Leaving you has never been easy.
This time, its gonna be extra tough.
God only knows when will I be back.
But yes, back I shall be!
An empty room - a vacuum
My place in this crazy land - without me
My haven, my shade, my burrow, my cave
My world in this world, I shall forever save
Gonna miss you MICA! And shall miss you like hell, # 16, Chandni!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
A turn in the road.
One more bites dust. I fell for the trap and would succumb to the corporate life. Congrats to me! The offer rescued me from an even crazier jamboree called Placement week. You know the one, when we all dress the same, walk the same, talk the same and yet trying to ‘differentiate’ and sell ourselves? So have I finally arrived in life? Shete says I need some ‘self realisation’. My brain registers a big ‘’Huh?!’ but then again the man greets me with a ‘Aye marr na’ instead of ‘Hi!’ So I won’t pay much attention to him.
I need some time and space - may be a trip to Bhutan. But joining date is less than a month away. So here I go, compromising from the word go. The wish-list is made and it sits pinned to my notice board till the pay day. My first one it would be. But the future is dark.
No more bunking classes.
No more leisurely breakfasts.
No more walking it in the middle of classes.
No more late night walks.
I don’t know if I learnt much here. Definitely not much when I was doing the above things. But those were the best of times. A rewind please? Somehow going ahead is going to be painful.
I need some time and space - may be a trip to Bhutan. But joining date is less than a month away. So here I go, compromising from the word go. The wish-list is made and it sits pinned to my notice board till the pay day. My first one it would be. But the future is dark.
No more bunking classes.
No more leisurely breakfasts.
No more walking it in the middle of classes.
No more late night walks.
I don’t know if I learnt much here. Definitely not much when I was doing the above things. But those were the best of times. A rewind please? Somehow going ahead is going to be painful.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The New Yahoo! - What do Y!ou think?
On 5th October 2009, 4 major daily newspapers of the country – TheT imes of India, HT, Mint and DNA greeted us with a full page bright yellow jacket advertisement saying, ‘The Internet is under new management. Yours.’ Prime time slots on all major as well as niche television channels like Discovery, NatGeo played the Yahoo! Anthem – a minute long advertisement focused on the international spirit and interactivity of Yahoo!
Earlier this month, horizontal portal giant Yahoo! launched a global branding campaign ‘It’s Y!ou’ focusing on the user now being in charge of his internet experience through Yahoo! Personalization of homepage and other products are the ways in which Yahoo! wishes to offer superior web experience to its users. Costing them a little over $100 million, the campaign is seen as a long term transformation for Yahoo! who wishes to be at the centre of all internet-based activities for the users.
This brings out several interesting issues for discussion:
1. Conventional media – still alive and kickin’– It is interesting to see an Internet company leveraging conventional media – Print, television, radio to drive people to its website.
2. ‘Product innovation precedes the branding campaign’, so claims Yahoo! Yes, there have been several up gradations and add-ons, and the collaboration with Microsoft for the search engine Bing has been a huge step. The Homepage too has undergone a makeover, looking much sleeker, cleaner and appealing. The biggest feature that the Homepage now offers is the personalisation of content that one wishes to see on his/her homepage. There are also similar features in the other core products like mail, messenger and search (through choice of filters). But is personalization of content such a breakthrough innovation that it justifies a budget of $100 million? More so, can an entire branding strategy be based on this development in the product? In the past, iGoogle has offered similar options without so much as a ruffle.
3. Horizontal vs. Vertical portals – where are we heading?
In an age where digital immigrants are fast turning into digital natives, we all wish to become ‘specialists in information’ rather than being simply ‘well-informed’. Similarly, we tend to rely more on vertical portals for the depth and variety of content that they offer. For an avid internet user, a horizontal portal is increasingly being seen as a platform for the internet noobs to start off from. So the moot point is as the consumer preferences change as one becomes more adept with the internet, does a horizontal portal still offer us a reason to stick around? And more importantly can Yahoo! do that?
4. ‘Centre of peoples’ online lives’ is the positioning Yahoo! intends to achieve. But in current times where every digital native has 4 or more social networking ids (Orkut, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) not to mention multiple mail accounts and other personal favourite websites can one website become the centre of users’ online lives? Interestingly, even Google seems to be in the race for this coveted position. It would be exciting to watch if Yahoo! can match up to the expectations it has set for itself.
In recent times, Yahoo! has undergone a plethora of changes both in its management as well as product portfolio. Streamlining of products, identifying and communicating the role of Yahoo! in cyberspace are a few tasks carried out by the feisty CEO Carol Bartz after coming on board. Agreed, that the company has had its share of tumultuous phases and even more may come, but one would be foolish to discount Yahoo! as it gears up for the challenge of becoming the centre of people’s online lives. Not to mention, Yahoo! sites are after all, the third most visited websites on the planet!*
*Source: June 2009, comScore
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
To be or not to be - no, no nothing that dramatic!
Dichotomy. One moment I think about doing something I have never tried out in life and at the other the sheer amount of pending work exasperates me. How does one choose between the two? Between what needs to be done and what one wishes to do. The choice between responsibility and what pleases oneself.
For long I have postponed things that I really wanted to do. It started with simple stuff - blog posts, taking pictures, writing poems, reading a good book and it went on to form a habit, a really bad one. I postponed calling friends on their birthdays and talking to my parents for days at a stretch. On campus one tends to live in a world of bubble - a world visible to others yet so aloof that making a contact with the outsiders takes an effort. Efforts which I thought could be postponed.
How does one make a choice?? I want to make the right choice but how? There is so much going on acads-wise that I dont wish to fall behind. So much to read, to learn and so less time! But then there is this empty feeling that next months are going to be the last 6 months of my life when I will get to do what I really want to! 4 am walks around the campus, late night grub at Chota, watching movies all night and then heading for breakfast, playing badminton at absurd hours, writing silly poetry and living life my way!!
The whole 'balancing act' is sucha farce, I tell you. There is no such thing as the middle path and if there is one - then I am clearly miles away. Sigh!
Time for updates!
1. We (Siddhesh, KK and I) won the Arbit Presentations, an event at Prayaag '09, the annual B-fest of JBMIS. Yay!! The competition was tough with singing, dancing, acting and prancing around involved. (Dont ask!) Who would have thought those number-crunching Fin-majors of JB would be so good at cheeky one liners!
2. After an eventful vacation (one of the longest - almost deserves a new post) I am finally back on campus. The weather in Gujjuland is pleasantly cold. One can clearly make out the Mumbai junta with their sweatshirts and socks from the Delhi ones walking around in their shorts and skirts.
3. On the dissertation front - I managed to get the faculty I wanted as my internal and external guides. It wasn't an easy task with the moronic admin people FORGETTING to CHECK my mail and alloting guides to everyone else except me. I almost had a 'WTF!' moment but then diplomacy took over. It was good to know that politeness still works - especially when the other person is at fault! :P
Aah! So I finally manage to write one entire post without answering the question I started off with. I guess, the deadlines are hinting the answer not-so-subtly. Well, I did blog today and played baddy, hit the gym, watched a movie so now a little padhai wont do much harm.
Tada!!
For long I have postponed things that I really wanted to do. It started with simple stuff - blog posts, taking pictures, writing poems, reading a good book and it went on to form a habit, a really bad one. I postponed calling friends on their birthdays and talking to my parents for days at a stretch. On campus one tends to live in a world of bubble - a world visible to others yet so aloof that making a contact with the outsiders takes an effort. Efforts which I thought could be postponed.
How does one make a choice?? I want to make the right choice but how? There is so much going on acads-wise that I dont wish to fall behind. So much to read, to learn and so less time! But then there is this empty feeling that next months are going to be the last 6 months of my life when I will get to do what I really want to! 4 am walks around the campus, late night grub at Chota, watching movies all night and then heading for breakfast, playing badminton at absurd hours, writing silly poetry and living life my way!!
The whole 'balancing act' is sucha farce, I tell you. There is no such thing as the middle path and if there is one - then I am clearly miles away. Sigh!
