IDIOT ME!

Yeah I've seen this superbly made satire and absolutely loved it. Sure it gives the message that's been given loud n clear previously, but it really made me ponder about myself and in the end I found a lil bit of every character in me. Yup, I write this post to confess that I now clearly see all the idiots in me, and more! The message was clear in the book, and beautifully portrayed in the movie, 'Follow Your Heart'. But it posed a real uncomfortable question to me. All the frustration in life could very simply be traced back to an effort aimed at confirming to 'inspirations', if I may call them so, from outside and not from within. Yes this is where the itch starts. Many would blame parents for creating pressure, I feel this attitude is akin to blaming politicians for all the flaws of our society, rather than first looking at ourselves. If RDB taught us that we are to be blamed for our society to be screwed up, 3 Idiots was even simpler. It extends the same philosophy to our own lives. So I'm the one to be blamed for my life, if for nothing else, at least for those occasions in my life when I didn't well, 'follow my heart'. From hear popped up the real disturbing question. I say, But've always followed my heart. So where's the gap? The discomforting answer to this one, was something many won't accept. Well, I'm not sure what my heart wants, So how the F do I follow my heart??






Yes, as much as I would hate to appear to be a clueless balding young guy, it's a high to wake up to this reality. And I owe it to this movie to have made me realise this. But all is not bad. In fact the best thing I take away from this phenomenal flick and this equally phenomenal realisation is that, if I sill don't know what I want from my life or what my heart wants, then I haven't really made the most horrendous mistakes of my life yet! And I haven't committed myself to something that I simply, don't like or am not good at. So if you are as clueless about what your heart wants, that means one good thing, 'arre chachoo ALL IS WELL!!'

GOOD RIDDANCE

Swear to god there's no better stress buster than music.

O YEAH BABY! WROTE DOWN CHORDS FOR THE SONG I WROTE MONTHS AGO

Wrote this song 7 long months ago. Now I guess I've got the chords right. Greatto!! Ma 1st OWN COMP!!

STONER SONGS!

E
Stoner songs!
G
In my mob!
C
Screamin out!
F D A
Lets get high!

E
Stoner songs!
G
In my mob!
C
Screamin out!
F-----D---A
Lets get high!

C----Am---C--Am-C---Am--D
Come to the horizon and go beyond
-C-Am---C----AmC-----Am-----------D
It happens when u -see all -that you never saw
---C---Am------C---Am---D---E---E
So lets get there, drift away n sing wid me..

E
Stoner songs!
G
In my mob!
C
Screamin out!
F---D-- A
Lets get high!



E
Stoner songs!
G
In my mob!
C
Screamin out!
F---D--A
Lets get high!

C---Am--C--Am---C---AmD
Like atom like is the vast uni-verse
-----------C---Am--CAm------C-Am-----------D
Look at the dark world above you to know who you are
C----Am-------C----Am-------D----E---E
duh.. raa raa.. duh.. raa raa.. duh.. raa raaaa..

E
Stoner songs!
G
In my mob!
C
Screamin out!
F---D--A
Lets get haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa....

I guess the Es at the end of the 2 stanzas going into the chorus need some visiting by me n all my mentors. Googlevana! Saurav! helpout guys!

Disclaimer: I was on nothing but some yummy pasta n a heavenlycup of hazlenut capuccino when I got this brainwave.

"BUT WE'RE ALL GAY!!"

Recently I read this article in DT about whether Delhi pubs letting only couples in was 'Anti-Gay'? This reminds me of one hell of an anecdote from my first year at college. Couple of our seniors wanted to paardy.. N as the plan went around everyone hopped in and by 8 in the evening it was 13 guys game for a guys binge out. Mr Bacchan 'shaved off' to make that smooth impression on the pubbing crowd. Everyone put on their cool t's and sneakers.. N all jumped into the cab.

Yeah cab.. Its actually a mini-van.. the size of a big ambulance that we're used to calling RTVs or 'Hari Bhari' here in Delhi. Those were the times when we had made it a habit to invade the porches of big five stars in these rickety vehicles, creating a gaudy contrast with the Mercs, Audis and the Porsches in the background, much to the horror of the doormen and the front office staff.

