Tsunami - A year on

A year has passed since the day the killer waves struck. Life.........oh yes.......it has moved on. 26th Dec 2005, when I am walking on the beach......the sea is calm...just another beautiful evening in Chennai...amidst the playful shrieks of kids playing in the water...it is hard to imagine the events that had happened a year ago.

The only thing that diffrentiates the day is the massive outpouring of public sympathy towards those who lost their dear ones. I see silent marches being carried out.

Fisherfolks have decide to stay away from the sea fearing another Tsunami,It seems science has little role to play in matters like these.........

An old fisherman who stands beside, tells me that for more than 50 yrs, fishing has been his source of livelihood. For him the sea was his best friend and just one look at it would tell him how it would be the entire day.But on that ominous day his friend deserted him,it offered him no clue on the impending danger. The sea took away his grandaughter.

"I lost my grandaughter in front of my eyes", he says tearfully

It has been an year since he has ventured out into the sea and I am doubtful if he would ever.............

It seems that the sea too lost an old dear friend on that fateful day.............

Gangotri glacier

The Gomukh glacier is the source of the Ganges, amidst the snow-capped Himalayas. The sight is truly astonishing, mere words can't explain that. For long this place was almost inaccessible. Many who used to venture out ........never returned back.

Human Interference
Thanks to modern technology and better transport this is the latest addition to India's religio-adventure tourism circuit — the other two being Vaishno Devi in the north and Sabarimala in the south. Every year more than a lakh of people visit Gomukh in the month of July. They have to be young to undertake this gruelling task. All of them return with a pot of water from the Gomukh glacier the ice from which becomes the Ganges River.

Is the Glacier Receding?
According to Hindu scriptures, Gangotri is the spot where the Ganges descended from the locks of Shiva. The temple of Ganges is also located at Gangotri. Locals believe that many years ago, the tip of the glacier was at Gangotri, but Gomukh, where the Ganges rises, has now recedekilometersetres downstream.

British traveler Samuel Burn once wrote that when he reached Gangotri in 1866, the local people opposed his wish to travel further to Gomukh. According to Burn, they believed that Gangotri is the holiest place and human interference in Gomukh is non-religious.

The Gangotri glacier has been melting as the part of global changes after the last Ice Age. But scientists say the rate of melting has doubled since1970s1970s.

A tragedy in the offing
According to Glaciologist the rate of melting has since increased due to the emission of green house gases more predominantly due to human intervention. The consequence........earlier, there were nine tributaries to the Gangotri glacier now we are left with five.

To make the matter worse Gangotri is not only receding, but the dimensions of the glacier have decreased considerably in the last few years. I fear if this continues, we may end up with the Ganges being a monsoon-fed river by the end of this century.

Even the WWF echoes the same sentiments.
(According to our studies, due to the rise in temperature, the river flow will increase by 20 per cent initially because of more snow melt. But, ultimately, the flow will decrease by 20 per cent. A population equal to Europe lives in the Ganges basin. Their livelihoods are dependent on the river. You can imagine the size of the tragedy we are talking about here.)

But is anyone listening???

I guess the Government is not prepared to deal with this issue, since the glacier tourism is generating enough revenues!!!!

According to our Hindu scriptures the river Ganges will return to heaven by the end of this yug (though I severly doubt the prediction methods they must have used)

But at the rate the pollution of this sensitive environment continues, the prediction could become true.

What serious climatic changes will that accompany?? Are we prepared to see that catastrophe and live with it??

Y I P E E E ! ! !

Its time to pack my bags once again and before you start concluding.......its only for a short time (2 weeks only).

Will be going to meet my parents and my sis. Will be with them on my b'day [:-)] and also during the annual durga pujo celebrations. Phew !!! that would keep me away from the daily hum-drum of life (no work.....at all).

Also a visit to Kerela (Ajai.... my friend u heard it right) is on the cards. There will be no postings till that time after this one. But when I come back you can expect some awesome pics of GODs OWN COUNTRY, taken by the ace photographer (and thats me.....who else !!!).

The Price of growing up ???

