still around...

still around, with the sincerest intention to update my blog and the littlest intention of doing so. in the meantime, a new look for the blog is always welcome

A Quick Note...

To anyone visiting this page, check out the music of Shor In The City....wonderful music. I have been listening to Saibo in rotation for an hour now, and that hasn't happened in a long time.

Added later:


Contrary to reports of blogs dying, if my blog stats are true, they are only reviving. The visits to my blog have never been this high!! It seems that bloggers are only staging a fightback, proving to world that blogging is not dead.

You're so 2000 late...

So I reconnected with a very old friend of mine, a chaddi-buddy, whom I haven't met or talked to in years. Such are the pleasures of Facebooking, your past catches up on you.
But thats not he point I am making here. We got talking and to my query about how he is, he replies' 'cool'! To put that line into context, let me tell you that the said friend is a small town guy, who was not conversant in English till the year 2005, when I last met him. Come 2011, and he is all 'cool-ed' up!! In fact, he also caption most of his photos as cool, which brings me to the conclusion that cool is the most uncool word now, from being uber hip, the word is now downgraded to ghati status. Everybody and their grandfather are using that word now.
So, to all the young people out there, stop saying you are cool, your fathers are probably cooler than you when they use that word. You need to come up with another word.

One For The Road(ies)....

Roadies is back!! And how!!!

I am not much of a reality show person - I like my fantasy, the more fantastic the better. Hence my preference for sci-fi and superhero cartoons.

But Roadies is a different beast. Every since I saw it from season 5, I was hooked. This is one show that has managed to be interesting throughout its run. The concept of the show is quite simple - a bunch of youngsters leave on thir bikes, with tasks thrown in. But what makes it interesting is the presence of Raghu.

Raghu is one host that knows how to make the show interesting. He has taken the shows linear format and turned it over its head, Every episode has an interesting twist - I wont call it unexpected, because we actually wait for the unexpect twist.

The past two years, Roadies was losing its unexpectedness. Gone were the youngsters looking for an adventure. In their place, there was this tribe of Roadies, people who have seen every episode, and come with their guards up, impenetrable. Roadies 6 was watchable, mainly because of Kiri, who was a treat to watch, his passion for Roadies visible to everyone. As for Roadies 7, I have trouble remembering even one memorable person from that bunch.

But now, with season 8, Raghu and team have managed to do the impossible. They have somehow managed to bring the unexpected back into the show. Quite frankly, this year's contestants are not better than the previous years, each playing their cards too close, their guards always up. But Raghu, Rajiv and Rannvijay have been able to get some interesting characters for the show. From the over confident Avtar to the totally obscure Suraj, this group has every personality type.

To be sure, this season has managed to come up with a few surprises. Firstly it was the first Roadie to be voted out, Rahul, who turned out to be quite urbane, as opposed to his village boy persona on teh show. Then there was the secret pact between Avtaar and Dev,which took everyone. When these two got voted out, Renee, with her women-versus-men plotting got our attention. These tricks have managed to get the viewers attention, rather than the tasks and the vote outs themselves.

The previous two shows were quite bloated, meaning, the tasks were too high concept to be entertaining, case in point being the season 7 finale. They actually built a replica of an auditorium for that and had the contestants running around like gladiators. Thankfully in season 8, they have shed all the excess baggage. Its back a bunch of youngsters on bikes, with a takla testing them.

In future episodes, expect to see boxer Vijendra Singh, ex contestants Ashutosh Kaushik, Nihal, Tammanna, Polomi and a naked Suchit.

With the unexpected back in Roadies, I am looking forward to an entertaining season.

Another Kranti...

A nice piece by B Raman on the recent fasting till death by Anna Hazare. I totally agree with what he has to say about the fast. the fact that the government has capitulated to the demands of Anna Hazare is down more to the youth power than to the man himself. Of late, the youth participation in social issues has been very encouraging - the caandle light vigils at India Gate for Jessica, the protests in DU for the broad daylight murder of a girl being two of them. The reason police acted swiftly in the second case was clearly because of the youth power. The politicians realize that the youth today, for all their couldn't-care-attitude, are socially aware. It takes a brazen criminal act  to get them to worked up about an issue. Mr Raman rightly points out that the recent success of the agitation has been thanks to the youth rather than because of them.

That said, I do have a point to say, namely the youth, for all their social awareness, are quite fickle minded as youth down the ages has been. The agitation is as much about social awareness for them, as it is about being in the right crowd. Indian history is replete with youth movements that have not amounted to much, the Mandal agitation, being a prime example. This agitation against corruption will be a success if the youth emerge more dedicated to root out corruption.

An asking point among the youth should be about the Lokpal Bill, which is what Anna Hazare has been demanding the implementation of. Do the youngsters taking part in the morchas know what the bill is, and what are its implications? The bill itself lays the onus of removing corruption on the civil society, since the general public can initiate corruption charges against government officers. To do so, the civil society must be aware of the laws to defend it, but we as a society with seniors included may rant against widespread corruption, but at the end of the day, we will settle for a little jugaad.

