Its My Life!

Legend in SPB

2020-09-25T14:53:00.001-04:00

Indeed a sad day for cinema and for music!

Only a few make it to be a legend! He may rest in peace, but many of his songs will accompany us forever! Ironic but befitting is that many of his songs he sung are now used to define him in his final journey to dissolve himself back into Nature!

நிலாவே வா...

செல்லாதே வா...

எந்நாளும் எங்கள் பொன்வானம் நீ...

எமை நீ தான் பிரிந்தாலும்...

உன் குரலாலே அனைத்தாயே...

எங்கள் முந்திய தலைமுறை என்றாலும், நீ இல்லாத எங்கள் வாழ்க்கை வெறுமையாகவே இருந்து இருந்து இருக்கும்... காலம் கடந்து வாழும் ஒரு சிலரில் நீயும் ஒருவன்...

உந்தன் மூச்சு நின்றாலும் உன் பாடல்கள் அணையா விளக்கே...

ஊரெங்கும் போன உன் ராகங்களே...

இயற்கையடி சேர்ந்த உன் தேகங்களே...

துக்கமாக இருந்தாலும் உன் வாழ்க்கை கொண்டப்படவேண்டிய ஒன்று...

துக்கம் சில நேரம் பொங்கி வரும் போதும்...

மக்கள் மனம் போல் பாடிக்கொண்டிருப்பாய்....

எங்கள் உணர்வுகள் இருக்கும் வரை நீ இருப்பாய்!!

The World today and our Hypocrisy!

2020-06-06T12:18:00.002-04:00

I probably know that this is not a moment for me to show this emotion, but can't help but express it.

So yet another person died in the hands of the police who are supposed to be guarding us from the dangers of the evils. Make no mistake, the men and women in uniform have always protected us and like in every form life, there are always exceptions.

But, that mentioned, it really does warrant an outrage and justifies all the protests that goes around globe! However, I feel a bit hypocritical about fighting for just one race or one living being! Is Alyan Kurdi not worthy of this protest? Are the thousands that have been displaced from Syria not worthy of these protests? Are thousands that are fighting in Hong Kong not worthy of these protests? Are the millions that were separated from their homeland in Srilanka not worthy of these protests? Are the billion odd people who are oppressed in China not worthy of these protests? Are the thousands that lost their lives in Iraq/Libya not worthy of these protests?

Each year, thousands die because of gun violence. Mad men with guns get into school and shoot children. Don't those lives matter too? We are all putting our next generation to the dangers of Climate change! Should we not do anything about it? Is it not just hypocritical to fight for one race when there are so many more such races which face this! Future Generation is in itself a race, in my view!

Please make no mistake that am against this moment or the movement. Black Lives do matter and so do other lives as well! Every war/battle/fight/protest needs a purpose. And at this moment what I see is a very narrow view of all us. I strongly feel that this cannot be a moment or fight for just one race, it has to be holistic in nature towards the systemic social injustice and violence that is there across the globe. Else this will be one other moment/movement like the MeToo moment/movement and this shall also pass. For what I remember, if people had a sustained effort after Dr. King died, we would have not had this conversation! We are just the puppets of a very few who can manipulate our actions for their own purposes and keep the challenges alive while killing lives!

Again, make no mistake! I'm not complaining! I'm just anxious that we are not fighting for the right purpose, while also highlighting our hypocrisy! And after all, even I'm an hypocrite who cries foul when an elephant or a lion is hunted down, but can eat chicken and goat!

And so.... Each and every life should matter! Can we think like that? The change cannot be left to just the policy makers, but in people's minds as well!

Regards,

Raj.

COVID-19: Aftermath

2020-03-01T09:12:00.001-05:00

So here we go, after a long while penning my emotions.

I was sitting in office today for the weekly leadership meeting. One of the guys was sneezing and worst is he traveled into Texas, the previous day! I even nudged him politely stating it worries me that he is sneezing and that, may be, he should not be in office! But he shrugged it off and the other guy wasn't worried like I was.

During my presentation, the risk aware me, raised the potential risk of disruption due to COVID-19 and almost instantly the question from the two was like, what about it? I said, we need to come up with a BCP for it because it is spreading fast and it was question of time that we prepare for it. It was a pause for a moment and I was hoping that it was taken seriously. The answer was, a lot more silence!! Mind you, this was last week, when the number of cases around the globe was raising and Italy is at the kind of brink.

That evening when I was driving back, I could not help but think of the below and I thought I may want to record it and look back how this had panned out.

- This virus is gonna bull doze a lot of things.
- The world would have changed forever.
- Economy will go down a lot. A lot of us will lose jobs.
- Food shortage because of transport and/or famine.
- Across the globe, social unrest will be there. With no money and job to earn money, people will turn to looting and stealing.

This will not be an easy world going forward. I for one, feel a bit weird. I feel a lot scared, but have to pretend to be brave for the sake of my girls!

At the other end of the pandemic, we may have changed forever. Whoever survives the virus and the violence, may be can restore what we used to call as humanity!

Hope that I'm wrong. Generally am not this pessimistic, but 1 week into that discussion, my folks at office do not realize what is and why we need a BCP.

And so is the leadership of many countries. Some have kind of shut things down and some haven't. But to me this is not just about virus, but also about the world after that! I'm not sure if any country leader is thinking about it! What and how to go about the disruption and potential social unrest!

