Thursday, March 22, 2012

The Sparrow

With reference to World Sparrow Day and the article http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3019583.ece I wanted to write about them also.

Coming from Bangalore, I could sense the reduction in the population of these birds. Also because we used to leave food for the birds everyday before we consume. I like the ritual not because of its orthodoxity but because it helps those cute little things. With the rise of fertilizers and even the greenery vanishing - no natural habitat and no food source. Not just for birds but also for cats n dogs.

I was depressed not to see Rajajinagar in the article. I wouldnt say it is the most commercialized area nor completely residential but still I just wanted sparrows in the vicinity.

I also remember gramps making those bird noises. He used to wake up at 4 30ish and make this lovely coffee. Once you indulge in the smell of coffee and taste of it, the whole world seems heavenly. And the sounds of these birds just adds to the orchestra.

Once during CAT coaching when we were wrecking our brains on a question, there came few sparrows. Patnaik Sir, who was coordinating the class stopped all of us, "In the day light of Bangalore and that too in an environment like this - even miracles can happen" 

The ponderous thought is - if an adaptable bird like sparrow is dying and vanishing, what would be the pollution levels. We have already started charging for clean water, next what fresh air? Just like a bottle of Qua - which would taste like water from a well - u pay a premium compared to a normal bisleri/aquafina.This leads to the question why do we go to an extent to complicate lives and pay an extra charge, develop technologies to overcome the effect.



Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money.  ~Cree Indian Proverb 


My question over and above this is - where does comfort and luxury fit into the scheme of things


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Change for the good - Small Deeds

As one of the recent ads talk abt http://www.facebook.com/sftimetochange talks about Time to change - If you change nothing - nothing will change. Whenever a topic of change comes, people talk abt government, politics, policies - what not? But how about you? How about small things? We can make a whole new change to this world by making small adjustments, small conscious decisions.
I would want to draw a similarity between what they call the "Spirit of Mumbai" and us the vaasis. Fast paced life, better incomes - life seems good? No interference from others. One can lead their own lives, be bothered about only themselves. Life is certainly good. What more do you want?

We have a tough life, ambitions - places to reach but its never about the destination but the journey. Do we stop to smell the flowers or to see the colours? Are we there for the people when they need us? I hate to be helpless and so would others.

There are lot of things that we can change and these are small things that would go a long way. I believe so.

How many of us smile at our neighbors or those whom we cross. You smile they might probably think you are mad. If it is a guy smiling at a girl, "oh! he is hitting on me, Cheapo!!!"

How many of us are tolerant on the road, do we stop or slow down for a old lady crossing the road. Or Help them to walk. Do we stop honking for a vehicle which didnt start when the traffic light turned green.

How many of us wave back at an innocent kid trying to get your attention.

Would we reduce the volume of our music or TV soap so that our old folks can take a nap?

It is always tough to bring the change about. You would not get response, but eventually we can turn everybody around. How is that going to help anyone? well we are going to eliminate all the foul mood. I believe i have a smile that can light up someone s day? DO YOU?

Once upon a time in my childhood

Among the hordes of guests we generally have over weekend, there was a kid of my age ( t -> 10 ; for mortals approx when i was 10) who knew about latest technology and gadgets. He was upto date with all that was available in market. Dad was pretty impressed and during out post guest visit gossip session, pa mentioned - "See that one advantage of staying in a city". I questioned him,"Then why arent we in one?"


He always used to take postings in rural or semi urban areas.

"Lets see about it tomorrow" was the reply.

Our sunday routine used to be have lot of Coffees and Teas - snacking through the cleaning the house ritual. Oil bath - Blaring music, TV. Post brunch and quick siesta, dad used to take us on a ride when the sun starts its downward journey.

Either play in the sand dunes - not the natural ones, the builders used to dump / store the sand that will be used for buildings in the near by towns. Or trek to conquer the near by hills. I always wanted to experience many things so that I can become like Dad one day - super smart, ultra cool and he just knows it all.

Staying in rural setting I did miss out on certain things, but personally gained a lot. It could be as simple as spending quality time with family. I knew almost everyone in the neighborhood. I knew my friend's cousin's classmate also. We had no space crunch to play. ( Not that i played a lot - I was a lazy bum ) There were fields growing all sort of grains and vegetables. Take bath in a canal or under a pump set. Check out a sugar factory or a rice mill.From the production to delivery of the food items there was not too many parties involved.

Take a cycle to school or walk. You would still be refreshed because of the greenery all around you. I still remember learning how to cycle hiring it for 2 rupees for an hour or so. Who asks for deposit. I was struggling to get a cycle for a day to use it to participate in cyclothon. ( Stupid spell check its not cyclotron :P )

We never needed parks or garden because every unused space has a tree or grass growing. Never needed AC, never needed to cover my nose to avoid pollution. I feel we used to cover more geography and still not get tired.

During Diwali, we used to hire a cook and get sweets and namkeen made in bulk. All ladies of the neighborhood used to sit in open and get variety of eatables made.

I remember Anu's brother getting his friends from college to build the first floor of the house. That is super cool. All that was needed extra was continuous supply of food, chai and snacks.