I don’t remember when was the first time my parents held my hands….or I held theirs….those tiny little hands clutching the fingers ……. Behold!!! What a sight it must have been…..for them…..and for me…..it must have been my first understanding that out there were people on whom you can fall back on.




Times have changed…….. we have adapted ourselves to so many changes that our rate of adaptation has outpaced our appetite for life.

I have always wondered when a man and woman bring among them a new life. For years they nourish and watch that life grow into a person. One day quite abruptly, that child leaves home and goes far away.

For me that day was six years back. The year I crept out of my school.

I barely knew myself then let alone understand the complexities of life that lay in the outside world. I wonder what did my parents think about me at that time……living under a protected environment for all of my eighteen years, they must have felt quite concerned of having me go out on my own. It was tough…..maybe it’s the same for everyone in the beginning. But I gradually started to cope with it.

Heck no!!! I actually started liking my freedom…..

But this transition also brought a frightening realty. Over these years the relationship with my parents has changed drastically. I sometime wonder whether we have quietly become strangers. I have allowed the Time to have slipped by like sand through a weak grip.

I hate to admit this……but I have been just a mute spectator, as if staring at it will heal the wound by itself or bear a solution.

It makes me question if parenthood is so utterly thankless, its fruit so completely insecure, in the hands of their children who decide to squander its rewards.

Life @ Reuters

It’s confirmed now…….I am completely out of touch. And that’s because it’s been quite a while since I last posted something.

Just look at the way I have begun this post! Even the word ‘awful’ would not fit the right description. Blame it on too much of work.

Saying that…….work is fun……..in Reuters….yup u read it right. It’s the pressure and the challenge that pumps up the adrenalin. Work environment is excellent too.




Since I have joined our training/production (yup learning and application is going hand in hand) is on full swing. My counterparts in Singapore have been quite helpful to me during this period. They have backed whenever there was drop in my level of confidence.







Apart from that I am starting my preparations for IAS. Let’s see how it goes about. My parents are very keen on this issue……especially my dad and I don’t want to disappoint him.

I N D I A

India’s pretty intriguing. Even for Indians.

When you travel the length and breadth of the country (which I haven’t) I guess you’ll be surprised every inch. The latest incident that surprised me was the episode involving the rickshaws.

I remember traveling in auto in Delhi during my initial school days – when I was maybe ten years old. That was the age when you don’t really know what sympathy means. All I wanted back then was a game of cricket every evening before crashing into the bed. I was then was transported to richer places like Coimbatore and Chennai (occasionally) and Bangalore. I almost forgot about the existence of rickshaws coz there were none in these places. Almost 12 years later, I traveled in rickshaws that are driven by men – sans motors – in Delhi and I’m pained. Not that I didn’t know about its existence, but traveling in them was like really tough all of a sudden.I tried the Metro in Delhi for the first time this weekend. It was AWESOME. It beats most of the metros that I’ve seen in Hollywood movies. The thing works like a breeze – with zilch noise and terrific acceleration. The whole station, metro, escalator – everything – is clean like crazy. Hell, you wouldn’t believe you are in India. It just costed seven bucks for like a 7 Km ride. I wouldn’t’ve minded paying 35 bucks! Once you are out of the metro, you see the rickshaws. Loads of them. I’ve come to realize that this is the first thing that strikes a foreigner. A life of contrasts. Five star hotels, and rusted vehicles outside. 1st class trains and platforms filled with people without shelter. Flashy cars and bullock carts squeezing for the same space. The place we wanted to go was two streets away, and we didn’t want to walk in the Delhi afternoon sun. Rickshaws seemed to be the answer. I couldn’t believe that we were going to take a rickshaw. We hesitated to walk, and are we going to make that guy pedal a huge thing with two bullies inside? Sounded like the 1900 master-slave culture. I really couldn’t make up my mind. But not using the rickshaws would also mean no business for those folks. My friend said: “Well, this is India, and this is their livelihood. Let’s take it. Give them some business”. I gave in. I couldn’t convince myself that not traveling in it was a solution, simply because it wasn’t. It was one of those moments that really put you on hold with no way to go.