Time for updates!
1. We (Siddhesh, KK and I) won the Arbit Presentations, an event at Prayaag '09, the annual B-fest of JBMIS. Yay!! The competition was tough with singing, dancing, acting and prancing around involved. (Dont ask!) Who would have thought those number-crunching Fin-majors of JB would be so good at cheeky one liners!
2. After an eventful vacation (one of the longest - almost deserves a new post) I am finally back on campus. The weather in Gujjuland is pleasantly cold. One can clearly make out the Mumbai junta with their sweatshirts and socks from the Delhi ones walking around in their shorts and skirts.
3. On the dissertation front - I managed to get the faculty I wanted as my internal and external guides. It wasn't an easy task with the moronic admin people FORGETTING to CHECK my mail and alloting guides to everyone else except me. I almost had a 'WTF!' moment but then diplomacy took over. It was good to know that politeness still works - especially when the other person is at fault! :P
Aah! So I finally manage to write one entire post without answering the question I started off with. I guess, the deadlines are hinting the answer not-so-subtly. Well, I did blog today and played baddy, hit the gym, watched a movie so now a little padhai wont do much harm.
Tada!!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Can cook to save life.
The grass is always greener on the other side, they say. But the other day my heart truly went out to my best friend from college, Avinash. MS in biotech jumbo-mumbo in some frozen county of New York is making life tough for the poor guy. Cooking was never his forte and now he is fending himself off on frozen foods. Adding to his woes, the proverbial ' golden ray of hope' (that would be me) is missing from his life. No wonder! He is in sucha dump! :P
Alright! May be things aren't that bad..but yes, the moron bought a microwave for 3$ at a garage sale and I bet he hasn't even warmed water in it yet.
So here it is - The recipe I promised you Avi. Try to stick to the basics and I assure you that it will be edible
Vegetable Pulav - Microwave-made
Total Time: 20 mins (including preparation time)
Ingredients:
1 cup of rice
1 cup of chopped carrots
1 cup of chopped cauliflower
1/2 cup chopped french beans
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup of chopped potatoes
Basically any veggies you can lay your hands on.
Spare the yucky brinjals and lady's fingers though!
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon jeera
2-3 chopped green chillies
1/2 tablespoon chopped garlic
1-2 teaspoons red chilli powder
2 teaspoons garam masala
2 teaspoons dhaniya powder
Salt swadanusaar (Thus spake like a true chef!)
Method: Switch on the microwave. (Duh!) Now in a borosil/any microwave-friendly container, add the oil and warm it for 30 seconds (I use piHigh ie. Microwave mode). Now add the jeera, chopped chillies, garlic and let it microwave for one minute. To the pot, now add all the veggies, the masalas, salt, rice and around 3 cups of good old H2O. The best way to be sure if the water is enough or not, well, there should be a a nice 1 inch gap between level of rice + veggies and that of the water in the pot (Level of water > Level of rice).
Done! Now microwave this for 13-15 mins. Remove once when you are half-way through and stir well. You can also add a dash of lemon juice and sprinkling of coriander now (Never mind Avi! Move on) and then continue cooking till all the water is absorbed and the rice is well cooked and dry.
Serve hot with some Lijjat papads, pickle, raita and chhaas (Avi, you can skip this.)
Voila!! I told you..a good hot meal is only a few minutes away :)
P.S: No clue about US, but in India we wash the rice atleast 3-4 times to remove that white powder thats used to preserve it. Dont exactly know what it is - I guess some pesticide! Just thought I should remind you :P
Now do a favour on that microwave of yours and try this dish out. Oh! and take pics - put them on FB - that will send girls swooning after you :P
Love,
Rutuja
P.S : Pic is from the net. Outcome of the above experiment may not resemble the picture. Kindly excuse.
Alright! May be things aren't that bad..but yes, the moron bought a microwave for 3$ at a garage sale and I bet he hasn't even warmed water in it yet.
So here it is - The recipe I promised you Avi. Try to stick to the basics and I assure you that it will be edible
Vegetable Pulav - Microwave-made
Total Time: 20 mins (including preparation time)
Ingredients:
1 cup of rice
1 cup of chopped carrots
1 cup of chopped cauliflower
1/2 cup chopped french beans
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup of chopped potatoes
Basically any veggies you can lay your hands on.
Spare the yucky brinjals and lady's fingers though!
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon jeera
2-3 chopped green chillies
1/2 tablespoon chopped garlic
1-2 teaspoons red chilli powder
2 teaspoons garam masala
2 teaspoons dhaniya powder
Salt swadanusaar (Thus spake like a true chef!)
Method: Switch on the microwave. (Duh!) Now in a borosil/any microwave-friendly container, add the oil and warm it for 30 seconds (I use piHigh ie. Microwave mode). Now add the jeera, chopped chillies, garlic and let it microwave for one minute. To the pot, now add all the veggies, the masalas, salt, rice and around 3 cups of good old H2O. The best way to be sure if the water is enough or not, well, there should be a a nice 1 inch gap between level of rice + veggies and that of the water in the pot (Level of water > Level of rice).
Done! Now microwave this for 13-15 mins. Remove once when you are half-way through and stir well. You can also add a dash of lemon juice and sprinkling of coriander now (Never mind Avi! Move on) and then continue cooking till all the water is absorbed and the rice is well cooked and dry.
Serve hot with some Lijjat papads, pickle, raita and chhaas (Avi, you can skip this.)
Voila!! I told you..a good hot meal is only a few minutes away :)
P.S: No clue about US, but in India we wash the rice atleast 3-4 times to remove that white powder thats used to preserve it. Dont exactly know what it is - I guess some pesticide! Just thought I should remind you :P
Now do a favour on that microwave of yours and try this dish out. Oh! and take pics - put them on FB - that will send girls swooning after you :P
Love,
Rutuja
P.S : Pic is from the net. Outcome of the above experiment may not resemble the picture. Kindly excuse.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Information you can live without.
I hate this transitory phase. I am at home currently but would return to my b-school in a week's time. Half of my clothes lie in the laundry bag, a few in the cupboard - all neatly washed n ironed while a few peep out of suitcase. Half of my stuff is still back there in my other home - that lovely hostel room back in MICA...and in all this I feel halved..incomplete..somewhat hanging in between 2 places..neither here nor there. I mean..my post-its are there and important stuff to write about here! My silver earrings here and the matching bangles back there :( I wish I was all in one place..me and my belongings. I feel so incomplete without them..no, not just the clothes, books, jewellery and stationery..but my life! I am not liking this duality - I miss my mirror, my marker pens and my cupboard door full of post-its. I miss evening walks around the campus, the after-dinner walks and that liesurely breakfast full of news and gossips.
I am increasingly irked by my behaviour. I plan a lot, decide on a few but eventually end up doing almost nothing. What else can explain 85 unfinished drafts of blog-posts? Make that 86 - if I give up finishing this one too.
Mindless social networking. Those stupid stupid FB quizzes..going back to them after a few hours to see if any other equally lame homo sapien has bothered 'liking' or commenting. How shallow am I gonna get?
Its been ages since I wrote a poem. A long time since I read a good book..Ok, the last one was 2 weeks back. But 2 weeks of utter joblessness?? Adding the same set of people as friends on Orkut, Facebook, LinkedIn..followed by scraps of 'Wassup? How u doing?' to the same people I didnt even bother talking to back in school or college. Aargh! I seriously dont need this form of active social life.
Thankfully the offline social life is not that pathetic. But yeah, my parents have become increasingly intolerant of my erratic biolgical clock. I am my most active self when they are asleep and just vegetate around the house during the day. Cant blame them but then its too difficult to adopt normalcy now, that too for a few days.
Gastronomically speaking (no updates are complete without this) it has been a blessed holiday so far. Sabudana wadas, khichdi and other such holiday-items are ticked off in the list. The long lost love for cooking was rekindled and I realised once again why MBA was such a bad idea.
