You and me

Weave me tight
just for sometime;
Stay;
Let my fears
pass away;
If only I could,
just for a moment more,
Steal you
from yourself;

My Love

I feel

If only for a while

I could ......

Measure

just a little ....

my love,

to assure you

for a lifetime.

Indian Curry

What exactly have I been eating of late. Everything that's bland and fetor with almost no color that suits my palate. And I dare say uninspiring, with the risk of being ostracized.

Unmotivated lunch hour drove me to the nearest food joint. Indian curry. Spicy, hot and colorful. I could almost smell the sensation as excitement caressed me. An ambiance with a known face and a familiar sound. Even the dialect touched the longing corner of my heart. Piquant and zesty. Gingery, peppery hot. A taste to savor for tomorrow.

Elysian.

An empty glass

Vacuous and hollow

bleeding dry,

A little void …

eviscerated,

Insignificant ……

meaningless,

Hunger and thirst

avaricious with a little lust .....

lecherous,

Selfish greed .....

replenished

nourished and full ....

Satiated

- an empty glass

Just another minute

woke up this morning virtually pulling myself up. the alarm like an unforgettable past would not go off. i chided, screamed and failed. it would not stop. reminding me time and again. and i wanted to forget. sometimes even repress. but it would jump out. preterit night and a faint morning. Elliot comes to pass

The morning comes to consciousness
Of faint stale smells of beer
From the sawdust-trampled street
With all its muddy feet that press
To early coffee-stands.

nothing so inspiring. but reminded me of my unwilling steps to work. just as i wished for some more time, the clock ticked eight. i tucked under the cover for one more minute. but failed conscience had taken over now. so much i wished i had no mind. to just wander through. with no sense and conscience. just to be for some time. and the clock kept ticking away. defiantly. not listening. it had a mind of it's own. unequivocal. unrelated. unsympathetic. artificial but enduring. it will not let me live my last moment.

With the other masquerades
That time resumes,
One thinks of all the hands
That are raising dingy shades
In a thousand furnished rooms

Desolation

I stood by the side of the window. It has been raining for some time. I didn't realise it was two in the night. The coffee had gone cold. I didn't want another. I stood there. No one walked by. No one was expected to. For a moment the morbid silence was broken . A taxi had just passed by. The night seemed dark and the moon a little dull; behind the virile grey; i could barely see it. iniquitous. Perhaps it's the legend. I looked on .... the street lights were insufficient. As another taxis went by. Who would be travelling in them. Was just a passing thought as the track played on

Jane kya baat hai
neend nahi aati
bari lambi raat hai

A moment

Sit for a while
let the wind go by,
Ephemeral moon
slightly shines,
Engulfing night
and witch hunt,
Spellbound glory
holds me tight,
Let it be for
even if a moment,
Grin-less sand
and an ode.

The lady with a red purse

I saw her in the escalator. clad in a red duppatta holding on to her red purse. she wouldn't let it go. nothing else in this world mattered. there was no tomorrow. i stood beside looking down. she didn't care. all that mattered was her red purse. suddenly she clenches her fist like a sea holding on before the tide. she wouldn't let go. the sea decided to roll back. she opens her fist. it must have pained. a sudden gush of sigh left her. she was looking ahead, far off. i could not see nothing but a glass and herself. impatiently as she opened her red purse. looking out for something. frantically. fingers tossing between innumerable articles, searching for the pearl in the sand. couldn't find it for sure as she clenched her fist again. i looked down and she cared less. she started calling somebody on her phone. disconnected it even before. did she not want to talk. as she walked out i followed her besotted. wasn't i supposed to go right. i followed her left as she walked down the stairs. she suddenly stopped. thank god i didn't hit her. bemused. she opened her purse. what was she looking for i don't know. she returned empty hand even this time. she moved on. her heels sounding so high. she suddenly rushes to the door. oh man! i might just miss her. as if she bothered. the taxi stopped in no time. and i stood there alone .......

The wrinkled shirt

Its an every morning job

ironing my wrinkled shirt,

no body would know

what transpired before

but a fresh morning look.

If only I could un-wrinkle

those creases in the past

with a steaming hot iron

engulfed with a little passion

and just let myself breathe.

