imagine
a life without tears
a world full of laughter
a mind without darkness
a heart full of hope.
imagine
an day without boredom
a week without fear
a month without anger
a year well spent
imagine
a poetry with meaning
a blog without pretensions
a shuv who sticks to prose
your life without my ramblings
Jun 30, 2006
Humanity
Read this and be ashamed. This is what we have achieved over a million years of evolution. What went wrong? What circumstance can drive a man to do this to his fellow man?
I, of course, have all the answers. If u ask me about africa (please ask me) i think it went horribly wrong when the white man came and tried to civilize the continent. When i was in Nigeria i had read Chinua Achebe where he had described how the social structure of a village is destroyed when a missionary comes with his concepts of religion, democracy and western society laws. Read 'Things Fall Apart' if you get the chance. It will give you a different picture of what 'civilization' has done to the human race.
I think the word 'humanity' should be scrapped from the dictionary now..or at least, redefined.
I, of course, have all the answers. If u ask me about africa (please ask me) i think it went horribly wrong when the white man came and tried to civilize the continent. When i was in Nigeria i had read Chinua Achebe where he had described how the social structure of a village is destroyed when a missionary comes with his concepts of religion, democracy and western society laws. Read 'Things Fall Apart' if you get the chance. It will give you a different picture of what 'civilization' has done to the human race.
I think the word 'humanity' should be scrapped from the dictionary now..or at least, redefined.
Jun 29, 2006
Movies that make you cry
I have noticed this trend in me and some of my friends. Old age is making us simultaenously cynical and maudlin. These two characteristics usually dont go hand in hand; a cynical guy is rarely moved to tears. But thats how it is.
I remember when i was a kid i used to bug everyone while watching tear jerkers like 'Anand' - my favorite past time was shining a torch into my father's while he struggled to hold back his tears. Now the same movie invariably makes me cry (i particularly love that scene when Johnny Walker breaks down). There are sequences in Gandhi that moves me to tears, I cry with Mukul when he sees the ruins of his house in Sonar Kella, I cry when Forrest meets his son for the first time and asks if he is normal or like him, I even fucking cry when Vinny wins the case in My Cousin Vinny.
Pretty fucking disgusting I think.
I remember when i was a kid i used to bug everyone while watching tear jerkers like 'Anand' - my favorite past time was shining a torch into my father's while he struggled to hold back his tears. Now the same movie invariably makes me cry (i particularly love that scene when Johnny Walker breaks down). There are sequences in Gandhi that moves me to tears, I cry with Mukul when he sees the ruins of his house in Sonar Kella, I cry when Forrest meets his son for the first time and asks if he is normal or like him, I even fucking cry when Vinny wins the case in My Cousin Vinny.
Pretty fucking disgusting I think.
Jun 28, 2006
Wanderlust
wan·der·lust (wŏn'dər-lŭst') noun: A very strong or irresistible impulse to travel.
[German : wandern, to wander (from Middle High German) + Lust, desire (from Middle High German, from Old High German).]
When I was 17 I met this American guy in Calcutta airport. I was doing a part time job for the Ministry of Tourism, the job being to fill up a questionnaire about tourism experiences of foreign tourists in India. This 20 something guy was sitting on a suitcase when I approached him and when I asked him what his permanent address was he patted his suitcase and said this is it. He had left home at the age of 17 and for the last 10 odd years he has been travelling around the world, working his way through one country to another, staying for as long as he liked and then moving on. He had come to Calcutta hoping to do some work with Mother Teresa and hopefully to roam the rest of India. I went home and after eating food my mother prepared and keeping the unwashed plates in the sink for the maid, I went to my room, turned on Floyd and thought 'what a life this guy has! how lucky he is that he can afford to do this'..
I met a similar guy in Bangkok..this guy was an electrician in Denver and he takes 6 months off every 3 years and roams the world. I met him when he was on his fifth month, when he had reached Thailand after staying in Japan and Australia. Again i went green with envy, wishing I had the dollar power to be able to live such a life.
Wanderlust is common among bengalis. Any tourist place you go to in India will be full of the bong traveller, unmistakeable in his monkey cap, cardiganned wife and shawled mother. I asked a shopkeeper in Kumaon (last month when I went there) what the tourist season was like. He answered that usually its March to October, except for bengali tourists who come in the winters as well. But even these guys are not the true travellers. When I was a kid I had heard so many stories of bengali globe-trotters, who had left home in their teens and had worked their way across the world and came back home after 25-30 years.
