Whenever a noble deed is wrought,
Whenever spoken a noble thought,
Our hearts in glad surprise,
To higher levels rise,
The tidal wave of deeper souls,
Into our inmost being rolls,
And lifts us unawares,
Out of all meaner cares!
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Onam
There is only one festival in Kerala which is celebrated with great ceremony and gaiety....ONAM...
Onam is the one of the most beautiful and meaningful festival in the World. It is traditionally a harvest festival but there is a legend attached to it.
Legend has it that there was once a king called Mahabali. He was extremely powerful, a conquerer yet a kind and good king and a man of principles. He was performing the sacrificial rite of Viswajith at the banks of Narmada River, and declared that he would give anything that anyone sought from him during this Yagna. At this the gods were very annoyed. Bali was the ruler of all the three worlds having defeated the devas.
The gods approached Vishnu and asked for his help to dethrone Mahabali. Vishnu, incarnated in the form of Vamana, a dwarf to defeat the Daityas. As he was approaching them, the sages assembled there perceived the extraordinary effulgence form of the young lad. On being received as befitted a brahmin, Vamana smiled and said: "You need not give me anything great. It is enough if you give me that extend of land covered by three footsteps of mine".
Bali's preceptor, Shukracharya a Daitya priest, who could have vision of the future told Bali that the one, who had come to seek a gift from Bali was not an ordinary Brahmin but Lord Narayana Himself who had assumed this form. He advised Bali not to promise the lad anything. But Bali was a king who would never go back on his word and told his Guru that he would never break his promise. Bali told his Guru: "Prana (life) and Maana (honour) are the two eyes of a person. Even if life goes, honour should be protected. Granting that the person that has come now is the Lord Himself, I should be the most fortunate one as the Lord, who gives everything to mankind, is seeking something from me."
Vamana grew in size until he towered above the heavens. With one foot, he measured all of the earth. With the other, he claimed all of heaven. There was still one foot of territory that Bali owed him. Bali offered his head to be measured as the third step of land which Lord Vamana had asked for as alms, thus sending him to pathala.
As a last wish Mahabali was granted the permission to visit his subjects once a year. Thus, Keralites celebrate Onam festival to commemorate the memory of a Great King Mahabali who would keep his promise. Mahabali fulfilled his name as the great martyr for the sake of Truth. The name "Mahabali" itself means Great Sacrifice. Thus Onam celebrates a series of martyrdom of the devoted Daityas.
Prayer, festivities, sadhya and Vallamkali are typically symbolic of Onam.
Sadhya is the feast that comprises of a variety of dishes
For me the best part of onam is the Onasadhya...my mother makes scrumptious food which i consume in copious amounts...(yummy!!)
and of course the new clothes...but thats the story living away from Kerala..
The festivities in kerala are spectacle to behold!
My Onam Wishes
Maveli, in God's own country,
Descends annually to ensure bounty;
Amma, elegant in a mundu so white,
Bordered with a golden light;
Achchan also helps in the kitchen today,
Eleven yummy things-sadhya at midday;
Fresh flowers and clothes new and bright,
A pretty pookolam-a welcome delight;
Celebrating Bali's true and generous way,
Wishing you a Happy Onam today.
--------------------------------------------
PS: Do check out the links for further and better information on Onam..
Onam is the one of the most beautiful and meaningful festival in the World. It is traditionally a harvest festival but there is a legend attached to it.
Legend has it that there was once a king called Mahabali. He was extremely powerful, a conquerer yet a kind and good king and a man of principles. He was performing the sacrificial rite of Viswajith at the banks of Narmada River, and declared that he would give anything that anyone sought from him during this Yagna. At this the gods were very annoyed. Bali was the ruler of all the three worlds having defeated the devas.
The gods approached Vishnu and asked for his help to dethrone Mahabali. Vishnu, incarnated in the form of Vamana, a dwarf to defeat the Daityas. As he was approaching them, the sages assembled there perceived the extraordinary effulgence form of the young lad. On being received as befitted a brahmin, Vamana smiled and said: "You need not give me anything great. It is enough if you give me that extend of land covered by three footsteps of mine".
Bali's preceptor, Shukracharya a Daitya priest, who could have vision of the future told Bali that the one, who had come to seek a gift from Bali was not an ordinary Brahmin but Lord Narayana Himself who had assumed this form. He advised Bali not to promise the lad anything. But Bali was a king who would never go back on his word and told his Guru that he would never break his promise. Bali told his Guru: "Prana (life) and Maana (honour) are the two eyes of a person. Even if life goes, honour should be protected. Granting that the person that has come now is the Lord Himself, I should be the most fortunate one as the Lord, who gives everything to mankind, is seeking something from me."
Vamana grew in size until he towered above the heavens. With one foot, he measured all of the earth. With the other, he claimed all of heaven. There was still one foot of territory that Bali owed him. Bali offered his head to be measured as the third step of land which Lord Vamana had asked for as alms, thus sending him to pathala.
As a last wish Mahabali was granted the permission to visit his subjects once a year. Thus, Keralites celebrate Onam festival to commemorate the memory of a Great King Mahabali who would keep his promise. Mahabali fulfilled his name as the great martyr for the sake of Truth. The name "Mahabali" itself means Great Sacrifice. Thus Onam celebrates a series of martyrdom of the devoted Daityas.
Prayer, festivities, sadhya and Vallamkali are typically symbolic of Onam.
Sadhya is the feast that comprises of a variety of dishes
For me the best part of onam is the Onasadhya...my mother makes scrumptious food which i consume in copious amounts...(yummy!!)
and of course the new clothes...but thats the story living away from Kerala..
The festivities in kerala are spectacle to behold!
My Onam Wishes
Maveli, in God's own country,
Descends annually to ensure bounty;
Amma, elegant in a mundu so white,
Bordered with a golden light;
Achchan also helps in the kitchen today,
Eleven yummy things-sadhya at midday;
Fresh flowers and clothes new and bright,
A pretty pookolam-a welcome delight;
Celebrating Bali's true and generous way,
Wishing you a Happy Onam today.
