sign9 - tales

Birds...

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 20:19:00 +0000

photo by LexnGr on Flickr

...as a 4 or 5 something she stands out! A sunflower yellow frock falls down her waist creating a bizarre contrast against her pale and freckled skin. Face glows crowned with black hair that vanish around her slender neck, which seems to jab out of floral shirt concealing her rather lanky figure. He goes on his knees to be level with her, trying to look into her big black eyes. It's enchanting when her pink lips part to utter a frank hello and he cherishes the divine. A strip of glass panels lets sunshine in, wind ferrying the curtains on its wings. He stands up, carrying her in his arms - a peck on her cherry cheeks. Walks across the room to plop on the large couch that's the only piece of furniture in the large room overlooking the large garden that sprawls just a bit short of the infinity. Noon fades into a gloomy red and grey, but electric evening. His eyes transfixed to the Brownian motion that this darling exhibits as he continues to recline in the synthetic satin, (suddenly) to his amazement a pearl rolls down his bony cheek, (at once) to lose its shiny existence to the cushion underneath...

Laugh The Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 07:20:00 +0000

Photo by jenny downing on Flickr.

Well 2 long months and no post. A bit busy and a lot more lazy. Anyways out of excuses now and I have a lot of time and some nice stories. Here comes one that happened today morning...

A rather long night sleep, whole 10 hours of it, to leave the whole body sore and lungs out of Oxygen, the only remedy could be a morning walk at 10! Its another usual walk on the same path carved using Eco-friendly fly-ash bricks, I am admiring the early winter greenery and the ultimate bright sunlight that baths every fig and blade of grass and helps the mud dry down only to be wet again tomorrow with the slight dew and water supply from the municipal tube well.

Bored of MP3s I switch to radio and find it interesting as it is more life-like, unpredictable and out of control. It makes you seek and then teases and torments you lest you are exhausted clicking the only button you got to control (make objective choices!!! :O WTF am I writing!), somewhat like suppressing an itch! And while browsing you come across songs and plays, which you like and dislike. In haste you press the button and the next moment you regret it, but you got no choice to rewind but you can take the longer and tedious and a lot much frustrating route and get back to the same place when it comes the whole way around. You missed a bit, but you learnt to be a bit cautious... (but you never learn not to be philosophical, it's so easy to get dragged along and chatter the same set of dreamy things while being in the flow of things!!!)

Suddenly you strike gold. A radio-jokey is carrying on with his usual business of engaging audience in providing Delhi with real-time traffic situations. On this particular occasion this guy, I don't remember his name, calls up this radio station and advises not to use a road beside Talkatora Stadium. The whole things blows out as jokey suggests widening of roads (ofcourse to get rid of not so existing traffic problems, half of them are made up in mind.) and the guy gets enthusiastic and wishes to share his lovely life. He paints it fancy like this -

"सर हालत इतनी भी बुरी नहीं है. मैं बहुत मज़े करता हूँ. और ट्रैफिक भी ठीक ही है, एकदम स्मूथ! पुलीस भी काम कर रही है आजकल. पर सर मैं अपनी लाइफ को शेयर करना चाहता हूँ."

And then he goes -

"ओह! बॉस मेरी लाइफ बहुत ही मस्त है! एकदम फंटास्टिक! मैं बहुत खुश इंसान हूँ. Happy-go-Lucky! मैं रात को किसी की भी शादी-पार्टी मैं घुस जाता हूँ. मैं अच्छा सूट-बूट पहनता हूँ और बिल्कुल भी नहीं शर्माता. एकदम नोर्मल बिहेव करता हूँ. Decent. मैं पार्टीज में जम के खाता-पीता हूँ और फुल मज़े मारता हूँ. और-तो-और ऐसी ही एक पार्टी मैं मैंने बंदी भी पटा ली! Love Is Life. (...prophetic!!!) उससे ही शादी की और अब हम एक छोटा और सुखी परिवार है!!!"

He blurts it out so innocently and in such a funny way that it's impossible to control that laugh and I even want to share it with more people. While closing the post I dedicate a song to everyone reading this post. This is a Punjabi song that you may like because of beats, fusion and fluency. Play it and enjoy.

Punjabi Baroque

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:46:00 +0000

While browsing Wikipedia for things like 'Framed Structure', 'Green Architecture', 'Avante Garde' , 'Fiscal Deficits' etc I drift into (give into the habit of) searching a bit more, ignoring the grasshopper's advice, "Ideas are dangerous!", in the animation movie 'A Bug's Life' and learn about a person called Gautam Bhatia.

He happens to be an architect who authored a book called 'Punjabi Baroque and Other Memories of Architecture'. Having heard words like Punjabi, Architecture, Baroque together I had (was, once again, tempted) to search a bit more putting my curiousity about 'Cyberpunk' (though it will not take long before I am talking 0s and 1s once I kill some 150 Nazis, am not particularly opposed to them lest they put a bounty on me, in my computer game) at the back burner for some time.

Here is what I found -

What I learn is that this person thinks a bit like me (Proof am not unique! :)). He doesn't like the way cities lose their identity, even though it happens in compliance with 'Organic Evolution' (one theory that fits all, 'Natural Selection').

Going particularly about Delhi, I feel it is now 'New Delhi' (going by current trends it will certainly shrink or fall prey to a different kind of global warming having been converted into an island enshrining the sheer architectural marvel Delhi was designed to be, surrounded by greedy, excessively high-profile and flambouyant but particularly apt to popular taste; style of glass and steel 'mirage' architecture of the 'metropolitan Delhi and it's exceptionally mismanaged millennium sub cities'), 'remaining Delhi' (slums, socialist, we-fulfill-needs-of-society, architecture by DDA and better-than-you-neighbour designs by private minds at work, can we call the later 'Capitalism'?) and 'suburbs of Delhi'.

Certainly we need to cater to rising population pressures, but the stakes are needed to be considered sensitively. For example, I wonder how it helps to rename certain boulevards. Be it Willingdon Crescent (now Mother Teresa Crescent), Ring Road (Mahatma Gandhi Marg), Connaught Place (Rajiv Chowk).

Moreover does it serve the purpose by building haphazardly, being blatantly disdainful of the legacy that has been bestowed upon thee? The reasons can be many including it being magnet to masses who do not associate with the city, vote bank politics (let them encroach, let them vote), oops we are a free country everything British is slavery (who cares Commonwealth itself proclaims bondage or put correctly reminiscence of associativity to British legacy)!

1/3 Punjabi, 2/3 Cosmopolitan the city lacks an identity and especially it lacks people who can relate to its history. Facing an identity crisis post-partition, everyone in the city - either is an immigrant, a tourist or a wage-earner or in a worse situation a refugee. It certainly has metamorphed well into a consumers’ paradise keeping tandem with global trends for it has to live up to the reputation of being the capital of world's largest yet somewhat immature democracy, still somehow trying to safeguard what it originally is.

I and many more people happen to be in love with this city for it gives form to the ideas of acceptance, it doesn't contradict, it simply never dictates, remains unbiased, doesn't wish you to be ideal yet it itself is perfectly idealist. In true sense it smells and breaths freedom and thereby we must preserve it, can you see something you love dying without complaining?

