Of things imagined... or maybe real

The Human Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 17:26:00 +0000

As much peace as I find in the soul stirring stillness of the Silent Valley, and bask on the warm beaches of the marina, marvelling at my own insignificance before the Bay of Bengal, I can't help but stand on Yonge Street in Toronto and be amazed by the amazing transformation that has been brought about, not by some supreme being that is dressed in purple robes, but mere humans!

As much as the pristine Himalayas soothed my soul and made me feel one with the universe, the CN tower and magnificent city lights energize my mind and renew my spirit. I am constantly astounded by the sheer force of will and nimbleness of mind that has allowed the human race to build, generation upon generation, some of the most awe inspiring structures ever.

Sure we probably destroyed the planet along the way and future generations are probably doomed to living in oxygen free, concrete jungles. But, why do we under estimate our kids so much? If we could build these majestic cities, that were probably inconceivable to people 80 or 100 years ago, why are we so sure that our kids, and theirs, won’t find a way to make things better? After all, the human spirit is the only thing that has endured through all these generations.

Two Weeks in Toronto

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 02:30:00 +0000

Exactly two weeks since I landed in Toronto. The most that has changed in my life? I've lost 8 pounds!! :D Trivialities aside, moving out of my beloved, but definitely small pond has made me quite a minuscule fish in the huge big ocean that is Toronto.

Living in a city with so many different cultures and ethnicities, and best of all, seeing each and everyone of them consciously acknowledged and respected is quite novel indeed. You would expect that coming from Madras, it shouldn't be too different and I should be able to fit right in. But the subtle difference here is the extremely conscious manner in which everyone accommodates the differences in culture and try their best to communicate very carefully, with respect being top most on their minds.

Life here seems to be very laid-back and calm, with almost everyone getting where they want to on time, in the most polite and orderly manner. But get into the flow of things and you realize that it is more like a flock of ducks in pond - Serenely floating around on the outside but furiously paddling with all their might just under the surface.

I've got the furious paddling down. Now all I have to do is work on the calm surface. :)

These are a few of my favourite things...

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 08:13:00 +0000

There are very few things that will perk up my week like watching a movie at a theater! I guess there's a reason why I knew the ticket counter guys at Satyam so well, that I could get them to sell me tickets to the best seats in the house when the board outside read 'Houseful'!

After years of being bogged down with supposedly better things to do in life, my bestest friend in all the world took me for a movie aptly titled "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara". This happened to be a couple of days after he tried to convince me that I couldn't fit 68 hours of work into a 24 hour day.

Anyway, with Eva perched on my lap with her favourite blanket securely in hand, we sat down for the most fun we've had in awhile. Eva bounced and fist pumped to every song in-spite of it being 11 pm and even B was caught laughing at times (regional languages are not his first choice). It totally got me to realize that at the end of the day, a goofy movie can be a lot more satisfying than ticking off just a couple more item on an endless ToDo list!

Reminiscings and New Beginnings

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:04:00 +0000

Stumbled upon my own blog after so long today. Was pleasantly surprised at the myriad things that piqued my as well as my (tiny band of devout) readers' interest for the past 5 years. From auto drivers to city administration and turtles, we seem to have quite an eclectic taste, this motley bunch of us (if I may say so myself ;)).

And now, as I prepare to leave behind the beloved cities of my youth, friends and family (whose brave faces can't veil the anxiety in their voices), I feel a strong need to revive this blog, with the anticipation of interesting adventures to experience and write about.

My one visit to Toronto 10 months ago gave me such good vibes, that I'll be setting off again - this time as a student for a year! I do intend to explore the city with as much curiosity as I did Madras and hope to record these trysts here. Let's see what comes of it...

So here's to old friends and new adventures!

Mithran Uncle

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:49:00 +0000

You taught me to spell hippopotamus when I was a little child

And gave me dire warnings when I grew up and went wild.

You took me in, in the middle of the night - no questions asked,

Let me cool off and come to terms with the world,

While discreetly making sure that my family knew I was fine.

You introduced me to people who’ve become friends for life,

And showed me how just one man

Can make a difference to so many lives.

You amazed me with your calm when I was hysterical with panic

And made me realize, more can be achieved without being hassled.

You always remembered to call around my birthday

And transformed a crumbling old church, just for my wedding day

You showed me every day that the only way to live

Was by giving it your all and going that extra mile.

I could go on and on, as could many others I’m sure

But all that’s really left to say is

Miss you Mithran uncle and thank you for having been part of my life.

Tagged.

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:56:00 +0000

Sorry all who have actually been following my blog and have had nothing to follow for the past year almost... (except for the recent advertisements for certain ahmm... drugs)

Since I have been duly punished for not writing for so long, I shall restart with a tag i just found out about.

