When life a'int easy

Someone displayed his gtalk status as "Nothing worth havin comes easy in life".
Thats precisely what I have been thinking this morning. Maybe not in the same words but the thought process was the same. Sometimes we choose to do things only because they seem easier to do, not thinking whether the end is really what we want. Sometimes we choose not do things or not even to believe things that seem to be hard. Hard to believe, hard to change, hard to accept. Someone I know, once rightly said, the path of least resistance ultimately gives us happiness. Path of least resistance, means making life harder. During that hard life, there is bound to be a feeling of doubt, moments when you question your judgement, your beliefs, those are the times when faith gets tested.
When I went to Canada, I knew what I wanted. I had my own doubts when I saw the road was tough. Maybe I took a step back to make the road easier. However I still believe in what I aim for. Perhaps the reason is that I have a fair idea of the road to follow. But what do you do when you don't know which path to take. You know your aim, you know it's tough, yet no guide. It is in matters like these that destiny plays it's role. There are somethings in life which happen to people only if they are destined to happen. Someone once told me that when one aspect of life goes bad, there is some other aspect that blossoms. I hope I see a day when all aspects of my life blossom. Yet I know the flower that blossoms with the first rays of the sun has to fade away with the fading light of the sun. Life a'int easy, will death be?

OM Shanti Om - Honest Review

What was I thinking? I still don’t understand why I went to watch Om Shanti Om. In August I wasn’t very excited about Om Shanti Om(OSO). Despite the aggressive publicity, I was quite sure I would give this movie a skip. Ditto for Saawariya. By October I was longing to see a blockbuster masala Bollywood movie with comedy, songs and dances. Needless to say I had changed my decision on watching OSO. Saawariya, still I would stay away from. Promos looked nice but I knew it would be a slow film.
As the reviews came out and I read about Saawariya being a slow movie, I felt I was right. However as I kept reading the reviews, I noticed that the critics have criticized anything and everything in the movie. From direction to performance, from art direction to Ranbir’s butt. Now, this seemed a bit fishy. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is too good a director to get everything wrong at the same time. My doubts were confirmed when I read rave reviews for OSO.
OSO was praised for being a terrific entertainer. Everything about it was superb. From performances to direction, the critics loved everything. Akshay Kumar and Aby’s baby all shined in the miniscule roles they had. Needless to say, King Khan was thanked for providing relief on the occasion of Diwali. I think the critics should thank him for the perks he provided them too. I love typical Bollywood movies. I loved Bunty Aur Babli, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, K3G, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Devdas, Salaam Namaste, and the list goes on and on. But I cannot like any crap dished out in the name of being typical Bollywood. I am sorry Mrs. Farah Kunder this is not a Manmohan Desai or Subhash Ghai movie.
You know why? Because the drama and story those makers created in their movies seemed believable. You felt those characters like Anthony Gonsalves are real. However, this was pure shit!
This movie tries to take a dig at many veterans. I don’t disapprove of that at all but some of them are just not funny. Like the Manoj Kumar one, which some critic praised to the heaven, didn’t amuse me at all. Mrs. Kunder (popularly known as Farah Khan) also takes a dig at Bimal Roy, however she conveniently lifts her climax from his movie, Madhumati. Trust me, Madhumati, although about reincarnation and a ghost, is still a beautiful and believable movie. I don’t even want to get started on Shahrukh’s performance in the movie, I wondered if he was on drugs. The pace at which the movie swung from humourless comedy to over the top emotions (Kiron Kher can put ‘Tulsi Virani’ to shame) I thought maybe Farah was experiencing pregnancy mood swings during the making of the movie. Some critic also commented thathow it was better to watch Shahrukh’s six packs rather than Ranbir’s butt. He went on about how the audience wowed Shahrukh’s look in New York. Believe me, in a theatre a few hundred kilometres away from NYC, in Montreal, I could hear no one going gaga over this so-called six-pack. I thought he looked old. Yes, I could actually see very prominent laugh lines on his face. I know everyone gets old but you don’t need to play 30, act like a 20 when you are in your mid 40s. It looks ugly.

I saw Saawariya after this torture. Although not a classic, it was still bearable. Some dialogues were hard hitting, sets were beautiful. Both Ranbir and Sonam looked gorgeous. Among the performance, Sonam truly stole the show. She was so natural (what a relief after watching ham king Shahrukh Khan), Rani in her cameo was amazing. The ease with which she plays a roadside prostitute was surprising. Ranbir didn’t show any sparks in the acting department like Sonam but he could well become the new male sex symbol, atleast the way Bhansali has shot him, it looks as if he has been packaged for that. It does get slow at times and you might feel that there are too many songs, you can watch it if you have some patience and a love for some genuine poetry. All in all, a better film to spend your hard earned money on. After all we don’t have the kind of money that King Khan has. If in his first production, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, he exposed dark side of the media, for this one he has used this dark side to put down a decent film and promote a piece of trash. The formula must have been simple. You can buy the cheap media critics, who don’t mind getting sold out. For the genuine ones, who usually work for reliable news channels, just have a corporate partnership with the channels. How can an employee criticize his/her own corporate partner? So King Khan has tried to introduce a new formula, formula for all round good reviews. He might have got good reviews for now but time will show him that he cannot change fate with the power of money.

PS: Why was Kiron Kher so atrociously dressed in the first half. I am sure in the 70s mothers didn’t look that scary. In some scenes I felt she was a drag!

Abhi Toh Main Jawaan Hoon...