All I can do today is to hope! Hope is the first cure for all problems!

Why do we need sports in life

2019-10-05T12:56:00.003-04:00

Been a long time that I've blogged, but felt I should record it.

Over the weekend, after a hard fought Nilaa's volleyball game, I was having a conversation with her coach and the conversation turned to why did Nilaa get to a sport. He had his reasons, but mine was, sports is very much a good medium that builds an attitude for life. He was like, how so? Sports allows us to be in the real. It doesn't matter what your previous point was, you have to get back to reality to face the next ball. And it puts you in the moment. He was like, this is a good perspective.

This is exactly what I used to tell both my girls. Learn that attitude from sport! I still practice to get out at least once a week even after 40, is just to practice to be in the moment.

Sports gives you attitude!! Allows you to practice CAP Of life. Committement, Attitude, Passion!!

So get out and give yourselves an exposure to a sport and most importantly to your kids!

Possibility from Probability

2019-04-03T20:38:00.006-04:00

Just a random thought...

Can possibility and probability co-exist? While in theory, it is not possible, I think in reality all of us are a real good example of them.

Let's look at it simply. We are one in a billion which is allowed by an egg, That is the probability. From there on, here we are a possibility. If that tiny little sperm can beat all odds and bring us into reality, what can we not acheive?

All of us are born acheivers! It is just that we need to keep it going!

Regards,
Raj.

Lesson from Tides and Sun.

2018-09-16T13:04:00.021-04:00

Last month, at dawn, on a Chennai beach resort, I happened to be sipping a coffee in a relaxed fashion and watching the Sun rise over Bay of Bengal!

I was seeing this beautiful work of Universe/Galaxy/Mother Earth in play. As serene and calming it was, this is what was stuck with me on how arrogant or in one sense igonorant, we have all become.

What do tides teach us? Perseverance: They keep trying every moment to breach the shore. They never give up!

What does Sun teach us? Hope: Each day Sun comes (I know earth rotates and not Sun) back with a hope that we will get better and not giving up on us, giving us another chance.

Imagine, if the tides succeed and/or Sun gives up! It is destruction! That is how fragile we are as the potentially only conscience in this universe, at least at this point!

The lesson I took from that morning is, keep hoping and persevere! If we lose hope and don't keep trying, life ends!

Regards,

Raj.

Oviyaa.. First day at School!

2018-08-15T15:13:00.002-04:00

Second time in our lives, we are facing this so called mixed feelings!

Our second Angel is now set to get out into life. It's been a busy 5 years for us since she came in our lives and now to see her move out of her comfort zone and to be there all alone for a while is way too a bit incomprehensible.

While am happy, glad and excited to see her step in the next phase in life, am scared to let her go as well! But I believe that is how nature teaches us!

I missed to see her off today, but knowing her, she should have been all smiles, happy and proud to do it!

As I said this few years back when Nilaa went out, it will forever remain a moment to cherish and celebrate and hope both of them do well in their lives!

As a dad, all I can hope for is to give them the best life they deserve, while they carve out their own paths from now on!

Regards,
Raj

Integrity undefined

2018-05-24T22:20:00.006-04:00

There was a question on Integrity in one of the conversations I was having with my friends. Not sure if I read it somewhere, but, here was what I said as my definition.

Integrity is not about doing something right when someone is watching, but it is about not doing the wrong thing when none is watching! Meaning, doing the right thing, being the right thing at all times! Is it possible? I believe yes! If we are true to ourselves, I think we can!!

Regards,
Raj.

Big 40 - As it is called!

2017-10-05T00:41:00.000-04:00

For a change, it doesn't feel like just another number.

Probably I've crossed 2/3rd of my productive life span where I can and I could be of some effect in this ecosystem. This post is not about me doing or not achieving something.. It is just possibly a reflection of what I feel about the years passed

10 years of innocence...
10 years of ignorance...
10 years of arrogance...
10 years of exuberance...

Not sure what the next decade has in store for me and how I would treat it...

But, for now, am enjoying this adulation that I receive, very aware of the fact this is pretty much a huge responsibility to do justice to this love and affection. I've always said this and will say this with much more gratitude this time! I'm who I'm because of people around me. Am very fortunate to have never felt alone in my life. I accept all of these with the utmost humility!!

Thank you so much!

Keep loving me...

I love to be loved!
I live to be loved!

- Raj

My Views!

2017-01-15T10:48:00.002-05:00

Over a few discussions on the Jalli Kattu issues, I realized, that people have less or no understanding of the challenge and I don't blame for not everyone knows everything!

But to say this a barbarism or cruelty towards animals, I think then it is ignorance!

Now let's have the argument..

1. If bull fight is not a sport because a group of men don't treat the bull fairly, then Kabadi is more worse than this! Tomorrow PETH will be formed and strip us those only gold medals in Asian and common wealth games that India gets.
2. People in India, we believe in fasting and some fast for 48 days to go to Sabari Malai etc.,. Let's also ban that, because it is cruelty towards humans, for goodness sake. Let PETH be formed!
3. During Pongal days, we have something called uriyadi, where folks are blindfolded and are asked to hit the pot hanging on ropes a bit further and one has to go and accurately hit that. It can and actually does hurt other people!
4. I know the whole argument of mine could be nullified saying who talks (actually cares) about humans, it is all about animals. Many arguments on those as well... mine is. We have kids and pets at home and mostly in India, we have them chained and confined within homes. And the kids, the way they play with those dogs and cats, if we could relate that to this one, it by no means is less cruel. So let's ban pets at home as well!