I have to grab the nearest book,

Go to page 123,
skip the first 5 sentences,
post the next 3 sentences.

So here it is:

How can you trust as an ally one who has not hesitated to intrigue fatally against a brother?'

From: The Indian Epics Retold, R. K. Narayan

I do this, mention the person who tagged me, and tag 5 other people.

I tag: Miss Iyer, Thought Traveler, Arch, Susheel, K

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:22:00 +0000

Just found out that I haven't been in this city long enough to be a registered voter!
:(

RS Pandey Zindabad!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:04:00 +0000

Amazingly proud of the government for not letting the oil company workers hold them to ransom!
Finally the people know that the government has a strong backbone and won't simply give into all and sundry that decide to push their luck!

We do after all, have one of the stronger economies in the world right now, and just as there are enough people to take up the jobs of the people that don't want to work, there are also a lot of jobs to go around for the qualified.

I'm just glad that no fuel only means we will have to walk to work and that we don't live in Europe where no fuel means freezing to death!

CHANGE THE WORLD...

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:18:00 +0000

...ONE CHOICE AT A TIME!

Reasons

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:00:00 +0000

Found this in my drafts. Sigh! I miss Madras! :(

Now that the rains have given us some reprive from the sweltering heat, we can move on to cursing the flooded roads and clogged up traffic that are a side effect. How nice to live in a city that provides us with so many avenues to vent our frustrations of the day.

City Administration

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:36:00 +0000

This post has been brewing for quite a while actually. Started when I had to go and apply for a family card in order to apply for an LPG connection. I procrastinated as much as I could, dreading the whole process, expecting to be inundated by paperwork and tied up in red tape. But when I actually got there and went through the whole process, I realized that it wasn’t so bad at all. In fact, it was very systematic and perfectly easy, with everyone willing to help.

Of course, I did have all my paperwork in order and took the time to ensure that there were no stupid mistakes. The lines were really long and the waiting was a bit painful, but what else can u expect in a country trying to support more than a billion people (over 4 million of whom are in this city). Most of them were just about legally literate and needed help with the simplest forms. So obviously, mistakes happened and tempers flew all over the place. The people on the wrong side of the counter had to listen to various people telling them how they ought to do their jobs while the whole time, all they’re trying to do is make the slightest dent in that ever growing line in front of their desk and help people get that elusive thing called the ‘Ration card’!

This tiny group of around 20 people has to cater to the needs of all the residents of the huge residential colonies of Madras. They come to work everyday to face the same bunch of forms to be filled and procedures to be carried out. But nine of the ten forms they receive from the complaining public is either incomplete or wrongly filled in. So, every day is basically a battle to educate people who don’t really want to understand the right way to get what they want; to help uncomprehending people who want the strangest requests met - without too much record of it and in the shortest turnaround time. Just like the traffic cops (that’s a whole other post), I certainly don’t envy these guys their jobs. And, not once in any of the 5-6 times I’ve visited the ration office have I ever seen any of the people working there slacking off or just hanging around not doing their job. In fact, if you have filled your application in correctly, they guide you quite effectively and help you get quickly.

I needed the card just for the LPG connection (which would cost double at a private vendor) and as id proof, but the majority of the people standing in the queue with me depend on it heavily for their family’s monthly rations of rice, wheat, sugar and kerosene. Sure they should have computerized the system a long time ago. Of course it doesn’t make sense for these poor government employees to sit and write in ledgers and sign hand-written, rubber-stamped pieces of paper. But considering that probably no other country provides these services to its citizens on such a large scale, and that most of the techie geniuses of the country are either abroad or in the big private corporations earning big bucks, who the hell is left to automate and computerize poor little T. Nagar’s ration office? And yet, they have managed to already computerize and in fact, go virtual with the railway ticketing system.

Obviously the government has its priorities right! Most people with the need to travel are educated enough and have the means to go online and book their tickets, apply for PAN cards, electoral rolls... But most people that really need a ration card are the ones that still have no access to the computer; so why bother just yet? If they are going to have problems even when talking to a real live person, there's no guarantee that they could use a computerized system. In the mean time, for the ones with basic street smarts, the system works just fine!

The power of an idea

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 06:15:00 +0000

A test of endurance, solidarity for a cause, just plain fun...
there are a lot of reasons behind the presence of the 1 lac odd people at the Chennai Marathon. And all that was needed to convince more than 70,000 people to endure the blazing Madras sun for more than a couple of hours was some decent publicity; no assure prizes, no incentive what so ever unless u consider the certificate you get if you reach the finish line before 1pm.

Then there is the Teach India movement. Over 10,000 volunteer registrations within 3 days of the launch!

Shows how all it takes is a well planned and executed idea to make a difference...