I read the headline on a website today. It read, ”Kumble named the test captain”
You must be joking. Yes, I know he is a sincere player. Yes, he is one of the best spinners we have had. Yes, he has got those marvellous records like the 10-wickets in one innings. But captain at 37! It’s like fulfilling a dying man’s last wish. How long can he be captain? 1 year, 2years? I doubt. If Kumble plays all test matches for next 2 years, he will have to retire on a stretcher. If you are convinced by the first argument that this is a stupid decision then hold on, it only gets better. Kumble has often not found a place in the test side when our team plays in Australia and South Africa. The Reason: Most pitches in these countries are not conducive to spin. Hence having two spinners makes no sense. Since Kumble hardly spins the ball, Bhajji usually gets the preference over him. He gets preference over Bhajji either when the track is conducive to spin or Bhajji is not performing well. So now we have a captain who probably shouldn’t be in the team in the first place. And this gets better. Our next tour is against Australia in Australia! Now, who made him the captain!
Tendulkar refused the captaincy stating that a younger player should take on this responsibility. Its amazing how the Board found the youngest of them lot. The Australian tour might turn out to be Kumble’s deathwish after all. As a captain he will have to play all the matches. He will have to bowl in all the matches. He will be hit out of the ground by the Aussies on most of their pitches except one. Once that happens Kumble will truly realise what an honour it indeed is to lead the Indian team.This will be one of the toughest overseas tours that this “young” Indian team will ever make. Australia are not England, it will be a completely different ball game. Especially after the aggressive attitude shown by Sreesanth towards the Aussies, they are all charged up to receive India. In such a scenario, an old warhorse leading the army is not a good sign. I would have trusted Dhoni or Yuvraj more any day. This decision could have had a long-term positive effect. Unfortunately we are only looking at our short-term goals or maybe not even that. Ravi Shastri had objected to Dhoni’s name saying that since he has to keep wickets and concentrate on captaincy at the same time, he is not the right man for the job. So if that’s really the case then Dhoni should never be named captain for the longer version of the game! That’s rubbish according to me. It’s all a game of politics.
The Board, selectors and ex-cricketers don’t want anyone to become a heavy weight sportsman like some of the senior cricketers we have (don’t count Dravid). They want a team that is not as powerful as them. This helps them as then they can keep manipulating them as they wish. The moment you have strong players who can lead the team and make India win in any form of the game, the Board has a problem. The balance of power shifts more towards the players then. The players can then negotiate better contracts and demand more from the Board. They can then ask for any team they want and the selectors have to agree. The role and power of the ex-cricketers like Shastri get curtailed and they have not much work to do other than being tame advisors. So they don’t want Dhoni or Yuvraj to have the status that Tendulkar or Ganguly had. All these people have seen what a strong captain like Ganguly, backed by a superstar player like Tendulkar are capable of doing. Hence this time they want to kill the plant at its roots or atleast restrict its growth. I wonder how the BCCI and its gang learnt such good politics. Indeed knowledge flows from the top!

Journey

As the month of December draws closer, my excitement grows at an ever-increasing pace. It is hard to work or study for a moment without counting the number of days left for December 7th. Right now, there are just thirty days left for a journey, which will be the most exciting journey of my life. The journey back home. It seems like such a long time back that I arrived in a cold and gloomy city. Pitch dark at 4pm and showing no sense of hope, it seemed like a difficult place to live for. For the first time in my life I have experienced such a drastic change, from one season to another, from one experience to another. It’s been some journey this last year, and I keep reminding myself, it ain’t over yet. I remember contemplating in my articles, written earlier this year, whether I had made the right decision. I am leading towards a stage where I think the answer might be in the affirmative. I have never regretted any decision in my life yet and as Kareena says in Jab We Met (best movie I have seen this year), Babaji, you have helped me maintain my record :). Thank you.
Coming here to do MBA had many reasons. The more obvious ones being better career opportunities, better education, etc. However, something that I often felt in my initial years of work was that I lacked the appreciation of what I had at work. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t lack the hunger for success but I just couldn’t appreciate what I got. This was probably because I did not struggle much to do what I was doing. That was something I wanted to improve on. After almost a year here of surviving for the next day, hunting tons of jobs and having very little hope of being any better, struggle is not a stranger anymore. However, as winter faded away and summer approached I hoped that it brought better days for me. As per expectations it did!
As another winter approaches I try to brace myself to what Canada hasn’t thrown at me yet. Maybe this time I will have something new for it. Bonne Chance pour moi!

Crucial Period begins

Mush is curbing media, judiciary and political opposition. Benazir makes another grand arrival, this time in Islamabad sans the suicide bombers. She vows to hold a protest rally banned by Mush. Imran is underground, speaking through his ex-wife in London,alleging Benazir of being hand in glove with Mush. Nawaz doesn’t want to be left out of the action, crying his heart out from the holy land. Bush has little idea of whats going on, Rice keeps issuing all sorts of pleas to Mush. Meanwhile, Taliban has taken over 3rd town in Waziristan . The militia has imposed Shariah in occupied areas and is removing Pakistan's national flags from all government buildings in the five sub-divisions now under their control.
Could anyone ever define chaos better? The scary thing here is that some nuclear bombs are located somewhere in the middle of all this chaos. If Pakistan really fails as a state and disintegrates again, which looks inevitable now, the whole world is at huge risk. India, of course being the immediate neighbour faces the highest risk. However, the Middle East and Europe shouldn’t rest either. We all know the finesse with which the extremists can transport the coveted weaponry.

What can India do in such a situation? Not much actually. A direct involvement by India will direct all the extremist elements in Pakistan towards India. I am sure no one in the Government would like that. However, what we can do is seal our borders as much as possible. Both on West and East with Bangladesh. If required, use some force on the Eastern border to eliminate some dangerous elements there. I suggest sealing the borders for two reasons. One, the terrorists love to strike on the eve of Diwali. Two, with the chaos in both our problematic neighbouring countries, especially, the one on the West, the terrorists are gaining in strength and are operating at their own will. This is the time when we have to be the most careful and be ready for any kind of assault. The next couple of months leading upto the beginning of 2008 will be crucial, security wise, for both India and the world. I have this uncanny feeling that a very crucial period is beginning for the world and our future will not exactly be like what we were expecting it to be!