There are many such stuff that we do, that could be illogical to the so called western and modern worlds!

In the name of modern world, we have lost a lot of good stuff. Yes, we need to evolve.. Yes we need to get out of the caste systems, thank goodness, we have banned sati and other rituals that hurt humans and may look uncivilized. But underline the word ritual! Sati was a ritual, not a tradition! So let's not mix things!

These traditions and sports have been there for ages and have reason to that. Let's understand that the we deviating from those cultures will have spin off effects on the very fabric that holds us as a family or even a society...

And if tradition is wrong, why get married and have a family! Let's go eff around! I know the people who have counter arguments will say that Jallikattu issue has nothing to do with tradition, but in my view, Jallikattu is very much a sport and sports like these are part of my tradition! And yes I want to up hold my traditions!

These are my personal views and not intended to hurt anyone's sentiments! But we are living in the so called modern times where others' sentiments do not matter! So registering my views anyways!

- Raj.

Happy 2017!

2016-12-31T13:30:00.000-05:00

I termed the years 2015 and 2016, years of determination! I guess we as citizens of the world have shown a lot of determination in the past couple of years! However, we are still a long away from being called as humans that we once were!

We have made this world a lot more complicated and made ourselves lot more greedy for everything. We have increased the pace of our lives as like there is no tomorrow. In what we call as success, we have ended up killing lot more people, not just taking their lives, but, also killing them by killing ambitions, aspirations and dreams!

I know all of these are because of our lack of compassion towards our fellow human beings and living beings, in the name of a phrase called "Survival of the fittest!"

Let us show the compassion to our fellow humans and mother nature to make sure this world is a better place to live in!
Let us train our children to have the compassion so that they learn to live and let live.

Let 2017 be an year of Compassion!

Let's Live and let others also live!

Regards,
Raj.

Rio Olympics and India

2016-08-19T14:00:00.000-04:00

Olympians from India.

Take pride for the fact that you got in there after all of the "great" support our government, politicians, media, arm chair activists and the so called rich gave!

Take pride for the fact that with all the infrastructure we have in the country for your respective sports, you go us all a representation at the games!

To Me! You are as good as our men and women in uniform representing this great country! That by all means is the medal for all of us! I, for one, very proud of the fact that you had all the courage to get there and represent India, for all the adversaries that you faced! Hats off! You are not just medallions or participants, but rarest of the golds that the country has produced!

Yes am equally proud of the medal ladies and the one that missed by a whisker.. An example of how girls can make a nation proud if only if we let them live by not killing even before they are born!

Not the least... The coaches. If not for your relentless efforts, these boys and girls are not the ones that they are now.

Thanks for inspiring a billion people! That's not an easy task!

Hope the leaders take note of how to represent the country in the parliament and assembly!

- Raj

My Seeds are my Root!

2016-05-26T15:09:00.000-04:00

This is blog is dedicated to both Nilaa and Oviyaa and from both Leela and I. The below write up was kind of our first on Nilaa who was the star of the week in her school. And while we were drafting this, I realized that these kids are the inspiration behind the wild run that am making along with Leela. In today's world, when there is a sacrifice made, we expect that to be recognized. But our kids make a lot of sacrifices without even realizing that they do and yet do not complain on the short of recognition. Without dragging too much below was our account on Nilaa as much as possible. This stems my view on what we leave in our child is more important that what we leave for them!

- Raj.

Nilaa, the Moon!

Thanks for this opportunity to write about Nilaa, which we have not had it before in our lives!

Right from the birth, she has always been very active and can’t stay idle in a place for more than 2 minutes. To get her to be tired used to be our daily goal at one point in time! It used to be really funny to bathe her, tough to feed her and getting her to bed to make her sleep as always been a tiresome exercise for her mom. However, over the years, she has transformed herself into an independent lady and now does these things all by herself, though sometimes slow. But, rewards and recognition works well with her to get a job done!

She loves to get to her school always. The only complaint that she had about schools was that she misses schools during our transition phases. She probably has a uniqueness in having attended many schools at Chennai and Erode in India, Derby in the UK and now here in Plano, the US!

She just loves being outside of the house wherever it was. Be it in India, in the UK or now in the US, she just wants to head out to the park to ride a bicycle or play with her friends that she had made all by herself in a very short duration. We have seen that she gets into a leadership role quickly and the team responds to her positively! In sports, she wants to be a basketball player.

She loves her family pretty much and are fond of her aunts and cousins. She absolutely adores and takes care of her little sister Oviyaa. Both these girls now have a separate room for themselves and Nilaa takes care of the younger one during the nights! Oviyaa is yet to get to a play school, but Nilaa ensures that she does not miss that. We often get to visualize her class teachers in her mono acts as teaches her little sister, teaching good things in life.

Nilaa is a very good listener, but often pays attention only to things that matters or interests her. She likes to be surprised every now and then. Last summer, exactly during the same week, we made a trip to India from the UK and we kept it as a surprise! She did not realize that she is in India, until we got out of the airport and met with her uncles and aunts awaiting to receive us. She simply loved it.

