What is it that we are supposed to do.

May the dark shivering
 beast in you lay low.

And the even odd
merging wickedness go slow

The eye has made the most obvious call
and as it involves each and all.

as we go through the motions with no clue.

What is it that we are supposed to do.

Are we supposed to create revolutions.

Are we supposed to be transforming new generations

Are we to fight hunger, illiteracy and corruption.

Or are we going through the motions.

What it is we are supposed to do.

Do we look for bigger purpose.

should we fight for good and just

Do we crave for love

or do we love gravely

Do we hunt for faith

or we trust blindly

When a shivering beast of even odd wickedness

Lies within you and me

When you eye watches at me with caution and vice versa

And then we do what we are not supposed to do

Tell me for once then

What is it that what we are supposed to do.

Mid Night Mass - Pune Watch

Photo Credit : Averee Burman. 

Can not explain the experience totally but can share a few tokens.

It was a silent night as we walked towards the house of God and we prayed. The alter and the surroundings gave us the feel of what it must be like to forget oneself and lay in the arms of the God, meditate your mind into peace and celebrate.

To be frank, the ceremony is not something we understood or completely followed with faith but the whole  experience of being a part it was enriching.

Lately popular culture has raised a lot of questions on this great old religion (at least the ones I have seen) and yet it was nice to see the core - belief, faith, hope  and joy at work.

And yes we were a group of young people and we did enjoy as young people do and they should.

 As said before, can not explain the experience totally.  

Comic Konnection - (The Christmas tale)

It’s a chilly morning as I decide to wake up and start my usual routine. So I get ready to go to school. The snow on the fifth street is something that I do not like especially as car tends to slip. Today is no different. I dress up and reach school. Not in mood for anything. I do want a dayoff today.

But Mr. Sherman wants to do an activity today. It is about charity since Christmas is around the corner, hence I can’t even say no. So I donated my comic books. My Archie's, my Axterix's and my Batman collections which once were my life at but now as a 16 year old, I don’t’ need them anymore.

My School in US is located in a small farming town where livelihood of locals thrives on apple farming and lately with New Zealand exporting apples for cheap, my family along with hundreds of other households is suffering. 

So Mr. Sherman collected all the donated items, we wrapped them and send them across to various countries in the world. We also wished Merry Christmas to unknown people in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe.

6 years Later.

------------------------------------

I have now settled quite well here in India. I live in a small little apartment in Mumbai (Bombay) working 5 days a week in a well-known firm for a handsome compensation

For my latest holiday I have gone to Manali in Himachal and I am just roaming on the streets in one of the village near Solan. A small kid crosses me. He appears six may be seven and looks very thin. And he asks " Dada tumhe padna aata hai" 

(Brother do you know how to read). "Ha". (Yes ). Ye padke bolo na phir (please read this for me then) and he gives me an Archie's Comic. 

I open it to read and then - oh its mine. It cant be, but it is.  So I read a section. But I cant help it. So I end up telling the kid, that this book was once mine. 

I feel for the kid and hence arrange for his education with help from a Delhi based NGO. And then I forgot all about it.

20 years later.

-----------------------------------------------------

I am a big Manager now and I meet young people, old people, greedy people and hence I dont usually feel something great to meet some one new and especially a young man. But this young man I met this morning rocked me to my core.

And then he said those unbelievable words, " Sir, I am the same boy from Manali."  

He was a dynamic young man now and somewhere in all his achievements and educational qualifications was a platform which my comic book had aroused. It lead him to seek education and it lead him to success.

Through the Boy's Eyes. (After 50 more years)

-------------------------------------------------------------

I am dying next month due to incurable tumor and hence this is my will - " I, Sameer Sheikh here by leave all my industries, wealth and real estate to my son as the sole and only owner, but I also give him my most priced possesion my comic book which made me all what I am now"

And then the Boy (Sameer) died.  [I was also dead by then of course. But to complete the story I would still use first person so bear with me. As if you have a choice.]

So Sameer's son read the will and then as he drove out from his lawyer’s office, he threw away, the most priced and yet useless thing that his father had left him, out of the car. 

The book was gathering dust along roadside until a kid, from the nearby slum, picked it up out of curiosity. It seems, he is reading it and looks as if he actually likes it too, I am so happy.