I salute these guys. These were the guys that prove to couch dreamers like me that you dont need dollars or a permissible society to pursue your dreams.
[German : wandern, to wander (from Middle High German) + Lust, desire (from Middle High German, from Old High German).]
When I was 17 I met this American guy in Calcutta airport. I was doing a part time job for the Ministry of Tourism, the job being to fill up a questionnaire about tourism experiences of foreign tourists in India. This 20 something guy was sitting on a suitcase when I approached him and when I asked him what his permanent address was he patted his suitcase and said this is it. He had left home at the age of 17 and for the last 10 odd years he has been travelling around the world, working his way through one country to another, staying for as long as he liked and then moving on. He had come to Calcutta hoping to do some work with Mother Teresa and hopefully to roam the rest of India. I went home and after eating food my mother prepared and keeping the unwashed plates in the sink for the maid, I went to my room, turned on Floyd and thought 'what a life this guy has! how lucky he is that he can afford to do this'..
I met a similar guy in Bangkok..this guy was an electrician in Denver and he takes 6 months off every 3 years and roams the world. I met him when he was on his fifth month, when he had reached Thailand after staying in Japan and Australia. Again i went green with envy, wishing I had the dollar power to be able to live such a life.
Wanderlust is common among bengalis. Any tourist place you go to in India will be full of the bong traveller, unmistakeable in his monkey cap, cardiganned wife and shawled mother. I asked a shopkeeper in Kumaon (last month when I went there) what the tourist season was like. He answered that usually its March to October, except for bengali tourists who come in the winters as well. But even these guys are not the true travellers. When I was a kid I had heard so many stories of bengali globe-trotters, who had left home in their teens and had worked their way across the world and came back home after 25-30 years.
I salute these guys. These were the guys that prove to couch dreamers like me that you dont need dollars or a permissible society to pursue your dreams.
Jun 27, 2006
Firsts
1) Driving around alone in the hot afternoons just so as not to stay at home alone.
2) Agreeing to go out with colleagues for a beer.
3) Trying to stay at office for as long as possible.
4) Eating out.
5) Sitting at Barista's and drinking coffee in the evenings.
Thanks vikas you bloody fool.
2) Agreeing to go out with colleagues for a beer.
3) Trying to stay at office for as long as possible.
4) Eating out.
5) Sitting at Barista's and drinking coffee in the evenings.
Thanks vikas you bloody fool.
Jun 22, 2006
Goodbye and good luck
Vikas is leaving today for Australia. BIG decision, BIG uncertainties. Hope everything works out brother. Will be rooting for you. Go get them tiger.
Jun 20, 2006
Quirkyalone
Quirkyalone: noun/adj. A person who enjoys being single (but is not opposed to being in a relationship) and generally prefers to be alone rather than dating for the sake of being in a couple. With unique traits and an optimistic spirit; a sensibility that transcends relationship status. See also quirkytogether, perkytogether, quirkyslut.
There are some really great people doing great things out there man!! I mean all these years I grew up thinking that I am freak of nature when lo behold!!! I visit this site and find out that I belong to this thriving global community!
I am choking with emotion. Let me go to a corner and spend some time with myself alone.
There are some really great people doing great things out there man!! I mean all these years I grew up thinking that I am freak of nature when lo behold!!! I visit this site and find out that I belong to this thriving global community!
I am choking with emotion. Let me go to a corner and spend some time with myself alone.
Disclaimer!
Before i am banned from peoples' houses or family get togethers let me state that..
'Not all opinions expressed on this blog are mine. Some are deliberate attempts to provoke comments on a slow office day'.
Phew!! Some reactions are scary man!!
'Not all opinions expressed on this blog are mine. Some are deliberate attempts to provoke comments on a slow office day'.
Phew!! Some reactions are scary man!!
Jun 19, 2006
Promiscuity in the modern world
'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's companion'...one of the bloody ten commandments
How can one exactly define 'loose' morals these days? In this day and age of failing marriages, dead relationships and robotic existences why is adultery still such a big deal? How does one justify a person who never cheats on his spouse but at the same time has a meaningless marital relationship? Is such a person a hypocrit, an escapist or is he the future of the institution called marriage?