As with every child and every respective parents, Nilaa being our first child is the meaning of our lives. There are a lot of things and emotions that she gave us for the first time and continues to give us every single day.

More than anything, what we adore about her is the way she has inspired us to embrace changes in life. In the name of opportunity to us, we have challenged her by putting her in different schools, across cities, countries and continents! Yet, she neither complained nor was she bogged down. She had adapted to every environment very seamlessly without ever needing us to help her in transitions. In fact, she had shown us, the parents, that all these challenges are opportunities to explore and learn new things in life. An Inspiration!

True to the meaning of her name, she guides us as a light in our lives! Nilaa is a star to your class and a moon to us. Nilaa literally means moon in our mother tongue Thamizh!

Just to end it on a lighter note, we chose her name over a carom board game!

We love her as our life and are sure Gulledge will take good care of her. Thanks for having her part of this institution and all the best to everyone at Gulledge!

- Leela and Raj

Happy 2016!

2015-12-31T10:48:00.001-05:00

I think our determination as much as I thought we would need, to make ourselves better, was a bit lacking. I would still call this year as a year of Determination like last year.

Therefore, my New Year wishes from this blog is referred to last year's as the request is still relevant!

Live and let Live! Happy New Year to one and all!

- Raj

Tolerance in India

2015-11-21T02:59:00.000-05:00

What the FFFF is called intolerance growing?

First up, apologies on the foul language that I would use on the title and the below write up..

Second, am not a supporter of any party or organization, a pure common man and I think I'm a bit rationale...

I have been reading the stories of intolerance growing in our country and the intellectuals that most I do not even (frankly, but unfortunately) know were giving up their awards or accolades given by pervious government. Frankly, I do care, because it is their right of expression. But what I do care is the notion of intolerance growing within India. So here is my perspective and frankly a frustrated angry one! Just to sum it up before I write the entire emotions down, I see that India is the most tolerant nation and if not, tell me what the FFFF you mean by intolerance.

Let me tell my rationale why I think India is tolerant.....

In a country with so many children, we have made Education a business sector. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

In a country with 1.3 billion population, healthcare is business sector. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

A land that was once agriculture rich country, we let farmers die. They die not because of starvation, but because of the fact that their dignity is not spared. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

A nationalized bank says it cannot recover loan from a baron who owns an airline, a cricket team, a liquor company and of course few girls each (I mean no disgrace to females here), we run an OTS scheme for farmers and threaten to take away his land if he does not comply. And we who are fed by them do not do anything about. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

Just for one exceptional torrential rain, cities like Mumbai, Chennai just go under water. We know the cause, we still will let it happen. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

We know IPL is scam and yet we follow. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

We allow politicians or the rich to run BCCI. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

When we drive, we see a signal, we see someone ahead of us jumping it what we do is we jump along with that someone. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

In a country where a lot of young bearcats join civil services, they join as corrupt ones. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

We followed an election were voters were only 3000+ with lot more enthusiasm than a state or a central elections. Because Cinema! Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

We let corrupt politicians come back to power and we hug them, get blessings from them and claim them as king makers. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

And these corrupt politicians come out of a case not because they are corrupt free, but this is corruption spree within the Judiciary. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

We are made to think that Indrani Mukerjee is more important than the rape victims within India. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

When chief minister or a minister or even a leader of the opposition or even worse a small time MLA councilor goes through the traffic and everyone else stops because he has the flag of a party. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

When a greedy influential person wants to encroach someone's land, the entire systems supports and we learn to live with that. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

We even take Nature for a ride, deforestation, CO2, land, Lakes, canals and what not?! Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

In a country where all 4 pillars of democracy (Legislature, Judiciary, Executive & Media) is corrupt, we keep our mouth shut and still listen to their stories and worst is, we believe in their stories. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

The rusted pillars have effectively made our enablers (Healthcare, Education, Infrastructure etc.,.) as the blockers and we still get going with them. Now if this is not tolerance, what the FFFF is tolerance?

And there are many more like jumping queues, tatkal for Gods, to conversions, to beef to what not! And we are more tolerant than what we thing we are!

Yes! I lived in a country for a while where healthcare and education are free and equal! I'm not writing this because am an NRI or someone who lived abroad and come back to complain against the country. This for all I know used to be land of morality and honesty. We have lost both for greed of power and money. If this country has to change, it has to be us who does the change and not expect an IPS or a MLA or an advocate or Journalist or a doctor or an engineer to be perfectly honest!

Again, am sorry about my language. But I do not think the F word is worse than the ones that were/are used by the so called intellectuals, the political parties and the media!

I have learnt and now believe that we are most hypocratic country in the world! And Yes I know I need to be a bit more tolerant now! What the FFFF!!??!!

- Raj

Alyan Kurdi....

2015-09-03T10:39:00.000-04:00

May you rest in peace after making quite a lot of us restless and helpless inhuman!

While the pressures of migrants are real, all this family was doing is trying to find a way to live. And the world leaders are responsible for this, not for stopping immigrants, but to have created the conflicts in the first place.

It is just GREED!!!! This greed of only an handful of people is moving out ethnics of their own country fleeing their homes. I strongly feel that this is the start of the end of this world and this civilization however modern we think we are. If the greedy do not understand the needy it is their bodies that need to be washed to the shores and not a 3 year old's! I dare not post that picture for after a long time it brought tears to my eyes!

