moment!
When she comes by to invite me to her wedding, she spoke about her dreams and how she was hoping her marriage to be a liberating experience. "I know it will give me lot of freedom, with responsibilities", she says, a tad philosophically.
This from one, who comes from a very conservative family, never went to college, is currently pursuing her graduation by correspondence, comes to work and goes back home by 7 PM, does not go out with friends (not even office lunches).
My fondness for her just keeps growing, kya karen! :)
Here's to you, dear AJ! Keep that beautiful smile on and may you find happiness in all that you do!
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Fair play
Sitting at a negotiating table with my client and the other party, this thought keeps recurring in my mind - Why can't one be fair and balanced while negotiating a right or a deal or drafting a legal document ? Whats the big deal in being fair and ethical ? Why cut corners ?
(Of course, now we swim in the dangerous waters of who is right, fair, ethical..... and the endless debates around it)
"The law, for all its failings, has a noble goal – to make the little bit of life that people can actually control more just. We can’t end disease or natural disasters, but we can devise rules for our dealings with one another that fairly weigh the rights and needs of everyone, and which, therefore, reflect our best vision of ourselves." says Scott Turow.
I do not intend to or set out to make a moral argument for any one profession as such, but perhaps that is something worth sparing a thought to.
*******
I make a conscious effort not to write about my profession and genuinely try to focus on things outside the immediate spectrum of what I do to earn my bread and butter (not to forget the jam, cheese and icecream!) but at times, I feel a compulsive need to write about related topics. Is the dividing line getting thinner between life and work ?!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Perceptions
"Did I create you in my image
or did you create me in yours ?"
Postcards from God, Imtiaz Dharker
Friday, October 26, 2007
Farewell, dear Inzy!
In a way, the Cricket World Cup made and marred his career.
Inzamam-ul-Haq came into the limelight as a young and dashing batsman who played a key role in ensuring Pakistan lift its maiden World Cup in 1992 and it is indeed ironic to note that his end as a cricketer was hastened by Pakistan's shock exit at the 2007 World Cup in West Indies.
Right from 1992 till his retirement, I have enjoyed watching him play and plunder the opposition. The enjoyment was marginally less when he played against India nevertheless what I really like about this amazing cricketer was the simple, unassuming way he carried himself off the field. No wonder he was often famously referred to as the 'gentle giant'.
What a batsman/cricketer he was on the cricket field - dominating, aggressive and attacking and just the opposite off it! In his interviews to the media, he comes across as a humble and simple guy who would rather be left alone after his game of cricket was over.
Of course I remember with great amusement the incredible number of times he lost his wicket (and lost his partners too) for sloppy running between the wickets or his laziness to take a single! But the very next time he came to the crease, it would all be forgotten when he would whack the ball all the way to the boundary or hit a smashing six.
I felt sad when I watched on Television his emotional announcement of his decision to retire from ODIs post Pakistan's disastrous world cup and it again saddened me the way he bid adieu to Test Cricket after the Home Test Series against South Africa. So much so my dad consoled me that this is a definite consequence of every world cup/major tournament. New heroes emerge and the older ones depart- some go out in a blaze of glory while others leave with ignominy. That's an occupational hazard of being a sportsperson, I suppose.
Farewell dear Inzy! You were an awesome cricketer! I will miss you! (and the run-outs also!)
******
"It's important in life to conclude things properly. Only then can you let go. Otherwise you are left with words you should have said but never did, and your heart is heavy with remorse."
- Life of Pi, Yann Martel
Inzamam-ul-Haq came into the limelight as a young and dashing batsman who played a key role in ensuring Pakistan lift its maiden World Cup in 1992 and it is indeed ironic to note that his end as a cricketer was hastened by Pakistan's shock exit at the 2007 World Cup in West Indies.
Right from 1992 till his retirement, I have enjoyed watching him play and plunder the opposition. The enjoyment was marginally less when he played against India nevertheless what I really like about this amazing cricketer was the simple, unassuming way he carried himself off the field. No wonder he was often famously referred to as the 'gentle giant'.
What a batsman/cricketer he was on the cricket field - dominating, aggressive and attacking and just the opposite off it! In his interviews to the media, he comes across as a humble and simple guy who would rather be left alone after his game of cricket was over.
Of course I remember with great amusement the incredible number of times he lost his wicket (and lost his partners too) for sloppy running between the wickets or his laziness to take a single! But the very next time he came to the crease, it would all be forgotten when he would whack the ball all the way to the boundary or hit a smashing six.