May be, just may be the comic book can inspire him too.

Well that’s the hope!!!    

By Ninad Tatke

Aim (Poem)

Some Skies are cold
Some Skies are warm

Some are filled with webs
Some are with clouds

Yet the Sky I seek
stands clear
mocking at me
And each jump I take

Lands me back on earth, hurt.
Hurt from pain.
Hurt from emotions.

And then some day
I find new ground

And I jump and I fly
I glide like a eagle
I float like a kite
Skies dont bother me
And gravity ignores

Sky does not matter anymore
no praise for it no encore
What matters is the grace of the jump
and the pleasure of the flight.

Lost - the poem (st)

Think of the sea
think of the waves
think of the cool smell of coconut
through her hair

Think of the sand
in your shoes
Think of the smile
you had seen on her face

Think of the night
Think of the day
Think of the time you have spent in her arms
Think of the warmth and think of the calm

Brace your mind each time you feel lost
And just think of the sea.

Soul Searching - What it takes to bring out the best in you.

Every person does soul searching sometime in his / her life. The question is then is something in particular that needs to be searched. What is it that we all crave and aspire and hence we spend our energy to acquire the same.

Agreed to the premise that each person is unique and has his or her own strengths and limitations, what if we actually come up with tangible methods of achieving success.

And if this can be done. Can we all live life powerfully and live life that we love.

So with no further ado and without entering the domain of self help groups/books.

Lets look at to do things-

Plan - planning out the things and prioritizing is a way which will keep you organized. It will also lead to mental readiness as planning will make sure you have already done the activity once - mentally

Be prepared to listen - Listening is important in communication and communication is almost always involved in any activity you do.

Ask for - Ask for opinions /help when needed. Don't hesitate.

Innovate - Every time you find yourself comfortable. Tell yourself that its time you should think something new. Keep thinking. Look for the scope of improvement. Look around and may be you might just get that big idea.

Watch out for simple things.

Understand the recipients /consumers and customize. Before a recipent craves for a certain set of idea, it might be futile to introduce it.

Be inquisitive.

Try out new paths /new ways

If you get the idea, work on it, develop it, test it and then if you wish (and you must if its a great idea) execute it.

Keep yourself grounded. You may know a lot. and achieve a lot but in the whole scheme of things, you are and will remain a small speck and hence its crucial to be modest.

Keep Focus: If you have a goal, Work on it. Build up stamina to get there. May have to prioritize.

If you don't have a clear goal, keep working with your best efforts with open mind at whatever you do. When you find something that excites you. Keep it. May be that can lead to a goal.

The thing is to be productive and positive and try and create a difference in what ever you do.

Clean your mind. Just like each person has to clean himself physically to feel fresh, a cleared mind with no past thoughts or starting fresh leads to good work. Its like building a house on a flat land instead of one with a lot of debris. Ways to clearing ones mind is watching/experience/performing something interesting and /or getting a external motivation, or getting help to see ones blind spot.

Lastly - remember that what you are and what you do are different things. Don't let a setback affect your core.

By Ninad Tatke

The November Flame.

So it was flaming in the sun. It was flaming in the night.

And today after 2 years I spend 2 minutes in silence. Virtual silence, and remember those brave people who  sacrificed two years ago. I can not possibly understand the courage and the pain that was witnessed but I can atleast acknowledge them before I move on.

Its in nature of Mumbai to keep people grounded. But its the spirit which teaches to move on.

Logs in the ocean...

What is this feeling I now have,

I have care, warmth and tender memories.

And yet I have apprehensions, dilemmas and confusions.

Its like a sailor in the open sea, on a bright sunny day.

Worried about the rocks below.

We are all like logs in the ocean

sometimes we meet and then we drift away

unsure of destiny, unsure if we ever meet again

We can enjoy those small moments

or we can make each moment small

Is it stalemate that I am feeling now

Or is it a checkmate?

From Newspaper to viewsvapour

READ THE ARTICLE FROM TIMES AS REFERENCE TO MY BLOGPOST.