In general these are ideas about and situations every major Indian city is facing. Mumbai's (Bombay's) deteriorating infrastructure and culling of mill lands while Maratha maniacs become chauvinists calls for immediate attention lest the city comes to a halt. In Kolkata (dear Calcutta), a newly elected chief minister elicits cheers from masses fed on communist subsidies (which actually left whole West Bengal bankrupt) for over 25 years vying to transform 'City Of Joy' into 'East London'. I certainly think it as a cause of shame when our greatly patronizing leaders take pride in announcing their grandeur plans of transformation whether it is Bombay into Shanghai or Hongkong, Delhi into Paris or Calcutta into London. Bengaluru (Bangalore) transforms into a megacity and all it does is feeding silicon chips to job-seekers from all over the country. These are some names that tell in all glory the tale of urban decay that arises out of un-intelluctual planning which in general is disregardful of bequest it needs to preserve.

A Sunday Morning Rain

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 06:45:00 +0000

He suddenly wakes up at 3:45 AM after a 'once in a while' timely sleep, following a dream sequence probably echoing some scene from the early mornings of hostel life. Soon he is enjoying a not much anticipated rainfall, while reading, browsing, munching; waiting for hands of clock to spread apart vertically.

At 6 he takes to the street to go for his morning walk. Sky is perfect azure, winds blow mild, figs cover the drenched asphalt, yellow and green alike. Sun efforts hard to break through the rebelling wet cotton puffs scattered through the sky. Pink-purple Bougainvilleas shudder to the breeze, while water drips down the asbestos roofs across the yellow walls of a secluded primary school and Moneyplant clings to the shoots of an overgrown shurb. A gunny bag flies down the 4th floor house. In the garden, green carpet entices the eyes as a young ladette wiggles hips; circling the track, pacing ahead of a large crowd of wailing elderlies and lame fat con mans carrying their own weights!

All the while he is eyeing beauties, trying their hands on steerings of some hatchbacks with a red-tape 'L' pasted across pretty sizeable portion of the windsheild, he is still not able to get off his mind some lines he came across in a Facebook note, about Kashmir encounters, earlier. Here goes a part of it -

"...Kids carry death in their school bags
Evening brings news, always
A white shroud, blood smeared
Like the blood of a slaughtered lamb
On the virgin snow
And a school bag
Inside, a report card
Teacher’s remarks:
This kid has a bright future
....
....
....
Kam gul-badan, metzchi andar ...
What tulips! One with earth, six feet under ...
Desolate mothers sipping heart attacks
In their pink tea
Fathers breathing cancer in their tobacco
Trying in vain
To accelerate the time..."

You may be able to access the complete text, by Mehran Qureshi, at the following link - Kashmir Is Taken!

Back home the guy tries to form an opinion and have an insight into things of higher order. What makes Maoists rise against the state? Why do people rebel at a G20 meet in Toronto? Why does China faces conflicts despite spectacular growth rates? What makes Thailand come to street?...

Anyways he is normal soon, digging Earth of a potted plant and asking it if it needs cold water, even after rain it is contnuing summer in New Delhi. Would a mud-pack heal its cuts or beautify it? Looking at Facebook responses, he is happy to have got 6 likes for his status and is looking for a mild afternoon nap post a Star Wars clip, since fantasy can be fascinating...

Some of you may like this - "Audioslave - Be Yourself".

Clicks And Places

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 00:40:00 +0000

Row 1 (from left to right )

March 03 - National Highway 8, an under-construction building in Delhi Cantonment, on my way to Jaipur after Holi breaks.

March 11 - NIT Jaipur Academic Sections and view of Jaipur city beyond it. (courtesy Anjani Kumar Shukla, dude I never knew you will take my mobile to click pictures for a presentation and will click the whole campus including the girls' hostel after going on top of a water tank.)

March 12 - A street-lad maneouvering her ride through streets of Jaipur, probably C-Scheme! Later it was a hunt for a time-pass novel at Sindhi Camp.

March 28 - Delhi Metro Bridge at Moti Nagar, back to home from Karol Bagh market. (Mom, Dad and me.)

Row 2 (from left to right)

March 29 - Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, road spirals down as Airport Express leg of Delhi Metro seems to go over the horizon. Monu and I had a nice time in a Haryana Roadways local bus's cabin.
March 29 - Mirza Ismail Road beside Paanch Batti in Jaipur. Earlier this day I read a lot of economics, thronged Bapu Bazaar and finally Sndhi Camp.
April 09 - Jagatpura Railway Crossing in Jaipur, annual day function was followed by a bike ride (Pawan Dholia, Abhinav Sethi, Ravi Prakash Aryan, Aakash Burania and me)
April 09 - Pawan's bike as we stop for a short break ('do the dew kind') on Agra-Jaipur highway.

Row 3 (from left to right)

April 09 - Back to hostel at 4 AM, a glimpse of secluded JLN Marg beside NIT Jaipur. I remember the lecture by a watchman as my friends were happy 'pelting' stone at a dog!
May 08 - A documentary, called 'Haat : The Weekly Bazaar', about Women Empowerment at India Habitat Centre. Piyush and I enjoyed the day at 'Eatopia' and 'The American Diner'. What I remember is - 'First time is the best time.' To Piyush : 'How many first times you had in Bangalore this season?'
May 08 - I virtually had forgotten what it meant to wait for a bus! Thanks to Delhi I am enjoying blue-lines, DTCs and Delhi Metro. Waiting is fun when you have missions to complete and ear-phones to plug your ears... with smart cards you are happy saving 10 percents!
May 18 - A simple stroll down to our 'still unofficial' meeting point, 'the skatng rink and Hari Nagar Depot'. We certainly were blabbering like scum-bags, nobody listening to nobody! Abhishek, Nilabh, me and may be some more people, please tell me if I missed someone. I like this picture because this is what life should be like 'everything orderly minus we'.

Row 4 (from left to right)

June 16 - Traffic scares even me now. It is advisable to use foot-over bridges. Dhaula Kuan, beside South Campus. Me and Abhishek. Dude, I am certain I made most of the talk, though you made most of the day! Next time we will not talk colleges even a bit, specially which college's building is better!
Jun 17 - Admission season in Delhi University and a Fast Track watch advertisement is making the best possible use of the 'F*** word', it is now being used to promote stuff. Though I did not try to do it, but I guess the 'old DTC bus' wanted to enter the frame, at the Viswavidhyalaya metro station.
Jun 17 - The Faculty of Arts building at North Campus. I think, I have seen it in some television series and may be some movies! A form-filling session with Shivani. Know what, in a lecture hall packed with packed with anything from 500-800 people your nose has busy time distinguishing sweat from deodrants.
Jun 17 - Vishwavidhyalya, surely is now my favourite 'small' metro station. Everything is small here - the small station building, small ticketing area, small queues, comparitively small people (they are generally 20 somethings), a small yellow stall selling new Idea sim cards (with 100,000 free SMSs, I know someone who needs it.), and yep lastly the small platforms in very small tunnels that support even small but spacious (because of unoccupancy) trains.

The New Doctrine

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Thu, 27 May 2010 20:16:00 +0000

Today is May 28' 2010 and on May 27' 2010 I could gather all my guts to get offline the 'good old sign9'. It was doing fine in terms of number of posts, readership and all but it was not serving the true purpose, which was at the base of its inception - vocalising the 'positive' me. Anyways it is gone with some of my favourite articles ever (I have backed them up, only to put them up again on some occasions with tags like 'letters-from-past'). Currently I intend to use this blog as a way of renovating myself. Somethings I will be doing -

Regular posting, weekly I think (Friday and Saturday 10:30 PM, What say?)!
More graphics, I am liking Photoshop, Typefaces, Graffiti and Fonts.
A theme, i.e. my goals and achievements - a journal of me.
Informal tones, slapdash, in-the-face and severely blunt, occasionally rude language.
Some experiments with American (love American history - free market, capitalism, wild west though I prefer the red communist flag and towers of Kremlin) and Australian (well I think everyone loves Australia, it is down under, solitary, large, with few people and still obliges to the Commonwealth, though best thing they got is Radha Mitchell) dialects, I am good with British stuff! I will also try to experiment with Italian (Monica Bellucci, Rome, Science and Beauty) and French, etc.
And probably lastly! We had enough with text, it is time to upgrade and go animated with videos and podcasts.