It was even more painful to see the guy pedaling on slopes. He literally had to put the whole body load on the pedal. Fortunately, the road was pretty much even throughout, and that saved him. We didn’t have to get down either. I gave him 15 bucks instead of the 10 bucks as agreed. I really don’t know why I did it. My extra five bucks isn’t a solution to anything. We aren’t going to change India through charity. But still, it kind of gave a satisfaction. Maybe I thought he deserved it.

Even worse was the next incident. We were walking along a small pavement with soft drink bottles in hand. The place was pretty rotten and smelling real bad. We were pretty much scrambling out of the place when a rag kid asked us some alms. We were in no mood to give charity. After realizing that we aren’t going to give him anything, he cursed us… loud enough for us to know. I was pretty depressed for a moment. For such kids, it’s almost a right to claim for alms. Wonder what that kid would become if he grows up. It would be no surprise if he goes out of the way. For him, it’s just his life and everything he does is justified. You really can’t straighten out guys these later after having grown up in an ambience like this.
All this makes me think of another issue. Lots of people I know give alms, which is a short term solution to a long term problem. A lot of them don’t because they believe alms would just encourage these folks. For me though, it remains a tough question. For once, both parties seem right.

B A N G A L O R E !!!!!

It has been almost a month since I landed in Bangalore. The place is so different from Chennai my last stopover. The culture, its people is so vibrant and hits you immidiately(very much similar to mumbai)


My first week in Reuters has been quite entertaining one. From Skits to role playing, quizzes.....you just name it, I experienced everything. This is the way Reuters welcome newcomers its a great way.


Last week we had a party at hotel Leela for the entire Data Operation team and ........we had a B L A S T.


The infrastructure is pretty cool with flat screen monitors, personal telephones with STD & ISD facility, Reuters Messaging Service (similar to MSN)etc etc.


But the amount of passwords one is supposed to remmember is quite intimidating. IDs for telephone, PC, Bridgestation, 3000xtra, Oracle......the list goes on and on.


To meet the alreadu existing high standard is quite a challenge but as others have done it so will I .......



WISH ME BEST OF LUCK GUYS

Bizarre Stuff........

Wat is life coming too....or is it that people are ready to go to any extent just to grab a few .......foreheads.....

I got this info from one of my friend..... and this is the bizarrest stuff I ever heard......

Pratik Patel has put up a part of his body - theforehead - as ad space on an Internet auction site. Sold on the idea of the human billboard?

Well,21-year-old Pratik Patel, is convinced that he willfind takers on the auction website on which he hasbecome the first Indian to auction a body part as adspace. Yes, this computer management student from Punedoesn't deny being inspired by "fellow advertisers" onthat particular auction website. "I was rather surprised by the overwhelming responsethat Andrew Fischer got. He sold his forehead as spacefor advertising and got $37,375. When he can earn somuch through his forehead, why can't I?"

And what of other body-part auctioneers like AngelBrammer of Scotland, who sold her bust as ad space;and the pregnant Elise Harp of Georgia, who auctionedher protruding tummy as ad space? "Well, if I had whatthey have, I would do it too!" he saysFor those interested in buying Pratik's forehead as adspace for 30 days, bids start at Rs 1 lakh. "Listingis free of cost. However, the transaction fee of 5% onthe final value is what the advertiser has to give theportal," informs Deepa, corporate communicationsmanager of the website, "The rest is all his."

Money, however, is not his only criterion, insistsPratik. "Money apart, I also want to be famous. Thisattempt to auction my forehead is a stepping stone tothe UK, where I intend to pursue higher studies. Ofcourse, the more I am paid for my forehead, the betterwill be the quality of my education, the life of myparents and friends, and the life of tsunami victimsas I want to make a donation too. I also plan to buy alaptop." If Pratik has already planned how to spend what heearns, it's because he's confident the concept of bodyparts as ad space will work in India. "Why not? It's a unique concept. It's a matter oftime.