Here is the list of what I cooked this week:
I am increasingly irked by my behaviour. I plan a lot, decide on a few but eventually end up doing almost nothing. What else can explain 85 unfinished drafts of blog-posts? Make that 86 - if I give up finishing this one too.
Mindless social networking. Those stupid stupid FB quizzes..going back to them after a few hours to see if any other equally lame homo sapien has bothered 'liking' or commenting. How shallow am I gonna get?
Its been ages since I wrote a poem. A long time since I read a good book..Ok, the last one was 2 weeks back. But 2 weeks of utter joblessness?? Adding the same set of people as friends on Orkut, Facebook, LinkedIn..followed by scraps of 'Wassup? How u doing?' to the same people I didnt even bother talking to back in school or college. Aargh! I seriously dont need this form of active social life.
Thankfully the offline social life is not that pathetic. But yeah, my parents have become increasingly intolerant of my erratic biolgical clock. I am my most active self when they are asleep and just vegetate around the house during the day. Cant blame them but then its too difficult to adopt normalcy now, that too for a few days.
Gastronomically speaking (no updates are complete without this) it has been a blessed holiday so far. Sabudana wadas, khichdi and other such holiday-items are ticked off in the list. The long lost love for cooking was rekindled and I realised once again why MBA was such a bad idea.
Here is the list of what I cooked this week:
- Vegetable Pulav
- Jeera rice
- Baingan ka bharta
- Chocolate brownie
- Vegetable momos
- Gobi ke pakode
- Onion-Potato-Chilli Bhajji
- Pasta in tomato sauce
- Maggi (some 4 times in one week)
- French toasts (had them after almost 2 years!)
Cooking is sucha stress-buster. So is cleaning the cupboard. De-cluttering is good. Clears the mind. Just what I need right now. But cant :(( Who cooks at 2 am? nd who will eat?? as for cleaning the cupboard...damn! the cupboard here is almost empty :( So here I go..back to my cribbing session. Missing good things in life..getting bored of boredom and lacking motivation to break this vicious cycle.
What a waste I am!
What a waste I am!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Yo MICA Yo!!
So I hit the 'publish' button on the previous post, switched off the laptop and crashed on to my bed some 5 minutes back and then I remembered!! Of course I could not sleep knowing that I had forgotten to update my loyal fan base of 10 about one of the most historic events of all times!
MICA THRASHED IIM AHMEDABAD AT FOOTBALL (2-1)
Yay!! Remember you read this here first! Though we have already seen to it that tomorrow's DNA or Ahmedabad Mirror will carry a dramatic, 'will-make-you-sit-at-the-edge-of-your-seat' half-page story on the same. (Go Team Interface! ;))
Aah! First match of the season and the boys have already made me proud.
P.S: MICANs/ IIM A junta - kindly ignore the fact that we didn't win a single match last season cause as darling Celine Dion croons 'A new term has cometh!' :)
Aah! First match of the season and the boys have already made me proud.
P.S: MICANs/ IIM A junta - kindly ignore the fact that we didn't win a single match last season cause as darling Celine Dion croons 'A new term has cometh!' :)
All I remember is 'Addhi haddi di nangi chudail!' :D
Its 3 am and this is when I am my widest awake.
- I won 3 baddy matches today!Yay! No the opposite team wasn't a limbu-timbu. It's just that my partner was, you know, good :)
- My MICARE (On-campus, students-run provision store) bill was only Rs.53 and I actually felt bad that I didn't contribute much so had two Maaza to alleviate the guilt. With a 30% sudden spike it now stands at Rs. 69 :|
- A case-study writing competition on which I had worked with a bunch of junees declared its result today. We didn't make it. Not because we weren't good enough but because the guy heading the competition decided to shelve our case topic on his own whim and fancy!! I mean ya, WTF!!
- Viraj was slightly mad at me for not doing things that I had promised him some time back (3 weeks back :| He sombrely reminds). I gave him a dozen excuses and prayed he will understand :D No wonder he calls me 'nalayak' :(
- It's Garba time in Gujjuland!! And do you know what am I doing tonight? Sitting on my bed typing out this silly post which no one except my great grand child will one day read! Hmph!
- Ok, let's try once again..it's Garba time in Gujjuland!! And do you know what I had for dinner? White, bland, oily rubber balls that also go around by the name Sabudana wada!! A culinary rape, to say the least. Grr..
- Ok, for the last time..it's Garba time in Gujjuland!! 'Abe stop yelling and start that Retail wala assignment due day after' ' Are you done transcripting the FGDs? chal insights likhne baith' 'Kya hua? insights nahi mile? Toh findings likh aur insights bolke thok de :P' ' Media laws & Ethics ka assignment hua?' "Fir SCM kaun uncle karega?'
- Sigh! So even though it's Garba time in Gujjuland..(dil pe dagad rakhke) Do I look like I care? :(
- Oh how could I forget? (actually one must try to.. but harrowing memories!) Yesterday a bunch of us frustrated souls went for a late night show of 'Dil Bole Hadippa!' Well let me just say - the company was good, the ambience was good and I am still wondering why the heck was Sherlyn Chopra wearing a muffler over a bikini top and hot pants? Rani - get married, have kids! It's high time. Shahid - Don't get married, you are totally drool-worthy right now.
Exam's in 3 days..no wait, 2 days :0
And home* in 6 days!! :)
*Home - place where Sabudana wadas are like Sabudana wadas.
And home* in 6 days!! :)
*Home - place where Sabudana wadas are like Sabudana wadas.
Monday, September 14, 2009
There's something about him...
I saw him again tonight. He was nervous, yet smiling. His smile radiated from across the distance and I quickly forgot that I was in a foul mood. He grabbed my bowl of hakka noodles and threatened to devour it all by himself. I simply turned around and said go ahead. He was perplexed and returned it sheepishly. I smiled knowing that I am never so generous to others.
He came up to me to talk about his worries, the tension was obviously killing him. I was only too glad to be of some help. He promised that I would be the first one to know of any good result of his impending predicament. I knew then that I had been a good friend. He put a hand around me and shook me by arms. Silly boy, he doesnt know that his playfulness had won me over a long time back.
He wishes to talk more but I know I should leave. I can only be a friend and that's all can he be to me. I am happy to have him as a friend and can't complicate things in either of our lives. Sometimes it's only fair to keep it simple.
I think of that special someone he has back home and curiously I feel no animosity towards her. How could anyone not like him? But then she was the blessed one and so was he to have her.
But I cant leave without telling him of all that he has meant to me. Someday I will tell but today's not the time. Let me be the friend that he needs right now. Let me be the support that he seeks. Not because I want him to like me. Not because of what I want him to think..may be because I need a friend too. Yes, just a friend in my life. That's all.
He came up to me to talk about his worries, the tension was obviously killing him. I was only too glad to be of some help. He promised that I would be the first one to know of any good result of his impending predicament. I knew then that I had been a good friend. He put a hand around me and shook me by arms. Silly boy, he doesnt know that his playfulness had won me over a long time back.
He wishes to talk more but I know I should leave. I can only be a friend and that's all can he be to me. I am happy to have him as a friend and can't complicate things in either of our lives. Sometimes it's only fair to keep it simple.
I think of that special someone he has back home and curiously I feel no animosity towards her. How could anyone not like him? But then she was the blessed one and so was he to have her.
But I cant leave without telling him of all that he has meant to me. Someday I will tell but today's not the time. Let me be the friend that he needs right now. Let me be the support that he seeks. Not because I want him to like me. Not because of what I want him to think..may be because I need a friend too. Yes, just a friend in my life. That's all.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Gunda..no, not the movie!
Yesterday the happiest moment in the day came at 4.25 am. The Chandni junta (if awake) must have thought I am seriously demented to laugh my head off in the dead silence of the wee hours. All this over one pic of a 'gunda'.