Just a wish

Sitting at the beach,
winds gushing through my coarse hair,
the waves luring me to sing in a hushed tone, and ....
i wanted to write.

I reach the mountain peak and slowly look down,
the earth looks so small but so mighty,
i keep thinking, that ....
i wanted to write.

I walk down the road and i stand waiting at a traffic signal
with hoards of people waiting to move on,
and as green turns to red,
i wanted to write.

I look at the mirror in my living room,
and thank God for it,
there's another figure over there, about whom ...
i wanted to write.

So many times
in my pleausres and woes,
in my company and lonliness
i wanted to write ......
i just didn't know ... why?

Chocolate

I looked around for something to eat .....
and there lay a bar of chocolate ....
in a corner of my refrigerator, sleeping peacefully,
unaware of the coming;

Perhaps I expected a resistance
and picked it with a trembling hand,
suddenly it woke up
as if from a pleasant dream
looked at me ...
like a blossoming sesame seed
lay in my hand like a silent lamb;

I looked at it and looked hard
mesmerized by the art
hesitating a bit ……
the rainbow cover
crumbling in my hand
exposed to the divine earthy brownie colour;

I stood there with a fixed gaze
like a charmed snake,
I slid my hands to the lovely curves
as a mountain ridge in the dark,
holding my own
I carried it to me
it smelt of earth
drenched completely in rain,
Divine;
Oh boy!
I slowly brought it between my lips
and it melted away
with sublime ecstasy;
Chocolate.

Its a Sunday evening

Geological forecast of thunderstorm woke me today. Didn't realise I forgot to switch off the television the night before. I look out. A serene calmness greets me good morning at 1 PM. The maid will not be coming today. I decide to organize my disorganized life before getting on with it. I look at myself in the bathroom. The stubble has grown dispropotionately ugly. I don't bother to shave. A cup of hot brewing coffee is all that I need with laptop and television. The day goes by. It rained a little but no thunderstorm. The geological department didn't break their tradition. I keep on flicking the tv channels for some thing worth while to help me through with the time. An interesting movie is scheduled at 11 PM. Nothing in between. Friends are also not online. So it’s my computer and me again. The whole world in front of me. Time does pass by. Its 10 PM what am I am doing inside asking myself as if it is routinely different. For a change I decide to take a walk. My eyes searching for someone known in an unknown land. Suddenly out of the jamboree I ask myself who am I expecting to find. I know not anybody. Suddenly I see two Indian friends right at the corner with a beer in the hand. I could not help but a wry smile on my face. I hadn't even walked half a mile and decided enough is enough. I come back to the organized room of mine. It’s still the same. Who would have disturbed it? I look out of the window to the high rising buildings. Nothing looks familiar in the night. How could when even the day is a stranger. I light up a cigarette. Didn't I have had enough for the day? Oh! what the heck. I am my own. A sense of blackout with something going on the tv. I was thinking something...... the cigarette is burnt out even the coke is finished. I decide to write something but how could I with my limited vocabulary. Some noises outside the door. Could it be for me I waited unexpectedly. No, it's my neighbor, opening his door. Its 10.50 PM, 10 minutes from the movie I had been waiting for on a Sunday.

Monday

A cup, coffee and my desk ........

a sullen morning for its monday today ......

or do i feel it everyday.

In Remembrance

As I stand by the window ...

looking out .....

it's raining today .....

and the seemingly unsuccessful song drenches me ....

a cup of coffee or was it two .....

I don't remember for wasn't long ago ....

The concept of visibility in todays corporate world

Not far back in the history of Indian corporate culture a young aspirant was required to have the following characteristic:
1. Qualification
2. Perseverance
3. Dedication
4. Intelligence (measured mostly by the qualification)
5. Right attitude and skill sets.

All of the above are still required in the new modern corporate field. But one of the most important characteristic that was not predominantly present was the characteristic to influence others. It’s not enough these days to be a good performer in a corporate structure. It takes lot more than that to go up the ladder. You need to know to sell yourself.

Isn't that what is also taught at most of the professional courses these days as well. I remember in one of the sessions of the GMCS classes, the presenter reminded us again and again that when you go for an interview regard yourself as your own salesman. Pitch hard for the product that is you and convince the people sitting on the other side of the bench that there is worth in buying the product. What she missed out on that session was perhaps the thought that the same pitch is required throughout the professional life.