Am sorry Alyan Kurdi.

India Salutes Indu Mukund

2015-01-29T09:05:00.001-05:00

In the memory of Major Mukund Varadharajan. Jai Hind!

I was watching the Indian Republic day parade of 2015 and the first on the agenda was Ashok Chakra which is India’s highest peacetime gallantry award. First to come up was Mrs. Indu Mukund wife of Major Mukund who lost is life while fighting terrorists in Kashmir. She stood there before the most powerful men of the land President Pranab, PM Modi, the most powerful person on the earth, President Obama and watched by millions around the world. What struck me was how composed and calm she was, head held high with no tears, no expressing of pain or sorrow but a sheer exhibition of Pride of being Mukund's wife. I was thinking, if Mukund was around he would have been so proud of this young lady who was not perturbed by any of those nuances as she was just doing it for Mukund and her daughter. He would have been more proud to have Mrs. Indu Mukund as his wife than probably the award in itself.

While like everything in life around us, from a plane crash to an hurricane to a conflict to even an homicide, for everyone who is not related to Major Mukund his martyrdom and the emotions it created should have been long lost in memory. No complaints because that is just the way life is. None of us can carry everything with us all the time. But those memories and emotions were back at the moment I saw her walk up those steps and stood up in the most dignified manner one can! Courageous! Not about standing in front of those many people but to fight those emotions that she alone can understand; to fight the pain that she alone can feel! Courageous! This shows the love she has for her man.

And it just so happened that I had to watch her interview to Barka on NDTV, I was so inspired for the strong will she exhibited on TV which strikingly similar to what I thought she would have gone through those moments while walking up those steps. There were quite a few quotes during that interview which will linger in my mind forever.

It's because of the love I have for him; not had.

He would love to see me happy. My strength to lead an happy life and give my daughter an happy life comes from that.

Every love is different.

The Tag line in NDTV sums up all "India Should See The Man Mukund Was, Not My Sorrow."

She could have become emotional or been on tears at every single moment in that interview, but she chose not to; not even during read out of the poem she wrote the day after Major Mukund's death.

For me, she is an inspiration to continue to live on, no matter what happens. I've lost quite a few so close to my heart and of course I have learnt to live without them. But, that's not what am talking about that now. Its also about those small issues, petty politics at work, small differences within relationships, a rainy day, a sunny day, a snowy day, a small feeling of victory in all of these and what not! This young but strong lady showed me how life can't be shallow; how to celebrate life; how to celebrate one's life; how to life an happy life for other's sake!

Mrs. Indu Mukund, I do not know if ever you would get to read my post, but do know that you have an admirer. I hope the nation and the government supports you to lead an happy life and help you in fulfilling your dream of giving your daughter an happy life! I wish that nature gives you all the strength and courage in life and reach the end you wish for (albeit slowly), that is to reach Major Mukund who will be waiting to hug you with all the smiles!

To me you are not a soldier's wife, but a soldier.

I cannot be emotional. Am just inspired!!! .

Cheers!

On Behalf of every Indian, Raj

PS.: I do realize there are a lot of soldiers like Mrs. Indu Mukund and this is dedicated to all of them. Hail them all!

Happy 2015!

2014-12-31T13:30:00.000-05:00

While I called 2014 as the year of Hope, I want to call this year as the year of Determination.

We have come too far, too away from life with a lot of greed and hatred in the very name of life, God and Religion.

Be it wars, be it bombs, be it storming a school and killing children, be it raping a friend, be it shooting down a flight, and quite a lot more of actions like these makes me say that we are not humans any more. Our souls are corrupt and our hearts there by empty!

Let us in this New Year, bring in the courage and determination into our souls to start changing ourselves to be Humans again; For no more children should die or girls be raped in the name of anything!

Let the New Year take away all the greed and hatred....

Let the New Year bring in lot more giving and love...

Let this year of determination bring back the peace and harmony into the world, because we all deserve it!

Let us all enjoy the joy of giving and be loved!

Charlie Chaplin had said it long back.............

A very Happy and Joyous New Year to everyone!

Let my path be determined by my soul...
என் ஜீவன் போடும் பாதையில் போவேன்...

Regards,
Raj

Can't find a name for this Write Up!

2014-11-05T10:25:00.000-05:00

For once am going to keep it short because whatever more I say may dilute what I intend to say!

I watched this unfortunate clip and wanted to express my sadness on the sorry state of affairs and my desperation for a change in the system.

I cannot blame these individuals and it is in fact unfair that she/he are on this clip. There is nothing funny about this clip, but rather something serious that India needs to consider for itself to even think it can be a force to reckon with. Education is not just a right, but it has to be right as well! We need right teachers and trainers. Pull in every scholar/leader in the country, from APJ to Narayana Murthy, they would fondly remember about at least one teacher who made a difference to them. We need to change!

I'm glad that I was built and trained by a great set of teachers from the best school ever and a great college. But not all is so fortunate like me and my friends. Almost 70% (I might be wrong) of the country's kids are built by people like her! And with this if India can achieve what we have achieved so far, imagine what would be our strength if the system corrected itself by just another 20%!