If the above lines don't make any sense, well they aren't supposed to. Thanks Abhijit. You know you were my best friend once...and now I know why :)
If the above lines don't make any sense, well they aren't supposed to. Thanks Abhijit. You know you were my best friend once...and now I know why :)
*****
Ever since 2nd year has started, I am becoming more and more aware of the fact that my MICA days have remained largely un-jotted. Apart from the few idle evenings, Mathew movies and random bakwaas nothing is recorded :( Memories are fading fast! Need to hold on to them...coz there is nothing worse than forgetting about a good time you once had!
Ever since 2nd year has started, I am becoming more and more aware of the fact that my MICA days have remained largely un-jotted. Apart from the few idle evenings, Mathew movies and random bakwaas nothing is recorded :( Memories are fading fast! Need to hold on to them...coz there is nothing worse than forgetting about a good time you once had!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
To stop train, pull the chain!
Today was a saturday. I realised that coz we had Pav-bhaji for dinner (yes, I by-heart the Mess Menu Time-table). Another thing I realised...the Ganpati fest is still on! So much for getting senti last week and pouring my heart out over the last post.
Where did the week go? Isn't second year supposed to mucho relaxed? Didn't our seniors laugh at us mockingly last year when we raced for classes? I had avenged to do the same to my junees next year. Then why am I sitting next to this junee in the library when have I should been watching movies and making merry? Why do I see the whole 'academic riguer' (yes ChaCha did exactly what he meant!) giving me rigor mortis?
The 'To do' list is now running into pages...so outrageous that its almost funny.
Not that I had been only slogging my ass off all the time..I did play basketball once this week and ended up breaking my specs :| The next day was fun too...heavenly infact! Played badminton is rains for almost 2 hours. (Plastic shuttle folks!!)
But then why do I feel life is slipping away super fast?
Remember how it feels while traveling in a long-distance train? You want to read the names of those tiny hamlets that pass by..but you just cant. Its that feeling! And some higher intelligence tells me that this train shall never stop! :(
Is it so bad or am I simply cribbing too much? :|
Where did the week go? Isn't second year supposed to mucho relaxed? Didn't our seniors laugh at us mockingly last year when we raced for classes? I had avenged to do the same to my junees next year. Then why am I sitting next to this junee in the library when have I should been watching movies and making merry? Why do I see the whole 'academic riguer' (yes ChaCha did exactly what he meant!) giving me rigor mortis?
The 'To do' list is now running into pages...so outrageous that its almost funny.
Not that I had been only slogging my ass off all the time..I did play basketball once this week and ended up breaking my specs :| The next day was fun too...heavenly infact! Played badminton is rains for almost 2 hours. (Plastic shuttle folks!!)
But then why do I feel life is slipping away super fast?
Remember how it feels while traveling in a long-distance train? You want to read the names of those tiny hamlets that pass by..but you just cant. Its that feeling! And some higher intelligence tells me that this train shall never stop! :(
Is it so bad or am I simply cribbing too much? :|
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Amchya gharcha Ganpati
My dissertation research proposal looks back at me. I haven't typed a single word for the last 30 mins. I simply stare blankly...the mind clearly lost in a myriad of thoughts. Of some place else...
Kai challa asel aata tithe? Babdu office madhun aala asel...Baba, Kaka hi aale astil. Jevana zali astil..rather urakanyat aali astil. Murti kitpat tayar zali he baghnyat Shashi kaka dang astil. Dar varshi pramane ajun chehra, dole, shela ani dhotaracha painting urlela ashnaar. Mag Shashi Kaka damdaati karun tya JJ chya artist la pakdun basavnaar...pandhra dhotar ani tyavar silver-green ashi patent border. Shela matra gulabi ani soneri border. Shindenchya murtichya hya goshtinvar compromise karna shakyach nahi!! Dole kadhnyat matra tya artist cha talent panala lagta..aaju-bajuchyanni bolaycha hi naahi..fakt thakk houn baghat basaycha ani zala ki tya mhatarya artistcha chehryavarcha anand baghaycha! Hey sagla Shashi Kakanchya able guidance khali..afterall in-house artist tech. Tashi majhi aai hi artist..magchya varshi Ganpati che dole ani moracha pisara tinech paint kela hota!! (Pose hoti : Moravarcha Ganpati)
Shashi Kaka murtiche incharge tarr..Baba ani Sharad Kaka decoration incharge. Varchya maalyavarcha (attic) toh lokhandi trunk khaali aanlyashivay decoration chi survatach hou shakat nahi. Tya pitaaryat kai kai nahi asa vicharu naka...Ganpati che vastra, bhandi, lightings, ekda chukun aanlele ani kadhich na vaparlele disco bulbs, devache daagine, plastic chi phula-veli, kadhikali vaparlele thermocol che blocks, 5 varshanpurvi decoration la vaparlela velvet ani moon paper ani lahan mulanchya crafts chya kit madhye saptil tya rangi-berangi tiklya, mani, khade, laces ani metallic borders!! Darr varshi tyat navin navin goshti sapadtat..almost like a Pandora's box!
So Sharad Kakanni toh jad (almost 20 kilo) pitaara malyavarun khali kadayla Babdu la sangitla asnaar jo tyane soyiskar ritya Kaustubh var dhakalla asel. Kaustubh hi shevti Babdu Shethchach bhau...tyane te Sai var paas on kela asnaar!! Shevti Kakancha patience sampnaar...ani High Command chidlele baghun doghahi Kaustubh-Babdu maalyavar chadun toh trunk mukatyane khaali kadhtil!
Mag decoration kai karaycha hya var ek kautumbik discussion-cum-debate hoil. Baba mhantil - "Hya varshi kahi tari saadhach karuya" Tyavar Kaki ani Aai hi duzora detil "Ho, ho..aata vay zala aapla..nahi jhepat aata..barrich varsha kela khoop..." Babdu-Kaustubh faar kahi bolnar nahit..tyanna mahitiye..hey dar-varshi che dialogues ahet...kiti hi saadha mhantla tari tya doghanna akkhi ratra sagle jagavnaar ani nahi nahi mhanta..decoration "saadhach aapla kahitari" chya definition chya well beyond janaar.
Ratri 11 vajta finally decoration chi theme tharel.. Hya varshi chya Ganpati chi pose : Shri Krishna chya avtaratla Ganpati! "Ubhi murti..mhanje side la jaast decoration hava..maage kami..kimaan 5 ft che pillars tari have bajula..Garden scene karuya...Pillars varun hirvya veli soduya..samor ek fence karuya...sawdust la green colour deuya ani suklyavar gavat mhanun vapruya....ki khara gavat ugvaycha?? ani ceiling varun ek laaman diva soduya. Bhinti var curtains chya magun dhaga paint karuya...nahitar sandhyakal cha effect dakhvayla dark navy blue cha background ani tyavar chandane...ani 3 varshan purvi vaparlela card board cha chandra aselach na? Kai?? Tutla? Thike...punha banvu..ani tyanchyavar white paint maarun silver colour chi chamki takuya!!" Sarvanumate finally decoration chi theme tharel!
Thermocol
Cardboard
Plywood
Velvet papers
Paint
Silver glitter
Golden glitter
Sawdust
Curtains
Khoti phula
Khotya veli
Khari phula
Laaman diva
Ashi checklist tayar hoil...kaam delegate karnyat yeil. Aai aavdine pillars la grey colour marayla basel. Sai ugaach madhye madhye karayla yeil. "Mala yeta na painting, mala karu de! Mi elementary chi exam pan pass zale na" vagaire ugaach justifications deil..bakiche sagle tila major ignore martil :P Tichyavar avishwas mhanun nahi..mhanje toh aahe! pan mostly konalahi aapla kaam sodaycha nahiye...Kaahich kaam naslelyanna saglyat tukkar kaama miltat he anubhavane mahitiye - "Jaa thanda panyachi bottle gheun ye", "He khali padlele khile uchal" , kinva "Fevicol madhye pani taakun dilute kar" vagaire vagaire...