The moment this becomes a trend here, there willbe no looking back." Adds Deepa: "If corporates come forward to plant theirlogos on someone's forehead, it won't be long beforethe trend spreads like wildfire. As far as body partsgo, being an Indian portal, ad spaces will always haveto cater to community viewing." Pratik, in turn, is game for everything. "Put any logothat you want on my forehead as long as the money isbig."

Did we hear a bid out there?.....

Nonsense

Ah........ I have to hurry and jot my thoughts down. The more I think about what to write beforehand, the worse it'll come out when I try to express it.


Well, several times, I thought about giving up on this site. Several times, I read a few old posts and felt like (no actually I knew......) it was all trash (crap...... bullshit).


Several times, I asked, when did I have such moronic ideas? So I wondered, why not throw it all away, since it does not represent my current beliefs?


But if I do that, I will never have a decent record of my younger years, because when it comes down to it, my views are always changing.That's why this blog will remain. New layout, new style, but nothing of the past will be deleted. This will only mark the stepping-stone of my growth.


For one day I will look back on this post and say to myself, when did I have such shitty ideas?

Adios ! ! !

Well .... its time....

Time to pack my bags ......... and ......... start my journey ......... once again .......... the winding path of life lies ahead of me.

I knew the stay was temporary ......... and so were my companions. A few of them will join me ...... others will be forgotten in the vast milieu of crowd.

This is the time for retrospection ........ times that flew by (partying???) ....... and those which didnt (classes which were held exactly after the lunch). But the time spent here wasn't bad at all. I learnt quite a few things about me ........ about those around me ...... and more importantly about ............. we ............. humans.

As I pack my bags ......... I just cant help remembering the days we enjoyed ....... and those we hated (read the exam days) .......... our trip to MGM ........ freshers party .......the management meets ..........

And now some parting thought .................. to my friends .........

Old and good friends share a piece

Of passion, pain, and pleasure

That no one else, no family can

Begin to know or treasure.
It's as if a secret room

Held their private store,

And every time they met, they could

Go through some special door.
It doesn't matter if they see

Each other every day,

Or years and years go by before

They come and go away:
The moment that they meet it all

Is there--the memories of

Fierce loyalty and times of need

And gratitude and love.

PS: Do remember me friends ....... I am not that bad........... after all!!!!

The Sacred India - From the eyes of Paul Brunton (P B)

One of the best books on spirituality I have ever read till date. What I like about this book is the that the author adopts a no-nonsense attitude right from the beginning. He doesnot merely believe in words or is overawed by the acts of wonder workers (miracle men).

PAUL BRUNTON

Born in the year 1898, in the land of the queen, the author was greatly interested in the art of yoga & meditation. Infact it can be said that PB introduced this art to the west after having himself mastered it in India.

HIS QUEST

PB travelled extensively to the east (which doesnot necessarily correspond to India), went to Egypt, Japan among other countries. During his journey, PB came across various spiritual person, Mstics and Saints.

Some were fake.......some were genuine. The account of his meetings with various wonder workers in India to read.

While going through the book.......PB's feeling of restlessness comes to the fore. It is as if he is in search of something.....something he knows exist........yet he cannot find it. It is his restlessness that brings him in contact with some of the finest spiritual masters during that time. Sri Sri Lahiri Mahasaya, Sri Shankaracaharya, Meher Baba to name a few.......

His search ends in Arunachala at the Ashram of Sri Ramana Maharishi..........

And as the author puts in.....

"the sky is strewn with stars, which clusters in countless thousands.....close over our heads. The rising moon is a thin crescent disc of silver light. On our left the evening fireflies are making the compound grove radiant and above them the plummed heads of tall palm trees stands out in black silhoutte against the sky

My adventure in self-metamorphosis.......is.......over."

Height of Joblessness !!!!

Should the word 'Sindh' in our national anthem be replaced by some other word or the name of an Indian state???

Only a jobless person.........who has nothing else to do in life apart from ........well ....... staying alive...... would have thought of such an atrocious thing.

What amazes me the most is the fact that even the Supreme Court ....... India's apex institution on law order has taken this issue seriously. It has decided to seek a response from the Center in Public Interest.