We Are The Champions!!!

Congratulations India, you did it!!!

It was a thrilling end to an exciting match. Personally, I don't follow cricket, but this being the world cup, it was hard to stay away.

Throughout the series, India played consistently, putting up a score and then chasing it. Thought we faltered against England (tie) and South Africa (lost), we finally pull our strings together for a thrilling India-Pakistan semi-final, and the India-Sri Lanka final.

With the world cup coming to India after 28 years, I am proud to say that I was there both the times.

Jiyo India!!!

To Blog or Not To Blog?...

Still here, still wanting to post, but seems to have become reticent. Maybe just got a little too scared when I noticed that my blog resembled a personal diary, except that it was not personal. To be honest, I have come to the conclusion that to be a good blogger one has to learn to be impersonal. A blog, from a writers perspective, is a very personal thing. a bloggers uses a secret username and password to enter his or her private domain, expresses himself before a screen....its when the Publish Post button has been clicked, that the entire exercise becomes impersonal. A panic sets in...did I reveal too much, was I too evasive?
That said, blogging can be addictive as well. Its your own personal space to pontificate on all matters mundane..the occassional anonymous comments emboldens the blogger.
These past weeks when I havent been posting anything, I have still be thinking about the ideal thing to post...guess the blogger in my refuses to die!!
Si I guess, I will be around, but not sporadic. A little more blogging is what the doctor would recommend for me..

2011...

Heres wishing the regular visitors to this blog (hello Googlebot) as well as the random visitors a Very Happy and Prospersous 2011....

...a word of caution though...2012 is very close now, so go live all your unfulfilled dreams, kyunki kal ho na ho...

A Trip to remember

Its been a long time since I posted anything, but I did mean to, every single day. Which goes to show that my intentions were good....not that it matters when your blog is left unattended for months....
In the time I was silent, a lot has happened. I got married, lost my bachelorhood, woke up to the joys of matrimony, and if the advise of my married friends holds true, should start pining for bachelorhood any day now....
But even this life changing event elicited just a small post from me....chiththi ke badle bheja taar. I had been meaning to post more about how my post marriage life has changed, but was too busy living it, to actually comment on it. But now, from a safe distance of four months, I can confidently say that getting married was the best thing that has happened to me in recent times. (yes, sweetheart, I know you are reading it, but I really meant it!).
But what prompted me to start blogging again, was a trip that I took recently with my sweety to Landsdowne, a quite cantonment town in Uttarakhand, with the most beautiful of weather to accompany. After the chaotic living in Delhi, the change in pace of the hillstation was very welcome. As hill stations go, there is not much to do in Landsdowne except trekking, which is always, but in good company, it is the place to be. Its a great stress buster and brings one really close to nature.

The words of a prophet....

Been absent for a long time, but was propelled when I read this on another blog:

You should start a blog so we can all not read it


....the words of a prophet are written in a blog post...

Announcement...

Hi everyone (hello googlebot :-)), its been a long time since I posted anything here. I would like to announce to the world that I am getting married on June 23rd. The girl I am marrying is called Rupali, and she is from Mumbai. We hope and pray that we have a long and understanding relationship.
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Updates...

About a week after my janeu, I am happy to announce to the world that I am now engaged!! The ceremony took place on 29th May, and I am not engaged to be married next month. Among my friends, I am the last one to be married, and I have been inundated with suggestion for a successful marriage. I have so many suggestion and tips now, that I might become a successful marriage counsellor!! Heres me looking forward to a new innings in my life

An Afterthought

The janeu ceremony finally makes me a twice born.....so does that mean I am a Born Again Hindu?

Born Again...

Hi world (hi googlebot :-)), I have not been successful in my pratigya of one post daily....lots to say, but when it comes to penning it down, a really nice excuse comes up (my perennial fav is my writer's block, which I am beginng tosuspect, is really a case of laziness to write).
But a major event occured, which I must be share. I was born to a Brahmin household, but am not a Brahmin - at least I wans't, till now. Today I have my Janeu ceremony, and so, am a certified bona fide Brahmin...Yay!!!
Personally, I am not the religious kind. I don't pray, I don't rarely visit temples, and the only reason I don't eat non-veg on tuesdays is because I told my mommy dearest that I would not do so. But even then, I have realised that I am quite the traditionalist. I value my tradition, where I am coming from, and all the values that these traditions mean. It is for this reason that I value my Janeu thread and what it stands for. It does come with riders though, I cannot listen to songs, except bhakti songs (a rule already broken as I am writing this post while listening to songs on the comp), should not look at sunrise and sunset (I work in a call center, dude!!), must not curse (ohfercryinout.....OH FU.....Crap!!! this will be difficult), must not look at a bald woman (I think I might be able to do that) or a woman who has cut her hair (hmmm, better start practicing walking with my eyes shut).
The ideal age for a janeu is 7 years old, and I can see why. Cross the age of 13, and each of these rules becomes difficult to follow.
The ceremony itself was a short one, and was over in one hour. I was able to understand most of what happened, right from the invocation of the gods till the time I ask for the bhiksha. Post ceremony, I didn't feel any different, but I realise there must be more to this...