The concept of making yourself 'visible' is dominated in today's work-sphere. You have to be good and you have to be visible to create a niche for yourself. So predominant has the culture of visibility become in today scenario that you end up making a mockery of all that you have believed and taught earlier.

This just got me thinking as to why it has become so important. Is it not that if you are good you would be noticed? Isn’t that’s the law of nature? The reason perhaps is that you might be good but some one is perhaps as good as you are in the skill sets that are required to perform a particular job. Now that’s not a good thing. If all of us are equally efficient then it not possible to attain an organization pyramid-cal hierarchical structure. We must remember that each one of us is different. There is that one thing that you have which others don’t and it’s important for the world to know that and the only way out is to ensure that you create a visibility for that special skill sets that you have that separates you from the others.

Especially today when corporations are moving away from seniority based organizational hierarchy to a meritocracy based structure it is even more important to ensure that you create that special place for yourself. The art is of creating and sustaining the need for you over there. It is also called perceived importance and that can be achieved only through ‘visibility’.

And whether we like it or not this concept is going to stay. And it doesn’t mean in any sense of the term that sheer visibility can replace all the above characteristics that has been mentioned above. Visibility for yourself is an added quality that you need today to maintain, sustain and grow in your organization.

It’s an art guys go train yourself for it.

Lata Mangeshkar - The Crusader

There has been so much written about Lata Mangeshkar that there is nothing more to add to her gushing biographies and tributes that are already piled at her feet there is therefore so little left unsaid.

Lata Mangeshkar cannot be sized into letter, because, to write something other than the length of a book that would do justice to a musician, a performer and a talent so prodigious and a body of work so astonishing both in its virtuosity and in its size, is almost an impossibility. What has surprisingly not been covered extensively is her rebellious nature that has benefited the entire generations of musicians in the years to come.

Lata's 'aayega aane wala' was a trend setter in every term of the word. The song capitulated Lata to the status of a diva. Interestingly Lata never featured on the cover of the track. The rage that the song created was evident from the thousands of requests that AIR received for the real singer of the song. This led to Lata's first musical embroiling. She insisted on the artist’s name to appear on the cover. She was against none other than Raj Kapoor who was not willing to ascend to her demands. She practically was on the verge of being refused to sing in Barsat that would go on to make her the biggest singing sensation ever. Finally she sang not only for Nargis but Nimmi as well with the name appearing in the credits.

Her next audacious battle was with Filmfare. There was no category before 1958 that awarded the singers and the lyricists. The only category was for the film’s music. In 1956 when Filmfare requested her to sing ‘Rasik Balma’ she bluntly refused (even to the cajoling of her favorite music director Shankar – Jaikishen) in protest that singers and lyricists were equal contributors to a song’s success. Two years down the line Lata was the first Film Fare awardee for the best female playback singer for her song ‘Aa ja re pardesi’ from the film ‘Madhumati’. This sheer act was representative of how Lata understood her sway over the film music industry and how she knew she should leverage it for the benefits of the musician. Lata went on to insist a category for ‘Best Male Playback singer’ in 1959 as the male singers were still not recognized by Filmfare.

Lata’s biggest fight in the film industry was yet to be undertaken. By 1960’s hindi film music had a database of immensely popular songs and a huge fan following. Music companies (as brilliant as they are in their corporate strategies) began to publish compilations of different songs. Lata’s crusade that was to benefit the entire musician community began here. She insisted that every time a compilation is published royalties should be paid to all the concerned including singers. Mohd Rafi famously quoted as saying, ‘our job is to sing the song. That’s it.’ Lata was fighting a lonely battle. She refused to sing for and with anyone and everyone who did not believe in her. Of all she did not sing with Mohd Rafi for 10 long years. Needless to say Lata won this crusade as well. Looking back all the fame and wealth that musicians take these days for granted would not have existed if Lata did not do what she did and with the conviction that she had even if it meant she was standing all alone.

Besides her ever enduring songs the above are symbols of Lata’s towering presence in the film industry, her understanding of the power and leverage that she drew and how to use that not only to benefit herself but to the entire fraternity of Indian film music industry. Hats off to you Lata.