--------------------------------------------
PS: Do check out the links for further and better information on Onam..
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Story of my Love Life....
i never thought i would find a song that aptly describes any part of my life....
but i recently found a song that describes my love life perfectly...
ONly his name isn't DREW....and i don't play the guitar...lol...
but in essence its the current state of my love life...
not really my kinda song...but the lyrics just HIT home!!
its called "teardrops on my guitar" by an artiste called Taylor Swift...
here are the lyrics..
Teardrops On My Guitar Lyrics
Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won't see
That I want and I'm needing everything that we should be
I'll bet she's beautiful, that girl he talks about
And she's got everything that I have to live without
Drew talks to me, I laugh cause it's so damn funny
That I can't even see anyone when he's with me
He says he's so in love, he's finally got it right,
I wonder if he knows he's all I think about at night
[Chorus:]
He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do
Drew walks by me, can he tell that I can't breathe?
And there he goes, so perfectly,
The kind of flawless I wish I could be
She'd better hold him tight, give him all her love
Look in those beautiful eyes and know she's lucky cause
[Repeat Chorus]
So I drive home alone, as I turn out the light
I'll put his picture down and maybe
Get some sleep tonight
He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only one who's got enough of me to break my heart
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do
He's the time taken up, but there's never enough
And he's all that I need to fall into..
Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won't see.
do check out the video on youtube....
but i recently found a song that describes my love life perfectly...
ONly his name isn't DREW....and i don't play the guitar...lol...
but in essence its the current state of my love life...
not really my kinda song...but the lyrics just HIT home!!
its called "teardrops on my guitar" by an artiste called Taylor Swift...
here are the lyrics..
Teardrops On My Guitar Lyrics
Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won't see
That I want and I'm needing everything that we should be
I'll bet she's beautiful, that girl he talks about
And she's got everything that I have to live without
Drew talks to me, I laugh cause it's so damn funny
That I can't even see anyone when he's with me
He says he's so in love, he's finally got it right,
I wonder if he knows he's all I think about at night
[Chorus:]
He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do
Drew walks by me, can he tell that I can't breathe?
And there he goes, so perfectly,
The kind of flawless I wish I could be
She'd better hold him tight, give him all her love
Look in those beautiful eyes and know she's lucky cause
[Repeat Chorus]
So I drive home alone, as I turn out the light
I'll put his picture down and maybe
Get some sleep tonight
He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only one who's got enough of me to break my heart
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do
He's the time taken up, but there's never enough
And he's all that I need to fall into..
Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won't see.
do check out the video on youtube....
sorry...
i know i've been away a really long ....
i actually want to add a special sorry to annie along with a thanks...
i've been busy with a job interview for the past week....but sadly i've not ended up getting it...so i'm really sad about that...
neway...am back...
i actually want to add a special sorry to annie along with a thanks...
i've been busy with a job interview for the past week....but sadly i've not ended up getting it...so i'm really sad about that...
neway...am back...
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
FOR HER...
On 15th August 1947, Nehru gave his speech about "A tryst with destiny...." with hope, pride and vigour in his heart..
Today, exactly 60 years of that day...let us ask ourselves whether we have achieved that which our forefathers dreamed..
I think..the answer is we have and also not...
Because..India has truly made scientific, economic and cultural progress..
But with all these positives have come too many avoidable and unavoidable negatives..
When I say unavoidable I mean-- pollution, economic divide etc...
and by avoidable I mean--corruption, communal disharmony, media circus etc...
For most of us this has simply become a day...when we get a holiday from work and school...Sing Jana Gana Mana after the flag hoisting and see the parade on DD1.(*tho i wonder how many peole do the latter as well nowadays*)
To write a good appraisal on the current state of India, I will need to research my facts and figures...but then that may be a technically correct analysis...but what I feel from the heart is...
India is a resilient country, and has been and continues to progress exponentially, despit all the hurdles and encumbrances...Everything has its positives and negatives, so before criticizing next time we should keep in mind...to cite a few examples...
Political system--yes it is corrupt, slow but has sustained over 6 decades and works remarkably well for a country with the size and diversity of India...
Economic system---yes it is increasing the economic divide...but only because of these same policies have we carved a much required niche in the world economy..
and so on....
Each one shud try to think of a way they could do some good to the country..I dont mean a grand plan(*If u can come up with one then ...brilliant!!*)
But I mean..by just individually being a good citizen....
Vote..Pay ur taxes on time, be a good Samaritan, involve in social service in ur area etc...
that can be our contribution to=== India-A Superpower...60 years hence....
To end just something I wrote...
Today, exactly 60 years of that day...let us ask ourselves whether we have achieved that which our forefathers dreamed..
I think..the answer is we have and also not...
Because..India has truly made scientific, economic and cultural progress..
But with all these positives have come too many avoidable and unavoidable negatives..
When I say unavoidable I mean-- pollution, economic divide etc...
and by avoidable I mean--corruption, communal disharmony, media circus etc...
For most of us this has simply become a day...when we get a holiday from work and school...Sing Jana Gana Mana after the flag hoisting and see the parade on DD1.(*tho i wonder how many peole do the latter as well nowadays*)
To write a good appraisal on the current state of India, I will need to research my facts and figures...but then that may be a technically correct analysis...but what I feel from the heart is...
India is a resilient country, and has been and continues to progress exponentially, despit all the hurdles and encumbrances...Everything has its positives and negatives, so before criticizing next time we should keep in mind...to cite a few examples...
Political system--yes it is corrupt, slow but has sustained over 6 decades and works remarkably well for a country with the size and diversity of India...
Economic system---yes it is increasing the economic divide...but only because of these same policies have we carved a much required niche in the world economy..
and so on....