Not sure how we could take the message to the powers to be and I wish if not through this blog at least somehow they understand what needs to be done!

Again.. I'm sorry for these individuals on the clip and I would call her the flag bearer for change than a scape goat!

- Raj

PS.: If this video violates any copyright, please write to me I shall delete it.

Happy Deepavali.

2014-10-22T08:47:00.004-04:00

A very long one, for those who have the patience to understand the hypocrisy of us, the current generation! For we are not responsible else where in the name of pollution, but only on a Deepavali day!

It's Deepavali, probably the first in my life that we miss being with the rest of the family since my birth. While those are mixed emotions which am not penning down now but when I look back and compare at the festivity when I was young and what it is now, I felt in the name of technology and progress we are taking away a lot of fun that my generation had when we kids.

I vividly remember the build up to Deepavali each year. Even 6 or 8 weeks earlier to that we will start thinking about new dresses! Yes those were days when we got dresses for festivals and special occasions and not necessarily because we can afford to buy. In our days we used to be content with those dresses for the whole of the year and would use it extra carefully to ensure that they do not get worn out or seen as often as possible. These days, we buy stuff just because we can afford. Not necessarily clothing's, but anything!

Then the dreams of various crackers. We would have made up our mind on what we would want and would have built a virtual list of sorts to take it to our parents for funding.

Then comes the last 4 weeks where everything in the town would go bizarre. All of sudden discounts, shops really filled up, friends checking on whether we started shopping, families recommending good shops etc.,. Shopping for clothes used to be a special occasion by itself. I do remember those days when we had done with shopping earlier, I used to try my new clothes almost every single day or at least fondly have a look at it.

Then the last 2 days, Crackers! This is where almost of our generation would have learnt the art of bargain and negotiations. Albeit with our respective Dads. Often there would be push backs either on costs or on security, but we would somehow be able to reach a truce between ourselves and then starts the boasting around! The local friends circle whenever we get together for weekend cricket or evening chats, all of the talks would be around the crackers and some will say he got this much and I would counter it with something. This was more like building our own self esteem!

Meanwhile, when the children would be working on the clothes and crackers, the elders would be checking on the organizing the entire event. There goes the formal invites in the face of respect to the daughters' families and where appropriate clothes for them as well. Then comes the planning for sweets where a cook (who will be in greater demand) and bring his team home and prepare homemade sweets not just for the family, but for friends and acquaintances. I still have the image of our cook who would make sweets for 2 long days with his team and how we were prohibited from tasting those sweets until it was all approved! All that was prepared would be boxed and would go rounds to friends and the members of the company. We would also start receiving a lot of sweets from our friends and families as well. No restrictions whatsoever on what needs to be ate. I know my dad and uncle used to print greeting cards and post it to friends!

Then the D-Day where almost a 3 day break would be in and we would be waiting for the entire cousin set to arrive and the eve of Deepavali would be just crackers, crackers and crackers. We would normally go to bed around 11:00 in the night and wake up as early as possible to ensure that we were the firsts to start firing crackers on that day. But we would do so only with a lot of discipline. We will have an oil batch, then offer prayers to God and then start the fire works as early as 4:00 AM in the morning. As much as it would be fun, it was a competition as well as in, for the noise levels, the dust on the streets and later on in the night the sky fire works! It was such a joyous moment.

Coming back to reality, I think we are robbing these joys from this generation and the following ones. There is no excitement whatsoever for these kids because they have everything that they need and they treat this day as another holiday. Most of us are glued to the TV sets; all greetings are on FB/WhasApp. Furthermore, with whatever new found wisdom about pollution, we are asking for an e-Deepavali I believe. I don't know what it means but literally no crackers! While pollution is a larger problem and for all I know when I drive once between Chennai to Erode I pollute more than what I did in my Deepavali day, or carbon emissions from industries or an ozone penetrating aircraft pollution or for that matter New Year celebrations even within India or IPL start and closing ceremonies we burn crackers. And we ask these kids to stop firing crackers in the name of pollution!

I know crackers were not what Deepavali is all about. It is festival of lights! Got it!! But in the name of responsibility, we are robbing the excitement, the joy from these kids. This is why I call it hypocrisy!!!

I know this could potentially be counter argued but the more mature and people with more sense of responsibility than me, but I do stand by what I say. We should fire crackers.

I know this could potentially be misconstrued as a Hindu thing by the more secular folks, but I do stand by what I say. We should fire crackers.

When I look at my nieces and nephews, there is no excitement. They deserve this excitement for Deepavali to be much more colourful than it is these days!

For those who fire crackers! Have a safe and Happy Deepavali! For those of you who all celebrating an e-Deepavali, Happy Deepavali. Think about firing crackers please! It is so much Fun.

Happy Deepavali Folks!

Regards,

Raj.

B' Day - 2014

2014-10-06T11:45:00.001-04:00

One more year passes and one more time... Greetings on Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, email (surprise that we still have it) and even on Linked In this time... Just happy that I was on the minds of so many individuals during these testing times.

On my last b' day, like every year, no resolutions made, but a few minor tweaks to me, my life style that I intended to make, a couple of which am able to continue and as always, quite a few that I missed pursuing. But as always, no regrets as there is no point.