But that never bothered us one bit. What was to happen that night was rather humiliating.. and super fun in the hind side(No.. stop thinking too much and read on). Thanks to my previous time we went out.. with Sachin Ball n Daadi, Bikes n Barells was the first choice.. If only we could get in. When we asked the cabby to drive us to Residency Towers he frowned.. saying we were wasting out money and that we would enjoy Saravana Bhavan(referred to as SB henceforth) much more. When we laughed off at this suggestion, little did we know that he'll be laughing at us all night long after what was gonna follow. We reached Bikes in out characteristic style.. our driver sane enough to notice the frowns of the valet guys. Me, Sachin and dear friends Shashi and Robbin happily entered and started ordering as well without realizing that smooth Mr. Bacchan, Shiv along with Jeenie had fell into their own trap. Shaving made them look too young, and the doorman insisted on IDs. As much as we act like who gives a damn.. ;) In the end its One for all and all for one you know.. So out we went, the driver must've thought, and rightly so.. the boys've been thrown out. Only, we were in no mood to listen to him n go to SB. So we said next stop.. Speed! a few more Kms down Annaa Salai. We had great plans, of groups of guys who look old enough going in with each of those who were stopped at Bikes. But another form of sexual discrimination awaited us at Speed. And those were the days when Junkyard Groove lead vocalist Ameet used to be on the staff at speed. Shashi bhai n co walking a little ahead of us were stopped.. The dooreman telling them with an attempted sweet smile.. "Saturday sir, we have entry only for couples." And to that the post modern thinker in Shashi had a brilliant snappy spark of a response. "But we're all Gay!!" He declared, looking back at this scattered gang of 13. They say that everyone at the entrance, was rolling over laughing. As far as me and a few others were concerned, we turned back almost instantly and rushed into to the cab like models who've just had a wardrobe malfunction rushing into the wings, red faced inside, but tryin to be cool n confident outside. Well, these days one would say its just something we could simply laugh off. But that's now.. n that was then. Again shamelessly smiling at the driver.. SB seriously looking like a real possibility now. Our last resort was.. StarRock. and after a little quarreling we managed to get it. And the rest as they say, is history.

Couldn't help but remember this night when I read this article in DT. Now I know there'll be many a friend of mine wanting to beat me up for writing this. ;)

SUSTAINABLE INEQUALITY: WHAT SAY DEAR MR. SAINATH?

I hate The Hindu! I mean, the news paper. And my friends very well know it. But today I was filled with admiration for one of their great collumnists., P Sainath. Yes, I'm getting extremely impulsive these day's. That's exactly why I'm writing this post post when I really should be practicing on my brand new six strings. And perhapse that's exactly why I got so charged up with the interview of P Sainath on NDTV that while logging into blogger I started typing psainath instead of my id. After a long time some one could actually sensitize me about the glaring inequality in our society today. You can find out more about this great dude on these links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._Sainath

http://www.indiatogether.org/opinions/psainath/

To tell you the truth I wasn't sensitized about inequalities and as I do believe that, inequality is at the core of our society, or any society for that matter. In fact, this once I was so dam pissed at the disastrous interpretations of equality made by most politicians, so enraged by societies inherent way of painting everyone in the same color, that I wanted to get a tattoo at the back of my neck that read, "I!=U". So, I love the inequalities in a society. They are the driver of the society. It is this gradient that makes society flow like the Ganges, metamorphosize(if there's verb like that) and not stagnate like a dead lake. But hearing from the ediot box what Mr Sainath had to say, brought an amazing thought to my mind.. I went euraka! This inequality that I romantisize, as beautiful as it well and truly is, needs to be within limits, for the sake of its own sustainability. That's when I asked myself, am I the first one to coin the term, "Sustainable Inequality"??