12-1 vajta Utpal Kaki ani Mothi Aai (Aaji)chi wicket padel...sakali laukar uthun naivedya karaychay mhanun tya zopayla jaanar...Magchya varshi saarkhi agdich crisis situation asel tar matra Utpal Kaki madatila thambel..nahitar ticha baakichyanvar major confidence asto! Neeta Kaki entertainment quotient sathi thambel ani 'olya chandanyanvar chamki taak' - ashi Sai-level chi kama karel :P
Ratri 3 vajta Aai chi wicket padel ani ti zopayla jaeel..Kaka ani Babancha to paryant teesra chaha zalela asnaar. Suddenly realise hoil ki thermocol kinva paper samplay...pahate 3 vajta mag Kaustubh Sheth gadi kaadhtil ani drive cum shopping saathi baher padtil. (Ganpatichya aadlya ratri Dadar-Lalbaug chi decorations-viknaari dukana suru astat). Ratrabhar kaam chalel ani pahate kadhitari Shashi kakancha murti tayaar aslyacha nirop yeil.
Murti aanayla jaane ha ek major thrilling experience asto. Pahate-pahate tar ultimate majja yete! Murti gharat yei paryant baki tayari zaleli aste - mhanje kasa-basa to paryant sagla neet aavarlela asta. Murti baghun sagle as usual ultimate khush hotat ani Mothi aai che dole panavtat.
Sakal hoil ani decoration la finishing touches lagayla lagtil..."Almost done" he vakya kiman 15-20 vela mhanun zalya nantar Ganpati stthanapanna hoil ani puja suru hoil...aarti hoil, naivedya vadhnyat yeil. Ani mag amche Babdu sheth, Kaustubh sheth dharadhurr zopayla jaatil. Baba tarihi davakhanyat jaatil ani donhi kaka aaplya factory madhye.
He sagla chitra dolyasamuran jatay..geli 22 varsha tya chitraat mi hi hote...madhye madhye ludbudat..ratrabhar jaagat..majhya so-called exemplary creative ani imaginative skills display karat...ani Ganpatit 11 divas ka hoina 'Joint Family' cha anand ghet. Aaplyavar aalela kaam dusryavar dhakalne..airvi 4 pan aata eka velis 12 jevanachya patravalya vadhat, ani 12 mansaat ek toilet-bathroom share karat (!!!) he divas ayushyacha ek immemorable part zale..
Aaj ratri kharach Cost Management kinva Dissertation proposal honaar nahiye majhya kadun! Mi ithe ka aahe...hech kalat nahiye mala :( Deva saathi nahi tar ghara saathi tari aaj mala ghari asayla hava hota asa saarkha vattay..Aai ugaach 2 vela call karun senti suddha karun geli. Hmph!
Pan 'It sux' chya palikade kharach kahi uttar nahiye..
Udya sakali laukar uthun, zara traditionally dress up honyache nakhare karnare..
Campus mandiratlya pujela hi jaeen...pan gharchi majja nahi.
Aso.
So finally, jithe asal tithe..."Ganpati Bappa Morya" ani "Pudhchya varshi Ganpati barobar tumhi hi ghari (me suddha) ya!!" :)
Kai challa asel aata tithe? Babdu office madhun aala asel...Baba, Kaka hi aale astil. Jevana zali astil..rather urakanyat aali astil. Murti kitpat tayar zali he baghnyat Shashi kaka dang astil. Dar varshi pramane ajun chehra, dole, shela ani dhotaracha painting urlela ashnaar. Mag Shashi Kaka damdaati karun tya JJ chya artist la pakdun basavnaar...pandhra dhotar ani tyavar silver-green ashi patent border. Shela matra gulabi ani soneri border. Shindenchya murtichya hya goshtinvar compromise karna shakyach nahi!! Dole kadhnyat matra tya artist cha talent panala lagta..aaju-bajuchyanni bolaycha hi naahi..fakt thakk houn baghat basaycha ani zala ki tya mhatarya artistcha chehryavarcha anand baghaycha! Hey sagla Shashi Kakanchya able guidance khali..afterall in-house artist tech. Tashi majhi aai hi artist..magchya varshi Ganpati che dole ani moracha pisara tinech paint kela hota!! (Pose hoti : Moravarcha Ganpati)
Shashi Kaka murtiche incharge tarr..Baba ani Sharad Kaka decoration incharge. Varchya maalyavarcha (attic) toh lokhandi trunk khaali aanlyashivay decoration chi survatach hou shakat nahi. Tya pitaaryat kai kai nahi asa vicharu naka...Ganpati che vastra, bhandi, lightings, ekda chukun aanlele ani kadhich na vaparlele disco bulbs, devache daagine, plastic chi phula-veli, kadhikali vaparlele thermocol che blocks, 5 varshanpurvi decoration la vaparlela velvet ani moon paper ani lahan mulanchya crafts chya kit madhye saptil tya rangi-berangi tiklya, mani, khade, laces ani metallic borders!! Darr varshi tyat navin navin goshti sapadtat..almost like a Pandora's box!
So Sharad Kakanni toh jad (almost 20 kilo) pitaara malyavarun khali kadayla Babdu la sangitla asnaar jo tyane soyiskar ritya Kaustubh var dhakalla asel. Kaustubh hi shevti Babdu Shethchach bhau...tyane te Sai var paas on kela asnaar!! Shevti Kakancha patience sampnaar...ani High Command chidlele baghun doghahi Kaustubh-Babdu maalyavar chadun toh trunk mukatyane khaali kadhtil!
Mag decoration kai karaycha hya var ek kautumbik discussion-cum-debate hoil. Baba mhantil - "Hya varshi kahi tari saadhach karuya" Tyavar Kaki ani Aai hi duzora detil "Ho, ho..aata vay zala aapla..nahi jhepat aata..barrich varsha kela khoop..." Babdu-Kaustubh faar kahi bolnar nahit..tyanna mahitiye..hey dar-varshi che dialogues ahet...kiti hi saadha mhantla tari tya doghanna akkhi ratra sagle jagavnaar ani nahi nahi mhanta..decoration "saadhach aapla kahitari" chya definition chya well beyond janaar.
Ratri 11 vajta finally decoration chi theme tharel.. Hya varshi chya Ganpati chi pose : Shri Krishna chya avtaratla Ganpati! "Ubhi murti..mhanje side la jaast decoration hava..maage kami..kimaan 5 ft che pillars tari have bajula..Garden scene karuya...Pillars varun hirvya veli soduya..samor ek fence karuya...sawdust la green colour deuya ani suklyavar gavat mhanun vapruya....ki khara gavat ugvaycha?? ani ceiling varun ek laaman diva soduya. Bhinti var curtains chya magun dhaga paint karuya...nahitar sandhyakal cha effect dakhvayla dark navy blue cha background ani tyavar chandane...ani 3 varshan purvi vaparlela card board cha chandra aselach na? Kai?? Tutla? Thike...punha banvu..ani tyanchyavar white paint maarun silver colour chi chamki takuya!!" Sarvanumate finally decoration chi theme tharel!
Thermocol
Cardboard
Plywood
Velvet papers
Paint
Silver glitter
Golden glitter
Sawdust
Curtains
Khoti phula
Khotya veli
Khari phula
Laaman diva
Ashi checklist tayar hoil...kaam delegate karnyat yeil. Aai aavdine pillars la grey colour marayla basel. Sai ugaach madhye madhye karayla yeil. "Mala yeta na painting, mala karu de! Mi elementary chi exam pan pass zale na" vagaire ugaach justifications deil..bakiche sagle tila major ignore martil :P Tichyavar avishwas mhanun nahi..mhanje toh aahe! pan mostly konalahi aapla kaam sodaycha nahiye...Kaahich kaam naslelyanna saglyat tukkar kaama miltat he anubhavane mahitiye - "Jaa thanda panyachi bottle gheun ye", "He khali padlele khile uchal" , kinva "Fevicol madhye pani taakun dilute kar" vagaire vagaire...