‘Thou shall reap what Thou sow’

Last Sunday, I went out for breakfast with my two housemates and the girlfriend of one of my housemate - Madame I. The place was nice and cozy, although a bit creepy, it was charming, after all it’s Halloween time. Invariably when a Hindu is on table with westerners the conversation has to draw towards spirituality and with me it is almost inevitable. Madame I was curious to know about why we believe in reincarnation. I told her about Karma and how we (read I) especially believe in ‘Thou shall reap what Thou sow’. What I didn’t realise is how quickly I will see live examples in front me.
Rahul Dravid being dropped from the cricket team is hot news in India. People are angry, disappointed and stunned, how can the selectors do this to him? Ex-cricketers are asking for Vensarkar’ head. My take on this, predictably, is that I agree with the selectors. Officially they say he has been rested but we all know he has been dropped. And he should be. He didn’t perform well in a couple of series, why give him more chances? After all as the captain of Team India he did pursue this policy for some players, especially for a particular “Senior player/ex-Captain” called Saurav Ganguly. Now, why change the rules? Now the selectors have asked him to go back to domestic cricket and prove himself to be back in the team. If my memory serves me right, Kiran More and his pack of jokers had advised the same to Ganguly and others like Zaheer Khan. Both these players made a comeback, why can’t Dravid do it? Self Doubt?
How uncanny can be the ways that life teaches us its rules. I guess we don’t have to wait till next birth to repay our debts, the cycle has become much faster in the Internet Age. So Mr. Dravid, you should probably go home and read Geeta, maybe that will make you understand that why the things that happened to you have happened. It is not Vensarkar or Board only to blame here, it’s your Karma and you have repay it!

Let go

I took a long break from writing my blog. Long break from blog was a result of no break available in real life. This month, a lot has been crossing my mind and also my tongue. I have been uncharacteristically blunt. Or so I think. Often I tend to convict myself too much. It has also been tough personally. It was my first Puja away from home, Bombay. Mid terms and assignments cluttered around the same week. To add to that, an event that I have known about for a long time, happened last week, causing some pain to me. That’s when I decided to search someone’s name on the net and what I ended up with was a link to non – attachment. It is said how easy it could be to relieve your pain and stress by simply letting go of the idea you feel is so near and dear to you. We often tend to have a perception of happiness in our minds and we keep trying to reach there. In the pursuit of happiness what we end up with is stress, pain and sadness. In the end, once we reach there we realize that now we need more to be happy. Let me correct myself, we want more to be happy. I never really understood the difference between needs and wants in my Marketing Management class but now I do.
So back to the spot were we thought we would be happy but now we want more. Isn’t that pain, stress and effort we put in to reach this spot seem worthless then. It does. So detach yourself from any idea that makes you feel stress. Nothing is more important in this world than peace of mind. One of the ways that I find really useful for the peace of mind is meditation. It is often hard to empty ones mind and concentrate. The secret is not to try too hard. Just let go of the idea that you need to empty your mind and you will see that you need to empty your mind and you will be startled by the results. The moment you think that my mind needs to be empty, you have given birth to a new thought. And it is this thought that brings back all worldly worries and thoughts to your mind when your mind should actually be empty.
Often I notice that the exams I try too hard for tend to go bad. However the ones I don’t try too much, let myself ease into the course material, I tend to perform quiet well. It is funny that in my first course, without any knowledge of what an A+ means for the GPA, I got one. Thereafter I could never get one. Maybe I had attached myself so hard to the idea of an A+ that I just tended to get too impatient.
It is ironic and funny that today I am trying to detach myself from someone using the spiritual ideas of non-attachment, human spirit and ultimate happiness, when these very ideas were the ones that brought us close. Close to whom? Ummm…. I think I have detached too far to remember now!

Fall of the Traitor

Today, I am delighted to say the least. The moment I was waiting for, for what seems like an eternity, has finally come. Dravid has stepped down as captain of Team India. Finally, the last traitor has fallen. I know that me branding Dravid a traitor will irk many feelings. Especially, the ones from his hometown. However for once I appeal to all to stop wearing the regional goggle and take an honest look at Dravid's conduct after becoming the captain. Before becoming the captain, his conduct was incomparable. I myself was a big fan of Dravid, the a team player. However we need to analyze his career in two phases. One before becoming captain and the one after.
  Dravid became captain under controversial circumstances. Ganguly, who was arguably India's most successful captain, was thrown out on the insistence of a foreign coach. However, blaming Chappell completely for the coup would not be justified. Many vested interests in BCCI played a major role in that. Dravid was Mr. Clean until then.  The problem started when Dravid played along with Chappell's politics and gave in to all his cunning games. These games were not played on the ground but in the dressing room. He initially planned to throw out the former captain who had stood behind him in tough times and then the players who had supported the former captain. Even after throwing out Ganguly, he persisted with his politics to keep him out of the team. However, Ganguly was far too strong for a person like Dravid and he returned. That too in what style! Maharaj hit back-to-back half centuries in South Africa to save a hopeless team in South Africa.
  If we thought that Dravid would accept him in the team for the sake of the team after his good knocks, we couldn't be more wrong. He persisted with his tactics and continued to support Chappell in his evil plans. Finally all the hard work put in by Chappell paid dividends and Team India crashed out of the World Cup in the very first round. Chappell had to go but he didn't leave until he fired his last salvo. The coach who was supposed to strategize and be the real captain of Team India for the World Cup blamed the seniors for the defeat. He alleged that they didn't allow the captain to implement his decisions. This allegation was quite hilarious as the captain had always been spineless and never implemented any of his own decisions. The coach was the one calling shots all this time. Dravid in his usual manner didn't want to take responsibility for the defeat and blamed his batsmen for their dismal show. Thus displaying that he was never man enough to take the blame but would always be ready to shine in the light of victory. He was only concerned about how history would judge him, just him.
   His latest decision to step down demonstrates the same. Team India had a successful tour of England. However Dravid couldn't care less, all he was concerned about was his personal form. He doesn't want to go down in history books as a player who didn't retire in good form. Whether his stepping down now will affect Team India adversely must be the last thing on his mind. Sometimes I feel that even Azhar was a more selfless captain than Dravid. He sure has been alleged for match fixing but he played selflessly for the team. Seldom did I get the feeling that he was playing for his own records. I had heard that power corrupts, however there could be no better example of this than the 'The Wall' himself. From a selfless team player to a spineless, insecure and plotting captain it has been a long journey for Dravid. This hopefully would be a beginning of a new era for Team India. The last traitor has fallen.