Now what on earth is that? I feel its best to explain with an example. I feel destiny is nothing but some mathematics.(Dunno where did that come from) Look, I feel, and we all know, that right now, and for a very long time in our history, at the receiving end of this great inequality has been our good ol' farmer. This cycle is about to change, or shall say the plunging happiness quotient of the farmer is close to getting bottomed out. Right now the world is looking at a very real scare of going without food. Focus in the next few decades will gradually shift to farms, and food production. the equation or rather the 'inequation', is going to change. There are two ways this'll happen. Either we get some sense into our heads, and bring some real focus to the farm sector, or we be the happy go lucky type society.. waiting for the farmer to catch his sickle, leave the harvest and come after us slick urbane types. The former, is what I call 'sustainable inequality'. All it says is, don't strech inequalities to a level where, simply put, it just snaps. I feel, in a broad sense, the society is also a corporation, that to a monopoly. You need to give the remuneration one deserves, cos attrition from the corporation called 'society', leads to birth of the gangsta, the rioter, the terrorist. One way or another the inequity will prevail.

I wish Mr. Sainath would actually come across this post and have the time to comment on this.

EVERY BEAUTIFUL GIRL DESERVES AN EYE
That's what i learn't when i screwed up the tuning of my guitar. Yes! I finally bought myself a guitar! And i post this pic of mine, thanks to my buddy Google's advice. Now he says posting pics of me playin the guitar'll be an incentive for me to make sure i learn it and not just keep it like a trophy in my room. And yes, i do plan to join Noida School of Rock next week. Its funny actually how, Gokul(google) n i, both had guitarist roommates through college, guitars, amps n stuff all over my room, which doubled up as a jampad, n we never learn't to play. Perhapse attracted to more creative stuff ;). But now, with life between work and home proving to be a drag, i had to find a way to let my impulses out. How i wish i had learn't to play back at college. But no worries, i'll most probably be back to school next week. NSR seems to be the best in Noida. N where did i buy my guitar from? The best n perhapse the only watering hole for music around Noida, Onstage. What a mind blowing collection of guitars! I leave you a few pics of 'em..

ROUND ABOUT DELHI!

Its a boring drag, office to home, home to office 360 minutes a day go away traveling. The good part? If your in the mood you can really appreciate the well groomed Lutyens' Delhi. And especially its roundabouts, which are plush and flowery in spring. Here are some pics I took.



Akbar Road-Man Singh Road



Akbar Road



Akbar Road



Teen Murti Marg - Akbar Road



Teen Murti Bhavan



Kautilya Marg - Teen Murti Marg



Sardar Patel Marg

There are much better picture of this part of Delhi all over the web. Do check 'em out.

PERPETUAL UNIVERSE: SWEET CHILD O' MINE

Bewildered by crazy concerns about the earth eating black hole I thought does the universe actually end? Certainly it does if it has a beginning. The point is.. how sure are we of a beginning? Retracing the expanding universe to a tiny unity is one thing, but looking beyond this extrapolated time line i feel a perpetual machine is a logical possibility. A universe where the cycles of expansion and collapse are more or less sinusoidal.

The very thought of a perpetual universe amazingly reminds me of something I thought of when I was a toddler. As a lil kid who didn't quite know of something called death, I very conveniently explained immortality to myself. I used to be up to all mischievous things and when stopped by my parents i would yell back that when I grow up.. all of you will become little and then, I'll boss over you!!

As illogical as it may sound, I feel that's the most natural conclusion for anything perpetual. Conceiving the notion of a perpetual universe, i feel would indeed throw a very different light on.. everything (and would certainly prove Einstein's wronged theory right!). Hypothetical as it sounds now, an unending universe for me is a signal that existence can indeed be sustainable. That all beautiful things are not doomed. That life in fact can be immortal!

Come to think of it, immortality of humans or that of life in general, is neither illogical nor immoral. If mass and energy together can be indestructible so can life. Again just like them life'll have to change forms. Yes the world as we know it will come to an end. It happens everyday to many people.. but life goes on. A belief in this perpetuity might give a new more moral question to humanity in general and to astrophysics in particular. The question of what we want the universe to be rather than what Universe has in store for us..

By the way the CERN experiment is not about a perpetual universe, and certainly not about immortality. Its just gonna checkout the conditions immediately after big bang.. (if at all there was a bang)

GREATEST T20 FOR A LONG LONG TIME TO COME!!

