We Indians, Bitten by Dhritarashtra?

Sounds shrewd, isn't it? It might have pinched a few. A few might even agree after reading the full
post.
I make no claim of having studied the Mahabharata, first hand. My familiarity with the great epic, such as it is, is entirely derivative. Yet I am tempted by the turn of events, to offer a hypothesis on that slender base.


I have long believed that as a society, we suffer from a Dhritarashtra syndrome. We value our cultures, our castes blindliy. We tend to focus too much on last names. A Gandhi, will always be a good human being. A Kapoor, will always be a good actor. A Khan, will always achieve stardom. That's why we even see the newcomers changing their last names before entering the bollywood industry or prolitics. Well the facts are infront of you. We call it scams, we call it curroptions. we refer to it as "-gate" . I ask you to look within. Can't we judge people on their character, their opinions,their talent, rather than being so last name focussed, so caste biased, being racist.


Casteism: I hear parents telling their kids," you should always hangout with kids of your community". I was always curious, why there is this restriction, and I did ask them, why are you so much caste biased? The only valid answer till now which I have got is " The community in which you live, sows values in you and its been followed differently in different communities. Thus, you tend to gel easily with the people who are of your comms." But do you think this is valid now? That was the period when the outer world was hidden from our eyes, but now we do have a large window called INTERNET. We are intelligent enough to accept what is right and what is wrong. It would be wrong to say that a person form different community wont value our communities beliefs, and I can say that I don't agree with all the beliefs my community wants to force into me.

Politics: Haven't we seen enough to stop this. We are just too stuck with the thoery of dynasticism. We have long believed in this and we just follow it blindly. Why a politicians son/daughter chooses to be a politician? Why he/she doesnt explore other fields. The one overweening concern of most Indians -- leaders of statecraft, captains of industry, matinee idols, paragons of professions, and common citizens alike -- is the future of their progeny. No effort is too large, no scruple too strong, in our relentless pursuit of a safe and secure future for our children. We are not prepared to entertain even a suggestion that this obsession could harm them, the very objects of these efforts. We tend to decide their future staright from the moment he says "DA". And thus we restricts their view towards an open society. So much of sowing the values, isn't it?

I say, its our job now to wake up (Wake UP CALL) and undermine these beliefs and judge the people of their character. What they truly are. You must be seeing the meaningful debates which US holds up for its Presidency elections. Those stuffs are meanigful, atleast the same crowd gets to judge their leaders at the same podium.

We pride ourselves being masters of mathematics, as people with most analytical skills, then y do we fail where it matters the most.
I call upon you fellow Indians to judge the world with open eyes and and open mind. Lets be the change we want to be. Lets carry our country's pride not only through you heart, rather HEART and MIND.

Coffee or Beer?

Lately I've been pursuing the idea of having a debate on the two most obsessive beverages. Certainly if we go by the numbers Beer beats out Coffee fair and square. But, my conscience, itself has become a battleground now.


The more you ponder the more you realize the strikingly equal and opposite traits each posses. Dark and Light. Hot and Cold. Two beverages that must take their place among mankind’s greatest accomplishment, a mark of inspiration in the way we teased energy and new perspectives from nature’s gift. And two beverages that are as entwined in the outdoor experience as sweat and stoke and joyful suffering. It might be that the passion and motivation that drive you to, say, climb a mountain, are the same character traits that lead us to gleefully embrace coffee and beer, or it might be that we need the bump of caffeine to get us going up the hill and the salve of alcohol to ease the aches when we get down, or it might be that we’re simply obsessive.


Debaters might have seen this as a war of cafes and pubs, I see this as a clash of thoughts. It would be difficult to acknowledge that a simple mug of beverage could change your perception so much. One simply gives you adrenaline rush to break your own barriers, while the other let you dive in a pool of emotions. A student before an exam would prefer drinking coffee to fight the urge of jumping on that 6 ft mattress while a beer would be the straight away choice to celebrate the freedom after that. An IT worker would be ready to  dive in the pool of brown beans on weekdays, but come the weekends, he'll be seeing only golden colored liquid around him.

Why?
Don't you think there's a clash of thoughts here?

Aren't you bothered that your life is being controlled by "THE BEVERAGES".

There has to be a relation with the Human characteristics. Coffee makes you sing "Tum ko dekha toh ye khayal aaya..", while Beer would make you go "talli hua, talli hua...".


Ever wondered how you approach a girl might have to do what you drink.
Guys who prefer coffee cafes as there first date would be having a comfortable and comprehensive approach towards love. He wants to know her better, open himself to her, share each other thoughts, take a steady approach towards a long lasting relation. While the first date in a pub might end in a "wham bam, thank you mam". Or most certainly in Indian Scenario, IT IS BELIEVED THAT,  its an open invitation from girls to treat her as objects. I certainly don't want to send out a biased opinion in favor of coffee or beer, but it certainly a raising concern how reactive our mind have become towards a few milliliters of liquid.


A coffee person would be searching for all the peace and calmness in the world after each sip, and a beer would give him guts to do all the things in the world.