It's been quite an interesting b'day year. Last birth day was so a quite an one when we spent the entire day as a family at Erode and this year only 4 us here in Derby! Well, yes! Could not believe that I said an yes to uproot my family and have them go through the pain of this hard transition in every sense, leaving my root alone, schooling for Nilaa, the reduction in affection for Oviyaa and of course everything for Leela, to name a few; the sacrifices that they have made is tremendous. I just wish that I do some justice for the pain that they undergo.

Yes, it is for my career sake that I did accept this unfamiliar role which was a bit of struggle in this uneasy terrain, but, I think as like everyone, am now up and running. There are a lot more stuff to learn and I would keep running I believe.

I do miss the warmth of being in my homeland and the comfort of knowing that my blood lives just 400 KMS away. I do miss the strength my friends gave me. I do miss the humidity of Chennai, the smell of sea and India at large, but that is the choice that I did make and I'll live with that. That said, I'm fortunate enough to have the same comfort and strength here in the UK! I don't know how mother nature enables me with a life full of good people wanting to see me succeed and lead a good life. I have made enough friends in here so much so at times it really overwhelms me that I cannot manage any time for them. For the affection that is showered on us here in the UK as well, I can only say that we are gifted.

Last year, I did say that I would keep life simple. I believe it is still simple, though at times I feel a bit suffocated. May be life is a bit on high pace and tougher than what I anticipated, but again no complaints as it is a choice that we made and we will sail through this. It is a learning process and moving another inch to some sort of maturity. The pressure, the stress, the hardships are probably back to me after a long time, but I know I have no other choice than surviving. I, just like anyone else, will keep hoping that the new dawn is going to be just great.

As of what I shall intend to do the following year, I just want to do justice to the sacrifices the ladies have made for my career sake. I'm determined to make it happen. I know life is not easy and it keeps testing me every moment, but I know I'll prevail. So will everyone!

And finally, Thanks to everyone who had me in your thoughts on this day! These positive vibes would make me more determined. Ensure that you keep showering me with your love..

Back to my famous lines...

I love to be loved...

I live to be loved...

Regards,

Raj.

From the Desk of Raj

2014-10-01T10:39:00.000-04:00

While Orkut pulled down curtains on itself, just thought I can reflect on what it meant to us as an Internet Social Media.

I was introduced to Orkut by my cousin in 2006 a period when I was traveling quite often and for people who knew me then, I was practically living alone even when in India. It was a period/phase in my life when I had literally none from my comfort zone around. My family or friends.

When Orkut was introduced to me, I did not know what this was all about. Though I did know and had in the past in a very few occasions, have been part of some chat tools and rooms on yahoo and so on, this was new. Creating a web profile with interests and so on was ok, but little did I know that this medium would have an impact as long as I'm gonna live.

Like everyone, it started off with searching few people and eventually ending up in some good large communities. I was fortunate to be part of a few and a couple of significant ones like Kongu Vellala Gounders community (thanks for my racial side ;)) and Chennai Rulezz where very confidently I can say that I have met quite a lot whom would remain in my life as friends for ever.

While the Orkut is said to be a social networking site, my view is that it was rather a social engineering site. The kind of debates that it enabled on various topics from religion to cinema to politics to of course internal politics, it was more than a collaboration site. It was a real virtual world, as weird as it may sound. For instance within Chennai Rulezz community we have debated on Islam/Hinduism, Srilankan issue, TR to Super Star, from KK to Amma, celebrated b'days, got drunk virtually, attended weddings virtually (a few from virtual world did attend my wedding), we shed tears when someone in the community passed away, there were instances like in every family when there was a dispute when someone dashes out of the home and then coming back, songs, games, music, some affairs, a few marrying and last but not the least quite a few helping building careers!! We had elections and bloody hell, I was a moderator for one of the largest Orkut communities! Now if it is not real what else could be real. Quite a few of us met with, watched movies, dine and wine, phone conferences, it was such a saviour for people like me when at times you feel lonely.

Yes Facebook (I know I'll posting this blog there as well) moved us back into a social networking mode and with the advent of WhatsApp/Telegram we may even move away from other collaboration and social networking sites, however, Orkut would remain special for all the experiences and emotions it gave us. Personally, Orkut was a companion when I really was living alone and at time to the extent of me being addicted to it that I checked Orkut than Outlook.

I have made enough friends most of them still remain physically strangers but attached in a virtual world where like anyone of our friends whom we know, we wish each other all the best from the bottom of our hearts.

Long Live Orkut!! You will live as long as two of the Orkut friends remain alive or even better, as long as a couple married because of Orkut and their children and great grand children live on, Orkut will live.

To all my Orkut friends, we owe Orkut a lot for it has done to us! Glad that we all met there and have remained friends there after.. Cheers!!!!

PS.: Only my Orkut friends know why I had to name the blog this way! The clue is, that desk is the reason why this blog is in existence. :)

Regards,

Raj.

Friends Acknowledged!

2014-08-03T04:58:00.000-04:00

Friends are the ones that define what we are and how we lead our lives... I can boldly and in one sense arrogantly say that I'm leading a good life with so many around to wish me well, though deep down, I know that, sometimes I do not deserve such unconditional love and support. But that is why friendships are unique isn't it! There are no judgements in friendships. It is just support and support and support....

Each day is for friends for we find a friend in dad, mom, brother, sister, wife, and in all forms of relationships.... But this day is the day to acknowledge that unique meaning of a friend who lifts you up with his hands, shares shoulders just when needed and say am there for you even with silence...