Those were the days and now I spend money on stupid movies just to spend my weekends. Go to restaurants to spend time with friends or sit in cafe for a get together.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Holi day and no Holiday

The message is pretty clear from the title - i didnt get a day off on holi - 8th March 2012. This is not a crib post from me. Small recap: 2010 holi - campus and we rocked it. basically no one was able to recognize who each one was. Evening met adu, megu, tussi - megu's bro and pritika. Fun reunion. Made max use of the day.
2011 - went to pune to meet baccha along with secy and golu. ossum time. we didnt explore the city but still place doesnt matter if we are with friends. made best use of the leave.

2012 - woke up at 12ish that too because of the DJ. Cant believe the older societies like our also had some fun element. Woke up - cleared the sleep in my eyes... i am not dreaming and its not my ppl snoring but its actually DJ, Rain dance, colours... Gulal :) Yay feel of holi.

Roomies were not enthu. Should i miss out on HOLI and regret it for an year. Hell No!!! jaise taise cribb marke i got captain, nupura and roomie to have crazy time. Good i got this to happen else i wouldnt have got a chance to take part in pehchan kaun contest. I am proud I came close. If it was Punit's teeth, it was my joker smile that gave away. Josh just looked shaded :P

After everything we come to office. Loaded with deliverables, I get calls from friends and long lost friends. Then overcoming the happiness of talking to everyone and reliving the past, the nostalgia - I can imagine how much of Concentration I had in my work. By the time I started work it was dinner time, Roomie wants to treat me for her bday that was a day earlier. It has been a while i spent time with this set of friends. Need to be fair to every friend of mine!

So much so.. Every festival it is imbibed in our culture to connect with family and friends. Do you really thing there would be productivity in offices. Then why make it compulsory or even optional to come to office. Rather make it a mandatory leave. The employees, I am sure, would be grateful and when they come back rejuvenated, the turn around would be much higher. I can say about me the amount I cribbed yesterday and the amount of work i delivered were inversely proportional in binary digits :P lol

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Travel Plan 2012

Well I have been thinking of a great post. well all posts come from dil se. Jab tak dil ki ghanti nahi baji tab tak dimaag tak signal process karna chalu nahi karega.

Something that has always brought the ever distracted - attention span disordered struck brain of mine back to point - Travel. I have been travelling more than my age. Well it is said that my mom travelled till the 8th month of her pregnancy. I am proud of this fact. Not just travelling to places but also trekking away to glory in Nepal. Thank god she didnt climb to Everest. 1. I would die of low level of oxygen - remember my kedarnath fiasco. 2.she will set too high a standard for me to achieve. 3. paidha hote hi they dipped into ganges, last thing i want is to go directly to kailash

This is a common thread that keeps my whole family together. All said and done, me and dad are just ditto in most aspects. Travel, Music and Family - three most important legs of our lives like a tripod. 3 legs are enough and 3 legs are important. Especially when we travel as a family, there is this time off our daily routine - quality interactions and there is background music. My white Zen PB Q 007, is really a bond. It just has 5 digit odometer and it has covered all its digits more than 5 times. And even my bro s first road trip 300 kms without stop and he was not even 19 ( WTH :( ) I am happy he also shared my passion to travel in the ever contrasting beings we are.

This year I have a real aggressive travel plan - last year also i did but few had to be spilled over to this year due to unexpected happenings like THE CLUB - and meeting my bisons. So let me cover the spill overs first that needs to be squeezed into the unrealistic travel plans I have for 2012.

Spill Over:

* Lakshadweep - Andaman - Cruise
* Rafting
* Turtle hatching ( which I have already missed so would go to 2013 list)
* Ganpatiphule
* Harihareshwar
* Mahabaleshwar
* Lonar
* Pondy

Travel plan 2012:

* Kick off with the National Parks of India - mostly a 3 year plan
* Kerala backwaters
* Probably explore Pune 's nook and corners
* Ladakh "With Dad" i have kept this in quote because this was a promise and I dont want it to happen any other way.
* Kolkotta - would love a plastic surgery before I go


Spiritual:

* Complete 12 Jyothirling ( dont gape very few left - Can be easily struck off my list )
* Puri - That would complete my 4 Dham
* Not must but try to cover 4 of the shakti peet
* arupadai veedu
* Batu caves or Kataragama temple - mostly 2013
* Kollur Mooganbika, shringeri etc in and around Mangalore
* Manasarovar  / Amarnath
* Shani Signapur, Kohlapur, Nanded

Now that I am putting what was in my head into writing, I am scared to commit more than this. Well there are few more I have in mind. Also this seems more skewed towards temples but these are the ones i can easily accomplish.

Lets see how much I can make this happen. Hope boss gets a sneak peak into this :) Which boss??? ;) Talking about boss - all these seem feasible with this job but in case i have to change ( reason may be any - it would make this whole plan null and void )

Seems like small plan for usage of the word "Extensive" but in between the homesick puppy has to go home and also the social commitment of others marriages and n number of obligations that is shoved on me.