Stand By Me...

This is a shout to someone...you know who you are. Here goes:

Laut Ke Budhdhu....

I have been jobless for nearly four day now, but I am not worrying, the reason being the kind of industry that I am in. In the last four days, I have secured a job, applied for another, and rejected the first, and promptly accepted the other.
That there is why I like this industry!!! There's never any shortage of jobs, never mind the fact that its usually bottom rung jobs, but at least they pay adequately!!
Given how boring and monotonous my life had become, I really needed the break. Now that I have had my rest, I am dreading the return to calling.
The one bright spot to my bekaari was that I discovered The Beach Boys. To lift up a mood, you can't get any better (with the exception of dil daance maare).

Bekaari aur khushi....

Day one of joblessness, and I am feeling relaxed, actually!!! Not today, the dread of getting ready for office....YIPPEEEE!!
Another reason for the upbeat mood is my discovery of the Beach Boys' music. Their music is so upbeat, about the surf, sand, cars...vintage California stuff. But listen carefully, and you notice the complex song constructions, contrasted with the simple lyrics.
People, if you are feeling down, listen to the Beach Boys.
Like they would say...Catch a wave, you'll be sitting on top of the world

Redundant...

Yesterday was a day like any. I went to office and logged in, expecting calls. Only, the call flow was extremely slow. In fact, I have taken just three calls when the calls stopped coming. Everyone just went their own ways without informing their team leaders that they were taking a break. We were having such a call flow for the past few day. There was a strong rumor that the process was winding up.
As days go, this was just the begining. From then, it was all downhill. We learnt that our best performers were being shifted to another process, that out CEO had quit, there was another strong rumor that even our manager had quit. Our fears were confirmed when it was announced that the process was in fact, winding up.
But in IPS (sorry, IQR) , these things are expected. One thing I have learnt about its history is that it survives on a prayer. I was there during the world financial crisis, when we were very sure that it would wind up day. We would show up for work, and be informed that the company was closing down. But that did not make us want to search for a new job.
Eventually, the company did weather that storm and came out stronger.
Until now.
It was deja vu all over again, when these event started happening all over again. Things do round, but in this case, there are very small circles indeed!!
Finally, one hour before i was to log off, the final bomb was dropped. My TL informed me that I, along with some more people, would have to quit. No reasons given, but that was it clear why. Even the last time, there was a massive attrition and people were asked to quit.
It is not the fact that I have been asked to quit, but the manner that it has been done that irks me. As a company, it has to learn how to bid farewell. Just telling your employees that their services are no longer needed, and asking them not to come from the next day onwards is not done at all.
Nearly two years of memorable working, and it had to end like this...

More Wake Up Sid Goodies

I feel I am getting obsessed by the film. I was all prepared to hate the movie when I entered the movie hall, but the freshness of the movie won me over. Don't get me wrong, the movie is still formulaic in its execution, but there is a certain freshness in it, certain energy that I found exciting. Twenty years from now, after a generation, people will be fondly remember this film. If 3 Idiots is the Sholay of this generation, then Wake Up Sid is the Deewar, a big hit, but also iconic in its content.

Moving on, I found some more nuggets of information about the song Iktara from this site. The song was first composed by Amitabh Bhattachary for Sid and composed by Amit Trivedi. People liked it, and it was to be included in the film as well as in hte CD, but Javed Akhtar put his foot down. He did not want to share the lyrics credits with anyone else. So, he was asked to compose the female version, which was included in the CD, but the male version was excluded.  Read the story here.

I am begining to like Amit Trevedi even more now. First Aamir, then Dev D, and not iktara, this man does have a distinct sound, which is more rustic and more Indian than the other composers. Will be looking out for his further compositions.

Meri Pratigya

I started re-blogging (did I just invent a term?) to shake off my writer's block which had crippled me for a long time. Just one post a day, without fail, and you'll get back into the groove, I told myself.

I seemed to be working fine for sometime. I started taking interest in things around me, to  be open for things and experiences that I could later turn into blog posts. And I started to work my brain to string together a decent sentence.

Till the time I went into hibernation. For various reasons, I have always managed to justify my non-blogging (hey, another world!!)  to an unrelated incident.

My current excuse for not blogging was the absence of a computer. Whatever blogging I did was on weekends, at my parent's place. But now, with my computer repaired, I should pick up Operation Lekhak Khand Hatao.  So there, I have said it. As I have exhausted a very good excuse for not blogging, I should endeavour to get back to my one-post-a-day-no-matter-how-innane-it-is प्रतिज्ञ

Moving on....

• I did not invent re-blogging and non-blogging. a simple google search shows that they are often used.

• Blogger, the baap of blogging does not recognize the word blog!!! Go ahead, try it!!