The story of courage and determination

Just got up after watching a movie on Terry Fox. Fox's story made me realise how an individual is capable of changing not only his life but of entire generations. His story is what legends are made of and truly words seem incapable in describing his courage, determination and heroism.

Terry was a Canadian born on July 28, 1958. He was a brilliant athlete (especially a very good diver & swimmer) in his school days and harbored the dream of being a physical education teacher. But destiny had something else planned from him. He was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone - cancer) at the age of 18 resulting in amputation of his right leg, 15 inches above his knee. During his days in hospital the plight of other cancer patients moved him tremendously.

Terry defined his own destiny from there. He decided to run with one prosthetic leg from coast to coast to raise money for cancer research. The run was named "Marathon of Hope" with a dream to raise $1 from every Canadian citizen. The run as usual had very little interest in the beginning but soon people realised what it was worth for. In due course of time he had gathered uncharacteristic public interest and support. The scene where the goons donate the money is the quintessential moment. The sense of helplessness is evident when a 10 yr old suffering from the same fate offers him to teach swimming. He covered 3,339 miles over an 18 yr time span running nearly 23.3 miles a day (against the initial plan of 26.6 miles a day). He raised $ 24 million to fulfill his dream.

Unfortunately life didn’t give him the time to see his dream being realised. He could never finish his marathon. He died of lung cancer just a month before his 23rd birthday. But he left a legacy of courage and self determination that is perhaps unparalleled across the world. The world aptly remembers him every year through The Terry Fox Run across the world to help raise money for cancer research. He was posthumously honoured The Order of Canada.

Vote for Taj - 41 more days to go

Voting for the new seven wonders of the world is on. The final results will be declared on July 7, 2007 (appropriately 07/07/07). Thus there is only 41 more days to go before the grand day of new history.

2200 years on from the time that Philon of Byzantium selected the seven wonders of the world, we have appropriately come to a more democratic form of selection of the people's seven wonders of the world. Just a look at Seven wonders of the world at Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia throws up several several lists of the seven wonders. No list has previously has won unanimous approval amongst historians, artists and architects. I hope this monumental exercise launched by swiss non-profit organisation (with elite panel of historians, artists and artitect's on board) in the year 2000 AD rests all cases and settles all lists for the "7 wonders of the world".

Nomination rules as per reuters were strict. The results were shocking elimination of Sistine Chappel in Rome, Notre Dome in Paris and Reichstag Dome in Berlin. But a lot many have survived and amongst them in Taj Mahal - the epitome of love, passion and beauty.

Taj Mahal will always be a wonder for Indians but it needs to be recognised as a wonder of the world and hence all our votes are important and critical. Think of the economic benefits, more and more tourists becoz I am sure the new age tourist will look at a dream journey to the new 7 wonders of the world which in turn will ensure more funds readily available for the preservation of the monument.

My vote is for Taj Mahal. Leave aside any other consideration. I am voting for it becoz I believe in it. Do You?

Rahul Gandhi - The next heir to the throne - Is he?

Recently Rajdeep Sardesai in one of his posts on cnn ibn live constantly referred to Rahul Gandhi as prime minister in waiting (although I believe he was speaking more of congressional mindset rather than his own belief) but is it not prepostorous.

In todays so called modern India how many public representatives are given such tags by the media. Mayavati? maybe. Advani? no more. Laloo Yadav. maybe. The issue is with all other public figure there is a possibility. With Rahul Gandhi, the confidence in media is a certainity.

The question to me is why is it so obvious that their has to be an heir to the throne (of Gandhi - Nehru Prime Ministerial position). Why are we so blind to the fact that Congress is not about Gandhi Nehru family even when history tells us non-Gandhi-Nehru family candidates as prime minister has proved to be far more effective (if not personally successful, becoz they never will be).

I don't think India is still ready for Presidential form of governance as opposed to the party democracy which is the mode at present but if UP is any trend, I am sure people will test Rahul Gandhi more for the salt that he deserves rather than for the charisma that he automatically exudes.

To me Rahul can be a successful candidate for the top post only if he can prove to the nation through long hard work on the ground (and mind you, being successful at that) that he has the expertise, aptitude and the attitude to be the Prime Minister of India. And if he goes on to become one before he has proven himself, we can be rest assured that we as a nation has moved backward in not being intelligent enough to decide whether a public representative deserves the top post as rightfully his.