Each one shud try to think of a way they could do some good to the country..I dont mean a grand plan(*If u can come up with one then ...brilliant!!*)
But I mean..by just individually being a good citizen....
Vote..Pay ur taxes on time, be a good Samaritan, involve in social service in ur area etc...
that can be our contribution to=== India-A Superpower...60 years hence....
To end just something I wrote...
FOR HER
In search of solace,
Hurt and Lost,
I cried, till I found her lap;
In her arms I lay,
Broken and Bruised,
I cried, till the break of dawn;
In the shroud of her care,
Soft and Caressing,
I cried, till the pain was gone;
In my mind I saw clearly,
Numb-robbed of Sensation,
I cried, till the tears dried up;
In clarity, helped by care,
Lonely, but not Alone,
I cried, silently, till she could hear no more;
In that plight, so straight I stood,
For Her and the World to see,
I smiled, but my heart still cried within me.
In search of solace,
Hurt and Lost,
I cried, till I found her lap;
In her arms I lay,
Broken and Bruised,
I cried, till the break of dawn;
In the shroud of her care,
Soft and Caressing,
I cried, till the pain was gone;
In my mind I saw clearly,
Numb-robbed of Sensation,
I cried, till the tears dried up;
In clarity, helped by care,
Lonely, but not Alone,
I cried, silently, till she could hear no more;
In that plight, so straight I stood,
For Her and the World to see,
I smiled, but my heart still cried within me.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Advances...
My circle of friends is very large...I really believe in making friends for life..
They are my priority most of the time..its only in rare moments I selfishly think solely for myself..
Sometimes a lot of the things that i want to or have to do at a personal level remain undone because of this...
Now every human being...goes through phases when they need to be purely with themselves, thus limiting or in some cases entirely cutting of contact with other people..I've been there myself and completely understand the sentiment..
But when 4-5 people in the circle of friends,that is close to u, do that...ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!
then it gets too alarming for coincidence..
Now these are all friends who have nothing to do with each other, so its not something decided amongst them...I haven't really had fights with any of them lately...so baffled and stumped i was..that when realization of this situation dawned..
My First reaction: Have I changed?? Or done something wrong?? And what am I supposed to read into this??
but slowly on reasoning, analysis, confrontation and reassurances...
IT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH ME!!!
(*What a relief!!*)
I respect what each one of them is doing or has to do..each for their own reasons...
but it had left a pocket of vacuum in my life...
So this is one time that I'm gonna be selfish and wish that they all just come back soon!!
Am really missing them all!!
They are my priority most of the time..its only in rare moments I selfishly think solely for myself..
Sometimes a lot of the things that i want to or have to do at a personal level remain undone because of this...
Now every human being...goes through phases when they need to be purely with themselves, thus limiting or in some cases entirely cutting of contact with other people..I've been there myself and completely understand the sentiment..
But when 4-5 people in the circle of friends,that is close to u, do that...ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!
then it gets too alarming for coincidence..
Now these are all friends who have nothing to do with each other, so its not something decided amongst them...I haven't really had fights with any of them lately...so baffled and stumped i was..that when realization of this situation dawned..
My First reaction: Have I changed?? Or done something wrong?? And what am I supposed to read into this??
but slowly on reasoning, analysis, confrontation and reassurances...
IT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH ME!!!
(*What a relief!!*)
I respect what each one of them is doing or has to do..each for their own reasons...
but it had left a pocket of vacuum in my life...
So this is one time that I'm gonna be selfish and wish that they all just come back soon!!
Am really missing them all!!
ADVANCES
i have,
myriad questions,
unanswered they remain;
i have,
all emotions bared,
like a mollusk u remain;
i have,
tried all i could,
unyielding u remain;
i have,
made silence my ally,
but ever loyal to u it remains;
i have,
a companion tried to be,
stubbornly alone u remain;
i have,
a hand toward extended,
like always u treat it with disdain!
-Sneha
i have,
myriad questions,
unanswered they remain;
i have,
all emotions bared,
like a mollusk u remain;
i have,
tried all i could,
unyielding u remain;
i have,
made silence my ally,
but ever loyal to u it remains;
i have,
a companion tried to be,
stubbornly alone u remain;
i have,
a hand toward extended,
like always u treat it with disdain!
-Sneha
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
MAYBE
In this journey of life,Walking on the road of time;
Somewhere down the lane we met,
Towards a destination ours paths were set;
Helping one another on the way,
Blossomed a friendship, meant to stay;
But the road suddenly came to a fork,
Directions in which life sent us broke;
The distance brought in a gap,
In the friendship, as well as the road map;
So now we go our separate ways,
The journey spanning more than just days;
But, I'm still hoping our paths will mend,
Somewhere before our journey's end.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Your take on love....
Recently, a friend of mine put up a question for me in one of his blog posts...
It simply said...
ur take on love..........
and I replied thus....
ur take on love..........
It simply said...
ur take on love..........
and I replied thus....
ur take on love..........
Monday, July 30, 2007
EXTREMITIES.......
I have never meant this blog to be a journal....but unwittingly my moods, my fears, my emotions etc have dribbled their way into it....
Incidents and events are of no importance in the bigger picture...they are to be treated as trivialities...if given undue importance, they morph in to disaster!
Well sometimes...when u want to numb the emotions u tend to focus on the event...and analyze its technicalities...the "hows" and "whats" instead of the "whys"...
This is easy to do....emotions and events are manageable when they take place at different intervals of time and are independent of each other....
But when lightning strikes from 4 directions at once, then it is impossible to not think "WHY"??? Rants of self-pity...like.... Why me?? Why now???
But like they say....If not YOU then WHO?? If not NOW then WHEN???
But if u look around closely....Emerge from your convoluted sense of the world and pay some attention...Keep your eyes and ears open....
You will realize...you definitely are not the only one....
Its literally "Kahaani Har life ki".....
and with time and experience I've also come to believe in the adage...