Public Interest????

How many of us really bothered to ponder on this issue.....

And believe me there is nothing to think about......

At this point of time miliions of cases are pending in the high courts & other law enforcement agencies.

Why burden the judiciary with a case which is at best insignificant and at worse irrelevant ?

According to the petition the presence of the word Sindh in our national anthem is anomalous, both geographically and politically. This petition is based on the fact as Sindh the region is in Pakistan, singing in praises in of land belonging to a foreign nation would hurt the sentiments of all right thinking Indians.

Bullshit !!!Absolute f****** shit.

Here is my viewpoint......

The word Sindh in the national anthem doesnot have any particular geographical significance.

The same should be applied to the entire anthem. It should be regarded essentially as hymns or a song that expresses the true patrotic feeling of an Indian.

Take the case of Britain's national anthem 'God save the queen'. The poem was written when Britain had large colonies in the east. Does that mean in the post colonial era their anthem needs to be changed.

Another instance could be of Singapore's anthem 'Majulah Singapurah'. This anthem is written in Malay.......a language most Sinaporeans don't understand.

As seen above, it is the poetry & patriotism rather than ground realities that dictate the choice. The literal meanings of the word do not always determine the sentiments national anthem evoke. A country as diverse as ours, can only be united by the patriotic feeling that is invioked through our national anthem.

Chopping and changing it may not mean much to the common man........ but it would be an insult to the Constituent Assembly comprisisng of emminent personalities who on 15 Aug 1947 adopted Rabindranath Tagore's rousing invocation of India's ...........

New Spirit......

Jesus and India - is there a connection.....

Of all the saints, mystics and spiritual masters, I have heard of till date.....one intrigues me the most- Jesus Christ. My curiosity arises not from what he spoke and preached.....but who he was??? His life???.

MY QUESTIONS:

• The Holy Bible is also silent ......and mentions it as the unknown days of Christ. Why is this so...was it done deliberately......or was it out of mere ignorance.....
• After the crucification there has been numerous Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu scriptures which have recorded accounts of travelling of a saintly man from the west.....to the far east.......why has Christianity chosen to deny it.....

SOME POSSIBLE ANSWERS:

According to Holger Kersten a renowned researcher.....Jesus came to India......during his teens.....in search of truth.....
Kersten provides irrefutable evidence to this fact.......from the writing in the Buddhist scriptures and certain excavation conducted by him in an around Jammu & Kashmir*. This can be understood from the fact that at that time (and possibly even now)..... India was the powerhouse of spiritual knowledge. Supported by kings....and their subjects...... spiritual activities were given the highest priority in their daily life.

This is the reason why certain teachings of Jesus have marked similarities with Hinduism and Buddhism.

After crucification

Not only did Christ survive the Crucifixion, he travelled with his mother (Mother Mary) to India and finally died at an old age. The tomb of Jesus still exists in Kashmir. Accounts of his second arrival to India can be found in the Bhavishyat Mahapurana (a hindu scripture written in Sanskrit) and also in writings of Mullah Naderi.

What pains me is the fact that proponents of Christianity have chosen to ignore these irrefutable truth for such a long time and possibly will do it in the future......but why.......do they consider that associating christianity with the religions of the east would make it inferior........or is it something else........

Christianity as a religion is as good as any other religion in any part of the world. It is the acts of some people and their vested interest that hide the truth from coming out.

But ...... as they say........ truth has its own way coming out..........

Sooner or later !!!!

* The only trade link available between India and the west was through the Silk Route..... men and material passed through this route only.

Do visit this link http://www.sol.com.au/kor/7_01.htm to know more.......

Bye Bye 2004.........Welcome 2005

On the new year's eve........chill out with friends.....party hard all night........usher in the new year among your loved ones...........so that.......... it remains that way all the year round.

On the 1st of Jan........start the day auspiciously......pray to the Almighty.......that he is there with us in this year too......as he has been there for all this time.

Have a GREAT......GREAT......GREAT new Year.........

All the very Best.....