I felt sad when I watched on Television his emotional announcement of his decision to retire from ODIs post Pakistan's disastrous world cup and it again saddened me the way he bid adieu to Test Cricket after the Home Test Series against South Africa. So much so my dad consoled me that this is a definite consequence of every world cup/major tournament. New heroes emerge and the older ones depart- some go out in a blaze of glory while others leave with ignominy. That's an occupational hazard of being a sportsperson, I suppose.
Farewell dear Inzy! You were an awesome cricketer! I will miss you! (and the run-outs also!)
******
"It's important in life to conclude things properly. Only then can you let go. Otherwise you are left with words you should have said but never did, and your heart is heavy with remorse."
- Life of Pi, Yann Martel
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Coffee Tales
Coffee…..the very word makes me cringe!
Don’t ask me why or how, but the fact remains that I have never liked coffee, especially the filter coffee they make at my place – in true tam-bram style.
My grandmother recalls the days when she as a young bride, had to wake up early to brew the ‘decoction’ for the entire household (consisting of parents-in-law, husband and 4 brothers-in-law). It was the job of the mother-in-law and with the arrival of the eldest daughter-in-law in the house, the job was entrusted to her.
Coming back to the coffee preparation part, my grandmother would boil the water, put the freshly ground coffee powder in the coffee filter, sprinkle some cold water over the powder, pour hot water over the powder to let it flow down in a thick concentrated form. The thick coffee decoction would go down the filter in about 20 ~ 30 minutes. Then it would be mixed with varying proportions of boiling hot milk and sugar (depending on how strong the person wanted his/her coffee to be).
Off it would be poured into the coffee glasses of each male member of the family who would be out in the verandah reading the newspaper and discussing the day to day affairs of the town and shooing away the flies with their cotton towels waiting for their early morning dose of coffee!
(I am also informed that as the aroma of the coffee would spread to the household in the early hours of the morning, the male members would be salivating at the mere thought of the piping hot coffee being prepared and eagerly wait for their morning cuppa!!)
Also, the coffee had to be served to all the males and other elders of the family at just the right temperature (read : just after removing from the stove). I find it incredible that one can gulp down the piping hot coffee when my few attempts at drinking a hot glass of milk or tea burns my tongue.
My grandmom recounts as to how she would first fill all the glasses with decoction, add sugar as per the individual’s requirements, remove the boiling milk from the stove, add milk to the glasses, mix it well in the “davara” (small cup) so the froth sits on top of the glass. Nothing would distract her while she was going about doing this in that precise order as that was the only way she could satisfy 5-7 people’s yen for early morning hot coffee!
I quiz her about her cup and then she makes her startling revelation – she does not like coffee at all. Hence she has her cup of hot milk after serving coffee to the household. She further adds that she has neither liked the taste nor smell (okay - aroma for the coffee fans!) of coffee. And so it has been for the last 60 + years.
Similarly my mother also never used to drink coffee and I suspect it passed over to me and has something to do with my drinking lot of milk and tea to this day. In fact the only kind of coffee I have once in a while is flavoured cold coffee, usually coconut, where the flavour of the coconut absorbs the coffee taste. So much so that while I enjoy the drink, my coffee buddies are appalled at my enjoyment and delight of something that is so ‘not-coffee’!
So it was with a fair amount of surprise that I noted the latest conquest of coffee.
Yes, imagine one morning when I notice my grandmother with a hot cup of coffee by her side, I am about to ask her if she would want me to call my father or brother to take their cup, when she just gulps down the coffee!
I am perplexed at this sight and immediately quiz her : how come she is drinking coffee ?
She gives me a wide smile and replies casually that she has taken to drinking coffee of late as she started liking it and now craves for her two cups of coffee per day. It’s what gets her going, she adds! How come she never had it all this while, while she was in the joint family or thereafter with my grandfather, I ask, not wanting to give up easily. Totally unperturbed, she mentions she drank a small portion some days back which my brother (a die-hard coffee addict) had kept aside and from then, it got her hooked! She realised that she really enjoyed it!
I am totally confounded by this rather candid admission. All I can do is marvel at the adding numbers to the coffee world!
No wonder more coffee shops open up in every part of the city. Café Coffee day is on an expansion spree globally after painting Bengalooru and other cities red - Sorry, this is not your brand of red, Mr. Karat and Mr.Yechury! Nevertheless it is a ‘C’ revolution of a different kind, taking hold of the masses in a way the other ‘C’ could not!
While writing this post, I just googled the word “Coffee” – it throws up a whopping 215,000,000 results as against 166,000,000 results for “Tea”!