The impersonal touch

I have often wondered as a child, how people could be so open and brazen about their feelings and emotions. Often I have found it difficult to express my true feelings. Not only with people I don't know well but even with those that are closest to me, to my heart. It might be very hard for many of my friends to believe me but I am someone who keeps my deepest feelings to myself. I might have an expressive face but my facial emotions hide more than what they reveal. It is not that I have been brought up this way, it is just the person I am. I tend to withdraw into my shell whenever I sense a hint of vulnerability. That is not something I am terribly proud of.
It is funny that I write this on the birthday of one of my closest firends. Often I have felt I have never said somethings probably I should have said long back. Somethings which I felt were better left unsaid and untold. Maybe that is why I write this blog, to keep reminding me that there was something that I had left undone, unfinished. Perhaps I have failed to keep up with the times, perhaps I am still a soul from the eighteenth century.
In todays day and age of mass media and marketing for anything and everything being a person who is not very flamboyant of ones ownself, might not be ideal. Infact I am still suprised as to how I can emote myself seamlessly on this blog and subject my feelings to the view of all and sundry and allow a public scrutiny of my opinions. Perhaps technology can change things, people and the way we live our lives. Certainly it has changed my life, and me in more ways than one.

Yours Truly,
Abhijeet Nandy

We have come back a full circle

The picture above shows Rahul Dravid embracing Saurav Ganguly on 31st July 2007 in England.They both made their debuts in test cricket in England, that was the summer of 1996.
Finally it seems kicking away Greg Chappel has paid off, need I say more!

Important Dates

What are the most important dates in your life? Your birthday? Maybe, but for me a couple of dates I can never forget are the ones on which I got my job offers and the days I quit those jobs :) I don't know why I just remember those days crystal clear.

Then there are those dates which you dread to forget. Like your girlfirend's birthday or your best friend's birthday. Its hard to say who keeps the grudge for a longer time:) I usually am angry when a close friend forgets my birthday, however that only lasts a couple of days. Come August and there are a host of such dates I have to remember.

August in more ways than one also marks the start of the festive season in India. Rakhi, followed by Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi. Ofcourse October brings Durga Puja with it. For me those are the five most important days and night of the year. In those five days I get enjoyment of a lifetime. I keep tracking dates of Durga Puja almost a year in advance. However this year, perhaps first time in 26 years, I won't be in Bombay for Puja. Believe me, I stayed in Pune for 10 years but for Puja I had to return to Bombay. Nothing matches up to the festive spirit of Bombay. Whether it's Ganpati,Durga Puja, Navratri, Diwali or New Years, Bombay is the place to be!

Terror Outsourced

When the 9/11 bombings happened and then the 7/7 bombings in London, India took pride in saying that there were no Indians involved in the attacks. Infact some senators and top officials in the Bush government had recently pointed out that India has a vast Muslim community which is very moderate and had not been involved in terrorist activities against the 'West'. Alas, the facade has given away. The truth is out. The latest Glasgow bombings have Indian links and the fact is that we have extremists in our country just like Pakistan,Iran,UK,Saudi or US for that matter. Saying that terrorism is preached by some radical Islamic groups and young educated Indian Muslims are getting attarcted towards this thought process would be over simplifying the matter. The fact is that extremism gives birth to extremism. The very fact that these highly educated youths were convinced that terrorist attacks are the right path to take raises big questions. Why would someone so educated and intelligent go for such activities?
Maybe we need to introspect. Isn't this a result of the extremism practiced by Indian political parties since the Late 80s? Isn't this a result of extremism practiced by Modi in Gujrat? Isn't this a result of extremism practiced by Bush?
Why Bush? Well, thats simple. If he would have attacked only Afghanisthan and claimed the war was against terrorism then it would be acceptable as Afghanisthan was encouraging terrorist activities and terrorists(just like Pakistan). However, misuse of this opportunity to control Iraqi oil, is the reason why we are in the situation we are in today. Bush did not attack Iraq because Iraq was a terrorist state. He attacked it for business purposes. Today the whole of West and South Asia is paying the price for his stupidity. Fighting terror is the last thing Bush has done in this war. All he has succeded in, is in creating more hatred towards the West and thus more terrorists.

In no way am I justifying the acts of this Bangalore doctor but we should take a step back and think that why our youth has got misguided. Earlier terrorsits were being produced in the Middle East, in UK and Central Asia. Now, it seems terrorists can be produced and exported more economically and efficiently from Bangalore, just like software.
I am sure this would be the first outsourcing project Bangalore would refuse and say NO THANKS. Alas, outsourcing is not always profitable.

Sonia Outsmarted the Media?

"Pratibha Patil is the UPA nominee for President". The moment journalists first heard this, what do you think their first reaction was? Shock? Suprise? NO. It was fear. They were petrified by the reaction they would get from their editors. How could they not find out after having all those sources in the Government about this lady? How did this happen?