And yup the list remains incomplete, as always. Because I am human and most good ideas and courage to implement them comes to me after the submission date is gone! Do tell me how is my choice of template? It is not done by me, there is a girl called Tina Chen (her link appears at the bottom of page) who does this thing...

Cha(n)t

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Sun, 09 May 2010 19:47:00 +0000

Image courtesy : BBM Explorer on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

There was never yet an uninteresting life. Such a thing is an impossibility. Inside of the dullest exterior there is a drama, a comedy, and a tragedy. - Mark Twain

A fantastic chat with a stranger! (I have many.) Like to talk, learn, discuss...

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!
Stranger: hi
You: hi
Stranger: Have you been in love?
You: y?
Stranger: just like that
You: don't know actually
Stranger: dont know?
Stranger: how old are you
You: 21
You: u?
Stranger: 26
Stranger: where are you from?
You: cool
You: india
Stranger: me too
You: m/f?
Stranger: whats ur name?
Stranger: m
You: manik
Stranger: you?
You: m
Stranger: okay
You: actually i don't like taking abt love
Stranger: why?
You: it's like every 6 months one can fall for different girl
You: just his wish
Stranger: well
You: biologically designed like that
Stranger: i guess thats not true of everyone
You: thats what m saying
You: one can choose to stay loyal
You: or one can simply choose to slip away
You: be loyal = love
You: strange
Stranger: if what you are saying is really true or many people, then there wouldnt be so many people who are depressed because they lost their love. they could easily find someone else.
You: they are actually trying to defend themselves
You: by being depressed
You: it's like they liked someone who didn't care for them
You: and they are depressed coz they are like lost
Stranger: im not only talking abt someone who dint care, maybe someone cared, but they died
Stranger: ofcourse you could be 'attracted' many people because its biologically designed that way, but loves way more thatn that
You: hmmm
You: died is a diff case
You: thats sad
You: m not denying existence of love
You: but it is rare
You: very rare
Stranger: well maybe
You: in general i feel people exaggrate
You: may be i do
You: :O
Stranger: haha
Stranger: yeah maybe
You: so for a guy like me
You: it is more of learnng
Stranger: but i guess love needs exaggeration, whats love without exaggeration!
You: learning
You: it's kind of telling urself that you like some1
You: again and again
You: and then u hate yourself when you find yourself lone
You: :O
You: crazy thing
Stranger: hmm yeah i guess
You: but then u r determined to do better things with new zeal
Stranger: yeah
You: as if u r doing it as a revenge
You: lolz
Stranger: haha
You: to show them that u can do without them
You: and they lost a great thing
You: haha
Stranger: but its perhaps better to have ups and downs and extremes, rather than have nothing
You: yeah
You: when u get some thing easily
You: u miss a lot more
You: and u do not get to try
You: compare
You: check out
You: evaluate
You: haha
You: m going to save this chat
Stranger: haha
Stranger: why?
You: will put it on my blog
You: show off
Stranger: nice!
Stranger: it was interesting for sure
You: http://sign9.blogspot.com
You: will put it here
You: check if it interests you
You: :D
You: in which city are you?.
Stranger: sure
Stranger: Bangalore
You: oh kool
Stranger: you can check my blog too blog.**************.com
You: my friend is visiting bangalore for training
You: nice
You: will check it
Stranger: ok
You: u do web designing?
Stranger: not designing
Stranger: why?
You: i do
You: :)
Stranger: thats nice
You: and ur blog layout looks professional
You: and domain name told that you have a site
Stranger: thats the standard layout of nucleus
Stranger: yes
Stranger: i do
You: and i got it
You: :)
Stranger: got what?
You: that site
You: what is nucleus?
Stranger: the blogging engine
Stranger: which ive installed on my site
You: ohk
You: tell me about some places to have fun at
You: in bangalore
Stranger: depends on what Fun means to you
You: we are young
You: so fun means anything and everything
Stranger: haha
You: culture art
You: rides
You: everything
You: bars pubs
Stranger: where do you live?
You: delhi
Stranger: okay
Stranger: you can find pubs and bars in Delhi as well so i guess thats not much use
You: well actually i don't visit them
Stranger: haha
Stranger: ok
Stranger: neither do I
You: k
You: but it's like
You: my friend and i were sitting in a restaurant
You: and he told me
You: that first time is best time to do anything
You: and i agree
You: so when in bangalore he would like to do everything
You: that's why
Stranger: yeah
Stranger: right
Stranger: thats true
You: Life is like software, one bit turned, one small thing missing or one broken link, and it can go horribly wrong. But even when nothing seems to work, you can, with perseverance, make it work and make it beautiful.
You: very true
You: just what i said
Stranger: haha
Stranger: yeah
You: but in a different way
Stranger: yeah
You: Trying to make my life interesting....Or is it already?
You: and this is 100% genuine question
Stranger: are you asking me that question?
You: nopes
You: it is very personal
Stranger: yeah
Stranger: maybe
You: today i started gardening again
Stranger: again
Stranger: ?
You: yup
You: in hostel i can't maintain plants
You: but in my home I can
Stranger: yeah
Stranger: thats good
Stranger: gardening is nice
You: yup
You: just mom has trouble
You: cleaning
Stranger: haha
Stranger: yeah
You: but when i will be in hostel
You: she will have to takwe care of the plants
You: she doesn't get a choice
You: even on mother's day
You: lol
Stranger: haha
Stranger: yes
You: u work in what kind of company?
Stranger: i work at amazon
You: awesome
You: today i met a honda emplyee
You: and amazon guy
You: and an australian navy officer
You: great day
Stranger: haha
Stranger: thats good!
You: they all are lucky
You: that am so free
Stranger: haha
You: anyways one thing
You: do help me if amazon doesn't pay me
You: :)
Stranger: haha
Stranger: sure
You: m just too scared after seeing your profile
Stranger: why?
You: have to work a lot
Stranger: haha
Stranger: whats scary?
You: so many big names
You: and qualifications
Stranger: haha
You: how much time it took to get them all?
Stranger: what do you mean by how much time?
Stranger: do you mean how much work?
You: mean so many associations and work
Stranger: I think i havent worked too hard
Stranger: but i have always done what is necessary, no shortcuts, thats all
You: u mean smart work
You: good
Stranger: smart work yes
Stranger: but more than doing what is necessary
Stranger: even the small tihngs
You: but tell me one thing
You: do you believe in enterpreneurship?
Stranger: yeah
Stranger: ofcourse
Stranger: im trying to start something of my own
Stranger: lets see how it goes
You: yeah
You: thats great
You: full freedom
You: :)
Stranger: yeah
You: wish you the best
Stranger: thanks
Stranger: Wish you the best too!
Stranger: in whatever you do
You: thanks
You: yup
You: i will revolt
Stranger: against?
You: against many simple people
You: like my teachers
You: :D
Stranger: India needs people who revolt
Stranger: in the right way
You: they are good and knowledgeable
You: but they don't know how to teach
Stranger: yeah
You: doesn't affect me
You: but revolt is kind of fun
Stranger: yeah
You: and must do some good
Stranger: yes
Stranger: India needs change
You: happy doing my bit
Stranger: yeah
You: k time to leave
Stranger: ok enjoy!
You: have fun and enjoy
You: :)
You: bye
Stranger: Have a goo dlife
You have disconnected.