-------------------------------------------------
http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?edlabel=TOIPU&pubLabel=TOI&pageid=14&mydateHid=22-11-2010

No life without wife 

Who would have thought a road could make a difference in the marriage market Ask these Bihari bachelors who have turned grey waiting for the dolis to arrive.But now theyve got the will,and are finding a way

Mansi Choksi | TNN 


Bulai Rams grubby dhoti tells the story of his villages peculiar condition.The lonely septuagenarian hasnt changed it for a week.Hes too old to do it himself,his brother has gone to nearby Mohania to pick up household provisions,and he would never dream of asking his sister-in-law to help him tie a fresh one.His dhoti would have been sparkling clean if he too had a wife.But that is not to be.In Barwaan Kala every second man is perforce a bachelor.Its all a problem of access.
The villages of Barwaan Kala and Barwaan Khurd squat dizzyingly atop a peak of the Kaimur hills in Bihar.The only way to reach them is to negotiate thorny fields and hazardous rocks,a tortuous expedition on foot for four hours.There is no connecting road to the rest of the district.
Some 200 tribal families live here,and among them there are over 115 bachelors (aged between 16 and 80 ).The hilltops inaccessibility has been far too daunting for the otherwise intrepid matchmakers from the foothills.The hot-blooded males of the two villages have been left high and frustrated.
Getting a bride up here is only one part of the problem.No road means no hospital and no school (the nearest hospital and police station are 45 km away ).Pregnant women and the ailing are ferried in blankets,but not everyone has made it.The aanganwadi doubles up as a shelter for cattle because even the most determined social workers have paled and run away.Only cadres of Maoists are tough enough for this terrain.But that hardly helps the case of the Barwaan villagers.
While its relatively easier to get the girls of the village married,baraats turning back half way is a common lament.So why cant the 70 local girls be hooked up with the hapless guys Simply because marrying within the same village is against tradition.Every girl is a sister to boys in our village.Tell me,is it okay to marry your brother in the big city where you come from demands the miffed sarpanch,Ram Dayal Singh.
The last marriage ceremony in the village chowk took place half a century ago.Now,most marriages are solemnized in the foothills and in groups so that villagers only have to make one trip.The desperation of finding brides has forced some men to take matters into their own hands.Uddhal Yadav,30,moved in with relatives in the foothills to fool his prospective in-laws.Only after the pheras did he drop the bombshell about his real address.If I had said I was from Barwaan,no girls family would have even looked in my direction.My wife was upset initially,and did not talk to me for months.But shes got over it.
Saraswati Devi,who was similarly tricked,continues to bear a grudge against her husband for over two decades.My parents were foolish to send me here,she grumbles.My brother-in-law is still unmarried,and now my elder son is 20.Where will I find a wife for him
So is there a way out Only a choiceless choice: marry a girl from a lower caste or pay a heavy bride price in cash and cattle.Munna Ram,35,who married a Barwaan girl 10 years ago,says many marriages are fixed but not solemnized.The grooms party doesnt want to make the difficult journey even to bring the doli back.But I didnt do that, he says.A bullock cart and around 50 family members waited at the foothills while I went up personally and got my bride down.
Another bachelor Rajagiri Singh,now in his late 50s,says hes thought about moving out many times.But my fields are here,my ancestral property is here,how can I leave it all What will I have if I go away Five marriage negotiations have broken down.So have my hopes.
When MLA Ramchandra Yadav,was standing from Kaimur on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket,he visited the village on his campaign trail during the last assembly elections and promised to remain a bachelor until he had a road built.
The villagers hailed him as Hanuman who would cut through the mountain for them.But only three months after his victory,he did something totally ungodly.He broke his promise.We all swore that we would not attend his wedding,and at least we kept our word.He let us down after we had campaigned for him day and night.He says he was forced,but I dont believe it.Now he is the father of a two year old, says an unamused Chandradev Yadav.
Still smarting at that betrayal,the villagers called a meeting near the temple last January and decided to build a road themselves.Armed with axes,shovels and hammers,they are cutting through the hard mountain.One group pushes the boulders aside,another breaks them down into chips,and a third levels the ground.We have flattened a 4.6-km stretch,and now a tractor can pass.We have 2 km more to go, says Chandradev,who is married.I got lucky because I have studied up to class X,but my elder brother is a bachelor.I feel his pain.
Soon after the men started their road,the forest department filed an FIR against 12 of them for constructing in a protected forest area.The police told them to stop work.Divisional forest officer (Kaimur district ) R K Ram says he didnt have an option.A Supreme Court ruling bars any construction work in such reserves, he says.Im just doing my duty.
But the villagers of Barwaan are determined to get their road.When someone was murdered here five years ago,no one from the police station came, says Chandradev.I doubt they will come to mourn the death of a couple of rocks.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So as I read this article, I realized how different the world must be for them.