12-1 vajta Utpal Kaki ani Mothi Aai (Aaji)chi wicket padel...sakali laukar uthun naivedya karaychay mhanun tya zopayla jaanar...Magchya varshi saarkhi agdich crisis situation asel tar matra Utpal Kaki madatila thambel..nahitar ticha baakichyanvar major confidence asto! Neeta Kaki entertainment quotient sathi thambel ani 'olya chandanyanvar chamki taak' - ashi Sai-level chi kama karel :P
Ratri 3 vajta Aai chi wicket padel ani ti zopayla jaeel..Kaka ani Babancha to paryant teesra chaha zalela asnaar. Suddenly realise hoil ki thermocol kinva paper samplay...pahate 3 vajta mag Kaustubh Sheth gadi kaadhtil ani drive cum shopping saathi baher padtil. (Ganpatichya aadlya ratri Dadar-Lalbaug chi decorations-viknaari dukana suru astat). Ratrabhar kaam chalel ani pahate kadhitari Shashi kakancha murti tayaar aslyacha nirop yeil.
Murti aanayla jaane ha ek major thrilling experience asto. Pahate-pahate tar ultimate majja yete! Murti gharat yei paryant baki tayari zaleli aste - mhanje kasa-basa to paryant sagla neet aavarlela asta. Murti baghun sagle as usual ultimate khush hotat ani Mothi aai che dole panavtat.
Sakal hoil ani decoration la finishing touches lagayla lagtil..."Almost done" he vakya kiman 15-20 vela mhanun zalya nantar Ganpati stthanapanna hoil ani puja suru hoil...aarti hoil, naivedya vadhnyat yeil. Ani mag amche Babdu sheth, Kaustubh sheth dharadhurr zopayla jaatil. Baba tarihi davakhanyat jaatil ani donhi kaka aaplya factory madhye.
He sagla chitra dolyasamuran jatay..geli 22 varsha tya chitraat mi hi hote...madhye madhye ludbudat..ratrabhar jaagat..majhya so-called exemplary creative ani imaginative skills display karat...ani Ganpatit 11 divas ka hoina 'Joint Family' cha anand ghet. Aaplyavar aalela kaam dusryavar dhakalne..airvi 4 pan aata eka velis 12 jevanachya patravalya vadhat, ani 12 mansaat ek toilet-bathroom share karat (!!!) he divas ayushyacha ek immemorable part zale..
Aaj ratri kharach Cost Management kinva Dissertation proposal honaar nahiye majhya kadun! Mi ithe ka aahe...hech kalat nahiye mala :( Deva saathi nahi tar ghara saathi tari aaj mala ghari asayla hava hota asa saarkha vattay..Aai ugaach 2 vela call karun senti suddha karun geli. Hmph!
Pan 'It sux' chya palikade kharach kahi uttar nahiye..
Udya sakali laukar uthun, zara traditionally dress up honyache nakhare karnare..
Campus mandiratlya pujela hi jaeen...pan gharchi majja nahi.
Aso.
So finally, jithe asal tithe..."Ganpati Bappa Morya" ani "Pudhchya varshi Ganpati barobar tumhi hi ghari (me suddha) ya!!" :)
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Chandni Raatein!
(This post was written a month back but forgot to publish. It's an insane one, mind you - one of my random moods when the lukkhi in me had taken charge. I still don't believe I am about to publish this.)
No, I am not into corny blue films, as yet! It was either this or 'O meri Chandni'. You take the pick!
No, I am not into corny blue films, as yet! It was either this or 'O meri Chandni'. You take the pick!
So finally landed at my latest haven - Room # 16, Hostel - Chandni, MICA, yesterday. I loved my earlier room a lot - everything was just perfect about # 5, Parijat...the location, the view, the furniture arrangement, the storage space, even the position of the electric switch.
This new place is amazing as well. My own room! No one to share it with..ALL MINE :D :D :D Okay enough gloating . No wait, did I mention it is the biggest room on the floor! Just my luck :) The room is spacious to say the least..not like those crammed hostels in the otherwise thik-thak college in Mumbai I once visited to meet a friend..what was that again? IID..no wait IIT, I think. Wateverr :D
Its a first floor corner room - the door well hidden behind the pillar. Privacy you see. You open the door and a neat and tidy room greets you warmly. The colour scheme is yellow-green-orange with a touch of purple.
Books (by the virtue of being seldom handled) are arranged neatly on a black rack and a green-yellow dari (carpet) on the floor reminding me of home.
To add just the right touch, a yellow sitting cushion!...for those idle mornings and lazy afternoon reading sessions.
For the more demanding times (say one night before the exam) there is this study table with just the right number of table-top show pieces - 3. A clock, a mug for stationery and one Ganpati bappa (He had to come along...exams jo paas karni hai).
And then there is this one piece of furniture where I shall be spending 91.472% of my non-lecture time - the bed! With a green-n-yellow bedsheet with yellow-n-white cushions. Call me crazy, but I brought along all 'wonly yellow-worange' bedsheets with me!! O wait! The bestest part...my oh-so-lovely curtains! Green..very chic and soothing.
There is this huge tree just outside my window (all 11th/12th botany gone waste..i failed to identify the damn tree!) and a path that leads to the mess on one hand (how strategic) and the classrooms (tragically, how strategic again) on the other.
So what do you think? Kya meri room aapki room say behtar hai? Just say so darlings and be my life-long friend (Did that just sound very cheap?)
So let me end this really insane post on a slightly senti note (blog ke TRPs* badhane ke liye kya kya karna padta hai!!). An ode to #16, Chandni - for the great times we shall share!
For the times we spend, in the times to come
Moments that are happy and sad are some
This heart and mind may wander and roam
When comes the night, it will find a way home
So cheers to you and a cheers to me
My heart will always be where you shall be :)
Moments that are happy and sad are some
This heart and mind may wander and roam
When comes the night, it will find a way home
So cheers to you and a cheers to me
My heart will always be where you shall be :)
Aah! Enuff said..the bed looks gloomy, I think its yearning for my company ;)
Tada!!
1. * @ aagau Media majors at MICA, mala mahitiye blog la TRPs*** nastat, ugaach akaleche taare todu naka**
2. ** - Mala mahitiye ha Dighe madam cha dialogue aahe. Mi ithe tyala credit detey. Sue karaycha vichar tala.
3. *** BTW, fyi, Blog la Page Views and Unique Users astat - Sessions ani Time spent per session pan astat^
4. ^ - Hyala VDCP mhantat, VDCP = Virtual DCP^^
5. ^^ - Aata hey atti hotay. Somebody stop me :D
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Religion is flawed only because man is flawed.
I spent two of my best hours today watching 'Angels & Demons' ...the experience still giving me goose bumps as I write this...
The age-old debate of Science vs. Religion.
How do you explain the existence of one to another?
How to explain the co-existence of both? And for how long ??
As the mysteries of one century become the logic of the next - one may say it’s a losing battle for Religion but then look around you...the faith in the Faith is stronger than ever!!
Karl Marx wondered (and wondered aloud) if religion was opium of the masses...which may have led few of us to question the need for religion. Isn't the world a much simpler place to live? When all the phenomena stand perfectly rationalized? When the miracles of old world are nothing but scientific wonders waiting to be discovered? And then why do we need the religion to sedate us, delude us providing illusions of an existence that life certainly isn't! Isn't science just the perfect answer for the rationalists amongst us? Almost like an antidote for religion, isn't it?
But then how do you explain the faith? ..the belief that ran across the world for centuries in one form or other. Yes, blaming the Pope and his Vatican running like a smoothly functioning corporation selling us hope, faith, peace and respect towards that one Big Guy sitting up there; is a very tempting option. But then is religion nothing more than the biggest con job that mankind ever faced?
In the closing scene of ‘Angels & Demons’, Cardinal Saverio Mortati says something so profound that it almost explains the age-old fallacies of religion. Almost. He says, 'Religion is flawed only because man is flawed.'
Religion and Science. Yes, both are outcomes of Man's imagination and creativity. Both man-made; yet so different - one appeals to the heart and the other to the mind. It’s up to us to choose - heart over mind or mind over heart. Religion has made blunders in the past - the propagators of religion can almost share a bench with Hitler in hell for their atrocities and impositions. We still pay for it and would continue to do so for ages to come. But science functions no better. Its blunders are going to be the blunders of mankind in the future.