So, to defend themselves they come out with the story that how she was a last minute nominee and this is like a fairy tale come true for her. Now, thats not completely true. If I have observed Sonia properly since 1998, she has never acted instinctively after the "272" fiasco. This seems to be a well thought out plan. Whether by Sonia or someone else, it was well thought out and implemented superbly. There were murmurs in the Congress that this could be the right time for a lady President. The proof of this is an article published by rediff on 6th of June, 2007.

http://in.rediff.com/news/2007/jun/06prez.htm

The media now crying foul over the selection procedure is actually licking it's own wounds. The fact is that they didn't see this coming. They are fearful of losing credibility in the eyes of the Indian junta, especially after the UP exit poll debacle. It's time that the Indian media conceded the fact that Sonia caught it unawares this time with her Presidential nominee.

It seems she got better of the media this time!

The Great Fall

The U.S. dollar has not only fallen against the Indian Rupee but against many major foreign currencies like Euro, Yen and Canadian Dollar. Infact the Canadian Dollar has moved up so swiftly in the past 3 months that it is now close to being equivalent to the U.S. Dollar. Till December 1 Canadian Dollar fetched 0.866998 U.S Dollar, now it is close to 0.94, soon it is forecasted to cross the value of U.S. Dollar. And by soon, I mean before the end of this year. If this were to happen it would be a first of sorts.

Now, lets look at why U.S Dollar will fall further.
U.S. GDP growth was dismal 0.6% (annualized) for the first quarter of 2007. Part of it was due to inventory drawdown, hwich is expected to correct itself in the next quarter. However there is a slump in the U.S. housing market. It is believed that after the results of this quarter the "Fed" will lower interest rates. If this does happen(which is likely), this will cause further devaluation.
From India's perspective, if inflation goes up again, like it had in the last quarter, we will have to hike up interest rates to control it. This will further appreciate the value of the Indian rupee v/s the U.S. Dollar.

Now what does this mean for us in Canada? Well, exporters closing shop. Canadian tourists can enjoy cheaper holidays in U.S. and yes a stronger Canadian Dollar might create more self confident Canadians visa vis the Americans.

Shiv Sena - A party fighting the future

Have you ever seen a political party which drives away voters from it?
If no, then meet the Shiv Sena. The party from Aamchi Mumbai. Shiv Sena is famous for it's violent protests,rioting and all that can be called unlawful. Yet, at many points of time it was the most favoured party of Mumbaikars. However, they have been going down in popularity and this trend may continue if they don't put on their thinking caps. But again, the Sena and logic don't go hand in hand.
It is hilarious to see Sena politics sitting far away from Mumbai. They seem to oppose anything and everything which is related to being young in Indian society today or any futuristic trend. They oppose Valentine's Day, something that almost every college going kid celebrates or atleast would like to. They oppose outsiders coming into Mumbai by thrashing up Bhiharis. Maybe they don't understand that looking at current trend, Mumbai will have far more North Indians than any other community, especially in the blue collared jobs. And you know whats worse for them, these are the people who actually go out and vote. And now they oppose orkut. For god sake, almost every young Mumbaikar or for that matter young Indian is using orkut today.
Sadly the sufferer in all this drama is the young Indian. Even if he or she wanted to go out and vote against the present UPA government for it's idiotic reservation policies, what choice would he/she be left with? The BJP and Sena? One is interested in vandalising art galleries and movie theatre while the other wants to ban arguably the most popular Internet site today in India! Yes, I am not kidding. Orkut's popularity seems to have invaded Matoshree too! According to today's Times Of India, three Thackrey grandsons are members of orkut.

Well, my advise to the Sena and the Sainiks is to stop fighting the future, no one in history has ever succeeded in defeating time. Accept change and if you can't lead the world towards the path you want it to take. But alas, whom am I advising, logic and Sena never go hand in hand.

Spring of new hope

I looked out of my window today and saw there were tiny green leaves on the tree. They looked happy to be born once again. They looked happy that the cold has gone and days are getting warmer. A truly bright saturday morning.
With the augment of the spring heat, I have tried fixing some things which were not right in my life. Although I have to mention here that this wouldn't have been possible without the help of a few friends. I have always believed that I have been very lucky to find true friends in every stage of my life. The true test of friendship is when in times of need your friend is there for you. Last week I was supposed to shift to my new place and I had no idea how I could do it alone. There was so much stuff to move that I had sleepless nights thinking of shifting all that stuff. However with the help of 3 of my friends, SB,TH and JL this task was simplified.
I love my new place, it's much bigger and cleaner than the earlier place. However it can look a bit spooky at night. Also, I am happy that I have a cheerful and positive roomie, that helps keep the mood up at all times. Academics is looking up too and there seems to be rays of hope on other fronts too. Overall, summer of 2007 is approaching with lots of promise, lets hope it delivers.

To All my friends in Montreal

I have been told that lately my writing has been a lot of depressing stuff. So to lift my own spirits and yours, my dear friends, lets raise a toast to hope.


ho agar koi ghum toh, bilkul na tum ghabaraana
taa raa raa raa rum taaraarumpum.......
bass rahe yakin yeh tumko, khushiyo ko toh hai aana
taa raa raa raa rum taaraarumpum.......
raat hai toh sabera bhi hoga
hai safar toh basera bhi hoga
ghum ke aage muskuraake gaaye hum
taa raa raa raa rum taaraarumpum.......

zindagi mein koi bhi kami ho
palko pe jo jara bhi nami ho
aansu na bahaana tum, dukh na uthaana tum
haar na jaana duniya se
darana kabhi na tum, rehana kabhi na tum gumsum
hasake bataana duniya se
aayenge phirse din khushiyo ke, badalega yeh mausam
taa raa raa raa rum taaraarumpum.......

koi aandhi jo aaye toh aaye
dil mein hai jo diya bujh na paaye
kaali kaali raate ho, chaahe jaisi baate ho
humko hai chalate rehana
jo bhi aaye mushkil, dare nahi kabhi dil
apana toh hai yeh kehana
lamhebharko chaayi ghata toh, dhoop na ??
taa raa raa raa rum taaraarumpum.......
ho agar koi ghum toh, bilkul na tum ghabaraana
taa raa raa raa rum taaraarumpum.......
bass rahe yakin yeh tumko, khushiyo ko toh hai aana
taa raa raa raa rum taaraarumpum.......
raat hai toh sabera bhi hoga
hai safar toh basera bhi hoga
ghum ke aage muskuraake gaaye hum
taa raa raa raa rum taaraarumpum.......