 But then again there are equivalents of the same even to our lives.

We do live up on the hilltop. And if you choose to date anyone in the 'civilized' city we have to go through perfect scheduling, a continuous verbal attack of kaka shumacher, then  hope that everything does go well to be able to catch the last bus back to isolation.

Why do we have to be so apart, with so little means to move about. The city dwelling people have so much of mobility and assess. We do get rejected because of the distance. And it hurts.

While we are definitely better off than the poor souls of Barwaan being in a Co-ed place it still does bother us. 

Time is always on the side for people with skills

Certain things are beyond my comprehension and ability.

Ability : Like I can run 100 metres in 20 something seconds but if someone asks me to do it in 10 seconds, I cant do it. Atleast not in this lifetime.

Comprehension : So in the whole domain of information, I am nothing but a tiny speck.

Yet people ask me things and I do try and answer. It feels good to answer but then I feel odd. Is my answer in the right direction. Do I have any clue what lies ahead. The answer is no.

Does it give me any sense of responsibility and accountability towards the advice seekers. The answer is absolute yes. The time now is certainly uncertain and yet in the blink of the eye people indulge and say things which they should not. Things like this is not for me.

How do you know ?

Time is always on the side for people with skills and the people who work on those skills. And in this whole scenario it seems that the time is ripe to work on skills.

So when you do work on skills,

measure your efforts and honour them

See scope for improvement and follow through

Discuss your queries with peers,

Each day do something productive - try to add some thing positive

Take a review and restructure.

Kolkata Watch - An icebergs tip

Warning : The Characters and incidents used here in the description below are all real. Any similarity with any person, location and event is completely on purpose . 

So finally we were inside the train. It was all coming true. It was a dinner conversation a few days back when Ivory suggested that we should all go to Kolkata. Somehow everyone agreed and things did fall in place.

So Me ( Taken) , Hippo, Approval and  Ben  started out to a journey as wonderful as chronicles of Narnia - but sadly without the special effects.

So we had Ben  defeat Approval in a arm wrestling competition. We had the award ceremony and then Hippo and Ben had a pillow fight.

When we eventually landed in Kolkata. (By a train) we saw the evening traffic and we got struck in one place for around 40 mins.

Oh my God - Taken. What is this place. This was my reaction.

Images of city of God (Movie with Om Puri) flashed in my mind. Thankfully I was wrong. And I am glad.

Had milksoda at balwant ka dhaba. Nice. Liked it.

The first morning in Kolkata was spent with Great Expectations which began with a breakfast at Flurry's, a look at St.Xaviers College, the new post office and the whole Park Street area. Also BBD/ Dalhousie block was discovered. 

As we later came to know that this was one of the oldest areas. Also we saw writers building. A building where administration of the state takes place.

And ofcourse Taken had the privilege of running behind a bus to get some change. It was a scene. Approval and Hippo screaming at him to get the change and just as he reached the bus. It started moving and so Taken followed as fast as he could.

In the Evening we were shown the way by the Shenanigans who I guess knows the city as well as Lord Hastings himself or may be even better. So after having the best Puchka it was coffee time in the Place where the CCE close by 10 pm , actually closes by 8.45 but 10 pm it closes for sure. (CAFE COFFEE Evening)

The Bus tour the next day was interesting where we learnt that philosophy, history and culture are blended in Kolkatta roots. Also I learnt that I was not supposed to call a certain someone as laughing buddha, not even as a joke.


Victoria Memorial is indeed spectacular but I also liked the math, Bose house and the jain temple.


May the force be with us. (dedicated to that spectacular film our group watched at the house of  the great social reformer of last century Sir Raja Ram Mohan Roy). 


The wow of the planets dazzled us in the birla planetarium the next day. I had never seen stuff like that. 
Yeah ! I am sarcastic.