A Drawing In Making :)

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 16:38:00 +0000

Complaining is good for you as long as you’re not complaining to the person you’re complaining about. - Anon

Felt like sketching and then colouring, but as always am not very keen at completing the works initiated. Always need a mate to keep me motivated. For the time-being I upload the incomplete wire-frame. Will be completing it with all the colours and decoration soon and post back with a complete version. Tell me how is it going on... :)

Check Mate

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:30:00 +0000

Image courtesy : conorwithonen on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

The most imaginative people are the most credulous, for them everything is possible. - Alexander Chase

Eight by eight board of blacks and whites. Sixteen pawns, twelve face members, two queens, two kings and two players contemplating moves to win the game - necessarily making brilliant moves as well as excellent mistakes.

Some questions though. Why shall not pawns try to become king? Why can't they define their own destinies? Why player acts God, isn't it monopoly of a sort? Further if the game has to be so uncertain, why can't there be a third influential force, which can be manipulated by two main players through treachery, bribery, emotions, affection and all those add-on tactics? It might be the case that this third party overtakes and blows the lid off both the major parties! This way a plain game be more interesting or probably more straining and intriguing.

Fundamentally the element of uncertainity drives fun, more essentially it focusses you and gets you freedom from thoughts and that is 'entertainment'. Right?

But I feel eight by eight is a small field, if the game has to be strategy, and third party influences will surely add to the taste. Just suggestions for may be a newer 'Chess extended'!

As I complete this post I realise that their exist strategy games like 'Age Of Empires' which give some of these options, but a board game can also be devised. Sad I never played 'Monopoly' like that.

For Sake Of Corridors

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 12:50:00 +0000

Image courtesy : theakshay on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

The future bleongs to those who believe in power of their dreams. - Anna Eleanor Roosevelt

I admit that I have a lot to write but that's not the reason I am writing. This time the reason is that I have got thousands of things to do, but am not able to determine what to do, besides logging in and out of many of my profiles and I write to give myself 20-30 minutes of nostalgia, free from thoughts of pending submission and due exam results. Anyways here is another story...

An annual function and he is there with his friend. He has not planned anything but she happens to catch his attention. She is tall and slim and wears a Saree. And she is full of energy, as she moves through whole of arena with her friends and other important people in her life, stopping just once to greet him.

He passes time looking at the performances and meeting many other friends, customary to be courteous. But it is evident to his concise that his mind is adamant at catching another glimpse of her. But he definitely is not crazy, probably he should have been, and therefore does not bar himself from the pleasure of an ice-cream on that wintery evening and the fun of tresspassing the stage area while performances are going on.

Later he happens to walk through corridors of the stadium. Camouflaging his intents of creating multiple chances of meeting her. Later the quest proves immaterial as he happens to enjoy a lot with guys, causing small troubles and tit-bits of humour outside the changing rooms as the whole performing teams took their times managing themselves. But usual prime target, that is she, was missed very well, probably by choice. Was he mad to follow her whole way, simply not to speak any special word out?

Kicking Asses!

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:56:00 +0000

Image courtesy : Wrote on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

There are only two forces in the world, Sword and the Spirit! In the long run the sword will always be conquered by the spirit! -Naploean Bonaparte

You get up late. Dress nice (...it was taught to you in last semester, on one of the days when you were not feeling well, sick you too fall buddy!) and go to the class you like, more than any other class (... being precise it is an elective course in Renewable Energy Sources...)

On day 1, you were 9 minutes late and as you had crossed the 5 minute buffer given by teacher you decided to track back to hostel, without even making an attempt to get into the class.

Day 2, you are 7 minute late (...a nice improvement of 2 minutes...), you try to make a silent entry but are gestured out (...the guy, he is a professor, on podium is man of his words, will not let you in even a second outside the prescribed buffer...). So once again you make a 180 degree turn and join walk with some guys who would proxy for you the whole semester, for simple fun of checking out girls of your department (...must say though starved of the feminine wafts to the core, these are some really cool people I have met; for a change they are actually alive and do not act programmed zombies...).

Later in a 4 hour session, cut to 1 hour 30 minutes (...am ecstatically glad about that...); your spirits are (...sorry your spirit is, got only one spirit though it is very random and miss directed...) raised thinking about steel, nuts, bolts, glass, overhanging yellow lights, poker tables, sail boats and thought of a multi-story club house with exclusive graphic exteriors (...one has a pole dancer clinging to the extended tall column you plan to make into an elevator shaft...), while much touted about teacher fails to faint even the most frail soul in the studio...

Written enough of it. Bye Bye personal Blogging for a rather long spell (trying to do so but this habit is addictive and therefore this announcement does not come with a guarantee...) :) :D :P ;) Meanwhile friends, sworn enemies and non-descripts learn to blantantly disobey with a sly and wicked grin, make people pant and get a spicy life. And yep am not going to stop web-logging for the very precise reason of it being the only perfect platform for me to give away my exhibitionist tendencies with little harms done.

Why Read Horoscopes?

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:38:00 +0000

Image courtesy : AndWat on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

Life is a box of chocolates, we never know what we get!

Well I don't believe in horoscopes (lest they promise me good things, that chick of my choice, a Porsche 911 (wouldn't mind a Suzuki Swift or Chevorlet Beat), but still I read them. Why? Entertainment, timepass (got enough of it... ...a lot of time is with me.) and yup why not appreciate the efforts of some people putting excellent effort in creating such fluent and nice master-pieces of literary work. No harm in going through daily horoscope coloumns of magazines and web-magazines (my favourite - Shine by Yahoo, specially when you know that you will forget it in next 10 minutes.

Here are two days of horoscopes for Piscean people and am pleased to see the efforts put by the people in co-relating the two days...

Jan 18' 2010
Try to take care of yourself today -- you have exactly the right energy to give yourself almost anything you need, and you've been plenty attentive to others lately! Make a move and see what happens.

Still got those tissues handy? Well, you've got one more day of sniffling to get through, so you'd better be sure you're all stocked up. The stars are turning up the volume on your already tender heart. It's like walking around wearing a t-shirt that says 'Can't Stop Feeling.' You can't change your feelings, but you can take precautions. Like wearing a second layer to protect against the cold, so to speak. Protect yourself. Get out your emotional long underwear.

Jan 19' 2010
Even before your coffee, you've got plenty of good energy today. Make the most of it -- you know you can do almost anything you want! Create a situation that suits you better than yesterday.

Prepare yourself for a flood -- a flood of emotions, that is. You're quite ready to talk about that certain issue that's had you baffled for a while now -- but are your dear ones ready to hear it? Better warn them before you get going, because getting you to stop will be next to impossible. Fasten your seatbelt. It could be a bumpy ride. But it certainly won't be a boring one.

A Forwarded E-mail

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:13:00 +0000

Image courtesy : JF10 on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

World is a fine place and worth fighting for. - Ernest Hemmingway

In the evening I log into my e-mail account to find a forwarded mail on top of the inbox heap (actually it is the only one recieved today). The e-mail contains a speech by Chetan Bhagat, a guy who studied at IIT and IIM, served at several multinationals and wrote sexy novels (...all four of which I like, because they do not preach...). The speech was delivered by him at another great institute called Symbiosis. I read it and later forwarded it and a little more later regretted doing both the acts. Though I recieved two replies telling me that it was nice speech still I differ. Because I liked view of a close friend of mine - "Who this guy is to tell us all this blah blah? We know what we actually want to do, this guy just gives us crap, forcing an idea on us. And this in turns kills diversity of thoughts. The worst part is we kill our thought." Anyways I usually forget whatever I read in 10-15 minutes, any amount of things (leaving the useful bits) and so I did this time also, after I was in a rather lovely chat. And yup all those who recieved that forwarded mail, ignore it if it causes trouble...