Lets Give them Something to Talk About!

People are talking, talking 'bout people
I hear them whisper, you won't believe it
They think we're lovers kept under cover
I just ignore it, but they keep saying
We laugh just a little too loud
We stand just a little too close
We stare just a little too long
Maybe they're seeing something we don't, darlin'


Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
Let's give them something to talk about
How about lo-o-ove



I feel so foolish, I never noticed
You'd act so nervous, could you be falling for me
It took a rumour to make me wonder
Now I'm convinced I'm going under
Thinking about you every day
Dreaming about you every night
I'm hoping that you feel the same way
Now that we know it, let's really show it, darlin'

Let's give them something to talk about
A little mystery to figure out
Let's give them something to talk about
How about love, love, love, love

Flashback.....winter 2001, location: a typical college and a typical college crowd

People love to talk. We love to talk about the time when we are not there. We love to wonder what was happening in our absence. We love talking about couples who hang out just too long with eachother.
Who doesn't love to gossip! They talk about how they saw them having dinner at the restaurant the other night, how they caught them at the cafe, how they jog every evening, how they never stop meeting for study sessions at his or her room.
Many times, after a few weeks you come to know, that the couple are actually dating eachother. So do the gossip mongers stand vindicated? Take Abhi and Ash for instance. They denied it, they avoided the media, today they got married.

Now lets not reach to conclusions here. It is important to know what happened between the time that rumours started and couple actually came out to all their "friends". What were the couple feeling? Sometimes we have to be told by others that we have fallen in love. That is when some foolish people(like me) realize that there is something special here. And then, you have a lot to talk about. But what about those couples who never come out and the gossip mongers are left wondering, what was going on behind those closed doors.

Maybe there was never anything actually going on or maybe some secrets are best kept secrets forever ;)

PS: In my earlier post I had mentioned that my self perception of being a good student is shaterring to pieces. I stand corrected, I received final results of my 1st MBA course(Organiztional Behaviour), I am combined topper of my class.

Lakdi ki kaathi

lakadi ki kaathi kaathi pe ghoda
ghode ki dum pe jo maara hathauda
dauda dauda dauda ghoda dum utha ke dauda

ghoda pahuncha chauk mein chauk mein tha naai
ghodeji ki naai ne hazaamat jo banaai
chag-bag chag-bag chag-bag chag-bag
ghoda pahuncha chauk ...
dauda dauda dauda ghoda dum utha ke dauda

ghoda tha ghamandi pahuncha sabji mandi
sabji mandi baraf padi thi baraf mein lag gai thandi
chag-bag chag-bag chag-bag chag-bag
ghoda tha ghamandi ...
dauda dauda dauda ghoda dum utha ke dauda

ghoda apana tagada hai dekho kitani charabi hai
chalata hai maharauli mein par ghoda apana arabi hai
chag-bag chag-bag chag-bag chag-bag
ghoda apana tagada hai ...
baanh chhooda ke dauda ghoda dum utha ke dauda

lakadi ki ...

Abyss

I have reached the abyss. I don't know where to go from here. My finances are in ruins. I have no job to support myself. My exams are fast approaching and it seems increasingly tough to maintain a good GPA. My notions of being an intelligent student are being crushed mercilessly. To top this I am considering moving out of my apartment by the end of this month. I haven't found a place to go to yet. I just can't stand the tension in my apartment anymore. And ofcourse the constant factor since arrival in Montreal has been that I have had no love life. This is the worst state I have ever been in.
I have never regreted any decision in my whole life. None. However I am now regretting coming here for MBA. I hate this place. The worst part is that after investing so much I can't even go back.
So what do I do now. Well, I still keep trying to make it better. I am hoping there is light at the end of the dark tunnel. And I hope that light is not of a Canadian Rail train.

Oh yes, before I sign off, something for the politics at Concordia student unioins.

Kitne ajeeb rishtey hai yaha pe
Do pal miltey hai, saath saath chalte hain
Jab mod aaye to bach ke nikalte hain
Kitne ajeeb rishtey hai yaha pe

Thokar bhi khaana hai, chalte bhi jaana hai
Vaada kiya toh woh kisko nibhaana hai!
Yaha sabko saare daav aazmane hai
Sabhi ek duje se zyaada sayaane hai

Kitne ajeeb rishtey hai yaha pe

Remembering Anupama

Back in the 60s, a classic movie was made,"Anupama"
It was about a girl who was extremely shy, an extreme case of being an introvert. Ofcourse there were reasons shown in the movie which led her to be an introvert. Raised by her father and a maid. Never had any friends since childhood, was too scared to face her father. Her father always felt she was the reason for her mother's death. That created a sense of aloofness in her, making her quite and calm like a fishless pond.
I have almost never met anyone who is that extremely introverted. However no matter how open, extroverted and audible we claim to be, all of us have an Anupama hidden in us. All of us hide a person inside us, who is afraid to come out. I am amazed to see how people seem to eveolve with the passage of time. Actually people don't evolve. There are just some facets of our personality which tend to guard in first meetings. Slowly that guard is let down. However, there is some part of us which always hidden from the outside world, even from the people closest to us. In some instances we ourselves don't realise who we are and what we are capable of being.
As a kid, I was very shy. I never talked much in school. Some of my present day freinds might find it very hard to believe that.It has a been a long journey from being a shy boy in school to doing an international MBA in Canada. However, I still think I am reserved and talk less. Ok, now don't grin ;)

Karma

"I have always been a firm believer in the karma theory. Your Karma shall follow you. Thou shall reap what thou sow."