"That which doesn't kill you..only makes you stronger!"
So...I figure...Live...
Go Make Mistakes...and some more!!Fall...so that you can rise again.....all the wiser for the fall.....
But for those who understand the happier side of the world...
My perception of the world just gets weirder..
I live in happiness and despair all at the same time....Tremendously happy...making everyone who stays around laugh....and feel the twinkle of their happiness...let it invade ur being....
UNTIL...the other monster takes over....the sulky, sullen, irritable...near-clinical-depression self...which emerges to simply confuse the shit out of you!!
So effectively...I become...Happy...Depressed...Confused!!
Now Do I clinically qualify for psychosis???
Now answer me this....So...What is my mood today????
Incidents and events are of no importance in the bigger picture...they are to be treated as trivialities...if given undue importance, they morph in to disaster!
Well sometimes...when u want to numb the emotions u tend to focus on the event...and analyze its technicalities...the "hows" and "whats" instead of the "whys"...
This is easy to do....emotions and events are manageable when they take place at different intervals of time and are independent of each other....
But when lightning strikes from 4 directions at once, then it is impossible to not think "WHY"??? Rants of self-pity...like.... Why me?? Why now???
But like they say....If not YOU then WHO?? If not NOW then WHEN???
But if u look around closely....Emerge from your convoluted sense of the world and pay some attention...Keep your eyes and ears open....
You will realize...you definitely are not the only one....
Its literally "Kahaani Har life ki".....
and with time and experience I've also come to believe in the adage...
"That which doesn't kill you..only makes you stronger!"
So...I figure...Live...
Go Make Mistakes...and some more!!Fall...so that you can rise again.....all the wiser for the fall.....
But for those who understand the happier side of the world...
My perception of the world just gets weirder..
I live in happiness and despair all at the same time....Tremendously happy...making everyone who stays around laugh....and feel the twinkle of their happiness...let it invade ur being....
UNTIL...the other monster takes over....the sulky, sullen, irritable...near-clinical-depression self...which emerges to simply confuse the shit out of you!!
So effectively...I become...Happy...Depressed...Confused!!
Now Do I clinically qualify for psychosis???
Now answer me this....So...What is my mood today????
Friday, July 27, 2007
Back to the basics...
She sat alone on the beach staring at the immense expanse of the ocean...
desolate...scared...lonely....
nothing was particularly wrong in life...but nothing was particularly right either...
As random thoughts flitted through her brain...she felt a desperate urge to write something...
So she blindly penned down her thoughts...Her hands moved involuntarily...when they finally stopped, she tried to read the words...
But they were a blur...it took her several attempts before she could focus and see them clearly....they read...
It takes you away from the mundane,
Yet everything remains the same,
In its vastness, everything pales to insignificance,
Breathtakingly beautiful,
Yet inexplicably scary.
She looked at her life....full and empty at the same time....
She had intended to remember that there is always more to life than the present happenings..
and that she would continuously find new reasons to live no matter what...
But then a huge rock came crashing down camouflaged in a tidal wave...it shattered a lot of things beyond recognition...all that was left when the tide abated was DEBRIS...
then she asked...
Now how am i supposed to find SENSE and a REASON in debris????
There is a need for very many things...
the need to reemerge...the need to redeem...
the need to rationalize...the need to surmount!!
slowly though it will be...the process must begin...
Must go back to where I can recognize myself....
Monday, July 23, 2007
And they lived happily ever after....
"PotterMania" seems the flavour of the season doesn't it?? Every possible place...conversations...print media..electronic media...with not an inch to spare!!
Well I have been an avid fan of the Harry Potter series form the very first book and though the frenzy had worn down considerably the fascination has certainly not.
The magical world which Rowling introduced to us 10 years ago is still seems as fantastic and intriguing to me. The characters, now so familiar who seem to have grown gradually with us over the time are endearingly familiar. And each one of us who reads these books relates at some level and to some extent with the emotions she has infused in them.
J.K.Rowling, by style is descriptive and know how to build the suspense in the plot. All her previous books have made for a good read(admittedly in varying degrees), but this book surpasses them all. I say this because all the answers she had kept tantalizingly secret have finally been revealed all the loose ends tied, and she had left so many such questions unanswered that every second page was like a revelation! It kept me gripped and flipping pages for an uninterrupted 9 and a half hours till I had devoured each one of the 607 pages!!
But for a change I shall not talk about the plot of the book or of the excellent characterization..but of what endeared it to me...
simply put...it was..
The fantastic reality of it all!!
Now i know..fictional world...but when i say reality I mean of the things she actually speaks about..the essence...
Of friendship...Of love..Of courage...Of sacrifice...Of self-righteousness...Of all the usual idealistic jargon and blah...
But with such a human touch...
Because its also..
Of weakness...Of treachery...Of jealousy...Of despair..Of making difficult choices...Of all the things real life is made of and we like not to talk of it...
In absurd ways each one can find instances they can relate with and personal demons can be faced and resolved..
Yes..obviously the last duel is dramatic and exciting and Voldemort according to me dies in an anti-climax...but Rowling stuck to the formula of " All's well that ends well"...for how could she kill Harry...after all she put him through...
The end of the book...for those who are yet unaware...the "Ninteen Years Later" lends it all a very "Ekta Kapoorish" touch..
But finally the end of a saga...
And they lived happily ever after....
Sunday, July 22, 2007
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Thursday, July 19, 2007
RESULTS...
I believe...
Exams are devised not to evaluate but to eliminate !!
One of the worst things about engineering is that we have 2 major exams in a year...S effectively we are all the time either..
preparing for exams..
giving exams..
or waiting for the results...
and awaiting results is a trying time for everyone...without exception....
Ok...so in my college...the results are put up in lists on this one particular wall..so it has obviously been dubbed the "Result Wall"....
and every time any old results and notices are cleared...
the uncertainty..the sos' and the prayers start pouring out!!
