Salaam Namaste

Lok Sabha Election 2009 - Karnataka Phase 2

2009-04-30T15:27:00.000+05:30

Lok Sabha Election 2009 - Karnataka Phase 1

2009-04-23T15:19:00.001+05:30

माटी कहे कुम्हार से

2009-03-02T15:58:00.002+05:30

माटी कहे कुम्हार से, तु क्या रौंदे मोय ।
एक दिन ऐसा आएगा, मैं रौंदूगी तोय ॥
(Maati kahe kumhar se, tu kya ronde moye.
ek din aisa ayega, main roudongee toye.)

To translate in English:

Contemporary Indian Art

2009-02-28T16:59:00.001+05:30

This post is devoted to reviewing Contemporary Indian Artists with a special eye on how they use/manage their online presence. I started off by checking the Vadehra Art Gallery.

School search

2009-02-23T15:26:00.007+05:30

I finally got some time to followup on the school search (refer my earlier post) and decided to use this post to bookmark the websites of each of the schools.
Bishop Cotton Boys School
Bethany High
Baldwin Boys High School
BGS International
Padma Seshadri Bal Bhavan School (PSBB)
DPS
Kumaran
Carmel School
Aurbindo
National Public School - Indira Nagar
Ryan International School
HAL Public School
New Horizon Public School
Inventure Academy - Bangalore
GreenWood High
Indus International
Freedom International
Canadian International School
Mallya Aditi International School

Also found this Return to India blog by Chitra Aiyer useful.

Inflation Check

2009-02-20T12:43:00.001+05:30

Petrol (1 Litre ) = 50.58 Rupees
1 Plate Idli (2 Nos) = 10 Rupees
1 Cup Filter Coffee = 7 Rupees
Tomatoes (1 Kg) = 30 Rupees

Found this interesting site called Bangalore Petrol Prices where you can search for a petrol station and check the prices/amenities provided.

Aise Bani Boliye

2009-01-29T23:32:00.001+05:30

We learnt this by-heart, thanks to Saukar Sir at school:
ऐसी बानी बोलिए, मन का आपा खोये ।
औरन को सीतल करे, आपहू सीतल होए ॥
(Aise Bani Boliye, Mun Ka Aapa Khoye
Auran ko Seetal kare, Aaphu Seetal hoye! )

A quick translation for my non-Hindi speaking friends:
Speak such words, which trancends ego,
Giving the listener peace, and which give peace to oneself!

Kabira Garv Na Keejiye

2009-01-25T23:26:00.001+05:30

Here's another doha by Kabir:
कबीरा गर्व ना कीजिये, ऊँचा देख आवास ।
काल परों भुइन लेटना, ऊपेर जमसी घास ॥
(Kabira Garv Na Keejiye, Uncha Dekh Aavaas
Kaal Paron Bhuin Letna, Ooper Jamsi Ghaas)

To translate in English:
Says Kabira, Don’t be so proud and vain, Looking at your high mansion
Death makes one lie on bare land, And grass will grow thereon

Kabira khada bazaar mein

2009-01-15T22:45:00.006+05:30

Was watching "Kabira khada bazaar mein", a documentary on NDTV 24X7 by Shabnam Virmani - loved it and decided to lookout for the dohas by Kabir.

Will try collecting as many as I can. Will also dig out that book of Kabir Dohas that Giri bought some years back.

Here's the first one...
कबीरा खड़ा बाज़ार में, माँगे सबकी खैर ।
ना कहू से दोस्ती, ना कहू से बैर ॥
(Kabira khada bazaar mein, Mange sabki khair,
Na kahu se Dosti, Na kahu se Bair )

To translate in English:
Kabira in the market place, wishes welfare for all
Neither friendship nor enemity with anyone at all

The Aurobindo ashram at Auroville held a Kabir Festival - "Koi Sunta Hai", last year where this film was screened. More info here: AurovilleRadio.org