I wrote this on 31st October,2006. It has come true.

http://abhijeetnandy.blogspot.com/2006/10/grinch-whole-stole-victory-from-indian.html

India's ,miserable loss at the World Cup is a result of all the wrong things that happened in Indian cricket in the last eighteen months.
Chappell and Dravid took over reins of the team from Ganguly by spreading lies and by playing politics. However they failed to realize that by killing the strength of our team they could never make it successful. I can understand the selfish deeds of Chappel. He is an Australian, probably here only for the money. Why would he have any love for India or it's cricket. But what had gone wrong with Dravid? Why did he assist Chappell in all the evil deeds? Is power so corrupting?
Power has spoilt many good men. Dravid is not only the latest but a prominent example of this. Worse,power made him insecure. It was this insecrity of this that created an uneasy atmosphere in the team. He failed to realize the basic rule of cricket, it's a team game, you can't do it alone.

Decades back, Tagore wrote a song describing the oppressions of the British government and said that:
bidhir badhon katbe tumi emon soktiman tumi ki emni soktiman
amader bhanga gora tomar haatE emon obhiman tomader emni obhimaan
bidhir badhon katbe tumi emon soktiman tumi ki emni soktiman............

You will change the course of destiny, you are so strong
You will change the course of destiny, are you so strong?
Our creation and destruction is in your hands,
you have such arrogance, such is your arrogance

Always you will keep us down?
Always you will pull us back?
You don't have such power yet, you can not pull this off

You will change the course of destiny, you are so strong
You will change the course of destiny, are you so strong?

No matter how powerful the ruler is,
the oppressed still has power
No matter how big you become,
there is GOD!
By killing our strength, even you won't survive
Once your burden gets too heavy,
your boat will sink

You will change the course of destiny, you are so strong
You will change the course of destiny, are you so strong?
Our creation and destruction is in your hands,
you have such arrogance, such is your arrogance

The Indian boat has sunk, thank our captain for it.

Moon's smile has broken all dams

This song of mine will wind its music around you,
my child, like the fond arms of love.
The song of mine will touch your forehead
like a kiss of blessing.
When you are alone it will sit by your side and
whisper in your ear, when you are in the crowd
it will fence you about with aloofness.
My song will be like a pair of wings to your dreams;
it will transport your heart to the verge of the unknown.
It will be like the faithful star overhead
when dark night is over your road.
My song will sit in the pupils of your eyes,
and will carry your sight into the heart of things.
And when my voice is silenced in death,
my song will speak in your living heart.

This evening I decided to do what I like to do and not what I have to do. As it gets warmer in Montreal, I decided it's time for some pleasure. I went to the computer and sat for hours listening to Rabindra Sangeet.

আলো আমার আলো ওগো, আলো ভূবন ভরা
আলো নয়ন ধোওয়া আমার আলো হৃদয় হরা ।
নাচে আলো নাচে ও ভাই, আমার প্রাণের কাছে -
বাজে আলো বাজে ও ভাই, হৃদয়বীণার মাঝে
জাগে আকাশ, ছোটে বাতাস, হাসে সকল ধরা ।
আলোর স্রোতে পাল তুলেছে হাজার প্রজাপতি
আলোর ঢেউয়ে উঠল মেতে মল্লিকা মালতী ।
মেঘে মেঘে সোনা, ও ভাই যায়না মানিক গোনা -
পাতায় পাতায় হাসি ও ভাই, পুলক রাশি রাশি ।
সুরনদীর কূল ডুবেছে সুধা-নিঝর-ঝরা।
- অচলায়তন

I don't know what it was, maybe the rains. It drizzled this evening. Somehow I always get pulled towards Rabindra Sangeet whenever I see the rains. Maybe it's the soothing effect. The soothing effect that rain has on dry earth, same effect does Rabindra Sangeet have on my soul. Remember that frangrance of wet soil after first rains? Thats what I feel when I listen to the maestro's songs.



Bhalobashi Bhalobashi
Ai shure kache doore
Jole sthole bajai baashi
Bhalobashi Bhalobashi

Murder He wrote...

Was Bob killed? This seems to have become the biggest question in cricket today. Ironically, no one seems to be concerned with the original question, who will win the world cup!
This case seems to be straight out of a Agatha Christie novel. Initially declared as a natural death, then traces of poison are found. A scheduled press conference by the high and mighty ICC officials is cancelled. Then, there are reports that he was strangled. And now, reports surface that Scotland Yard will investigate the case. Sherlock Holmes in Jamaica!
Bob, even after dying has remained in the news, much like he used to during his lifetime, especially as the coach of South Africa and then Pakistan. If he has really been murdered, then it's unfortunate. The killer entered the wrong team's hotel, to murder the wrong coach.
This World Cup will go down in history as one of the most popular ones for all the wrong reasons. And believe me, u ain't seen anything yet! Theres a lot more to come!!!

Life is Tough

I never thought life as a student again would be so tough. It is not about adapting to the study format in Canada. It's purely about cash. Getting a job to survive here is such a Herculean task. Purely on this experience I would never advise any international student to come here for any form of studies. The government rules are a two edged sword for students. Firstly, they wouldn't allow you work off campus for the first six months and then no one on campus is willing to employ a new student. Past experience and credentials are plainly ignored.
It seems not only is student life tough, life after is worse. I recently met an ex student from my MBA program, who is returning back to India.
Reason: No one was willing to consider him for a position, even with about 4 years of experience in companies like Suzuki and Honda.
As I write, I listen to "Jene Shune aami beesh korechi paan". Literal translation is, "Willingly I have drank poison". I ask myself the same question tonight.