Copyblogger

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:22:00 +0000

Since just about all my readers have blogs themselves (I think) and write either professionally or even just for fun, I wanted to share this brilliant post on a blog I have recently begun to follow.
It's a bit slow but hang in there and get to the end; I totally identified with it. I promise it's worth it. Let me know what you think about "How to read".

My new addiction

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:02:00 +0000

I was recently introduced to this cool thing called 'Stumble Upon' much to the annoyance of my husband! Cause now, every time he enters our room, this is what he hears.

Another Movie Post!

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:04:00 +0000

I know this post will probably look like a PR do for my company, but I just have to write it anyway!
went to the Satyam press meet for the launch of 3D in their theaters. After the usual gyan from all our bosses and the questions from the press, the movie began. Journey to the Center of the Earth in digital 3D. WOW!!!

It's releasing at Satyam on the 29th of August, so anyone in Madras can go book your tickets well in advance. Just don't miss it! that my company developed the server that is playing the content is just the cherry on the top for me. But digital 3D simply has to be seen to be believed!

Kutty Chetan and all was well and good, and for that era, great. but to actually feel like your looking through a window and feel the depth not just coming through in front of the screen, but also inside is seriously mind blowing.

All i can say, once again, is GO WATCH!

Go watch it now!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:25:00 +0000

I simply could not understand why a colleague, who'd gone to the preview, wanted me to count him in for an 8:15 am show with the rest of us. Yeah, it seems to be the most hyped movie of the year, what with Mr. Ledger's tragic tryst with too many prescription pills. But, cynic that I am, I was pretty sure that all the drama about his performance was more because it was his last movie and a horrible marketing gimmick.

But I always liked batman and though I was not too impressed with Christian Bale in the last one, decided to see what the drama was all about. Got up at 7:00 am to catch the 8:15 show (sigh! I miss T.Nagar) and the place was full!!! Ten minutes in to the show and I understood just why Balaji came again. Mind blowing is an under statement! I'm quite willing to eat my words about the marketing hype. I don't even remember batman! It was the Joker's show all the way.

Go NOW and Watch!!!

My first article on a photography site

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:39:00 +0000

Was quite flattered when a friend asked me to post on his very widely read site on photography. Seeing that he's helping me look brilliant at work with all the gyan that he's sharing, and the fact that I hadn't written anything just for fun in a really long time, I decided to take his request seriously. A couple of weeks worth of deliberation (and a bit of subtle prodding by said friend) later, here are the results.
Would love to know what you think of Photography and me.

How I miss Thee!

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:36:00 +0000

- the 5 km ride from home to office
- the 10 minute walk to fresh, assorted bread
- the 2 minute walk to Murugan Idly Kadai
- my 'world famous with my in-laws' salads that were care of Kennedy Vegetable Stall
- being bang in the middle of the city and yet in such a nice calm neighbourhood
- the shinny new flyover that was completed two weeks before i had to move out!
- the potential of one day, playing basket ball in the public cement court 5 minutes from home
- the fantastic 'every non-vegetarian's dream' (BBQ Nation) that opened 5 minutes away, again two weeks before i had to move out!
- the potential of one day, walking up to Prince Jewellery and getting my nose pierced
- being able to leave home 10 minutes before an appointment and still making it on time
- having my husband leave 5 minutes before work starts and back 15 minutes after he leaves work

I know most people shudder at the thought of entering T. Nagar but given a chance, I'd go back to live there in a Madras Minute!

My version of — Strickland Gillian (1869-1954)

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:39:00 +0000

You may have tangible wealth untold
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you never can be—

I have a mother who read to me.

The only suprises are the unexpected ones

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:05:00 +0000

Started out with what i thought was doing mom a favour on the weekend. took a couple of her colleagues to the beach in the evening... sand less, sea less town that they live in... it was all quite pleasant and nice. they went n wet their toes in the water... the 'sundal' and 'kadallay' vendors hounded us... all was going without a hitch and then the unexpected came... a cop started herding us away from the water! what the hell i said, this is public property!!! i know my rights!
and then it happened... a loud speaker cracked to life and welcomed us to the Navy show!!!

Apparently it was the full dress rehearsal for the show that was going to happen the next day and we were getting the less crowded sneak preview! 8 massive ships sailed into view and there started the display. commandos slithering up and down ropes from choppers - some on rescue missions, others storming pirate ships (yeah they still use those terms in the Navy!) one bunch actually landed on the beach and caused some fireworks there. the air squadron took over and wowed us with their acrobatics. one pilot actually waved to me! how do i know? i was the only one that childishly waved to him! (i don't even know y i did it and was quite mortified when i realized what i was doing) but i happily started a trend and all the kids around started waving vigorously after they saw i actually got a response! :D
But the most awesome sight that i doubt i will ever see again in my lifetime, was a submarine floating very close to the beach with quite a bit of it out of the water!

Amma, anytime you ever want me to do anything for you, you just have to say the word!

the birds... they are a comming...