Hanuman Chalisa

2008-12-20T09:20:00.000+05:30

shri guru charan saroj raj nij mane mukure sudhaari
varnao raghuvar vimal jasu jo daayaku phal chaari
budhi hin tanu janike sumirau pavan kumaram
bal budhi vidya dehu mohe harahu kalesavikaar

jai hanuman gyan gun saagar
jai kapis tihun lok ujaagar
ram doot atulit bal dhaama
anjani-putra pavan sut naama
mahavir vikram bajrangi
kumati nivaar sumati ke sangi
kanchan varan viraaj subesa
kaanan kundal kunchit kesaa
haath vajra aur dhuvaje viraaje
kandhe moonj janehu saaje

shankar suvan kesri nandan
tej prataap maha jag vandan
vidyavaan guni ati chaatur
raam kaaj karibe ko aatur
prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiya
raam lakhan sita man basiya
sukshma roop dhari siyahi dikhaava
vikat roop dhari lanka jalaava
bhima roop dhari asur sanghaare
ramachandra ke kaaj sanvaare

laaye sanjivan lakhan jiyaaye
shri raghuvir harashi ur laaye
raghupati kinhi bahut badhaayi
tum mam priye bharat-hi sam bhaai
sahas badan tumharo yash gaave
as kahi shripati kanth lagaave
sankadik brahmadi muneesa
naarad saarad sahit aheesa
yam kuber digpal jahan te
kavi kovid kahi sake kahan te

tum upkaar sugreevahin keenha
ram milaay rajpad deenha
tumharo mantra vibheeshan maana
lankeshwar bhay sub jag jaana
yug sahastra jo jan par bhaanu
leelyo tahi madhur phal jaanu
prabhu mudrika meli mukh maahee
jaladhi langhi gaye achraj naahee
durgaam kaaj jagat ke jete
sugam anugraha tumhre tete

ram dware tum rakhvaare
hoat na agya binu paisare
sub sukh lahai tumhari sarna
tum rakshak kaahu ko darna
aapan tej samhaaro aapai
teenhon lok haank te kanpai
bhoot pisaach nikat nahin aavai
mahaavir jab naam sunavai
naase rog harai sab peera
japat nirantar hanumant beera

sankat se hanuman chudavai
mann karam vachan dyan jo lavai
sab par raam tapasvee raaja
tinke kaaj sakal tum saaja
aur manorath jo koi lavai
sohi amit jeevan phal pavai
charon yug partap tumhaara
hai persidh jagat ujiyaara
saadhu sant ke tum rakhwaare
asur nikandan ram dulhaare

ashta sidhi nav nidhi ke dhaata
us var deen janki maata
raam rasaayan tumhare paasa
sada raho raghupati ke daasa
tumhare bhajan raam ko pavai
janam janam ke dukh bisravai
anth kaal raghuvir pur jayee
jahaan janam hari-bakht kahayee
aur devta chit na dharehi
hanumanth se hi sarve sukh karehi

sankat kate mite sab peera
jo sumirai hanumat balbeera
jai jai jai hanuman gosahin
kripa karahu gurudev ki nyahin
jo sat baar paath kare koyi
chutehi bandhi maha sukh hoyi
jo yah padhe hanuman chalisa
hoye siddhi sakhi gaureesa
tulsidaas sada hari chera
keejai das hrdaye mein dera

pavantnai sankat harana mangal murti roopa
ram lakhan sita sahita hrdaye basahu sur bhoopa

Microsoft Vista

2008-11-19T16:41:00.007+05:30

I parted with my 3 year old office laptop Compaq nc6220 - got a replacement as part of the refresh program - a Compaq 6910p with Windows Vista Enterprise pre-installed. It has a Intel Core 2 Duo CPU @2.0 GHz with a whopping 2047 Mb RAM.

After migrating to the new PC COE environment, I encountered the blue screen. Still, I'm quite excited in exploring the Office 2007 and Vista.
- विक्रम कुल्कर्णी ।।

Tiger's Masterpiece

2008-10-30T15:15:00.002+05:30

My first shot at Mashups + Google Chrome

2008-09-25T20:44:00.002+05:30

I installed Google Chrome, the open source browser from Google - found it cool and comparable to Mozilla Firefox. I liked the "New Incognito Window (Ctrl + Shift + N)" feature.

Also got a chance to create my first mashup using Google Maps.

India Post - Stamps in 2008

2008-09-24T13:04:00.000+05:30

Out of the set of stamps released in 2008 (India Post - Stamps 2008), my favorites have been: Shri Shirdi Sai Baba, Civil Services and Jasmine. The Jasmine stamps are perfumed and I love it.

By the way, India Post redesigned their logo.

Obituary - Shri Bindurao A Desai

2008-09-22T16:31:00.002+05:30

We deeply mourn the passing away of our beloved ajja yesterday evening at his Desai Cross residence. His simple virtues, we shall cherish; his vision will light the way for our actions.