On a recent visit to the US, I met an acquaintance at the ubiquitous Starbucks café in one of the malls there. We walk up to the counter and he orders a hot espresso in a jiffy. Meanwhile, I am looking at the menu and searching for something besides coffee. It apparently surprises him that I take this long to order a coffee at Starbucks. Finally, as I order for my “chai”, he gives me a weird look and informs me that I must be mad to come to a Starbucks café and not drink coffee!
Well, some things in life are best left unexplained! :)
Don’t ask me why or how, but the fact remains that I have never liked coffee, especially the filter coffee they make at my place – in true tam-bram style.
My grandmother recalls the days when she as a young bride, had to wake up early to brew the ‘decoction’ for the entire household (consisting of parents-in-law, husband and 4 brothers-in-law). It was the job of the mother-in-law and with the arrival of the eldest daughter-in-law in the house, the job was entrusted to her.
Coming back to the coffee preparation part, my grandmother would boil the water, put the freshly ground coffee powder in the coffee filter, sprinkle some cold water over the powder, pour hot water over the powder to let it flow down in a thick concentrated form. The thick coffee decoction would go down the filter in about 20 ~ 30 minutes. Then it would be mixed with varying proportions of boiling hot milk and sugar (depending on how strong the person wanted his/her coffee to be).
Off it would be poured into the coffee glasses of each male member of the family who would be out in the verandah reading the newspaper and discussing the day to day affairs of the town and shooing away the flies with their cotton towels waiting for their early morning dose of coffee!
(I am also informed that as the aroma of the coffee would spread to the household in the early hours of the morning, the male members would be salivating at the mere thought of the piping hot coffee being prepared and eagerly wait for their morning cuppa!!)
Also, the coffee had to be served to all the males and other elders of the family at just the right temperature (read : just after removing from the stove). I find it incredible that one can gulp down the piping hot coffee when my few attempts at drinking a hot glass of milk or tea burns my tongue.
My grandmom recounts as to how she would first fill all the glasses with decoction, add sugar as per the individual’s requirements, remove the boiling milk from the stove, add milk to the glasses, mix it well in the “davara” (small cup) so the froth sits on top of the glass. Nothing would distract her while she was going about doing this in that precise order as that was the only way she could satisfy 5-7 people’s yen for early morning hot coffee!
I quiz her about her cup and then she makes her startling revelation – she does not like coffee at all. Hence she has her cup of hot milk after serving coffee to the household. She further adds that she has neither liked the taste nor smell (okay - aroma for the coffee fans!) of coffee. And so it has been for the last 60 + years.
Similarly my mother also never used to drink coffee and I suspect it passed over to me and has something to do with my drinking lot of milk and tea to this day. In fact the only kind of coffee I have once in a while is flavoured cold coffee, usually coconut, where the flavour of the coconut absorbs the coffee taste. So much so that while I enjoy the drink, my coffee buddies are appalled at my enjoyment and delight of something that is so ‘not-coffee’!
So it was with a fair amount of surprise that I noted the latest conquest of coffee.
Yes, imagine one morning when I notice my grandmother with a hot cup of coffee by her side, I am about to ask her if she would want me to call my father or brother to take their cup, when she just gulps down the coffee!
I am perplexed at this sight and immediately quiz her : how come she is drinking coffee ?
She gives me a wide smile and replies casually that she has taken to drinking coffee of late as she started liking it and now craves for her two cups of coffee per day. It’s what gets her going, she adds! How come she never had it all this while, while she was in the joint family or thereafter with my grandfather, I ask, not wanting to give up easily. Totally unperturbed, she mentions she drank a small portion some days back which my brother (a die-hard coffee addict) had kept aside and from then, it got her hooked! She realised that she really enjoyed it!
I am totally confounded by this rather candid admission. All I can do is marvel at the adding numbers to the coffee world!
No wonder more coffee shops open up in every part of the city. Café Coffee day is on an expansion spree globally after painting Bengalooru and other cities red - Sorry, this is not your brand of red, Mr. Karat and Mr.Yechury! Nevertheless it is a ‘C’ revolution of a different kind, taking hold of the masses in a way the other ‘C’ could not!
While writing this post, I just googled the word “Coffee” – it throws up a whopping 215,000,000 results as against 166,000,000 results for “Tea”!