Where Have I Come

In the midst of glory
I was plodding around;
Came to a hut, dilapidated & round;
Lay a woman with rags on.

Her two children
Shoved in a corner,
A paper hiding
The naked body of theirs;
The empty house ----
With nothing around
But the emaciated mother
And the sick children's frown.

Tears floating down her cheeks,
Her body shuddering,
A picture of desperation ---
A picture of frustration ---
Fighting with the world and herself
She being defeated once and again.

I asked her who she was
I asked her why she was here
I asked her how she reached here
Bearing an unbearable silence, she answered none.

An unending pause, --- disturbed
Said she ----"Who am I, know I not
I have no work, no food to eat
Burnt in my minds are events past
My children like beggars
But we are not beggars.

I promised her food
But she refused
She wanted work
That I had none ---
And I came out,
My self respect bowing in front,
My helplessness coming in front
"Oh! God where have I come?"

Jun 14, 1997

Survival of the fittest

When Herbert Spencer coined the term "Survival of the fittest", he would have had no clue of the twist and turns and the controversies the tautology would embrace in the years to come.

100 years on from the time the phrase was coined, the societies across the earth has undergone sea change. Economics as an art of science has assumed significant importance of how societies developed across centuries and more so in the last one. Money is power. It’s even better than sex and it changes the facets of human thinking and societal evolution like nothing else.

If we have to, we should apply Spencer’s phrase of “Survival of the fittest” in the modern corporate world and the way the phrase has affected millions of middle class people across the globe. With the materialistic changes in life style that capitalism has brought across, we need more money to maintain and improve that life style. No one I know of is happy and satisfied with what he is earning. They want more and unfortunately all of us want more. Gone are the days when few stood out of the crowd as brilliant and ambitious lot with promises to go the distance. Few have turned into many and many have turned into millions. And when it is millions competing against each other, there can be no other phrase (even if it is tautology) but the one who is the fittest of all will survive.

I remember a discussion I was having with the CFO of an insurance company about work life balance and how there is no balance these days. Pat came a resounding comment “isn’t work part of life”. How rude but how true it was. But the truth also is work has become life. And the worst part is, it has become a manifestation of the entire gamut of our existence.

It doesn’t surprise me that most of the youths today in India are spending nearly 70 hrs a week in office. Thus even if work is a part of life and if u r spending over 60% of your life in office and 30% of your life sleeping isn’t the 10% balance too short a time to catch up on all other facets that life has to offer? Do we resort to sleeping less to catch up on all those things that’s as important in life? Sleep that research has shown is the most critical element in sustaining the remaining 70% of our life. Isn’t that work life imbalance.

Thus the question is and especially in a fast growing country like India ‘are we in the race loosing out on something that cannot be returned or replenished’. Please don’t forget that it is each one of us who are contributing to the growth and in the mad race of growth we are loosing time for ourselves. Is there an answer? Frankly speaking it’s a vicious circle and there is no way out that I see in the near future. In the long term I think we have an opportunity to ensure a holistic growth of the individual, his personality, the society and overall the country.

Today there is a shortage of skilled labour and hence no proper division of work and responsibility. If the country continues to grow at the same rate, it is obvious that the current situation of shortage in skilled labor will surmount. The need of the hour is quality in skilled labor and a defined direction towards it. But that’s such an uphill task. In a country where we are still fighting to eradicate illiteracy isn’t it too much to ask. How can we achieve that “Indian Dream” if we continue to struggle with successful outcome of ‘Sarv Sikhsha Abhiyan’? The growth is here to stay for sometime and lets not ignore in the “India Shinning” feel good factor that it can be sustained only with a passionate look towards those millions of people who in the name of literacy know only how to write.

There is also the need to have an all rounded development of the economy so as to ensure de-concentration of job opportunities. Why is it that youngster are not looking at research (in any field) as a career opportunity (because there is no money)? Why is it that pure arts as a main stream course of study is seriously lagging behind? Thus the need for investment in all kind of infrastructure and promotion that will create more opportunities across the spheres of life.