And may be..just may be..when man is tired of science one day - he will look back and seek solace in religion as we do now seeking solace in science from the misgivings of religion. Is this why they are meant to co-exist? To offer man some respite when he has had enough of the other? Well, who knows..Maybe.
When Karl Marx said, "Religion is the opium of masses," one might wonder if he was asking us wean ourselves from it. May be not! For a man who learnt from the sufferings of others - maybe he found the key to the existence and sustenance of religion. May be he found a reason for religion in man's life. In the full context his words were:
“Religious distress is at the same time the expression of real distress and the protest against real distress. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions.” (Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right.)
How difficult this mortal human life would be if not for the illusory happiness that Marx talks about! How would life be if all things stood perfectly well explained and rationalized! ‘The Logic’ would then be our God and we all devoid of any hope or fear. (On second thoughts – Why does mankind always need someone/something to look up to? We remove God and replace it by Logic but the truth remains we replace it. But then again, it’s a better place to be – the last time one race made the others look up to it – it nearly wiped out the ‘others’!)
So are we saying that a flawed religion is better than none at all? Of course, it would be same as a flawed science (we are moving towards it) better than none at all. And since the situation of perfect religion and perfect science (just like a perfect competition) almost never exists..man has to make do with one of them...leaving the choice either to himself or going with the flow as per the societal context of his time and place.
Phew! That’s a lot of unanswered questions! But may be the point is to question rather than a muted acceptance! And yes, like all man-made creations – religion and science included, one needs to accept their flaws instead of overlooking them.
To quote Karl Marx again – ‘Religion is the impotence of the human mind to deal with occurrences it cannot understand.’
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Last page scribbling...
ज़ख्मों को कुरेदना मेरी आदत नहीं मजबूरी है
ज़िंदा होने को एहसास अब दर्द से जो होता है |
यादें अब अक्सर आँखों में नमी लाती है
पुरानी हसीं का एहसास अब आसुओं से जो होता है |
ज़िंदा होने को एहसास अब दर्द से जो होता है |
यादें अब अक्सर आँखों में नमी लाती है
पुरानी हसीं का एहसास अब आसुओं से जो होता है |
Friday, July 10, 2009
Maa kasam!
So it finally rained in the lands of Modi!
and yes, motherhood beckons!
Before you raise your hairy eyebrows..lemme explain.
At MICA, we have this tradition that the junior who occupies your 1st year's room, becomes your Room-Beta/Beti which effectively makes the senior his/her Room Baap/Maa. Its an unsaid, unspoken version of Mentor-mentee but yes, much more fun than the formal protocol.
So for every tuccha (senior) there is a faccha (junior) who is his/her baccha! :D
This new on-campus relation is very sweet. During the notorious 'culturization', Room-parents take their kiddos' unlimited case and the kiddo has to run around the campus deciphering his new-found family tree. So if I have a brother on campus he becomes the Room Mama and a boyfriend - then the Room Baap. My best friend - the torturous Room Maasi and so on and so forth...
On the surface this may seem a lil' frivolous, even childish. But it isnt either. A junie - say a fresher, first time away from home, away from friends and family in a faraway place can get easily lost in the crowds. First year brings with it a wave of insecurities and self-doubt. In such times, it feels nice to have someone keeping an eye on you. The assignments, groupisms, grade-cuts and occasional incidents of being thrown out of class can get to you. The insane company rankings (they never matter!), summer placements and wrath of professors can drive anyone to the verge of insanity. Add to this, that we stay on a campus far away from civilisation and see the same 300 people every single day!! Phew!
So you do need someone...apart from your batchmates - whom you can crib and complain about the workload, bitch about your batchmates and go running for notes one night before the exams.
My room-ma was the non-interefering kind. A sweet soul who always inquired how things were with me. I wish I had known her better but yeah, she was known to be a bit of a loner.
I hope I am good to my room beti. I have already ragged the poor thing during the 'interaction' and made her run all over the campus during the Treasure Hunt, but she took the whole thing so sportingly! It felt nice that she tagged along with me introducing me as her Room ma..it just felt so nice that Parijat Paanch is now in safe hands. I hope that place showers her with same love, warmth and homeliness that I got from it...moreso, wonderful memories to last a lifetime and a legacy to pass on to someonelse...
I cant put it any better than this - (which btw, was written on the ceiling of Chandni Chaar - my favourite senior Bhatter's room)
They were the worst of times;
They were the best of times.
and yes, motherhood beckons!
Before you raise your hairy eyebrows..lemme explain.
At MICA, we have this tradition that the junior who occupies your 1st year's room, becomes your Room-Beta/Beti which effectively makes the senior his/her Room Baap/Maa. Its an unsaid, unspoken version of Mentor-mentee but yes, much more fun than the formal protocol.
So for every tuccha (senior) there is a faccha (junior) who is his/her baccha! :D
This new on-campus relation is very sweet. During the notorious 'culturization', Room-parents take their kiddos' unlimited case and the kiddo has to run around the campus deciphering his new-found family tree. So if I have a brother on campus he becomes the Room Mama and a boyfriend - then the Room Baap. My best friend - the torturous Room Maasi and so on and so forth...
On the surface this may seem a lil' frivolous, even childish. But it isnt either. A junie - say a fresher, first time away from home, away from friends and family in a faraway place can get easily lost in the crowds. First year brings with it a wave of insecurities and self-doubt. In such times, it feels nice to have someone keeping an eye on you. The assignments, groupisms, grade-cuts and occasional incidents of being thrown out of class can get to you. The insane company rankings (they never matter!), summer placements and wrath of professors can drive anyone to the verge of insanity. Add to this, that we stay on a campus far away from civilisation and see the same 300 people every single day!! Phew!
So you do need someone...apart from your batchmates - whom you can crib and complain about the workload, bitch about your batchmates and go running for notes one night before the exams.
My room-ma was the non-interefering kind. A sweet soul who always inquired how things were with me. I wish I had known her better but yeah, she was known to be a bit of a loner.
I hope I am good to my room beti. I have already ragged the poor thing during the 'interaction' and made her run all over the campus during the Treasure Hunt, but she took the whole thing so sportingly! It felt nice that she tagged along with me introducing me as her Room ma..it just felt so nice that Parijat Paanch is now in safe hands. I hope that place showers her with same love, warmth and homeliness that I got from it...moreso, wonderful memories to last a lifetime and a legacy to pass on to someonelse...
I cant put it any better than this - (which btw, was written on the ceiling of Chandni Chaar - my favourite senior Bhatter's room)
They were the worst of times;
They were the best of times.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Mi majh harpun basle ga...
Has it ever happened to you that you have one of the most depressing afternoons of your life and short nap later you wake up to a cheerful evening?
Today I 'decidedly' tried to be happy and you know what? I didn't take much of an effort:) No chats or phone calls - I decided, seeking out others to make myself feel good temporarily isn't an option. 'Nirmal Anand' is the way to nirvana :D
मराठी गाणी ऐकायचा mood झाला. Youtube गाठलं आणी पहिल्या गाण्यातंच घरची आठावण आली. Not the teary-eyed one; the one which leaves a smile on the face. बाबांनी सुधीर भटांच्या एखाद्या कवितेचा अर्थ समजवला होता ती संध्याकाळ - किंवा एकत्र बसून 'Nakshtranche Dene' बघितलेला रविवार, पटकन डोळ्यासमोर आला . आमच्या घरात संगीताला फार फार जपतात अणि जोपासतात. आई-बाबा दोघांनाही आवड आहे. अगदी शास्त्रीय संगीत ते भावगीत, भक्ति गीत, सुगम संगीत काहीही असो. बाबांना नाट्य संगीत आणी ग़ज़ल वर अधिक प्रेम. कुमार गन्धर्व, बाळ गन्धर्व, मास्टर दीनानाथ, पु ला, गा दी माँ, पंडित वसंतराव देशपांडे, सुधीर फडके ही सगळी मंडली आमच्या घरात वरचेवर स्मरली जातात.