On a recent visit to the US, I met an acquaintance at the ubiquitous Starbucks café in one of the malls there. We walk up to the counter and he orders a hot espresso in a jiffy. Meanwhile, I am looking at the menu and searching for something besides coffee. It apparently surprises him that I take this long to order a coffee at Starbucks. Finally, as I order for my “chai”, he gives me a weird look and informs me that I must be mad to come to a Starbucks café and not drink coffee!
Well, some things in life are best left unexplained! :)
Monday, October 22, 2007
One fine day....on Whitefield - ITPL Road
This incident, happened sometime during the course of the last fortnight, stood out in my mind :
On a busy road in Whitefield leading to ITPL, a Honda Civic bangs into a Hondo City ahead of it.
The lady driver of the Honda City gets out of the car, charges aggressively towards the male driver of the Civic. By this time, the guy is also out of his car and trying to mumble some apology to the crowd gathered around. The lady, apparently in no mood to listen, goes up to him and catches his shirt collar!
There is an eerie silence amongst the crowd of onlookers, each wondering how nasty it is going to get now and going over the next few seconds in one’s mind.
Before we know it, the lady dishes out her cell phone, takes it close to the guy’s face and clicks his picture using her camera phone. All this while, still clutching his shirt collar with her other hand.
Done with her picture, she lets go of his collar, walks up to the rear of his car, takes another picture of the number plate of the Civic and walks back to the guy. Again catches hold of his shirt collar and drags him to the police constable who has just arrived on the scene.
Smart attitude and good presence of mind?!
Perhaps even dispensation of justice should go the high tech way!!
On a busy road in Whitefield leading to ITPL, a Honda Civic bangs into a Hondo City ahead of it.
The lady driver of the Honda City gets out of the car, charges aggressively towards the male driver of the Civic. By this time, the guy is also out of his car and trying to mumble some apology to the crowd gathered around. The lady, apparently in no mood to listen, goes up to him and catches his shirt collar!
There is an eerie silence amongst the crowd of onlookers, each wondering how nasty it is going to get now and going over the next few seconds in one’s mind.
Before we know it, the lady dishes out her cell phone, takes it close to the guy’s face and clicks his picture using her camera phone. All this while, still clutching his shirt collar with her other hand.
Done with her picture, she lets go of his collar, walks up to the rear of his car, takes another picture of the number plate of the Civic and walks back to the guy. Again catches hold of his shirt collar and drags him to the police constable who has just arrived on the scene.
Smart attitude and good presence of mind?!
Perhaps even dispensation of justice should go the high tech way!!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
The "feel good" factor
It is not tangible or measurable yet makes an ocean of a difference, permeating across innumerable aspects of our day to day life - personal, professional and social relationships.
We leave our workplaces. Let go of family and friends. Elections are lost and won. Even the stock market gets affected. Thats the power of the "feel good" factor.
This is a key element to reducing friction and promoting healthy interactions between two individuals forming a micro unit and the same being extended to large organisations, societal groups.
It could range from a smile, a small gesture, a thoughtful act, a kind word or just being there - whatever makes the other person feel good - we do it because we care...in the process, reach out to the concerned person, group to infuse this feeling. Mere thought alone may not suffice but perhaps needs to be accompanied by action of some kind, an external manifestation that we care, perhaps.
And its an open field. Anyone can take the initiative anytime, sans reasons or excuses.
If we only care.
Its after all, just "feel good"!
My day just began on a "feel good" note. Climbing the stairs to my workplace, I noticed the leaning lady mopping the stairs. When I excused myself to pass through, she turns towards me, moves back and gives me a beautiful, radiant smile!
We leave our workplaces. Let go of family and friends. Elections are lost and won. Even the stock market gets affected. Thats the power of the "feel good" factor.
This is a key element to reducing friction and promoting healthy interactions between two individuals forming a micro unit and the same being extended to large organisations, societal groups.
It could range from a smile, a small gesture, a thoughtful act, a kind word or just being there - whatever makes the other person feel good - we do it because we care...in the process, reach out to the concerned person, group to infuse this feeling. Mere thought alone may not suffice but perhaps needs to be accompanied by action of some kind, an external manifestation that we care, perhaps.
And its an open field. Anyone can take the initiative anytime, sans reasons or excuses.
If we only care.
Its after all, just "feel good"!
My day just began on a "feel good" note. Climbing the stairs to my workplace, I noticed the leaning lady mopping the stairs. When I excused myself to pass through, she turns towards me, moves back and gives me a beautiful, radiant smile!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Kindness
Some days back, I set out of office one evening, leaving a bit early for home than I normally do. Walking towards the auto stand. Within a matter of seconds, I am caught in a heavy downpour with no umbrella or raincoat whatsoever. Not a single auto is ready to take me to my destination. I keep waving by at empty autos, but alas! The bus route has been diverted due to the construction of the Metro. No cab is ready to come within the next 1 hour. Try calling up some friends/family/colleagues. All are stuck in the rain at different places, far from where I am stuck.