But Science City was  good and I felt nice to see entertainment with science packaged and positioned together.


Boat ride down the sethu bridge was also very good. 


A sup-rise for the Shenanigans ended a perfect day after a real delicious dinner  and for once Taken was completely wrong. Ben  was right to burn all the candles on the surprise birthday cake.


The lunch with Great Expectations lead us to the amazing fact that 3 kali mandirs were in the same area. It felt like Mahim. But Mahim has petrol pumps all around and Thane city actually had 3 petrol pumps at the same spot once. But thats enough fuel for debate for a day.


Then as we toured around the city with Sanky we explored areas like India Coffee House and Trams and all.


Ivory, her family and her friends made our dinner with her family one of the most pleasant and memorable experiences in our trip.


The trip had ended on monday morning or had it when we learnt about Eden Gardens - the real one, the race course and the building with 999 windows.


And to tell you the truth Taken actually understood what the trip meant the next day as he landed in CST - Mumbai.


He had just caught a train back to Thane when a couple of Bengali boys asked him which side the platform would come as they wanted to get down at Dadar . I with the charged up refreshed mind told them not only the direction of the platform but also the fact that they should get the corner (khopcha) so it would help them travel with comfort and also assist them to get off the train.


The looks of fellow train travellers told me that I had overstepped the mumbai's code un-written behaviour. We are not supposed to help unless asked. That to me is the major striking difference between the two cities.
One which helps on its own. the other minds its own business and helps out only when asked.
   
By Ninad Tatke

  

Pune Watch. Who taught them

Pune. 25th November

11.40 am - 1. 40pm

A beggar boy about 7 years with a baby beggar  sister about 4 years walked across the road in front of my Group at the university road and smartly the boy lifted a water supply pipe tap (1 inch) and drank water. He also used his hands to give some water to his sister. Nice gesture, our group thought. But wait, there was more.

The boy went on to close the tap, he turned its head so no water is wasted.

Then a few moments later when offered a pack of biscuits, the biscuits were shared with the sister, and then the boy run across the road and offered some to his mother and other siblings.

The small boy - was sharing, conserving water and displaying ability to adapt. 

Who taught these guys. No idea.

    

O Kolkata (Poem)

The city is silent . The world quite.

And then at 4.30. comes the first light

by 6.30 its lit up and bright

Kolkata oh my what a sight


The streets are full, young old rich and poor.

Some beg, some share and some lure

And a nap-time in the afternoon

That one is for sure



Kolkata where people are poor, streets are dirty

and yet no one complains

where politicians run rallies and morchas

for personal gains

And yet without anything changing

Everything falls in place




Ideas and debates are not short here

This is the city of wise men

Some lead to great revolutions and some

just go in vain


Oh Kolkata - What you hold in your memory lane




The roads are neat here

But neater are its people

The food is sweet here

But sweeter are its people.

People who are helpful, who patiently wait

And certain things they leave to faith



Where tramps run side by side to metros

where ideals, history and sentiments run side by side

with achievements and innovation and dedication.

Where people live with pride

Oh - Kolkata it goes far and wide.

By Ninad Tatke

Test of the game

I feel glad to have watched a test match which unfolded today. It does wonders for the game. It lasted 5 days. One team batted more than 5 sessions and lost. The last man had to battle it out and it went to the wire.

Laxman was injured and still he was the one who won us the game with efforts from sachin, ishant, zaheer and a sacrifice runout by dhoni.

This game - test cricket is wonderful if played on sporting tracks .(not the flat ones where you get 600 runs and draw games). It tests out the stamina, the effort, the patience, the determination, the ability to respect your opponent and wait him out.

We should have more pitches like these and more games like these.

We should cherish something as wonderful as test cricket.

India vs Australia Mohali First test 2010.

Six Honest Serving Men

I had SIX HONEST SERVING MEN
They TAUGHT me all I knew.
Their names were : WHERE, WHAT, WHEN, WHY, HOW and WHO ! - Rudyard Kipling

Bring back the love - Poem

So you seem to know now.
So much more.
So you seem to say now
so much more

So you seem to inspire us now
to mutually help each other
So now you seem to share
so much love

Its all about mindset
Diversify it Transform it

Think of love.
Think of Purpose
Think of initiative everyone takes for you
And bring back the love.