Signing off. Liking the rock beats being played in some room of hostel, some alien tongue though or may be hybridized english...

Zip Zap Zoom - VI : Pink Ecstacy

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:01:00 +0000

Image courtesy : michealwhays on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

There is no spring without winter, there is no life without death!

Have numerous rides in mind and want to write about all of them. But this time I am writing about today's ride! It started with a call last night, it's true am made enough to waste 30 minutes talking to a guy, planning a bike ride next day! No offense, becuase I believe only good starts happen automatically, but sustaining good things need effort on our part. So that 30 minute long call ended in me influencing Pawan to join me with scooty today. He must be at my room at 12 but as usual no one cares for time, me included!

He calls me to join him at main-gate at 2 in noon. I go to the place, and I learn that he got a Hero Honda Splendour and I am not pleased (...because this means I will not be riding, pillion again)! Anyways, we see off Priyanka and zip on J.L.N. Marg. We decide to visit the only Royal Enfield showroom in Jaipur City! It's on Ajmer road and instead of going straight to the location we move towards Crystal Palm and delibrately ask a couple for the location, and the guy is smart - he doesn't embarasses himself and directs us in wrong direction. Well we are quite understanding guys, we know one must not give any hint to her girlfriend of his own ignorance!

We ask a few more guys and they are grown up folks! Been through life they prefer not to dupe us and give right directions. Once to the showroom Mr. Pawan has to set his hair up (we are going to have a photo session on this royal ride!). I too am wearing a new shirt, well this means I don't have to worry about my hair style. People will be more interested in bike and shirt! We shake hand with the showroom guys and give all hints that a potential customer throws!

Showroom is glass panels, posters of bikes, some models on display, an office table (a big one) and a whole wall with a poster giving timeline of Royal Enfield history. Being a cult, we know quality is prime concern for these guys and the way they exhibit professional eloquence a person understands what their work means to them. We get all the details we need, we had the info but we wanted to know how much the people their knew. And they knew a good deal. Two similar bikes give different experience because one has rear view mirrors and the other doesn't, and to add to it the one with mirrors had 18" tires and other one had 19" ones. We click pictures sitting on bikes and Pawan gets a test ride. At a minimum price of 86 grands, the bike is an experience worth living for.

Back on road we move towards M.I.Road and visit a Bajaj showroom. The experience is not worth telling. It was just visiting a general store and grabbing some grocery items (...brats rarely go shopping grocery!) Pawan drives to SBI branch in the area and wishes me to see girl of his choice! He doesn't accompany me but she being the only girl in bank I am able to recognize her, she is nice (...I must not label her an eye-candy!), but she doesn't gives me any heed!

In Bapu Market we have some street food, all three flavours available on the stall. I have to pay for it, oh bad idiot doesn't even gets his petrol tank re-filled. You will not be able to fool me next time! We ride fast on J.L.N. and talk about things very vague and random. An uncle in Santro is big time nymphomaniac and drives rash to chase a girl sitting pillion to his boyfiend (...he could be his brother or friend also!). Anyways important is too take care of the poor guys who break their leg in mishap just in front of our institute. We call 108 and feel free to leave, people are good and are acting paramedics to the injured.

The Economic Times

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:59:00 +0000

Image courtesy : poolie on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

If we don't find anything pleasant, atleast we should find something new.

Was reading a book and got this idea of economics in modern times. I am studying in a college and will certainly get a job - a nice paying one, 40 months from now, given I complete all my assignments and pass all my exams with good grades. But what is more fascinating to me, currently, is the idea of cutting the wait short and getting to earn a bit earlier, oh yes the path here also is no easy, but it gives you quick bucks quickly. This tells me to jump into a home grown business scheme, while continuing the degree as an option (double-minded, multiple choices always!).

I am interested in this idea more because it assures me a busy and packed schedule and therefore, little time to think (drone living). Some suggest me to sleep in free time, but it never happens. Sleep is an option only after a hectic day. Back to the topic, some bucks in pocket would mean a boost to spendings and savings and yup figures, rising balance sheets are always nice to look at (...try making excel spreadsheets and graphs of your bank balances!). Looking at examples all around I find this idea quite appealing. We would not be having Bill Gates, Hillary Duff, Asin and likes, if they were busy mugging those boring lectures in extremely boring lecture halls with teachers nagging and students hurling abuses behind their backs (...say it in face, it is more fun and entertaining)!

Got another point of view. A stable job would certainly be boring (though it would definitely be soothing and comforting, close your eyes. What you see? Well, you are a black coat-pant wearing guy with a red tie around his neck and yeah that lovely chick, oops she is no longer a chick - 24-25 something but still got that oomph, in floral skirt waving at you, why doesn't she joins you? [Nothing a bit of chauvanist taste, she might in some feminists writings! LOL]), no uncertainity! How can a person live a life where he knows what he has to do in next hour! Hey, am not talking about schedules (those are good, discipline has its worth!), here am talking about being a recruit, who just has no fear! He is certain of a fixed income (a large part of which will be eaten away in taxes and craps), he stops aspiring for more and doesn't like taking risks! I don't find writing this amusing at all, my parents have lived like this only and many of ours' parents are such hard-working people only! But what I think is (...its boring when Manik talks big things!) that this generation has opportunities and means, our dads and moms are supporting us! Why not take advantage of the situation and make a jump to become enterpreneurs (...talking big things, do it asshole!). Why shall we rely on big brothers to get us a job and then spend a life which is marriage, babies and attending those pomp-and-show social gatherings, with aunties and uncles weighing your purses!

Well, I live in dreams. I know how to formalise my dreams. I am aware that my dreams cause hurt to many. But am cheap, am shallow and I got one life and I don't want to compromise on it (...talking crap! Are you really like this?). My Mom and Dad will never ask me to do anything as per their will (...they never ask me to!) And I know only few ways of proving myself to them. One way is making it big, bigger. Sorry got a bit personal, the thing lies in being adamant and strong-willed. Money certainly is important. I don't want to be that black-coat pant guy. I want to be a guy, who wears a blue denim (rugged one, better washed!), a loose V-Neck with sleeves rolled, showing that nice tattoo I want to have! And my girl shall wear smart googles, black thick frame, white shirt, brown skirt or jeans and shall stand beside me!

Don't you think a guy in black-coat pant is extremely smart? Probably too good to exist! Answer it to yourself and have fun. Was nice fun commenting using my impulsive and almost zero-effort (anything, other than love, without effort is vain) thoughts after reading first 20 pages of the book - 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad!'.

Good Start!

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:30:00 +0000

Image courtesy : notsogoodphotography on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

Every man is guilty of all the good he didn't do!

It was a perfect start to 2010. I was at my romantic best, with parts of me stopping me from being like that. Oh you know what it was a sunny and cold day, so it had to have an azure sky. Early morning wake up, a lovely morning walk, Paranthas in breakfast and a deadline (flunked, for good's sake) to meet. Bank people are always good, reliable with your money! Got another site escalated to pagerank 1. Many good things happening on the same day. And I am sure whole year is going to be sexy like this, simply because I have goals to achieve, deadlines to meet. Earliest of them being Jan 15. It was an excellent start like last year and therefore this got to be equally exciting, but this time I am excited so it is going to be more flamboyant.