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 03:31:00 +0000

Lots of seasons over lapping come December... the birds have already arrived at vedanthangal we are told, the ridleys should be on their way too. The music season that is the crowning glory of living in Madras already has its preamble on the way, and of course it's Christmas time... Deck the halls with boughs of holly.... 'tis the season to buy camera batteries....

Where will all the ridleys go??!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:31:00 +0000

It's October and the Ridley season is just a month away. But we don't really need to worry about them this year. Those college and school students that used to walk the beaches at night can get a good nights sleep. no need to raise money to build protected enclosures for the nests. No need to find ways to appeal to the trawlers to use TED's (Turtle Excluder Devices) on their nets to ensure that the turtles don't drown in them. No need to go from door to door, or to the government for that matter, and plead with all the beach house owners to switch of their lights for the next 4-5 months so that the hatchlings won't be diverted on to the roads instead of back to the ocean.

Oh no! don't get me wrong. Nothing has changed. There has been no sudden outburst of sympathy for the turtle that's been nesting on these beaches since the beginning of time. Things have not miraculously taken care of themselves and made everything perfect for the turtle this year. There's just one very simple reason. There's not many dry beaches left for the turtle to come and nest. Thanks to our much discussed friend Global warming, the sea has come noticeably inland and there's hardly any dry beaches left in places that are not teeming with people.

The government can hardly ban people from going to one of the longest beaches in Asia now can they? all the jobs that would be lost, all the entertainment that we will be deprived of... all for a few hundred turtles that want some privacy to lay their eggs once a year!

Eulogy

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:29:00 +0000

It was actually still day light when I was coming back from work today. But everything felt just a tad too bright for 6 o' clock in the evening. I looked around a little more carefully. All the familiar landmarks were there, the water that usually collects after a heavy rain, the buildings, the pothole... but there was something different. Something seemed to be missing. Then I saw the piles of neatly chopped wood on either side of the road...

They gave us shade when the Madras sun was beating down on us. They gave us some shelter when the monsoons came lashing down. They sucked up the stuffiness that seemed to descend on the city as the day drew on and made everything fresh again for the new day. They lent an air of serenity early in the morning, with the koyals that sang nestled in the crooks of their branches. Busy sales people took a break under them, through the long working day, sipping chai or 'badam gheer' bought from the push cart leaning there. Children played around the trunks under the watchful eye of the chaikaaran.

They took decades to grow. Carefully nurtured probably, by someone long passed on. And now, in a few short days, nothing is left of them but neatly cut logs, stacked 4 feet high.

We need the space. After all, the city is growing... developing... progressing... But ask any of the commuters on G. N Chetty road or North Usman road if they minded going around the tree trunks protruding on to the road. I'm sure they will all have not even noticed that they were in the way. I'm sure they will all agree that our city feels just a little naked now.

Independence Day

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:10:00 +0000

It is a bit of a tragedy that the national anthem is being played as an ad jingle! I'm pretty sure there's some law against it. And all those famous musicians trying sooo hard to look patriotic??!!!! I know we're a free country, and abusing this freedom in every way is the rule and not the exception. But using the national anthem as an ad jingle I think is going a bit too far.

What I would like to know is how much Airtel paid to do this, legally or otherwise and how many palms were greased, how far up the administrative ladder, in order for this to happen.

Small Victories

noreply@blogger.com (Not All There) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 02:50:00 +0000

Yesterday, my husband wanted a plastic bag to put some papers into so it won't get wet in the rain. After searching high n low, to his chagrin and my absolute glee, we found that we did not have any plastic bags in our house!!!

I knew I was trying my best not to accept any as far as possible, taking my own jute bag to go shopping and all that, but not one???!!! So after he left I went on another search. I found 3 tiny plastic bags in the whole house. One had come in with some food bob had bought, the second brought in some eggs and the third was an old one in which all the milk packets and plastic wrapping is stored to be taken for recycling. Then I remembered the conversation with the packing guy at the departmental store, "Ma'am, I wish everyone would ask us or even just allow us pack stuff in cardboard boxes instead of the plastic bags." then there was the vegetable guy who tried to convince me that at least the tomatoes need to be put separately in a plastic bag. He doesn't even offer me a plastic bag these days. In fact even if i forget to give him my bag, he asks for it instead of automatically reaching for the plastic.

Now Nilgiris only gives me my provisions in boxes, the flower lady knows to wrap my jasmine in banana leaf and my maid knows to segregate the plastic wrapping from the organic garbage before throwing it out. Even the guy at hotbreads knows better than to give me a bag if all I'm buying is a loaf of bread. No one needs to be told anymore. It has become the natural course of things. And what happened to the paper bob had to carry?? It got put into a nice brown envelope made from recycled paper and put in his pocket.