Couldn't have asked for a better Indo-Pak T20 encounter for the very 1st time! What a spectacular cliffhanger to be tied in the end. I believe that the committed fielding display with which our two subcontinental teams are not usually associated with.. was proof of how an Indo-Pak tie brings out the best in both of our teams.

And again, there couldn't have been a better icing on the cake for such a ferociously contested match- bowlouts. Its heartening to see that India actually prepared for this specific tie breaker contest, and came out with a surprise list of bowlout specialists. Its a great feeling to be wittness to such historic matches isn't it...

TCS ROCKS!
Yo Baby! Made it to TCS 1st up in the recruitment season.. Now the rest of year the promises to be a breeze through.

MERZHIN AND JUNKYARD MADE MY DAY!!

They said Sarang wasn't as good as always. But Junkyard Groove, Merzhin n my college buddies made my day. Hugely talented Junkyard Groove were simply awesome. But somethimg that I won't ever forget was the performence by Merzhin. Bringing there pipes and fluits on gave it a truly europian feel, while keeping the music essentially rock. In fact one feels like tap dancing during some of the fluite n pipe solos... I feel thats exactly how rock from various parts of the world needs to be like.

BATUK CAVES- MY VIEW OF WHAT THE DISCOVERERS WOULD'VE THOUGHT

Ha.. back from my trip of Malayasia and Singapore, this is gonna be the season of travellogs. Batuk caves took me as close as you can get to pure enjoyment. HUGE cave- as huge as two football grounds, as high as two huge theaters. It's simply enthralling, making your way uptill the cave with the huge and densely vegetated peaks hanging above you. The discoverers of the place made it a holy shrine of Lord Shiva. I believe they did so looking at the spectacular long leaf shaped openings in the roof of the cave tha resembled the three eyes of Lordshiva.

GO ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON THE RAILS... WOW!!

Its been a long time since i posted something... So this time its gonna be real long. And why won't it be... after all this post is about my journey across these beautiful landscapes of India, from Delhi to Chennai on board Indian Railways Tamil Nadu Express(don't remember the train no.). Ironically I'm writing this on board Air Sahara Flight# S2 314 Delhi to Chennai. After asking the air hostess for a pen and something to scribble on.

I must tell you, if you've got the time, the Indian Railways is a far better way (if not the best) to traverse accross the length of India than any airliner... I never used roadways on this route though.

The journey starts at the New Delhi Railway Station. I get into the coach and lockup the luggage, securing it with chains. Others look on with amusement, for many consider AC coaches 'safe'. Well, I like to play safe in some cases.

Cut the crap, cut to the 'oh so awesome journey'. I slept early that night after boarding the train, while the express ran past Agra and Gwalior. I woke up in between for a few seconds, just enough to register that the board on the platform read Jhansi.

I love gazing at the countryside. It is always advisable to rise and set with the sun on such a journey. Well, at least rise. So I rise at Lalitpur when the subtle rays from the big huge sun are still quite lateral. The station signals the end of Uttar Pradesh and the beginning of Madhya Pradesh. Lalitpur is a small countryside village which has quite sometimes, when I passed it, offered me an awesome sunrise over the partly cultivated lands. I woke up in time to catch a few glimpses of the beautiful Chambal Valley. On the sidelines of the railway I see rough hilly terrain punctuated with small bits of plain land or steps on a hill which are invariably cultivated. As we draw nearer to Bhopal I see more and more of plains, so more of the fields. We guys from the city need to take a look at the country side of our country to get some idea of how many people in the country rely on agriculture as for a living. Gosh... I know we are 1 billion but still, do we eat so much? Or rather, can we have so much?.... Whatever be the exports.

Bhopal 11 o'clock, we are way behind schedule. I had a breakfast of toasted bread and omlet which I had booked with the pantry guy the previous night. As the train approaches Bhopal there is a view that I hardly miss. The train doesn't stop at Sanchi, but a couple of minutes before the train runs past the Sanchi station, one can have an awesome view of the famous Sanchi Stupa. Given what one sees from the train, I can only imagine how captivating it would be visit it.