And yes with this post my 31 posts consecutively challenge is complete, though I had my share of leniency form Shri Krishna.

Bye Bye 2009! Happy New Year.

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Image courtesy : jurvetson on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

This would be a boring post, though I have tried my best to make it readable. But at the best it just accounts my whole year of 2009.

January
------------------------------------------
1) Jan 5 - Back to college, after long winter break! We all love that slow journey on Indian railways.
2) We had cards sessions in Shashi's room, while his roomies exercised to guitar's tunes! Tried for 2 days, after that my abs were extinct. And I was not able to keep track of my losses! Time is spent setting things up!
3) Jan 14 - Guddu's birthday! :O Hardly matters, I am busy flying kites in the sky!
3) Jan 23 - Got my laptop. Love it, exclusive purple matte finish for me only. Shall I say this? But nice to find Shrey and Nilabh welcome you at home along with your family, late at night. Boosts na!
3) Jan 26 - Back to Jaipur. A fantastic journey, will never forget! Forgot Foo's birthday! Movies and a truly effortless laugh-riot.

February
-----------------------------------------
1) Feb 6-8 - Blitzschlag days! Funny times. Nice outings.
2) Feb (end-week) - Pune visit, met Debz, Mumbai-Pune expressway journey! Mumbai was dull experience, kill you Foo I think you could manage flunking an exam!
3) In true sense it was dumbest month of the year!

March
----------------------------------------
1) Mar 19 - A distinct birthday, can't be more thankful for the fun and surprises you provided.
2) Mar 22 - fabulous scooty ride with Abhinav.
3) Newly acquired Nokia slider (miss you buddy) made me click happy!

April
----------------------------------------
1) Blogging month of the year, not actual blogging but management stuff, networking, socialising!

May
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1) Vacations begin! Lazy times! Did nothing, just eat, sleep, friends and Mafia wars.

June
----------------------------------------
1) A month of communications. Internet networking comes into play.
2) Phone livens up again.
3) Evening cricket matches and socialising did things great.
4) Jun 29, a college reunion.

July
---------------------------------------
1) July 1 and 3 - Outings with college friends!
2) July 8 - Agra visit. Hotel was a sucker. Enlightening train journey, poor kiddos still in my mind. Piyush, Nilabh, Gaurav and Me! Monuments were just nice.
3) July 9 - Return from Agra, still remember that we didn't try to convince Spaniards to join us on the bus journey! The leaking roof of bus was fun. Nilabh and Piyush must be able remember my most jolly and outrageously ecstatic moods in the beginning of journey. One of most crazy adventures of life, after long time did something so out-of-mind, ran away without paying auto-rickshaw, got caught resulting in a 2 month long cold war with Nilabh!
4) Colleges reopen in end week - Probably the busiest day of the year was registration for the 3rd semester. Totally exhausted after moving into new room.
6) Enjoyed long late night strolls to Gandhi Nagar station with Abhinav.

August
-----------------------------------------
1) As a general trend it was an ecstatic beginning to the semester, it at least to me was enthralling to discuss designs with Kalpana madam and have those climatology lectures.
2) Aug 2 - A nice friendship day. Thanks Tanvi and Kriti.
3) Oh! Mr. Siddharth got new really fantastic approach! A legalised way of bunking classes, mail me assignments! Not being sarcastic, I in reality like this approach, saves time.
4) Jantar Mantar! Shaily, Kriti, me and Abhinav. Tell me guys if it was fun or not?
5) Jumped into ANDC thing! Learned a lot from this thing, but now-a-days I cease to be appreciative of everything and I really shall repent getting into this endeavour, and for the first time I am ready to accept I was not firm in my approach, it was just an outlook. Talk more, do less attitude of every single person in the team and every group and even from my side made me go haywire and I acted out a moron in later parts of months. But this fiasco taught me some of the nicest chapters! (What the fuck! Why am I even yelling????)

September
-------------------------------------------
1) Partially realised my errors, made amends in first week, roped in Himanshu (Oh! Manik Doomra is an asshole and considers himself the in-charge of some big projects!). Love you friend, my first Photoshop tutor (I will never need another). Salute, to everyone who was a partner...
2) Ran to Delhi, don't now but now I consider myself lucky to have been through a 65 km long jam which made Jaipur-Delhi travel last 14 hours!
3) All submissions delayed by at least one week, aftershocks I guess! With no reasons to give I made my own joke in class-rooms!
4) Dusshera celebrated with a ride (tripling), Pawan, me and Abhinav. Crossword and Dhabas!

October
--------------------------------------------
1) Started revival, got organised.
2) Great I was exercising for a change! (Happens when you want to drain out that extra energy!)
3) Diwai breaks! Abhishek and me are jolly doing something common (...silly he made me think it as of a mutual thing, it was a distinct case with me!) Social I was becoming, sickening even to think I hosted family members with courtesy! :O
4) Back in college, had a plan (Like most things involving more than one person failed miserably! Avneet dear sorry, I can't keep the bet!)
5) Now I was bunking with an excellent degree of precision, but now I was careful not to misuse this time!
6) Got friendly and frank with room-mates and visiting friends! Bike rides are back in scene, Oct 26 - Zip Zap Zoom - V! Since Diwali break, everyone was asking where Himanshu boss has vanished.
7) Got back to reading habits, 2 states and City of Djinns (yukk, its real bore stuff!) Sidney Sheldon (couldn't read more than 50 pages, not because of boredom or heavy lingo, but my lazy nature (killed it anyhow) . Senuti's recommendations!)

November
-----------------------------------------------
1) I love this month. Exams, movies, magazines, thadi nights, cricket matches, strolls...
2) Room-mates, me and few new found acquaintances (Shri Krishna Meena, Mani and xyz), that's life.
3) Madam Foo is there on the other end of the fan. Guddu and Mom are among other regular callers! These people are punctual. Must tell you, am a sucker. If these guys can be so good despite their hectic and busy lives, why the hell I do fail?
4) Everything was Photoshopped! Exams were fun (for last time I guess, expecting a dip in scores!)
5) Later in the month, I was getting ecstatic as well as hasty to leave for Delhi. Plans were set and abuzz on net as well as phone!)

December
-----------------------------------------------
1) Blog is the new life. Shri Krishna challenges me to post once daily! And I do accept and here you see results. I write poems and social stuff!
2) Dec 4 - Blown by jury, totally injured state of mind! We are back in Delhi, nobody knows my whereabouts for next 3 days.
3) Contacted friends one after another. Even tried to make a plan of excursion with few college friends (frankly a half-hearted attempt, and essentially a half-hearted response!)
4) Mumbai and Chennai both were turned down! Thankful to myself for the decision, loved to be with friends and family in the city only.
5) Daily morning it was a walk, basketball, badminton or cricket, sweet-corn, bread-butter, fog and sunshine, dipping temperatures are fun!
6) A girl comes back and makes space to linger in my mind and I tell you she does no bad any more. And I like to dance (edit, go on long strolls, vo hand-in-hand wali walks, head on shoulder wali talks, banayengey buildings saath-saath with her (in my dream world) as 95 FM and MP3 buzz in my ear-plugs. :)
7) I try to complete some works and take time (...ajeeb dastan hain, vacations mein
busy college days mein ye ladka free hai) to not annoy family people by joining them to various places. (I actually don't want to deny this thing, it is true that I can spend hours sitting on floor of that District Centre Wordsworth book shop if Guddu gets along with me. And madam don't dare tease me for this confession as you know I still have that option in mind, though she thinks me as no option ;) )

Chalo! Account closed! New Year, probably a new Manik, the experiment continues!!! :D Perfect nahi milega, item yeh pango se bhara hai!!! :D :P :$ :O

This was a summary of my 2009, complete to best of my knowledge! Though I do not guarantee not missing some things. An excellent year passes by! No regrets. Happy New Year to everyone. Make sure you all make 2010 even more successful and fun.