Buying a car

2008-09-11T17:47:00.008+05:30

I called Mr. Omprakash, the Loan guy at State bank of India this afternoon and got the good news that my car loan has been approved. Thought this deserved a post at my blog. It has been close to 6 weeks since we embarked on this journey to own a car - a middle class indian dream. I knocked on doors of various banks - HDFC, Indian Overseas Bank, Karnataka Bank, Corporation Bank, ICICI Bank and State Bank of Patiala. I was very close to getting a loan from State Bank of Patiala - but the Saturday morning spent 3 weeks back at their City office will always be remembered - for a Mr. Harish who made me wait for 2 hours and was too busy and heavy handed to see the business he let go.

We decided to buy a non metallic Maruti Alto after deliberating on Hyundai i10 and Chevrolet Spark.

All in all, it was a learning on how to deal with various car dealers, bankers and how to collect the documentation needed. Hope this helps me in my next dream - owning a house in Bangalore.

Nokia 3110 Classic

2008-08-02T20:21:00.000+05:30

We bought the Nokia 3110 Classic with Yahoo! Go and were very excited about listening to the FM stations in Bangalore. It has been more than a year since we stopped listening to Radio after we moved from #51, Koramangala.

Bangalore Metro Route Map

2008-07-30T12:59:00.003+05:30

Weekend getaway to Puducherry

2008-07-28T13:39:00.007+05:30

We are planning a weekend getaway for the long weekend (15-17 Aug, 2008) and the popular choice is Puducherry - The French Riviera of the East. Have read a few reviews on Mouthshut and Lonely Planet and concluded that it would cost about Rs. 3000/day. I'm having a tough time figuring out what trains go from Bangalore. Found this Indian Railways Time Table website and downloaded the Route Map with table numbers Adobe document. Looks like the closest town via rail is CUDDALORE JN(COT) or VILLUPARAM JN(VM). KSRTC runs two Volvo bus services - one in the night and one during day and costs Rs. 380/- per ticket. Found this travelbyvolvo blog informative.

Attempted to book the Volvo tickets via AWATAR Online Booking System but it only allows ICICI credit cards and SBI cards.

The Pupil Tree

2008-07-23T12:03:00.003+05:30

We resumed our search for a play school for Pranav. I accidently dropped my spectacles yesterday and therefore took time off from office this morning to get it fixed. This gave us a chance to enquire at The Pupil Tree, Sarakki (J P Nagar) branch. They started this branch a few weeks back and still haven't got kids enrolled. Pranav seemed to enjoy the place.

We heard about this school from Deepa's elder sister Jayashree. Her daughter goes to their Bellary school which is also famous for their school building architecture.

DPT Shot

2008-07-11T19:53:00.001+05:30

Pranav got the HIBERIX and INFANRIX shots and Polio drops from his paediatrician Dr. Seema Misra at the Apollo Hospital on Bannerughatta Road. The HIBERIX (Hemophilus Influenza Vaccine) cost Rs. 440.00 and the INFANRIX cost Rs. 750.00

Scholastic India book fair @ EC Bazaar

2008-07-09T14:22:00.002+05:30

We have a book fair at the EC Bazaar by Scholastic India offering books at less than 50% of the original price.

MICR

2008-07-07T14:10:00.005+05:30

I decided to file my ITR by availing Spearhead's services. According to my Form-16, I paid 254625 INR as income tax for FY 2007-2008. While filling the Basic details, came across the field MICR to be provided in case IT Office needs to refund. Fond this MICR Codes Bank Master file document on the Reserve Bank Of India website that lists all the Bank codes.

BMTC - Vayu Vajra buses

2008-07-03T18:08:00.006+05:30

Last month, we shifted offices. I have been taking the company buses to get to my new office in Electronics city and kept seeing these beautiful Red coloured volvo buses that BMTC has started - Route BIAS-08. This website had lots of information that one can use if really looking at the public transport system. To check route details, check their Online Route Information Service.

Found a GK Vale CD containing pictures from Giri's visit to Japan in 2001; flickred them into my Flickr site.

Income Tax Return Electronic filing

2008-07-02T15:58:00.003+05:30

Inspired by the Income Tax Return Electronic filing statistics, I created an account with Income Tax India eFiling website. I'll try and file my income tax return for FY07-08 online and do my little bit to save the environment.