விழும் போது கை தந்து...

அழும் போது தோள் தந்து...
இளைப்பாற மடி தந்து...

To all my friends... Acknowledged!
I may not the best to keep in touch, but am touched. :)
- Raj

Hail BVB

2014-07-11T22:30:00.000-04:00

Initially, I wanted to name this post as "Giving Back to our teachers", and even now, I feel that is right, but this one too is quite an apt one for the emotions that I have while I draft this post. May be the title looks a bit arrogant, but read through please..

It is said and felt that life is the best teacher as it trains us by giving all the tests. It's pretty much true isn't it? Now when looking back, all the teachers some of whom we adored and some of whom we abhorred, they are probably the best people in the world after our parents. I read it somewhere, teaching is the profession which creates other careers. How true is that! And yet, those teachers after doing the noble job of shaping us remain yet so humble. How much as a society, or even as an alumni have we given back to them.

Now, when I say, giving back, it is not pay back. All they need is acknowledgement and gratitude. When I look at my life, everything that I have including a great set of friends is from my beloved BVB; A school that was for all possible reasons of dominance during our generation, across studies and sports alike, was adored and abhorred as well. Lead by a great correspondent Dr. L. M. Ramakrishnan (I do intend to write a blog on him on how he taught us all what leadership means), supported by Mrs. Aruna Ramakrishnan as the president and administered by Mrs. Karthiyayini as the Principal, a great team of teachers who instilled a lot of dreams and aspirations in us! Am not emotional or overly proud about it. No other institution can boast of an holistic development of people that this team has done which has, in my personal view, created a lot of next generation leaders in almost all form of life!

When I wrote about CAP of life, little did I realize that it was BVB which gave me that. I truly believe that BVB handed us that CAP there by shaping our lives by training us on how to be committed in a cause, how to be passionate in what we pursue and most importantly a never give up attitude.

Alumni meets are a norm across all colleges, universities and institutions.

As like any of the student batches, we our own circle of friends used to be in touch and of course meet each other during every Indian summer. It so happened that in 2012 when we met in Yercaud, we were discussing that this is not enough and we should possibly be doing a bit more and out of some instinct, a couple of us did say, why not do it at school in 2014 where we complete a double decades of being the alumni of the school and so on.

Eventually, as always, we forgot that and we moved on. This year, when the natural organizers for our reuinion, made the proposal and out of nowhere came in a suggestion of a friend who visited the school, can we do it in school, in less than 5 weeks, here we are at the brink of what I call as history.

Now, is it a get together?? No. It is a life time event for all of us when roughly 65% of our batch mates from across the globe are going to be under one roof where we meet and greet our beloved teachers and staff. When we set out to on this task, we knew very well it is an uphill task, but then with the CAP we had, we know for sure this will be nothing but a spectacular event. We quickly moved from a get together to a reunion which now is nothing but a show of gratitude to our school and its staff.

I know there people have said that we cannot create memories, BVB batch 1994 pass outs are creating a lot to cherish forever. We proudly, yet so humbly are showing and the our gratitude towards them on the 12th of July, 2014 where 90+ of the alumnus meet and greet 55 teachers and 15 supporting staff at our own backyard.

While I wish I was there in person, I would not regret that, because that is what BVB has taught me. To just keep moving..

This event is telecast live across the globe and I'll not miss it.

Gratitude is attitude. BVB taught us that.

Generations after generatations, BVB will continue to stand tall and its legacy will go on until each of the BVB students are alive!

Frankly Never in my life have I ever felt so proud!

Hail BVB! Hail BVB! Hail BVB! Hail BVB!

Here goes the first video. Obviously mine, a pre-recorded one.....

Regards,

Raj.

Ps.:

1. Only BVB alumni can realize the colour coding in this! And yes mine is Maroon and yes am from Vivekananda.

2. The post will be appended with videos as and when they emerge.

India Modified.....

2014-05-17T15:49:00.001-04:00

A significant day for Indian democracy yesterday..

A small town tea boy is now the prime minister of India.

All said and done, I believe he is not going to have any honeymoon. A fragmented own party, not many friends in the Indian political leadership, very hostile neighbours, always (so far) a resistant west, a very corrupt system in hand and on top of everything huge expectations of an young India, he is going to have lot of dimensions with which he is going to be judged. Probably, he is taking the most difficult job on earth in modern times where everyone is expecting something out of him; success or failure. Even the normal ones that do not vote and normally aren't worried about state of affairs in India, is possibly now looking at what this man has to offer.

Not that am an anti Congress or pro BJP person, but am really a common man who very well knows the system isn't right here. From a bloody traffic rules to getting something like a passport there is a lot of corruption and am very well aware am party to it as well. That is the very state of a common man. He has to be so bloody well be corrupt to be a survivor in this country.

Now this is a leap of faith one has to have... Yes he has his own flaws but so is everyone like me.. I just hope he does at least 10% of what he said he would do or is perceived to be done by him...

Let's give him space and not judge him very early..

I really wish him well not for his own sake, but for India's sake. If not now, never ever would we have a chance to pride ourselves as Indians.

All the best Mr. Modi... I wish you good luck to get that India "Modi"fied to be a fact... Please change me too..

- Raj.