3 Idiots - A Pragmatic Approach

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Image courtesy : antwerpenR on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

Through this post I am not trying to be critical of anything depicted in the movie or any particular view. I just want to bring to focus an alternative view, which I consider must be highlighted and brought to the light, and surely it is not entertaining but intriguing!

The flick talks of changing education system, but does it serves the purpose to make comedy of an existing system to promote another one which actually does not exist, or better say does good at individual level only (I for one practice that free-spirited approach to life, speak what's on your mind, do what you want, live by mood, don't follow any rules), you simply cannot ask others to jump with you into the mad race, at the most you can tell them the good and bad. At institutional or organizational level the idea of grading still serves the purpose, how else you want an external observer to grade you? In the movie a person decides to 'help' others achieve their dreams "photograph and become engineer", clinching from them the experience of working for themselves.

Even I too don't like practical and feasible approaches because they are not easy-going and are intensive and painful but then they are sustainable. Why not they show in the movies the true struggle paths one should follow (ask Aamir if he didn't struggle to reach this stature where he can just make one flick a year and share his concerns about society and get people applauding to his excellent skills at delivering babies on a college TT table!) and not some elusive dreams. Why don't they people tell that in true sense hard-work got no substitute, because there are no, or very few limited edition Renchos in the real world to help you out of your own fears, inabilities to communicate your views properly and take those essential steps to visualise your dreams. You are the one with wholesome control of your life, losses and gains being part and parcel of a good life game.

The movie does not highlights the problems actually occurring to the youth and generally mocks things like economic consideration or probably the movie still takes a 15 year older approach to education system, which used to be insensitive. In my opinion need is to make schools and friends to act as true support system for each other and help youngsters brave their career choice decisions at the very time of joining colleges, sometime or probably many time convincing parents to the core. What the movie does is, giving a point-of-view of situation from a successful group of people overlooking the things that situations are not actually so rude in colleges and institutions. I don't know, but I must say pseudo-sympathetic approach sells but to me it fails Aamir's social cause philosophy of recent years.

As Guddu speaks teacher-student relationships have been given a nice treatment. Ego clashes, to the extent of forcing one to commit suicide is just disgusting to look into. We essentially need to stem these problems and it has roots somewhere deeper, probably where parents come into play. Or shall a whole genre rebel?

Any way now the good things. I like the portrayal of characters. Aamir looks a true young-adult, unbelievable to find some 40 something so fitting in a 20 year old's role. The guy called Silencer beats many hands down, probably an implacable character. Truly fond of Mr. Boman Irani, I want that bird's nest and the whole getup he wears in his first interaction with students, just perfect check shirt, spectacles and coat. Madhavan and Joshi are excellent bits, superb punches added to the comedy! Baba on scooty is something so true and sacred that hardly people speak it out on the face. Cinematography dimensions extended to levels excellent. Shooting of north-Indian terrain is appalling, Shimla, Manali and Ladakh. Just awesome to find a dirt-clad Volvo running on exclusively Indian terrain. And yup purple windows on white facades of Cannaught Place give me another colour scheme to toy with....

A New Delhi...

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Image courtesy : laszlo-photo on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

Born in Delhi I am a proud pro-Delhi turk. And it automatically translates into the fact that the person in question loves urban enthusiasm. This is essentially the reason why I hear so many say, "...I wouldn't mind appreciating the beauty and exclusivity of many small towns, but when it comes to live in metropolis like Delhi or Mumbai, it is a lifestyle, an addiction to be precise". It is not me but people who say that a person used to living in Delhi or Mumbai has little chance of getting anchored elsewhere, they are not an adaptive breed then.

As of Delhi, I find it to be a total delight, an excellent one. Have always been here, though travelling is something I kind of love. This city is something I breathe, I tease, I wish to hold in my embrace and I wonder, whenever on rare occasions I get serious about a girl (...which is something that once started never ends, I just never give up...), this is the city to romance her. Some things that differentiate Delhi from others are - its horizontal expanse, a cosmopolitan cauldron which is co-operative yet rowdy, this city symbolises contradictions and thus it manages to appeal to almost everyone.

Whenever my mind goes on a Delhi walk (a slow stroll in cityscape, it generally happens twice a month or more...), it most of the time overlooks the old Delhi by-lanes and disciplined DDA squatters and straight away flies to Lutyens' Bungalow Zone, Delhi Cantonment, many beautiful and institutionalised places which generally do not feature on tourist maps.

The city, as we all know, has gone drastic and excellent changes in the last decade and this brings this historic city to its latest incarnation, which boasts of a robust infrastructure (still improving), a demanding populace which is ready to fight for almost everything, a jolly diaspora and lot more.

The city once held by creative Urdu elite was taken over by hardworking and somewhat crude on outlook Punjabi tribe after 1947 partition. Though Punjabis still tend to be biggest stakeholders in the city, but time ticks, change takes control and now Delhi comes into a new play becoming a kaleidoscope of what can be called an exuberant bunch of ideologies, mindsets.

Six universities within city limits make it a students' heaven and we all know what 'young' is about, hot-blooded move forth ambition, we-leave-our-mark thoughts, and youth create revolutions. Being political centre has made it a power centre, the satellite cities and the centre live in symbiotic association. It feels like organic evolution in play. 15 years back it would have been outrageous to be out on streets after 10, but now the city never sleeps. The race to become "First City", a "World City", live upto the reputation of being capital of world's largest democracy has done tremendous good to city and we see a New Delhi shaping up...

I wonder if the ancient ideas of city states do good to growth of the cosmopolitan cities, we still remember Athens, Sparta, Babylon, Cairo, Alexandria, Harappa and Mohan-jo-Daro, don't we? Across the world, cities independent of state jurisdictions (at least having privileged statuses) have done excellently well -
> Tokyo,
> Hong Kong (the city probably should never be retrospective about being in foreign control for 100 years),
> Singapore (a city state in true sense),
> New York (probably one of best users of public transport and everyone knows it is one of major main-stay of world economy to date.),
> Washington D.C.,
> Los Angeles (must say money comes into play),
> Dubai (an excellent display of quick wealth, sustainability is questionable after the debt fiasco)
> London (capital of the island nation, in whose empire sun never set barely 100 years ago. This city terms itself cultural and economic centre of world)

How about going for a competitive growth spurt within India. It has always been a question of tussle, which is better? Why not let these megapolis in India with funds and ambitious targets to meet their aspirations and compete for being the best (nothing less does today) on one front or the other.

Fear

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Image courtesy : outcast104 on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

Ever thought what fear is? I learn, it is something that makes one respect. If someone is not afraid of something, the person has extreme likeability of disobeying and causing hurt, and then justify it as 'freedom'. Sometime it occurs that love makes one respect things and people, but don't you think it actually is fear of loosing that makes one behave?

Or probably love, in itself, is a kind of fear, simply because we choose to bear for someone else's sake and then we like it and we suddenly don't want to loose it (afraid)! We are just obsessed to be with people, no matter what. Or probably it is that we have jeopardised definition of respect and simply mean that not disobeying someone (even in case they are wrong) is respect. This again brood out from the habit of being afraid of annoying someone.