Coffee would make you write this blog, and Beer .. well, you'll read the second line and will say.. "w.t.f. is this article about... Beer tops .. on the rocks .. CHEERS!!!!!"


Now, as to our query today, it is deliberately broad, but underlying “Coffee or Beer?” are such specifics are superiority, taste, effect on the body & mind, integration with the outdoor experience, and, ultimately, the inability to go without. Indeed, the question at the heart of the matter, I think, is ......

if you had to pick one and only one to drink for the rest of your life, which would it be?

The Journey- From Child to Man

It all started with.....


Last week of May 2006, I have just started to stretch my legs a bit after the deadly one month of Competitive Examination tortures and the results started to pool in. Scary moments I must say. Learning guitar was a mode to ease of the tension building up amidst all these. Though I can confess something out here that I was preparing myself for the College life ahead ( I thought it was all about playing Guitars and bunking classes, Silly me!!). And so the day finally arrives. I took off to nearest cybercafe early morning at 8:45 alone( requested my parents not to accompany me, still not sure why?) . The results were expected at 9 am. Luck seemed to have drained out that day, no cybercafes were open, didn't they know that the results were supposed to be out today. After a few more desperate searches I finally spotted a cafe wala opening his shop. I made my nervous footsteps to it. The feeling was indescribable. Thousands of questions were in my mind. After juggling with the keyboard and CPU, the screen asked me enter your JEE roll no.. Like a obedient kid i started pressing those 7 Digits and hit the Enter. The expression started changing from Nervousness - Dehydration - Shock -Surprise - More Surprise - rubbed my eyes - Joy - Victory. I shouted my heart out. Called up Mom and Dad and felt that pride in them. I had my Victory Lap from Cafe to Home.

The Screen said, " Congratulations!! You have been called for Counseling at IIT BOMBAY!"

Interlude.......

@IIT BOMBAY.... You have got B.Tech Civil in IIT KGP!! My first thought, the place with the longest railway platform in India, must be a good place!

Few days later, A letter arrived saying due to some errors before students with rank above 1600 need to appear for re counseling at nearest IIT.

@IIT KGP.... What a waste of land, this is so big and its all jungle everywhere. IIT Bombay was way better. Hostels seemed slum houses to me. I wish I dont get KGP again (no offense intended to KGPians). After much hustle tustle I got IDD Chemical IITR.

..... But how could that be possible. The brochure said last year it closed at 1345 and I got this at 2474. (For the confused souls, It was a mis printing, else i would never have entered that option).
Now wait what does R stands for . ROORKEE.... so where is it ? Must be near gangtok or so. Checked the map (ATLAS of School days), basically looking at eastern zone. couldn't locate it untill my brother pointed out its there in Uttaranchal.

Its time to get ready for an Unknown land.... Haridwar .. where I let the baby's hair shaved off.



From 1st day to 1st year.......

The train just passed Roorkee at 9 in the morning on its way to Saharanpur. A small station. Ahhh I am stuck in a village.
The bus from Saharanpur reached Roorkee and after a few hours I made my first few steps towards my ALMA MATER. The place is amazing, not so big as IITB or IITKGP. Similar to IIT Delhi, well maintained. Ahh the biggest Nescafe I have ever seen. Roads seemed confusing. Finally reached Rajendra Bhawan, where I was about to spend my next 10-11 months. After registration at hostel came to know, I'll have a room mate. I wished he(unless EUROTRIP kinda stuff happens here and I get a girl as a roommate) better be good and not so geeky. Sumeet Gupta enters, same branch as mine, but too geeky man. Damn college days gonna be studious days of my life. Half n hour later Ankur Gulati arrives, seemed more like me, fun loving. I wished he is the roommate. Again some confusions and wish came true.
(@Sumeet no hard feelings buddy, you helped me a lot in later stages)
So, the beginning of The BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE!!!!
We ended up forming a group called Roorkee Rockers. Birthday celebrations were a moment to remember. Birthday Bumps, followed by Make ups, Chapos (the word for treat). Trips, Debates, NCC Days, Fresher Play, playing cell phone games in class, 26th january celebrations on room. Everything was just as I imagined the life in College.

I regret that nobody told me how much studies were important at that time. Moreover stories of our room and the seniors didn't do us any good. It was said, only alternate batches do well in this room. With Room baaps already had branch change last year and "Room baap" ke baap(daddy :P) had 7 backs in 12 subjects through out the year. We felt its our time. Glas nothing of that sort happened

Amidst all these, Unknowingly the best thing happened to me, I got into PM. Thanks Samarth and all the seniors for letting me a part of the group. I didn't know then, what I had till now was just the Beginning.


2nd and 3rd... the transformation ........


With just making new friends at the end of last year followed by trip to solani and nearby village. 2nd year took off in a better fashion. There were no classes to attend. Most of the time were spent at nesci or Snack Point. Attending class were more fun all of a sudden. BP used to always agree with us of not having the classes. Fluid proff was at ease always. There were more rockets and airplanes in the air than no. of students in his class. Chemical Lawns were our usual hangout between the classes, and those were the days when i recently got my laptop and started my hands over CS and other games and watching series and movies were the favorite timepass.
The only worst moment I can recall is when 8 among us (chemicools) were suspended for ragging.
Then came the Cogni days, working during those times were hell lot of learning experience. I take this moment to thank all those around me (esp KP sir) seniors batchmates and juniors to letting me know what life and college life is all about.
Many memories were made during these times, and I found the best friends forever among Sumit Pj Mohit Joey Aunty Billo yamma kholu ramil and many more.