Results of my DNA test

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Mambo Italiano!

Saying that I was shocked this time on my birthday would be an understatement. I was not only shocked by my new set of friends,in Montreal but I also managed to shock myself. Usually, back home I would expect my friends to turn up at my place at 12am. However it was least expected here. I had no clue these guys n gals would pull this off on me. So it was a real surprise and a good one at that.
Surprises didn't end here. I was expecting a hectic day, what with two classes and work to finish for two presentations due next week. I finish attending a draining session by a marketing guru in the first half of my Marketing class. It's break time, just trying to get my nerves settled as I know I will get my marketing mid term marks after about an hour. I hear someone calling out,"Ramie". I turn expecting to see my Marketing team member,a french girl,here as an exchange student. It is her. But wait! She has a donut in her hand, with a candle,lit up. The girls start singing "Happy Birthday" and boy am I taken aback. Amazing gesture from someone who has known only for a couple of weeks. I didn't even know how to thank her!
Everyone kept asking me what I did on the night of March 8th. All I can say is I had hot Italian dinner. Italians make them delicious, don't they ;)

Spring is here!

This weekend it snowed a lot in Montreal. However it was the same snow that helped me enjoy the spring festivals of Holi. Throwing snowballs on the streets of Montreal at midnight, on two consecutive nights! Am I having a ball or wat?
I think the turning point was my trip to Toronto. It liberated me. Liberated me of all the feelings of guilt and helplessness. March in Montreal seems lovely now. So bring out the wine, I am here to party!

This life is a strange story...

"There are no permanent friends or enemies in life"
Who said that? Well, I just did

I say it from personal experience. I am not angry with life, I am just suprised. I never thought, for being happy I will have to take care of my pains. For smiling, I never thought I will have repay the debts for smiling. I once read somewhere that every friendship has a common motive behind it. It's either work,money or an effort to run away from lonliness. I never believed it. I always thought of friendship as a pure relation, where we choose whom to spend time with. However,manyatimes life leaves you with very few choices. Life has taught me it's true, the hard way. Come to think of it, I am happy that I did learn it.
It is true that frienships do have a common motive and once that's over friends just turn into memories. I also know that there are no permanent enemies. Only your very close friend can be your worst enemy. Because your closest friend will know your weaknesses the best. Do I feel like writing "Strangers at last sight" again? Not yet. Not this time.

Still Confused!

Timing can be the key factor in life. I still keep wondering what life would have been, how life would have been if I had said certain things to certain people when I felt I should.
The first memory that comes flashing to my mind is when I gave her a treat for getting my first job. She was my closest friend. Sadly thats what she still is. I still wonder, sitting in freezing Montreal, should I have proposed her that night. We sat for candlenight dinner at RiverView.
It was the perfect setting. But I didn't say anything to her. Maybe I was afraid of being turned down. Maybe because I didn't want to hurt her. It broke my heart when she said that she thought I was going to propose to her that night. However the moment had passed and I had lost an opportunity.
I am still confused whether I did the right thing the wrong way!

Jaane Kya Chahe Mann Bawra

Do you know how sometimes you are sitting in a coffee shop and you hear a song and the song brings back some memories. Some memories that are sweet, sometimes bitter, sometimes fond and manyatimes they make your heart too heavy for your chest to hold back.
I can go back in time when I hear some songs. Some songs take me back to my schooldays in Bombay. Some remind me of my friends in Wadias. And a couple take me back to the place, where i was most peaceful. An open door, a big roof and wind blowing leaves of a long tree, like pine. "Countryroads take me home"......why can't we turn back time.
My latest favourite is "Jaane kya Chahe Mann" from a movie called "Pyaar ke Side effects". Simply because it reminds of my last few days in Poona, spent with some special people.
I have been in Montreal for just over two weeks now, I am sure I will also remember this period with some song. Right now I don't know which one, maybe in the future I will.
And there are those songs which remind of some people rather than some specific time. Like there is "Kuch to hua hai" from Kal Ho Naa Ho. Whenever I hear it, theres just one face in front of my eyes and its not Preity. And theres mon favourite French song "Tout les Garcons". That brings back some French memories. As strange as it may sound, it reminds me of a French in Poona not Montreal.
Jaane kya chahe mann bawra,akhiyan mere sawan chala............

Aim

We take birth in a country, in a city, in a family. We get a religion. We get a race. How is it decided where will we be born? Karma? Maybe. Then we grow up, some go to school,few to college. Manyatimes not knowing what they actually want to be in life. Then try to find a job. In which field, don't know. Maybe the one which offers more money. Start working. Enjoy the money initially. However with passage of time you may realise that you aren't happy anymore.
The mundane work makes you feel like a robot. What do we work for, one will ask oneself. Maybe it's time to switch. Or maybe it's time to change or your profession.
We keep looking for change so that life becomes better. When it does get better we feel we still lack something. Why are we never satisfied? Do we even know what we look for?
As a kid I always thought age brings maturity and emotional stability. But I was wrong. With age we tend to think more about our future. This makes the mind unstable. With age relations become older, making you feel more attached to people. Thus making you emotionally weak.
Strength is achieved by being content. Content with life. You can be content if you have an aim in life. However the most difficult thing in life can be knowing your real aim.

Sudden Death

If ever I thought that I was feeling sad while writing a post, it couldn't be more than tonight. After reaching here in Montreal, not only have I felt as if I have a new life but also that I had a sudden death. Seperated from my parents,family and friends, in a different world. Feels like death. Well I never thought I would experience death in this lifetime.
Although I was having a good time on new years eve, surrounded by new people, the moment I got alone the feeling of loss sucked me in again. Loss on an entire life of 25 years. I still ask myself, will it be worth it? Am I not losing out on precious time with my family. I don't know if things will ever be the same again. I have seen the cruel face of time and that is what scares me for the future.