Note: has 14 lines but not a sonnet.

Khusbu - The Short Story

She was new in the medical college. The college was new, the city was new and also the language. She was a Chandigarh born Punjabi girl and this was one particular medical college based on the outskirts of Pune. She smiled like a free bird as she entered. She was happy.

On day one she was ragged. Not for fun or for ice breaking but for pure sadistic pleasure by her seniors. On day two, she was ragged again. She cried, she complained but no one cared for a non localite, introvert and shy petite girl that she was. She used to spend her time everyday alone. Had rarely any company and then the most boring part was the lonely feeling one gets in the evening as the sun sets.

She remembered her didi. Didi was not actually her sister but a friend who was 4-5 years older than she was and would always spend time with her when she was in town in Chandigarh. Didi was full of hope for life and even Khusbu hoped that one day she would be like didi.

One day Khusbu was standing outside the canteen when Daya a senior boy from 3 rd year asked her to hang out with him. She said that she would do no such thing. But Daya said that he was her senior and he wanted to do timepass with her. Khusbu shot him back and said that she is a respecting person and is not a timepass for anyone.

Over time other such incidents continued and the first sem got over. By now Khusbu had become a very bitter and grumpy person who hated people all around her especially boys. She never thought she would respect a boy ever again.

It was a normal Friday and Khusbu had just attended the first lecture on anatomy for the day. She got a call from an unknown number on her cellphone. Very defensively she picked up the call.
"hello Khusbu"
"yeah who is this"
"Mita"
"who"
"aree mita didi!!!"

"ha dummy its me....!!! and guess what I am standing right outside your college"
"What, how and how did you get my number... we have been out of touch in last 2 years"


Just come to the main reception.

And so Khusbu met Mita her didi and Ravi (Mita's work collegue who was just tagging along)
And they started talking. Mita told all about her life in archaeology, how Ravi a history expert was helping her uncover certain elements from the past and how it actually felt to be like Indiana Jones.

Ravi shared his experiences too about life and trivia about history particularly Pune.

And then Khusbu told them about the life as it was for her. Mita didi suggested a her a few things and so did Ravi about making new friends, about opening out and creating your own space. Ravi said,"Remember that Guys say things based on the perception and not what they actually feel . Ignore them when its apt but forgive them when necessary".

And then as suddenly as they had come they also had to leave. But Khusbu did started enjoying her life after that. She knew by now who was good, bad ugly and she carefully approached people and started talking with them. Slowly she made friends, slowly she had a group and no one teased her anymore.

After a few days when she organised a college event and did a fantastic job doing so, Daya came to her and she as usual ignored him.

"Hey Khusbu, I am sorry"
no answer.

"What I said was cheap and offensive and I had no idea what I was doing. I did not actually mean it"
no answer.

"I cant even say that I was naive but ...I "

"Daya I will forgive you this time but if you ever..." - she said as Ravi's words echoed in her head ("Remember that Guys say things based on the perception and not what they actually feel . Ignore them when its apt but forgive them when necessary". )

"I would never do something like this again," he said and she saw that his eyes were dead serious.

And then she smiled like a bird . She was happy once again. A carefree happy smile.

Pune Watch - What I did not know last night

It is amazing to soak so much of the city in one single night. I speak as though I am a sponge but the experience last night was nothing short of it.

What I did not know last night was how it would unfold. 

We began in the second half of the night with finding each other, queuing up in crowds of thousands to see the glimpse of the murtis and the decorations of various Ganpati mandals . 

There were lathis used by police to control the people. And there were rivers of people flowing from one end of the street to the other. The crowds had filled streets right out of laxmi road and we floated from Shanivar peth, crossed linked across Shanivarwada, and finally reached our first intended place.  

 In all this me and my friends were finding out ways to not only transport ourselves in this  river of people but were also shopping, clicking pictures, understanding the history and the stories behind each place, eating some Prasad and finding  new areas, understanding the good and bad of the city and also appreciating some of the finest art and design display we could not even imagine on display.

Also visible was branding, marketing and social interactive communication by some corporates and enthusiast mandals. Like the play by a particular mandal about the need of re-establishing the sanity between the teacher- student bond and so on...