>Is it our result being put up??
>I hope i've cleared xyz paper/s!!!
>God please help!!
there is this knot that ties itself up in everyone's stomach....and the usual symptoms of fear..
some start shuddering with tremors as though they are reaching hyperpyrexia....
some behave as tho rigor mortis has miraculously set in while they are still alive...
some remain cool most of it..but 5 mis prior jump like cats on a hot tin roof..
So while waiting for my results...(which haven't yet come..it was a false alarm..)
I scribbled a few lines to relieve the tension...which a few found quite funny so here goes....
Tension palpable in the air,
Someones fallen off their chair;
Someones biting off their nails,
Somewhere emenate scared wails;
Watch the scene, look one and all,
Results are being put up on the 'WALL';
Shitting bricks, goosebumps prick,
Oops! Someones off being sick;
Lets check quick,PASS or FAIL,
Before we suffer a heart fail.
Exams are devised not to evaluate but to eliminate !!
One of the worst things about engineering is that we have 2 major exams in a year...S effectively we are all the time either..
preparing for exams..
giving exams..
or waiting for the results...
and awaiting results is a trying time for everyone...without exception....
Ok...so in my college...the results are put up in lists on this one particular wall..so it has obviously been dubbed the "Result Wall"....
and every time any old results and notices are cleared...
the uncertainty..the sos' and the prayers start pouring out!!
>Is it our result being put up??
>I hope i've cleared xyz paper/s!!!
>God please help!!
there is this knot that ties itself up in everyone's stomach....and the usual symptoms of fear..
some start shuddering with tremors as though they are reaching hyperpyrexia....
some behave as tho rigor mortis has miraculously set in while they are still alive...
some remain cool most of it..but 5 mis prior jump like cats on a hot tin roof..
So while waiting for my results...(which haven't yet come..it was a false alarm..)
I scribbled a few lines to relieve the tension...which a few found quite funny so here goes....
Tension palpable in the air,
Someones fallen off their chair;
Someones biting off their nails,
Somewhere emenate scared wails;
Watch the scene, look one and all,
Results are being put up on the 'WALL';
Shitting bricks, goosebumps prick,
Oops! Someones off being sick;
Lets check quick,PASS or FAIL,
Before we suffer a heart fail.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
There's No Hope
I came across this recently...and it touched a chord somewhere...
There's No Hope
you don't even know the pain i feel
when i start to question what is real
i know you're the cause
my lust for you gnaws
its way, through my brain
and i'm here, alone standing
by myself, with tears of understanding
rolling down my cheeks
this time i'm really confused
about what i should do
i have this fear of never being satisfied
i can't find stable happiness,
i've tried and tried ,
this isn't easy,
There's No Hope
you don't even know the pain i feel
when i start to question what is real
i know you're the cause
my lust for you gnaws
its way, through my brain
and i'm here, alone standing
by myself, with tears of understanding
rolling down my cheeks
this time i'm really confused
about what i should do
i have this fear of never being satisfied
i can't find stable happiness,
i've tried and tried ,
this isn't easy,
i'm the butt of my own joke,
i want some affection, this is all i hope
but now i know my bended
heart won't be mended
by your love....
no longer will i cry
or ask for help from up above
and i'll live my life until i die
wondering if i'll ever be satisfied
it's not easy being the butt of your own joke
i want some affection, this is all i hope
-Derek del Barrio
but now i know my bended
heart won't be mended
by your love....
no longer will i cry
or ask for help from up above
and i'll live my life until i die
wondering if i'll ever be satisfied
it's not easy being the butt of your own joke
i want some affection, this is all i hope
-Derek del Barrio
Saturday, July 14, 2007
INHERENT PRESENCE
Inherently woven into the fabric of my life;
In the dawn of my day,
In the loniliness of my night,
In all the things that I feel,
At every altar that I kneel;
In the colours of my brush,
In the moments of my solitude,
In all the words that I say,
At every emotion that I display;
In the happiness of my life,
In the hardships of my way,
In all the decisions that I take,
At every choice that I make;
In my breath,
In my blood,
In my heart,
In my soul;
Inherently woven into the fabric of my life.
The Order Of The Pheonix
I finally saw the much awaited 5th movie of the Harry Potter series....
Firstly on a principle I never compare, when the movie is an adaptation on the book.. because inevitably the book is better!
The only movie adaptation of a book that has failed to disappoint me has been Lord Of The Rings.....ARAGORNNN!!!(sigh.......!)
Instead I try to enjoy the movie for itself...because, to recreate such a fantastic world with such elaborate scenes, is far from easy!!
This movie was much darker than its predecessors....Some scenes for example 'Sirius' Death', 'Fight in the Ministry','Weasly twins escape'...they were absolutely brilliant..had me completely riveted!!
The character of Dolores Umbridge, was extremely well executed by Imelda Staunton, right from the overly pink fluffy outfits to the simpering laugh!! Within five minutes of her entry every member in the audience wanted to harm her!
Emma Watson just looks more like an english rose with every passing movie...
And the chemistry betwwen her and Rupert Grinch is palapable just to the correct limits...
Was disappointed by a few scenes like 'Dementos in Little Winghing' and 'Voldemort entering Harry in the Ministry'...but nevertheless it was worth it!!
So...Go out and enjoy the movie..
Cheers!
Firstly on a principle I never compare, when the movie is an adaptation on the book.. because inevitably the book is better!
The only movie adaptation of a book that has failed to disappoint me has been Lord Of The Rings.....ARAGORNNN!!!(sigh.......!)
Instead I try to enjoy the movie for itself...because, to recreate such a fantastic world with such elaborate scenes, is far from easy!!
This movie was much darker than its predecessors....Some scenes for example 'Sirius' Death', 'Fight in the Ministry','Weasly twins escape'...they were absolutely brilliant..had me completely riveted!!