I wont forget my June 6th 2008 B'day ever. I was close to my parents and family and was even closer to you on that day. (still have the 25 hourly SMS)

I can sense the transformation now, from the fun loving kid to a bit more mature person.


4th year...A bag of mixed memories.......


Many things were happening, Life all of a sudden got busy in studies, started realizing I am a DUAL deg student and not a B.Tech. I need to walk to the classes alone now.

This may not be my last year, but This is my last year.

I again started being part of the trips and we had an awesome time together in Dharmshala. Helping batchmates with placement sessions just to be a part of the activities was turning out to be the only thing I could do with them. Followed by many chapos and time spent together in canteen and watching IPL with Kukki, gabbar, ishan, bhavi, jindal, kholu chammiya peejay don shikhandi,. The batch people seemed much closer now. Even the girls started hanging out together :P. Then there was 4C's which was getting bigger always, ending with 8 members I suppose. Everybody knew these were the last few moments spend together and then Hum kaha and Tum kaha....

GOA

I would just say, I was there at the best time with the Best people possible and had the Best of the times together.














The last days were the most to remember by, with farewell being planned and the task of giving names to every1 is a special one. followed by those departmental photo-shoot, Campus bhraman after the farewell and the days followed are unforgettable. Filling out yaadein brought out all the memories back together...


I don't know what happened last day on 29th May with joey mohit and sumit, but thanks for giving me the tidbits of it.


5th Year.. the final year...


Not sure whether I call this last year or a very long last day?? It feels like standing just on the border line waiting for just that last step to cross the line seperating college and the life ahead.
I realised Campus/ College life is not because of College, Its because of the People associated with it.

This year can only be accounted for making new friends and getting close to some even more.. in the names of Jimmi, happy, siddhi, vanya, nisha, chotu, somani, pj, prachi, ravi, tantar, payal, yashad, pardha, and all the others.



..........yaad aayega ye campus or iski apni duniya
ho yaad aayega humesha ye aashiyaan
(i am really gonna miss this place
i am gonna miss my college days) - Gaurav

INCEPTED!!!!

After much ado, I finally get to watch most hyped movie of the year, Inception!! and I'll say a simple Awesome is an understatement for the movie. Mr. Nolan has focused on even the finest details as in when Mr. Cobb is supposed to be wearing his wedding ring (which i see as his totem), balancing the movie on 3 levels
1) The Dream
2) The Reality
3) The Flash backs.
Surely the concept and the finest details has been working out since 2001, but hats off to Mr. Nolan (The Hitchcock) for delivering another one of his masterpieces.
Without tottering much on the movie now, I must focus on the "IDEA". About which the movie says : "The most resilient parasite is an idea planted in the unconscious mind". The movie left me pondering over some arbitrary thoughts. Among all of you who would have watched the movie ( for the rest go and watch the movie asap) aren't we still confused about the end ? whether that totem fell or not? some may argue that the top starts falling as it shakes a bit, what if that's just a "shake" on some upper level. Though Michael Caine himself said in an interview

"If I'm there it's real, because I'm never in the dream. I'm the guy who invented the dream"

There's lot to discuss over it, but what i want to state is, what if this is a "Limbo" a world of our own creation. That we are all a part of a dream. A part of an subconscious mind. Think how we speak of God, as the creator of The Nature. But what if we are just a part of a lower level of a dream, where once you die, you start living in an upper level of dream, which is known as heaven or hell. The Earthquakes, natural calamities are just a part of the disturbance in an upper level of the dream, where our dreamer is residing. The acute references of our Mother Nature's with the Fibonacci Series, as how everything is associated with it(for more follow the link) relates it to the architectural style of the dreamer. The cases of spotting an alien is may be an intersection of dreams of different dreamers where subordinates of 2 different dream world accidentally comes into each other.

These are all just the arbitrary thoughts (or my fictitious thoughts) which I came across after watching the movie, and in noway should be taken seriously. Though discussion over the issue is welcomed and I would love to do more research. Man I am bugged by the IDEA, may its just start, a beginning ,an Inception

Different Times

It has been long . A long long and the best of my times. I have felt, seen, feared everything. Its like you have brought all emotions out;

Sometimes it was joy, Sometimes there was sorrow
Sometimes heart was filled with fun, and sometimes it was hollow
Sometimes its like i can take on the world, and
sometimes I searched people to follow

Earlier all roads headed to u, and
now i see myself nowhere to go
I used to be so much understanding, but
now its all ended coz of a stupid Ego

I ask for help, I ask for help,......
Lemme help fix my withered soul..
I cry, I cry within.
to fill up the empty Hole.


I still say ..
Love is Divine, Love is Pure
Sometimes... Sometimes ... Sometimes..
Different times for sure.