Today as we bid the Goddess Durga farewell and seek blessings of elders I would want to remember some people who have very prominently shaped my life. They have helped me realize my potential and have gifted me precious pearls at various stages of my life.
Sri Sri Ravishankar
Guruji's grace and the various courses of the Art of Living have helped me revive my enthusiasm and confidence - qualities that were very much a part of me in my childhood, but were stripped off me in my growing years for various reasons....
Sir Hira Prasad
There was a time when Maths was my phobia. I hated the subject. In exams I ended up making silly mistakes, and wasting unnecessary time on questions. Sir grilled me right from the basics - different ways of doing the same question, think before plunging on the solution, cross-check the answer. 2 summer months of surprise tests, lots of assignments, analysis...when I went back to school the hard work paid off. I not only shone in this subject but also developed a love....
Miss Jayati Ray Choudhury
My music teacher since I was 5 and stepped into the unknown realms of music - she taught me how to sing and identify the various notes, how to play the harmonium...It was tough for her - I did not even know how to write in hindi. Patience, perseverance..everything's paid off. Each note I sing today is dedicated to her.
Srinath Mani
I learnt the tricks of "smart working" from Srinath - one of my first managers in my professional life. He could gauge people very prudently and knew exactly how to motivate different people to get the maximum from his team. Something he told me that I will never forget - when you leave the company, people should not happily say 'bye bye', but rather realize what they are losing.'
Yes...I can fly higher than an eagle..you are the wind beneath my wings.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The small things in life
The cool air, the scented breeze, the motley buds on gulmohur trees, the bees humming on fragrant flowers, the chirping of birds, the squeaking of squirrels, the chattering of kids, the bantering of girls on the brink of puberty, the ruckus of young guys.......yes, I was amidst all of this and yet, so far away.......
My mind was out craving for the "big" gifts of life - a mansion, people at my beck and call, me sitting by the pool surrounded by lush greenery sipping watermelon juice, staring at eternity...no worries of the present - away from the mundane affairs. I stretch this moment - just me and the moment, nothing else.
When will this heart stop craving? When will this heart stop eating away the life in me? When will the grass on the other side appear as green as the blades on my side? I do not have an answer....
My mind was out craving for the "big" gifts of life - a mansion, people at my beck and call, me sitting by the pool surrounded by lush greenery sipping watermelon juice, staring at eternity...no worries of the present - away from the mundane affairs. I stretch this moment - just me and the moment, nothing else.
When will this heart stop craving? When will this heart stop eating away the life in me? When will the grass on the other side appear as green as the blades on my side? I do not have an answer....
Monday, July 14, 2008
Death Speaks - Appointment in Samarra
There was a merchant in Bagdad who sent his servant to the market to buy provisions and in a little while the servant came back, white and trembling, and said, Master, just now when I was in the market-place I was jostled by a woman in the crowd and when I turned I saw it was death that jostled me.
She looked at me and made a threatening gesture; now, lend me your horse, and I will ride away from this city and avoid my fate. I will go to Samarra and there death will not find me. The merchant lent him his horse, and the servant mounted it, and dug his spurs in its flanks and as fast as the horse could gallop he went.
Then the merchant went down to the market-place and he saw me standing in the crowd and he came to me and said, Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning? That was not a threatening gesture, I said, it was only a start of surprise.
I was astonished to see him in Bagdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.
She looked at me and made a threatening gesture; now, lend me your horse, and I will ride away from this city and avoid my fate. I will go to Samarra and there death will not find me. The merchant lent him his horse, and the servant mounted it, and dug his spurs in its flanks and as fast as the horse could gallop he went.
Then the merchant went down to the market-place and he saw me standing in the crowd and he came to me and said, Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning? That was not a threatening gesture, I said, it was only a start of surprise.
I was astonished to see him in Bagdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.
Monday, July 7, 2008
How I chanced upon these people
Sometimes...I wonder how life would be had I not met these people...if not anything else, my blog would be still crying for its maiden comment ;) (well...I know I can torture these people to read as well as comment on my posts :P)
Loco:
I had heard a lot about Loco from Bharat (they were room mates). I knew that Loco was desperately tryign to lose weight- went jogging in KBR Park every morning, had only an orange or an apple for dinner, did not touch oily food and was very senti ;). Infact, I knew a lot about him and yet did not know him. I had been trying to get hold of someone to accompany me to KBR...finally I decided to break the ice, got Loco's id from Bharat and pinged him:
Kiran: am goin to KBR park tom morning!
actually wanted to go today itself!
but couldnt!
tom sure!
me: me too wil join
pls...dont say no
Kiran: ok if u insist!
me: :O
dont show off!!
Such cheek! Its straight out of my chat history Loco, let me know if I should furnish proof ;).
On 26th July we were huddled in the cafeteria waiting for the HR to initiate joining formalities. I was sitting with a group of girls from BITS Pilani (2 of them were later my flat mates for 3 years, 1 amongst those 2 taught Bharat how to solve Crosswords) and a casual introduction was going round.Bharat said...oh I know you - Abhishek said you would be joining from Mesra. I still remember looking at Bharat and thinking - he is so tiny, how can he have finished college ;). The next day onwards we were group mates in all the lab exercises and....
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Loco:
I had heard a lot about Loco from Bharat (they were room mates). I knew that Loco was desperately tryign to lose weight- went jogging in KBR Park every morning, had only an orange or an apple for dinner, did not touch oily food and was very senti ;). Infact, I knew a lot about him and yet did not know him. I had been trying to get hold of someone to accompany me to KBR...finally I decided to break the ice, got Loco's id from Bharat and pinged him:
Kiran: am goin to KBR park tom morning!
actually wanted to go today itself!
but couldnt!
tom sure!
me: me too wil join
pls...dont say no
Kiran: ok if u insist!
me: :O
dont show off!!
Such cheek! Its straight out of my chat history Loco, let me know if I should furnish proof ;).
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Bharat:
On 26th July we were huddled in the cafeteria waiting for the HR to initiate joining formalities. I was sitting with a group of girls from BITS Pilani (2 of them were later my flat mates for 3 years, 1 amongst those 2 taught Bharat how to solve Crosswords) and a casual introduction was going round.Bharat said...oh I know you - Abhishek said you would be joining from Mesra. I still remember looking at Bharat and thinking - he is so tiny, how can he have finished college ;). The next day onwards we were group mates in all the lab exercises and....
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Dhar:
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Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Into that heaven of freedom...
What is the ultimate liberation?
Getting out of school and into college? Or getting out of college and into a job? Or getting paid without having to go to work? Or getting to spend infinite time with loved ones with loads to cash to splurge and no worries?
Assuming the last wish is granted to me. I ask myself - will I be eternally happy and free then? After 1-2 months, wont I get bored of my lifestyle and want to be part of something different? I get my answer - life in its diversities is at its best.
And so I rhetorically ask- do I always need to abide with the laws of nature? Will I always experience the vagaries of "change"? Is there a way to the ultimate freedom..where the "me" does not fathom change, has no desires and is absolutely joyful.
Getting out of school and into college? Or getting out of college and into a job? Or getting paid without having to go to work? Or getting to spend infinite time with loved ones with loads to cash to splurge and no worries?
Assuming the last wish is granted to me. I ask myself - will I be eternally happy and free then? After 1-2 months, wont I get bored of my lifestyle and want to be part of something different? I get my answer - life in its diversities is at its best.
And so I rhetorically ask- do I always need to abide with the laws of nature? Will I always experience the vagaries of "change"? Is there a way to the ultimate freedom..where the "me" does not fathom change, has no desires and is absolutely joyful.
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