There will still be the competition but then there will be no rat race and we can give back to ourselves, our family and our society that something that we have taken from each one of them. And then the society would witness a process of “natural selection”, equitable distribution of wealth and will be devoid of arbitrary and artificial fitness.

No Space even after death

“ We hope to build the burial grounds within the next six months. MCD has taken up the issue, and we will do what we can. ”

Thats what Deep Mathur, PRO, MCD had to say on building burial grounds for infants. The news article posted on NDTV site already has provided insight into the fact that children below 3 yrs of age as per hindu religious belief cannot be cremated.

What suprises me is that this not something new to anyone in and out of government. Especially in a country with more than 80% of the population being hindus, its suprising that the government has to be first reminded by the media of their responsibilities and then jolted up by the judiciary to restore basic human rights and dignity.

I am angry and disgusted by the sheer ignorance of such act. I believe the government has too many things up their sleeve to manage but the basic need for people of the country to be provided with a humane touch and the deceased some respect.

Hindu religion provides for cremation of deceased and not burial. I am not here to judge for the better or the worse but atleast the deceased hindus unlike others do not demand and expect a place on the mortal earth after their death. It is children who are not cremated. Can we expect to give them that much with the respect honour and dignity that they rightfully deserve ....

End of an Era - Tony Blair resigns

Setting White House

Mr. Bush is reflecting over his years in White House ........ I have done good (whatever the people might say .... they never bothered) ..... I have been able to carry on the family legacy of war ..... I have sent out a strong msg "don't mess with America" .... Hey but wait the Iraqi's are not listening .... how do i teach them a lesson .... I have to "I", "I", "I" .....

The phone rings ..... "President ..... Prime Minister Blair is on line"

President - "Put him through"

Prime Minister - "Good day President"

President - "Yeah what ever, so whats up PM"

Prime Minister - "U know i told u I have decided to put in my papers. I am going to tell the queen abt my intentions and then go public"

President - "But why do u have to do that .... whom are u going to hand pick?"

Prime Minister - "President u know i dont have an option ..... this Iraq thing is making my life miserable ...... I think I need some peace ..... I also think its better if I step down now and let some one else manage it and get all the brick bats that I know is going to come in some time .... U see president we are running out of time ..... thats why I have decided to back Gordon .... He has made my life miserable with a face that reminds me thousand times that I didn't do justice to him ... so i want him to enjoy now"

President - "But what will happen to our mutual reltionship?"

Prime Minister - "Don't worry President, he doesnot have an option ... does he" (laughs)

President (laughs) - "Yeah I know ......"

Prime Minister - "Good day then President, just wanted to tell u this before I let the queen and the nation know of my intentions"

President - "Good day to u too PM, Thanx for calling"

CNN Today - "Prime Minister Blair resigns"

BBC World - "End of an Era - Tony Blair resigns"

Nandigram Truce

NDTV reports - "Breakthrough in Nandigram" - Mamta deciding to attend an all party meeting on Nandigram row ..... It all seems so hypocritical with the polical establishments in India. Calcutta (I still prefer 'Calcutta" instead of "Kolkata') has seen economic slowdown to the point of stagnancy over several decades now.

Things had suddenly started looking up. IT contributed to the face lift of a dying city. The sector grew by almost 70%, twice that of national average. Tatas decided to join the bandwagon of a success story and there came the jolt in Nandigram. If the whole scenario of all that happened in Nandigram is not politically motivated then what it is. There have been all kinds of drama enacted that has become the face of Indian politics now. Bloodshed, roadblocs, dharnas, hunger strike, hunger strike being called off, now a truce and then everything will be settled and flow the same flow that should have been months back before the row started.

Mamta Banerjee would be happy that Nandigram gave her dying political life a boost, Buddhadev Bhattacharjee would be happy that he has been able to stick his gun and carry out his agenda and Tata's will be happy to see the row being over and they get back to normalcy. What about the people for whom the whole drama was enacted..... their lives flow the same flow as well. Nothing would change with this drama than it would have been without it.

I am going to use cliched dialogue but just cant help it .... When shall we realise that we all cumulatively need to rise beyond our petty selves in politics and realise the dream that makes politics - to work for people .....

Hope doesn't bely us and I really hope for the same ....