The character of Dolores Umbridge, was extremely well executed by Imelda Staunton, right from the overly pink fluffy outfits to the simpering laugh!! Within five minutes of her entry every member in the audience wanted to harm her!
Emma Watson just looks more like an english rose with every passing movie...
And the chemistry betwwen her and Rupert Grinch is palapable just to the correct limits...
Was disappointed by a few scenes like 'Dementos in Little Winghing' and 'Voldemort entering Harry in the Ministry'...but nevertheless it was worth it!!
So...Go out and enjoy the movie..
Cheers!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
My lethargy, abbeted by my PC crashing...I have been away for quite a while now...
And I really haven't had anything specific to do these vacations..
Most of my batch mates have spent their vacation in the college, trying for the campus placements...which I, unfortunately am not eligible by the margin of "0.73%"...which really bites at times....but I'm being optimistic as always and not allowing that "little" hurdle to upset my vacation...
So I can truthfully say--I've enjoyed as much as was possible!
I didn't really do any blog worthy things...
Just the usual...
=caught up with friends....(Lunches..dinners..same old, same old)
=saw a few movies...(Shrek3,Plup Fiction,Chini Kum,Bheja Fry)
=read loads of books...(I really liked "Social Intellegence" by Daniel Goleman... Train to Pakistan, Inheritance of Loss, The Smile of Murugan ..to name a few...)
=had a great time with my extended family...my cousins, aunts, uncles...its rare in todays pace of life to have the kind of time to bond, as we did in the last few days..
=went an chopped my hair today...made it from knee length to waist length!!
=Ya..the best thing...I attended a music program of Ustaad Ghulam Ali Khan..
He has come down to India after a long hiatus..the concert was brilliant..it was one of the best things thats happened all vacation...
I generally enjoy plenty of time on my hands...to think about "nothing in particular" and mull over things...but this is the first time in my life when "I've hated my thought processes...disagreed vehemently with myself....and all that thinking just left me distraught...
Am just waiting for my results to come and college to begin so I'll have work to occupy my mind with...
Am awating Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, to hit the screens and the Deathly Hallows , to hit the stores..
Waiting...ultimately just waiting for everything!!
And I really haven't had anything specific to do these vacations..
Most of my batch mates have spent their vacation in the college, trying for the campus placements...which I, unfortunately am not eligible by the margin of "0.73%"...which really bites at times....but I'm being optimistic as always and not allowing that "little" hurdle to upset my vacation...
So I can truthfully say--I've enjoyed as much as was possible!
I didn't really do any blog worthy things...
Just the usual...
=caught up with friends....(Lunches..dinners..same old, same old)
=saw a few movies...(Shrek3,Plup Fiction,Chini Kum,Bheja Fry)
=read loads of books...(I really liked "Social Intellegence" by Daniel Goleman... Train to Pakistan, Inheritance of Loss, The Smile of Murugan ..to name a few...)
=had a great time with my extended family...my cousins, aunts, uncles...its rare in todays pace of life to have the kind of time to bond, as we did in the last few days..
=went an chopped my hair today...made it from knee length to waist length!!
=Ya..the best thing...I attended a music program of Ustaad Ghulam Ali Khan..
He has come down to India after a long hiatus..the concert was brilliant..it was one of the best things thats happened all vacation...
I generally enjoy plenty of time on my hands...to think about "nothing in particular" and mull over things...but this is the first time in my life when "I've hated my thought processes...disagreed vehemently with myself....and all that thinking just left me distraught...
Am just waiting for my results to come and college to begin so I'll have work to occupy my mind with...
Am awating Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, to hit the screens and the Deathly Hallows , to hit the stores..
Waiting...ultimately just waiting for everything!!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
TAGGED...
Tagging is one of the few concepts of blogsphere which i didnt quite understand....not that there's actually much to it...
What i don't understand is the pleasure of tagging people...Maybe now that I'm tagged myself, I'll finally figure the pleasure people get with this seemingly unremarkable activity...
So thanks Akanksha for tagging me...
Now as per the rules I have to write 8 random facts about myself...
1.)I'm a total CHATTERBOX...thats the first thing anyone says if asked to describe me..I can strike up conversations with absolute strangers as well...and u can find me on the phone a LOT of the time..
2.)I seem to have a million friends and am hardly ever alone...but actually what I love most is SOLITUDE..
3.)Am damn psychotic a lot of the time...Given to absolute randomness...I wonder how people put up with me ;)
4.)I absolutely love to write...I know that's like a d'uh, considering that I blog...but really...i can loose myself anywhere when I'm writing and I get my inspiration in the weirdest places...for instance...the bathroom...bombay's famous BEST buses are one of the all time favorite places...
5.)I absolutely love to paint....its one time when i resent any kind of human interference....My mom's learnt over the years that, I'm a live DO NOT DISTURB sign at such times...
6.)I used to be a total cynic about romance, love and the likes..But eventually and unfortunately, the bug caught up with me...I surprised myself with the seemingly unbounded limits of my new found corniness..lol...
7.)I'm totally addicted to blogging...I spend nearly 2 hrs online everyday..just blogging!!!I am already trying to restrain myself on blogsphere though i have been here for hardly 2 months...
8.)I have really really long hair...It nearly goes down till my knees now...And though i behave quite churlish when my friends and relatives..and even strangers for that matter admire it and fuss over it...I secretly revel in all the attention...I suppose thats quite bad..but whatever a girl's gotta act pricey sometime rite!!
Ok..now thats quite enough about myself....and NOW i get to TAG others!!
So heres the list of people I'm tagging:
Alok
Ankur
Gopal
Sans
Ruma
Nisha
Curryegg
Hershey
Jeya Anand
These in turn have to tag 8 ppl...ok this was not bad...adios ppl..
P.S:But honestly still cant see what the BIG deal about tagging is?? But was good to be tagged once i guess..
What i don't understand is the pleasure of tagging people...Maybe now that I'm tagged myself, I'll finally figure the pleasure people get with this seemingly unremarkable activity...