By now, the heavy downpour has reduced to a "steady" drizzle and my waiting continues unabated.
I stand by the corner of the road, under a tree, feeling cold and forlorn; watching people passing by, feeling the rain drops from the tree, observing the speeding cars and bikes, insensitively splashing the rain slush/drainage water all over the pedestrians and the lesser mortals who walk on the roads.
It must have been a while when all of a sudden, I am pulled out of my reverie by a grey Honda Activa which stops right beside me. And the lady rider looks towards me and says " Hey! I am going to Indiranagar. Would you like me to drop you somewhere that side?"
I am baffled and suddenly feel hesitant and wonder why....what... how...
She senses my hesitation and quickly chirps in "I saw you standing there wet and alone in the dark, perhaps looking for an auto. Thought would find out where you need to go and drop you somewhere if it is the same direction as mine."
This random act of kindness from a stranger really touched my heart. Truly, such incredibly small ways to reach out to our fellow human beings and make a difference. We just need to make the effort- to be kind and sensitive.
By now, the heavy downpour has reduced to a "steady" drizzle and my waiting continues unabated.
I stand by the corner of the road, under a tree, feeling cold and forlorn; watching people passing by, feeling the rain drops from the tree, observing the speeding cars and bikes, insensitively splashing the rain slush/drainage water all over the pedestrians and the lesser mortals who walk on the roads.
It must have been a while when all of a sudden, I am pulled out of my reverie by a grey Honda Activa which stops right beside me. And the lady rider looks towards me and says " Hey! I am going to Indiranagar. Would you like me to drop you somewhere that side?"
I am baffled and suddenly feel hesitant and wonder why....what... how...
She senses my hesitation and quickly chirps in "I saw you standing there wet and alone in the dark, perhaps looking for an auto. Thought would find out where you need to go and drop you somewhere if it is the same direction as mine."
This random act of kindness from a stranger really touched my heart. Truly, such incredibly small ways to reach out to our fellow human beings and make a difference. We just need to make the effort- to be kind and sensitive.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
A soap opera with a different twist
I confess I don’t fancy soap operas. But this one is different.
And well, like most soap operas, this also has the K element! (Thankfully, it does not start with it!)
The events unfolding in our neighbouring state has kept me engrossed over the past few weeks - a 100 % edge of the seat thriller.
My take on this : As Lord Acton famously remarked, Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Power like lust, is all pervasive and blinds the person to all raison d'être; makes you indulge in a self-serving game of constant deceit, one-upmanship and manipulation.
Its an abyss.
******************
My Interview pick of the week : Karan Thapar (KT) interviewing Nawaz Sharif (NS) in London, it goes like this:
KT : So, on the 10th morning, which is Monday, Nawaz Sharif will be standing on Pakistani soil.
NS : Hopefully.
KT: When you say hopefully does that mean…
NS : Hopefully means Insha Allah.
KT : Is it in God’s hands or yours?
NS : First God and then of course in our hands.
Aaaah!
Insha Allah, Nawaz Sharif did step on Pakistan soil only to be deported back to Jeddah.
Don’t know who had the last laugh though – God, Musharraf or Sharif!
And well, like most soap operas, this also has the K element! (Thankfully, it does not start with it!)
The events unfolding in our neighbouring state has kept me engrossed over the past few weeks - a 100 % edge of the seat thriller.
My take on this : As Lord Acton famously remarked, Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Power like lust, is all pervasive and blinds the person to all raison d'être; makes you indulge in a self-serving game of constant deceit, one-upmanship and manipulation.
Its an abyss.
******************
My Interview pick of the week : Karan Thapar (KT) interviewing Nawaz Sharif (NS) in London, it goes like this:
KT : So, on the 10th morning, which is Monday, Nawaz Sharif will be standing on Pakistani soil.
NS : Hopefully.
KT: When you say hopefully does that mean…
NS : Hopefully means Insha Allah.
KT : Is it in God’s hands or yours?
NS : First God and then of course in our hands.
Aaaah!
Insha Allah, Nawaz Sharif did step on Pakistan soil only to be deported back to Jeddah.
Don’t know who had the last laugh though – God, Musharraf or Sharif!
Friday, September 07, 2007
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