Like I said before - What I did not know last night was how it would unfold. 

To be fair I still dont know for sure. 

But one thing I am clear is that ...It was an humbling experience in the way society celebrates the vibrance, the social dialogue, connections and faith at the same time. 

Pune Watch - The come back

Its been a week now since we have all come back and yet the space in our hearts crave for home. Yeah we all are sick, home sick! But the life moves on. The sweets and snacks brought from home get over. And the  reality catches up.

But the city is spectacular right now. Dazzled with lights. Decorated with arches, puppet shows, danglers and much more. And I have not even travelled much. But the festival season is unique and I am glad to be in this city right now. Hopefully I can visit the city to view it in detail soon.

The public transport of this city is interestingly low and hence I sometimes feel a sense of awe when I do manage to find a bus which takes me where I want to go.

The hilltop has been dry this time round though this morning there were a few showers. The wallstreet looks good in rain and so this morning it looked lovely.
So overall its been an good comeback. I feel alive and kicking and that means that its been a good comeback.

Forest Gump

A journey is full of surprises and one of the most important aspect of any journey is whose shoes is one stepped into. Forest Gump had many shoes. One of a handicap, a footballer, of an army man, of an businessman, of an athlete, of an giver, of an lover, of an husband and most importantly of an father.

Forest was not bound by what people said about him. He was not retricted by limits nor thought himself as some one who had achieved anything extraordinary.

He just did what he thought he had to do and he was focused enough to do it well. He was not smart but he was persistent.

I believe that each one of us has a small forest within. The trick is to find it and keep on doing the good work.

Nau pachpan ki last chai

Imagine that you have to reach someplace at 10 am. Its 10 minutes away if you walk and its 9.55 am. And you start walking with a cup of hot tea in hand. (the cup is wobbly and the tea is hot) If it spills your shirt will get stained. And you are a tea addict. If you dont have this tea, you day will go bad.

Now its a time to prioritize, to tea or not to tea (run for the time to be punctual) that is the question.  But you love tea and hence you saviour the perfect blend of aroma, the incredibly rewarding taste and the strong flavour which dissolves in your mouth.

Then the clock strikes ten and you are late as you keep rushing to reach but you had a the last tea and yet the perfect tea.

Mumbai Watch - The Drowning. (Come early next year)

Its interesting the way hundreds / and more idols of lord Ganesh get submerged in water during the Visarjan (the drowning) {sounds like a tittle of 90's Bollywood movie which had gems like - Takhat the Power. Vasthav - the reality and Himmat - the daring}. It was also interesting to see hundreds of devotees pray, for well being, for a better life, for their children's future.

So much of creativity is on display during the festival. The decorations. The chants of Shoklas, the mini/short cut poojas performed for the very emcompassing/adjustive God. {We lack Priests in Mumbai}  http://epaper.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?queryed=9&eddate=9/10/2010    and the best part about life is  that we actually get to socialize during this festival.

We are an interesting bunch. We pray, hope, believe and then we say goodbye and then ask him to go away and come back next year.

But we are Mumbai afterall, everything is based on time. No soon no after. Only when it is due. Each day is work and each day is worth it.

Innovation through necessity

So the stage was set. 20 minutes. 7 people. All untrained actors. To perform on an unscripted street play which we were creating as well as performing.

So the going was tough. One could not speak Hindi. One could barely speak confidently. One could not act in middle tone. Worse that person was missing for 15 minutes out of the 20. One could not remember the lines. And thus everyone had a flaw.

But bad times bring in innovation. So the non  Hindi speaking person became a mute,  a very vital element of the story. The one who could not speak confidently barely scrapped through the lines. The non middle tone guy was given a high tone role.

But most important the one who forgot all his lines just reacted spontaneously on stage to situation and did not actually say any lines.

Final result. A successful content  and appreciation.

Thus today once again innovation was done during necessity.

Lost - the poem

When you feel lost
amidst everyone
Should you look for a shoulder to cry on
Or should you see old photos for nostalgia

Or should you skip lunch and ponder
over what's going on
or should you aimlessly wander

When you feel lost 

amidst everyone

Should you smile with vacant expression

or should you just shut down your brain for sometime 

and 

then restart all over again.