Why is it that people can forgive a person who has a platonic relationship outside a regular relationship (be it marriage or otherwise) by justifying that 'everyone needs a shoulder to cry on'. Why is the same person labelled a cheat when the relationship becomes physical? Nowadays, people hardly meet someone they can talk to or relate to. All relationships are structured, all players all careful to play it according to the book, all of us are actors who mentally rehearse each line we speak before we utter them. When we find someone with whom one can be one's true self, is it a sin to bare one's soul to that person? And if one has bared one's soul, what is baring one's body?
Why are 'sacrifice' and 'adjustment' such holy words?
How can one exactly define 'loose' morals these days? In this day and age of failing marriages, dead relationships and robotic existences why is adultery still such a big deal? How does one justify a person who never cheats on his spouse but at the same time has a meaningless marital relationship? Is such a person a hypocrit, an escapist or is he the future of the institution called marriage?
Why is it that people can forgive a person who has a platonic relationship outside a regular relationship (be it marriage or otherwise) by justifying that 'everyone needs a shoulder to cry on'. Why is the same person labelled a cheat when the relationship becomes physical? Nowadays, people hardly meet someone they can talk to or relate to. All relationships are structured, all players all careful to play it according to the book, all of us are actors who mentally rehearse each line we speak before we utter them. When we find someone with whom one can be one's true self, is it a sin to bare one's soul to that person? And if one has bared one's soul, what is baring one's body?
Why are 'sacrifice' and 'adjustment' such holy words?
Jun 14, 2006
Arindam
I 'inherited' Arindam's friendship through by elder brother. Dadamoni and Anupam (Arindam's elder brother) were class friends and me and Arindam got introduced to each other when we joined class 1 in Xavier's. We were good friends till class 6 and even though we were in the same class right till class 12, that childhood bonding faded away by the time i was 14.
Arindam was the first boy in class throughout. He was brilliant in the arts subjects, was a good orator and a fantastic footballer. I personally believe that if he had gone pro all football lovers in India would have heard of him. But..this is what finally happenned to him.
He was always shaky in maths. Till class 10 it doesnt really matter as the science and maths syllabus are quite easy. Then there is a quantum leap in the higher secondary syllabus. He scored 85% in 10th (a lot in west bengal board standard) and expectedly was instructed by his parents to take up Science (all good bong students have to take up science and then become docs or engineers..its the law of the land). He somehow scraped through the board exams but did not crack any of the competitive exams. His family still were unable to reconcile the fact that their topper son was not cut out to be a science student, and he was forced to sit at home for a year and prepare for the next years entrance exams. He failed again and tried to commit suicide. I lost track of him after that. Then a couple of years back i heard that he has become a drug addict.
To all of you who have children please let this incident be a lesson. Please identity the inclinations and strengths of your children and help them pursue their dreams. Let us make sure that there are no more Arindams.
Arindam was the first boy in class throughout. He was brilliant in the arts subjects, was a good orator and a fantastic footballer. I personally believe that if he had gone pro all football lovers in India would have heard of him. But..this is what finally happenned to him.
He was always shaky in maths. Till class 10 it doesnt really matter as the science and maths syllabus are quite easy. Then there is a quantum leap in the higher secondary syllabus. He scored 85% in 10th (a lot in west bengal board standard) and expectedly was instructed by his parents to take up Science (all good bong students have to take up science and then become docs or engineers..its the law of the land). He somehow scraped through the board exams but did not crack any of the competitive exams. His family still were unable to reconcile the fact that their topper son was not cut out to be a science student, and he was forced to sit at home for a year and prepare for the next years entrance exams. He failed again and tried to commit suicide. I lost track of him after that. Then a couple of years back i heard that he has become a drug addict.
To all of you who have children please let this incident be a lesson. Please identity the inclinations and strengths of your children and help them pursue their dreams. Let us make sure that there are no more Arindams.
World Cup Soccer and India
Do you know the population of Togo? Its about the same as Andheri, a suburb of Mumbai where we used to stay. They are also a poor country, not having the natural resources that Nigeria or South Africa have. They have, however, qualified for the world cup. Should'nt we be ashamed of ourselves?