Now I am left with no choice but to believe that an involuntary sense of fear (not that something wrong will happen to us, but something wrong should not happen to anyone around and anonymous thought, 'none should be lost') grips us most of the time and, if we let it, it for sure does us good by calming us down, killing our impulsive side and providing us near peace-effects. At least in my case I turn more open to my creative side, more forgiving,more unassuming, more open, more determined, more fulfilled...

My Favourite Song!

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:30:00 +0000

My favourite song? Never been able to decide, listen to all kind of music, fluctuating moods make me go for fluctuating choices! Yet one song that has caught my fancy for a very long period of time is "Tanha Dil, Tanha Safar". Its a song by Shantanu Mukherjee, popularly known as Shaan. Lyrics are just awesome, but like most things I like it also is a complete presentation, just spell bounding in all respects, the video of song has a nice blend of student-teacher relationship, attraction is unavoidable, friendship portrayed nicely, passion for a hobby (music) depicted brilliantly. Like the Christian backdrop attached to the whole thing and it is just mesmerising to see a loner walking on a beautiful tree-lined street, while browsing the memories of times gone by.

Haven't listened to it in a long time. May be need it, I should try and reconnect with the good things in my life.

Objective Approach

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Image courtesy : Asja on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

As a child I used to be successful. Because of reasons not sophisticated but primitive. I had things in mind and I had too accomplish. Be it the podium position on prize distribution ceremony, being the first one in the line to sports ground, grabbing that window seat on a picnic; I always knew what was my need! I knew what was I desired (it was a wrist watch from Dad on scoring exceptionally well, or sometime that jealous look on a friend's face when I admired my glory having failed him in a competitive endeavour)...

But then I grew and I grew indifferent. No objectives now seemed worthy, because I mindlessly searched for something exotic. Sleeping in jeans was now a hobby, not being punctual was only punctuality, scores appeared like symbols from a dead script; 0 being no different from 8.5 (my self-suggested best), breakfasts can be skipped, dressing is to prevent others from the shame, who cares for bathing?...

Successful always used to have a physical form unlike now that I want to turn every success of mine into a publicity gimmick. The object has been lost and its overtly boring being subjective.

Euthanasia - Suicide Crippled?

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Image courtesy : Lord Jim on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

Disclaimer and Content Advisory : The content below deals with a subject of controversial nature and represents author's take on it. Further it is advised that you avoid reading beyond this line if you are not OK with content heavily descriptive and heavy on intensity, specially the questions part of the post.

Suicide - (noun) the action of killing oneself intentionally.

Euthanasia - (noun) the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable disease, this generally is done to prevent the person in question the suffering he is going through and is by his/her consent only.

In republic of India Euthanasia is not a legal act. People suffering several unimaginable, painful, extensively shaking, horrendous and disturbing situations (words are not enough to explain these) are now raising voice in favour of something loosely termed as 'Right To Death'. They, and me too, are of the opinion that ultimately when one has to die, why not choose it now and save oneself from a life which lacks dignity and is extremely painful. The 'destiny' has made it a rather exaggerated form of punishment for them to live.

I in my personal opinion consider it as a suicide, difference being person him/herself is not able to execute it and therefore needs external help. The empowered class at top brass of the country should come out of their euphoric idealism of 'Chance To Life' and take an approach which is practical and empathic towards the suffering soul and so provide for a legal framework to do the inevitable, because many a time one has to overlook emotions to express extreme degree of compassion, and feel what the victim is going through. It is irony that the person in this case has to suffer and go through a slow and decaying process of elimination, just because an idealist order and nature itself has gone against him/her to the extent of crippling him/her from making a choice between life and death, which would have been just a matter of suffering a fall from floor 10 or popping few extra pills given he/she was able to act. Horrible must be chaining a brain and heart, unable to anything.

Would like to close this post with few questions -
1) Abortion, why not 'Chance To Life' in this case?
2) Why not there be 'Right To Die'?
3) Would you consider it just to make someone live a life - tied to bed, gasping for breath, unable to eat and drink by self, help him/herself of cleaning (I don't know those technical and medical terms in this case and I know you get what I mean to convey...), feeling hapless seeing those dreams and ambitions die within themselves, still not loosing faith in that 'almighty' despite him breaking them in every possible way, treating them like flesh and not humanity. In the process breaking a hundred around, seeing the pain of unimaginable degree and still denying it the relief.

Having written the last para I have nothing but a head hanging loose in the silence with a glowing laptop screen, gathering voices of the taps of fingers on the keyboard moments before. Hope this 100th post of mine helps India come out of a state of denial and brave the challenge of doing something painful yet epitome of love, legalise mercy killing. Pardon me, I might have deviated a lot because of my inexperienced age and shallow and extremely emotional nature.

Season Break

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Image courtesy : Foxtongue on Flickr, check usage terms before using the image.

It's not vacations neither their duration, it is the season that makes the things sick. Prolonged winters, that's it. A sudden numbness spreads over the whole terrain, despite the sun shining bright, sky being blue and the grass being green it seems as if everything has come to a standstill. Life seems stale and everyone wishes to create ripples by doing some activity. But as soon as get hold of the things, once again a dam of troubles comes in between. None gives up and mounts an attack and doesn't try to flee. Soon things will open up, mist will clear and spring flowers will be there to cheer masses, the every bit of it. For the time being we can get cosy, wear that blanket and extend our sleeps and treat us unconscious yet deliberate dreams from our vivid memories.

Dogs And The Family

noreply@blogger.com (Manik) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Image courtesy : Manik. An old family picture depicting 'Robin' in it with Guddu. All Right Reserved

My family, oh extended family i.e. me, dad, mom, Guddu,Shivani and hundreds of others spread over the whole country have had some special associations with the quadruple species called "dog".

My knowledge about the family tradition of loving dogs tells me that the hobby has roots with my grandpa's brother being fond of this loyalist breed. He is said to have certain flings with at least 2 of the species. They were named 'Kalu' and 'Sheru'. Going by some trustworthy sources 'Sheru' jumped off the roof the day uncle died and later died of hunger, he denied any food not being able to cope with the loss.

After uncle's death the next dog to enter the clan was 'Robin'. This one is the most famous till date as all of us have been associated with him at some point or the other. We all were fond of this brown chap as it will roam around and respond graciously to every call. But like almost all good things, this one met a tragic end with some asshole poisoning him to death on an evening when most members of the family were busy doing different things.

Something called 'Robert' was roped in to fill the space. But it essentially failed to build any rapport and was not popular among the young turks of the house and soon abandoned the house.

'Panther' now joined the family and got reputed as a dog who would bark only on the known family members and strangers were always welcome for him. He got a twin called 'Ceaser' which was gifted to a friend family and later proved to be much more energetic, healthy and agile. 'Panther' later was able to build happy bonds with family, mostly due to longer acquaintance and familiarity. 'Panther' met a natural end.

Cousins in my mom's sister's family had two dogs called 'Tommy' and 'Popo'. Cousin was extremely fond of both the dogs. She didn't eat for three days when 'Tommy' died. It had jumped off first floor parapet. 'Popo' was able to fill in the space very quickly and became part of the family rapidly. But it too met an end which was not natural and caused hurt to many in the family.

Till date I come across stories of various dogs. One such thing lives just across my street and I learn that it was cause of police being called after a fight broke out between 2 families because of him. I am told that this dog lives luxuriously, enjoying blankets, mattresses, and devoted love from his owner...