So thanks Akanksha for tagging me...
Now as per the rules I have to write 8 random facts about myself...
1.)I'm a total CHATTERBOX...thats the first thing anyone says if asked to describe me..I can strike up conversations with absolute strangers as well...and u can find me on the phone a LOT of the time..
2.)I seem to have a million friends and am hardly ever alone...but actually what I love most is SOLITUDE..
3.)Am damn psychotic a lot of the time...Given to absolute randomness...I wonder how people put up with me ;)
4.)I absolutely love to write...I know that's like a d'uh, considering that I blog...but really...i can loose myself anywhere when I'm writing and I get my inspiration in the weirdest places...for instance...the bathroom...bombay's famous BEST buses are one of the all time favorite places...
5.)I absolutely love to paint....its one time when i resent any kind of human interference....My mom's learnt over the years that, I'm a live DO NOT DISTURB sign at such times...
6.)I used to be a total cynic about romance, love and the likes..But eventually and unfortunately, the bug caught up with me...I surprised myself with the seemingly unbounded limits of my new found corniness..lol...
7.)I'm totally addicted to blogging...I spend nearly 2 hrs online everyday..just blogging!!!I am already trying to restrain myself on blogsphere though i have been here for hardly 2 months...
8.)I have really really long hair...It nearly goes down till my knees now...And though i behave quite churlish when my friends and relatives..and even strangers for that matter admire it and fuss over it...I secretly revel in all the attention...I suppose thats quite bad..but whatever a girl's gotta act pricey sometime rite!!
Ok..now thats quite enough about myself....and NOW i get to TAG others!!
So heres the list of people I'm tagging:
Alok
Ankur
Gopal
Sans
Ruma
Nisha
Curryegg
Hershey
Jeya Anand
These in turn have to tag 8 ppl...ok this was not bad...adios ppl..
P.S:But honestly still cant see what the BIG deal about tagging is?? But was good to be tagged once i guess..
Sunday, June 24, 2007
MORNING OF MUSIC
Now I have to give some background here..I come from a family which knows how to appreciate music. My dad was very much a part of "Beatlemania" in his day and remembers the lyrics to most of their songs even today. My mother predictably likes Mohammad Rafi and Jagjit Singh and old Hindi film music. And both of them like Hindustani and Carnatic classical music and are regulars at various concerts in Mumbai. And given all of this, I'm the kind of person to who can have Bob Dylan, Metallica, Pt.Bhimsen Joshi and Bunty and Babli on the same play list(sorry but I cant stand the likes of Britney Spears!!) and enjoy them all.
But to be honest I have heard all these at home...and have witnessed only rock concerts, live!(I think I once saw a Jagjit Singh program as well)..
OKAY..NOTE....I said I enjoy all this music...but my knowledge concerning them is close to zilch..So if any facts in the following post are erroneous then I apologize profusely and welcome any corrections..
My parents happened to be going for a concert by Padma Vibhushan Gaanasaraswati Smt.Kishori Amonkar, on 24th June,Sunday at 9.00 am, at Nehru Center(Worli).The show was principally a Charity Concert, organized by the 'Bade Gulam Ali Yadgaar Sabha'.
I have heard a few of her songs before..She is basically a Hindustani classical performer who sings khyal in the Jaipur gharana style. She is currently 76 years of age and is most famous for her brilliant rendition of "baabul moraa".
We awoke in the morning to lashing rain, with grim forecasts on the news for the day ahead. After debating for a while, we decided to go ahead and reach the concert. The roads were not a good sight! It had only been pouring a few hours, but the roads were flooded with water that submerged the car tyres. Slowly, cautiously, weaving our way through fallen trees and flooded roads, with rain only giving us intermittent respite.
When we reached Nehru Center her popularity was reiterated, because the place was teeming with expectant music lovers. We had to reach the conclusion that 'Whether rain or shine Kishori Tai's(an affectionate term for older sister) program cannot be compromised'. Her music seemed to transcend all barriers of age, race, sex and time. Audiences old and young, from different classes of society-right from the 'air kissing' high society ladies to the simple middle class music enthusiasts, waited patiently as the show was delayed by almost an hour.
The rising curtain had a dramatic stillness about it.The compare introduced her and opened the show saying
"Aaj meri prarthna kuch aisi thi,
Aae baarish thodi der ke liye tham ja,
Ki Kishoriji yahan aa sake;
Aek baar woh yahan, aae aise barasna,
Ki woh hame chod ke jaa na saake!"
Kishori tai tuned up her 'swaramandali' and the 'tanpuras'.She seemed to have some trouble with her throat in the first 15 mins, but once her voice opened up, it was like a downpour of melody. Her voice filled up the auditorium like the sound of bells in a temple.The first half was dedicated to a composition called 'Mahadeo' in what i think was the Raag Bhairavi. She gradually built up the registers with amazing variations and aalap sung relentlessly for an hour and then completed the composition in the next half an hour. Ashwini Bedekar, one of the accompanists at the tanpura, supported her in this composition. I apologize as I didn't catch the name of her accompanying artists at the tabla and the harmonium.
Following a ten minute break.The organizers called upon Nana Patekar, who was a part of the audience to felicitate all the artistes with bouquets. He praised her saying "Sur hamare kaan mein atak gaye lekin tere gale mein bas gaye isiliye tu yahan aur hum wahan baithe hai!" She then spoke a few words in Marathi, through which she gave a heartfelt message, the gist of which she summarized herself in english, her last statement being "Children come back to the sublimity of classical music!".
The second composition was a beautiful rendering of "Devebhyo", followed by "Pavan Batariya" which I'm quite sure was in Raag Alaiya Bilaval. Here her other disciple at the tanpura was supporting her, a young girl with a lovely voice. On further inquiry she turned out to be Tejashree Amonkar, Kisohiriji's Grand daughter, genetically blessed with a beautiful voice and polished under the tutelage of her illustrious grandmother. She obviously doesn't hold candle to Kishori Tai yet, but I personally feel that classical music lovers should look out for her in the coming years.