Why comedy is so hard.

I think I am funny. But me thinking so, is like me calling myself talented. Thats not usually true.

But then I do find myself creating jokes (good ones and the bad - {a lots of bad ones}) all the time. Which in turn brings forth a doubt. Why is something so funny to me not funny at all to others and why something which is funny to others not funny for me.

Basically the golden question - why is comedy so hard?

To make someone laugh is one involuntary service human have engaged in since time began. It could be as unsophisticated as a fart, or a burp or sophisticated like a pun between words or a stand up act. But comedy is dealing with human mind. And each human mind is whole and complete. In-essence a human needs customized comedy to tickle his/her funny bone.

You have to engage the audience. You have to tell the story. Hence with my limited understanding here are golden rules of comedy.

Golden rules of comedy.

• Start each funny routine with the thought that you know nothing.

• Don't expect unrealistic rewards

• Every single humour you achieve makes a difference.

 

A facebook post - memory

Grishma Nair Golu, usski Maa, usska bevda Pita, Sarpanch, Mitthu, Babloo, Dadaji, a nasal singer, phool wali, and many more...................... Few hours in the Modern Rural India!! :) :)

3 hours ago · Comment · 

• You, Prachi Shrivastava, Sneha Radhakrishnan, Apoorv Houzwala and6 others like this.
• • 

    Aditi Jain u missed suku ka husband :P :P :P

    3 hours ago · 
  • 

    Aditi Jain and i think mitthu was d best :D :P

    3 hours ago · 
  • 

    Grishma Nair oohhh.. yeahhh.. sukku and uska bevda pati (or was it patni?? :P)

    3 hours ago · 
  • 

    Kruttika Salunke ha ha...idiot...i was sukku's pati not patni....:P

    3 hours ago · 
  • 

    Sajin John ahhahahahaa kaunse gaaon main gayii thii huh?????????

    2 hours ago · 
  • 

    Pranav Jain ek baar aaja aaja aaja aaja aaaaaaja!!

    2 hours ago · 
  • 

    Sneha Radhakrishnan ehehhee...mitthu ws da ultimate......i culdnt stop maself frm laughin whn i saw her flyin 2wards us.....ehehhehehhe.....carmel, u were damn cute ya......nd thnx 4 da mentions grish... :P:P

    about an hour ago · 
  • 

    Sneha Radhakrishnan i loved every single rural play... :P ....twas phun....

    about an hour ago · 
  • 

    Prachi Shrivastava Twas so much fun!!! :)

    40 minutes ago · 

A chat with the enemy - a short story

His big bulky eyes stared at me and his question lead me deep into the spiral of silence. The very fact that I existed bought out the worst in both of us and we knew that we were better off avoiding each  other.

But then one fine day the enemy walks up to me and offers me a cigar.

“Have it” he says “Its my birthday”

I look at him and few moments go by in complete silence.

Something seemed wrong in those big bulky eyes and that sly smile. (One which know it all have).

“No its not poisoned” he says.

But I still linger with the cigar in my hand.

I did not smoke. But today was not about what I did not do. Today was about what I can do.

“I quit smoking, 35 years ago”. I said and I felt it was a nice joke.

But he not feel so, no laugh not even a chuckle

But he was an enemy after all.

So many times I tried to not think about him. So many times I left the place he was with pleasure so I could avoid him. I felt anger every time I see him, but strangely I still respect him.

So Cigar it was. And I finally lit one.

How’s family ? I asked.

Family is good. Family is always good.

In my head (Yeah right how they must be bearing with you…)

How’s yours ?

Excellent Never been better.

I must say you turn out OK , old sport

You are doing Great Gatsby with me.

Get out of here

No you get out of here.

And then we did actually moved on. We are still enemies. But we did share a little moment of peace.

Insignificant

We the Insignificant

We the Unimportant

We the people whose time is not important


We the people whose words are to be ignored

We the embarrassment

We the threat

We the face of every thing wrong


We the backlash

We the glitter and publicity

Yet we the scrape-goats

We the Insignificant

We the Unimportant

We whose love is uncared.

We the people - common people

Die each Day

We the people- whose life is not important

Will Die - Each time, You call us Insignificant.