But wait...did you know who has supplied the balls for this year's world cup. Its a bloke from Jallandhar, Punjab. He had landed the 5 million dollar deal, and these are the first stitchless balls in the world. There also has been a lot of praise for the balls in terms of the movement and balance.
Good for you man! At least we are somewhere on the soccer map!
But wait...did you know who has supplied the balls for this year's world cup. Its a bloke from Jallandhar, Punjab. He had landed the 5 million dollar deal, and these are the first stitchless balls in the world. There also has been a lot of praise for the balls in terms of the movement and balance.
Good for you man! At least we are somewhere on the soccer map!
World Cup Trivia
Brazil won the world cup in 1994. Before that, Brazil had won this title for the last time in 1970.
If you add up: 1970 + 1994 = 3964
Argentina won the world cup for the last time in 1986. Before that only in 1978.
And 1978 + 1986 = 3964
Germany, though, won the world cup in 1990. Before that, Germany won in 1974.
Look: 1990 + 1974 = 3964
This could lead us to guess the winner of the World Cup in 2002, since it should be the winner of the 1962 World Cup (In fact 3964 - 2002 = 1962).
And Brazil won the world cup in 1962! (And, in fact, Brazil won the 2002 WC)
This numerology seems to work...
And now, who would be the winner of the 2006 world cup?
Let's see, 3964 - 2006 = 1958
And who won in 1958?
Oh, Brazil did!!!
If you add up: 1970 + 1994 = 3964
Argentina won the world cup for the last time in 1986. Before that only in 1978.
And 1978 + 1986 = 3964
Germany, though, won the world cup in 1990. Before that, Germany won in 1974.
Look: 1990 + 1974 = 3964
This could lead us to guess the winner of the World Cup in 2002, since it should be the winner of the 1962 World Cup (In fact 3964 - 2002 = 1962).
And Brazil won the world cup in 1962! (And, in fact, Brazil won the 2002 WC)
This numerology seems to work...
And now, who would be the winner of the 2006 world cup?
Let's see, 3964 - 2006 = 1958
And who won in 1958?
Oh, Brazil did!!!
Jun 2, 2006
Fear Factor
Generally dont watch it but yesterday's episode was so gruesome that I just couldn't flip the channel. Usually, people are made to eat ants or lie down with a million rats or spiders or perform similar intellectual asks. Yesterday, the grand prize was a year's free mortgage for which the participants (4 mother and son pairs) had to perform these simple tasks (fastest pair wins):
1) From a murky water filled blocked kitchen sink (drain blocked with hair and garbage) take out a set of keys using their mouths.
2) Open a glass cage filled with vipers with these keys and take out a box (first one has to unscrew a couple of screws holding the box. everyone got bitten).
3) Open the box and transfer 6 scorpions from the box to a bowl...using their mouths.
4) From a bottle of spoilt rotting milk transfer the contents of the bottle to a bowl using a straw.
5) Drive a low sports car alongside a 12 wheel truck at 60mph and 'undertake' the truck..that means cross the truck from underneath and overtake from the other side.
Each of these had to be done by BOTH the mother and son, separately. And ALL of them did all of this, no one failed to complete the agenda. The winner was decided on time. The expressions on the mothers' faces were to be seen to be believed...but they did it all.
I guess mortgage is important to these guys. Personally...i would rather pay my EMIs.
1) From a murky water filled blocked kitchen sink (drain blocked with hair and garbage) take out a set of keys using their mouths.
2) Open a glass cage filled with vipers with these keys and take out a box (first one has to unscrew a couple of screws holding the box. everyone got bitten).
3) Open the box and transfer 6 scorpions from the box to a bowl...using their mouths.
4) From a bottle of spoilt rotting milk transfer the contents of the bottle to a bowl using a straw.
5) Drive a low sports car alongside a 12 wheel truck at 60mph and 'undertake' the truck..that means cross the truck from underneath and overtake from the other side.
Each of these had to be done by BOTH the mother and son, separately. And ALL of them did all of this, no one failed to complete the agenda. The winner was decided on time. The expressions on the mothers' faces were to be seen to be believed...but they did it all.
I guess mortgage is important to these guys. Personally...i would rather pay my EMIs.
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