A couple of hours before leaving Bhopal, the train travels through some real rough terrains. It then draws closer to the ghats. The train stops at a small station called Chichonda. A station which no normal person from some city or town would remember, even after travelling this route several times. And that is exactly why everyone starts cursing the driver, the crew, and the admininstration for making an 'express train' stop at such insignificant stations. Well few realise that the train stops here to have an additional engine attached at the rear to help the train cruise through the ghats. And you to see the ghats for their beauty. The jungles in this region are awesome and considerably green even in the autumn, as trees here shed leaves at different times of the year. However, no tree sheds a leaf during the monsoons. And one simply has to see the beauty of the ghats in this season. The best forest sites I can recall are in these ghats in the monsoons. The whole forest appears doubly thick and just about everything you see on the land is green.

Those scenes make me go poetic like no other time.. I feel one could think, "have the peaks risen in hight overjoyed with the astonishingly thick forest cover around" or, "has the sky lowered down, dying to kiss the irresistably beautifull landscape"... seeing the green peaks appear covered in low altitude clouds. Excuse me cos this is'nt what I saw in this trip but couldn't resist recalling what I saw during one of my trips down this route during the monsoons.

There are two sets of ghats in southern madhya pradesh. 1st come the Vindhyas and further down south come the Satpuras, the two being seperated by Narmada. The train comes out on the Vindhyas into the Narmada valley stopping at Dharakhoh to get rid of the engine at the rear engine. You know what the frustrated passengers gotta say about it. After a few kilometers of flood plains the train goes honking over the long bridge over the huge river bed of the mighty Narmada the river is huge and during the monsoons the water level comes up towards the bridge. As of now its a narrow band of water announcing the perinialit of the river. After we cross the Narmada we cross another station - Hoshangabad- to reach an important junction Itarasi, preceded by the Hanuman temple built by the Madhya rail workes' union. Before we we enter the station I see 2 pairs of old and keen eyes who are it appears inspecting the weels, breaks, shocks, and other mechanics under each coach. I grab an Aloo-Poori at the stations which is popular for its platform food, before the train heads out of the Narmada valley into the Satpura range. These ghats are equally enthralling but have many tunnels to offer. First steep high trenches made by dynamite tease you as though there is a tunnel ahead and then collapses to give way to rocky hill slopes. The tunnels entrances reveal the chronology of the the humugous task of laying 2 lanes of rail tracks on this huge route spanning accross the subcontinent. As we enter the steep ghats the two tracks running tracks runnin side by side till now fork out. One of the tracks goes along the hill slopes and enters tunnels all of which along that track are dated - 1912. Yup built some 6 years less than a century ago. Going on these tracks i see the parellel track going into an exciting series of tunnels and via-ducts -inter-hill bridges (as the railways call them). Ive enjoyed the route on the other track as aell and its dam exciting. Just imagine- go through a tunnel and dr you are flying between the two hills. You barely hit the next hill slope and in you go down another tunnel. This repeats untill you've ran through some 3 hills. The tunnels of this route have the year 1966 written at their entrance, anouncing the year untill which a solitary track ran through this captivating wilderness. if you'r luck the train will stop somewhere among these beautifull woods. Not that i've snapped lions n tigers over here but even watching monkeys could be a delight, in the wild - rather than an top of your apartmant complex. After we're through with this roller-coaster in the ghats we're through the steepest of the terrain. It smoothensout slowly as slopes give way to orange tree plantations. they'r huge ond produce the famous Nagpur oranges. Among this 'orange county' we cross the station of Pandurna. You can see the the 'Santra Mandi' accross the station. Pandurna signals the end of Madhya Pradesh and the beginning of Maharashtra. An hour of orange fieldswith sies of a few hills at the horizon before I see the western coal fields... we'r at Nagpur. I grab some snacks at the commisem, (don't precisely know how's the IRTCT's restuarant spelt). Its been a morathon blog this one... so the journey from Nagpur on would be another eventfull story... another exciting write up...