Anyway. ठरवून नविन गाणी ऐकायचा तसा ज़रा कठिणंच असतं. नेमका कोणतं निवडावं - आणी एक संपला की दूसरा कुठला शोधावं! जुनी मराठी गाणी आठवता आठवत न्हवती - शेवटी Sa Re Ga Ma Pa च्या episodes मधून गाणी घेतली त्यांच्ये original videos शोडून काढले. भन्नाट मज्जा आली!! जुनी गाणी झाली अणि मध्येच आपल्या संदीप खरे ची आठावण आली! माझ्या बाबांना अगदी recently त्याचा शोध लागला अणि झालं!! एका patient च्या recommendation वर त्याच्या गाण्याची CD घरात आली अणि दिवस रात्र आम्ही खरेमय झालो. बाबांनी शाळेतल्या मुलाला एखादा नविन विषय पटकन आवडून जावा ह्या उत्साहाने एका diary मध्ये सगळया गाण्यांचे lyrics लिहून काढले. ती process पण फार गमतीदार होती - आधी ते गाणं अक्खं ऐकायचं - मग appreciate वगैरे करूँ जाला की diary आणि pen घेउन बसायचा आणि ते परत लावायचं. गाणं सुरु झालं की realisation व्हायचा की pen चालत नाहीये - पण गाणं असं मध्ये थांबवणं बरं नाही ह्या विचाराने or rather CD player वर expertise establish न झाल्या मुळे ते पुन्हा तसच संपूर्ण वाजू द्यायचं. अत्ता नविन पेनाच्या तयारी ने ते तीस्र्यंदा लावायचं अणि word to word लिहून काढायचं! ऑनलाइन lyrics मिळतात आणि printouts काढता येतात ह्या टुक्कार गोष्टिन्कडे माझे बाबा फारसे लक्ष देत नाहीत. ते त्यांनी मनावर घेतला तर माझी पंचैत होइल हे नक्की! :D
So finally संदीप खरे ची गाणी ऐकली - अगदी साध्य सोप्प्या भाषेतले त्याचे मार्मिक observations खूप appealing असतात. Highly recommended!
Special mention - मी मोर्चा नेला नाही हे गाणं कुणाच्या अध्यात-न-मध्यात, सरळ आयुष्य जगणार्या typical middle-class मराठी मेंटालिटी च एक fantastic depiction आहे!!
Phew! Removing marathi typos is sucha pain!! Wanted to try it out for sometime but this is probably my first and last attempt at it. One more reason to not like Google! :D
So. Aata hya pudhe majha marathi asa vachava lagnaar!
I thought I would end this post by sharing my playlist - if you guys find some of your favourites here, do let me know. And any recommendations are welcome too :)
So here it is:-
Today I 'decidedly' tried to be happy and you know what? I didn't take much of an effort:) No chats or phone calls - I decided, seeking out others to make myself feel good temporarily isn't an option. 'Nirmal Anand' is the way to nirvana :D
मराठी गाणी ऐकायचा mood झाला. Youtube गाठलं आणी पहिल्या गाण्यातंच घरची आठावण आली. Not the teary-eyed one; the one which leaves a smile on the face. बाबांनी सुधीर भटांच्या एखाद्या कवितेचा अर्थ समजवला होता ती संध्याकाळ - किंवा एकत्र बसून 'Nakshtranche Dene' बघितलेला रविवार, पटकन डोळ्यासमोर आला . आमच्या घरात संगीताला फार फार जपतात अणि जोपासतात. आई-बाबा दोघांनाही आवड आहे. अगदी शास्त्रीय संगीत ते भावगीत, भक्ति गीत, सुगम संगीत काहीही असो. बाबांना नाट्य संगीत आणी ग़ज़ल वर अधिक प्रेम. कुमार गन्धर्व, बाळ गन्धर्व, मास्टर दीनानाथ, पु ला, गा दी माँ, पंडित वसंतराव देशपांडे, सुधीर फडके ही सगळी मंडली आमच्या घरात वरचेवर स्मरली जातात.
Anyway. ठरवून नविन गाणी ऐकायचा तसा ज़रा कठिणंच असतं. नेमका कोणतं निवडावं - आणी एक संपला की दूसरा कुठला शोधावं! जुनी मराठी गाणी आठवता आठवत न्हवती - शेवटी Sa Re Ga Ma Pa च्या episodes मधून गाणी घेतली त्यांच्ये original videos शोडून काढले. भन्नाट मज्जा आली!! जुनी गाणी झाली अणि मध्येच आपल्या संदीप खरे ची आठावण आली! माझ्या बाबांना अगदी recently त्याचा शोध लागला अणि झालं!! एका patient च्या recommendation वर त्याच्या गाण्याची CD घरात आली अणि दिवस रात्र आम्ही खरेमय झालो. बाबांनी शाळेतल्या मुलाला एखादा नविन विषय पटकन आवडून जावा ह्या उत्साहाने एका diary मध्ये सगळया गाण्यांचे lyrics लिहून काढले. ती process पण फार गमतीदार होती - आधी ते गाणं अक्खं ऐकायचं - मग appreciate वगैरे करूँ जाला की diary आणि pen घेउन बसायचा आणि ते परत लावायचं. गाणं सुरु झालं की realisation व्हायचा की pen चालत नाहीये - पण गाणं असं मध्ये थांबवणं बरं नाही ह्या विचाराने or rather CD player वर expertise establish न झाल्या मुळे ते पुन्हा तसच संपूर्ण वाजू द्यायचं. अत्ता नविन पेनाच्या तयारी ने ते तीस्र्यंदा लावायचं अणि word to word लिहून काढायचं! ऑनलाइन lyrics मिळतात आणि printouts काढता येतात ह्या टुक्कार गोष्टिन्कडे माझे बाबा फारसे लक्ष देत नाहीत. ते त्यांनी मनावर घेतला तर माझी पंचैत होइल हे नक्की! :D
So finally संदीप खरे ची गाणी ऐकली - अगदी साध्य सोप्प्या भाषेतले त्याचे मार्मिक observations खूप appealing असतात. Highly recommended!
Special mention - मी मोर्चा नेला नाही हे गाणं कुणाच्या अध्यात-न-मध्यात, सरळ आयुष्य जगणार्या typical middle-class मराठी मेंटालिटी च एक fantastic depiction आहे!!
Phew! Removing marathi typos is sucha pain!! Wanted to try it out for sometime but this is probably my first and last attempt at it. One more reason to not like Google! :D
So. Aata hya pudhe majha marathi asa vachava lagnaar!
I thought I would end this post by sharing my playlist - if you guys find some of your favourites here, do let me know. And any recommendations are welcome too :)
So here it is:-
शुरा आम्ही वंदिले
मागे उभा मंगेश, पुढे उभा मंगेश
लख लख चंदेरी
भय इथले संपत नाही
त्या फुलांच्या गंधकोशी
ऐरणीच्या देवा तुला
ती गेली तेंव्हा
रुणुझुणु रुणुझुणु दे भ्रमरा
कौसल्येचा राम
झाला महार पंधरिनाथ
तू तेंव्हा तशी
मागे उभा मंगेश, पुढे उभा मंगेश
लख लख चंदेरी
भय इथले संपत नाही
त्या फुलांच्या गंधकोशी
ऐरणीच्या देवा तुला
ती गेली तेंव्हा
रुणुझुणु रुणुझुणु दे भ्रमरा
कौसल्येचा राम
झाला महार पंधरिनाथ
तू तेंव्हा तशी
Ek sundar sandhyakal record karnyacha prayatna. Majhya saathi hi pahilich vel hoti. Assignments ani case studies madhye haravnyaadhi ghalavlela ek chamatkarik vel. Kadachit hyat navin asa konala vatla nasel...youtube var videos akkha jag baghta pan aajchya saarkha jagavegla anand mala aadhi nahi milala :)
I need to stop searching my happiness in others; I shall find it in me :)
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