Finally she sang "Ghat Ghat Mein Panchee Bolta" a doha by Sant Kabeer. This was the part of the performance that i most enjoyed. A noteworthy feature of her rendition was that she gave full play to both antaraa's, ending with a very evocative recital of all the lines strung together. A great finale to a memorable morning!
I hummed all the way back home in considerably reduced rainfall and rather clear roads. I cant remember when i last enjoyed a morning more!
But to be honest I have heard all these at home...and have witnessed only rock concerts, live!(I think I once saw a Jagjit Singh program as well)..
OKAY..NOTE....I said I enjoy all this music...but my knowledge concerning them is close to zilch..So if any facts in the following post are erroneous then I apologize profusely and welcome any corrections..
My parents happened to be going for a concert by Padma Vibhushan Gaanasaraswati Smt.Kishori Amonkar, on 24th June,Sunday at 9.00 am, at Nehru Center(Worli).The show was principally a Charity Concert, organized by the 'Bade Gulam Ali Yadgaar Sabha'.
I have heard a few of her songs before..She is basically a Hindustani classical performer who sings khyal in the Jaipur gharana style. She is currently 76 years of age and is most famous for her brilliant rendition of "baabul moraa".
We awoke in the morning to lashing rain, with grim forecasts on the news for the day ahead. After debating for a while, we decided to go ahead and reach the concert. The roads were not a good sight! It had only been pouring a few hours, but the roads were flooded with water that submerged the car tyres. Slowly, cautiously, weaving our way through fallen trees and flooded roads, with rain only giving us intermittent respite.
When we reached Nehru Center her popularity was reiterated, because the place was teeming with expectant music lovers. We had to reach the conclusion that 'Whether rain or shine Kishori Tai's(an affectionate term for older sister) program cannot be compromised'. Her music seemed to transcend all barriers of age, race, sex and time. Audiences old and young, from different classes of society-right from the 'air kissing' high society ladies to the simple middle class music enthusiasts, waited patiently as the show was delayed by almost an hour.
The rising curtain had a dramatic stillness about it.The compare introduced her and opened the show saying
"Aaj meri prarthna kuch aisi thi,
Aae baarish thodi der ke liye tham ja,
Ki Kishoriji yahan aa sake;
Aek baar woh yahan, aae aise barasna,
Ki woh hame chod ke jaa na saake!"
Kishori tai tuned up her 'swaramandali' and the 'tanpuras'.She seemed to have some trouble with her throat in the first 15 mins, but once her voice opened up, it was like a downpour of melody. Her voice filled up the auditorium like the sound of bells in a temple.The first half was dedicated to a composition called 'Mahadeo' in what i think was the Raag Bhairavi. She gradually built up the registers with amazing variations and aalap sung relentlessly for an hour and then completed the composition in the next half an hour. Ashwini Bedekar, one of the accompanists at the tanpura, supported her in this composition. I apologize as I didn't catch the name of her accompanying artists at the tabla and the harmonium.
Following a ten minute break.The organizers called upon Nana Patekar, who was a part of the audience to felicitate all the artistes with bouquets. He praised her saying "Sur hamare kaan mein atak gaye lekin tere gale mein bas gaye isiliye tu yahan aur hum wahan baithe hai!" She then spoke a few words in Marathi, through which she gave a heartfelt message, the gist of which she summarized herself in english, her last statement being "Children come back to the sublimity of classical music!".
The second composition was a beautiful rendering of "Devebhyo", followed by "Pavan Batariya" which I'm quite sure was in Raag Alaiya Bilaval. Here her other disciple at the tanpura was supporting her, a young girl with a lovely voice. On further inquiry she turned out to be Tejashree Amonkar, Kisohiriji's Grand daughter, genetically blessed with a beautiful voice and polished under the tutelage of her illustrious grandmother. She obviously doesn't hold candle to Kishori Tai yet, but I personally feel that classical music lovers should look out for her in the coming years.
Finally she sang "Ghat Ghat Mein Panchee Bolta" a doha by Sant Kabeer. This was the part of the performance that i most enjoyed. A noteworthy feature of her rendition was that she gave full play to both antaraa's, ending with a very evocative recital of all the lines strung together. A great finale to a memorable morning!
I hummed all the way back home in considerably reduced rainfall and rather clear roads. I cant remember when i last enjoyed a morning more!
Saturday, June 23, 2007
ENTRANCED BY RAINS
I seem to be unable to write anything except stuff to do with rains...
Every time i pick up my pen..thats the only subject i can spew words on...
Its like all other subjects have refused to flow through it....
Every one of my words sounds like an expectation to me...hoping that the rains will absolve me of all my sins and dissolve all my misery...leaving me clean, pure and simply happy..
Neway...so here goes...just a few lines to that end...
When the skies cry for us,
We feel a sense of relief,
Which transmutes any sadness
We may be feeling into a
Pure Unbounded Joy,
Which only simple things can give us,
The water cleanses,
The fragrance of wetness transports,
The sense of lush greenery satiates,
My soul finally feels liberated,
As if nature is consoling me,
And caressing me into an entirely
different realm,
Of Joy...Pure Unbounded Joy.
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my take on love...i'm sure v've spoken on the subject like a zillion times...
but..hmmm..
heres an ad hoc rhyme..
in my human eyes..
through lifetimes..
the state of love varies...
to my innocent mind..
in a bygone time..
love was like a quintessential lea...
to my hardened heart...
in a then stark life..
love was like a turbulent sea...
to my inexperienced mind..
in the current moment..
love is like an entity..
its boundaries blurred yet clear...
the sole reprieve yet my greatest fear...
pain which seems like exquisite joy...
a confused lie which i deny!
i hope that answers ur question...