Nostalgia, almost invariably, is an outcome of how comfortable we are with our present state of existence. Unless convinced inherently that we are at a position in the nearest vicinity of where we aspired ourselves to be, we dread on looking back.
Once ensconced in the warmth of your realized ambitions, nostalgia tastes sweeter, by telling you that you have the liberty to go-back to a dreamy past. Reason decides the contrary. Almost always.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Hazaron Khwahishein Aisi
We all know and agree that India is underdeveloped. Developing as our politicians put it. But we never agree that as human beings we too are underdeveloped. People in general are poor and malnourished, maybe thats why the nourishment has never reached our brains. At least not enough to vitalise the cells that tell us what is right and what is wrong. Civilization is a phenomenon that evolves. We pride ourselves for having one of the oldest civilizations. And yet we never moan at the slow pace of evolution that our civilization shows.
Eat a chockolate or an ice cream and throw the wrapper on the road. Take the short cut to save time, even though it is a one way. Murder, to get some more money. Well okay that one isn't what we do, you say. But isn't a murder only a higher version of banditry which can safely be assumed to be the big brother of thievery which all of us do indulge in. Some time or the other. Office supplies?? Software piracy?? Music sharing??
Then why blame those murderers? They killed for what they thought was right. IOCL has many more officials who will take this as an example and just take a little bit of bribe and look away. And why not? They have their families to support. Why should it be forced on them as part of honesty morcha to get themselves killed for others?
Why should only a handful suffer for the rest of us? Why should they get the brunt of the corrupt politicians and their hard hitting, killing chamchas? I feel its the duty of the populace to come up and do something instead of just hoping that some people will keep their moral values higher than things that matter. By raising a slogan or two and bringing those killers to justice we may win a small battle. But what about the rest of them? IOCL alone has over 23000 sales points.
He tried to shutdown one. He was killed. But he was alone. What will happen if on one particular day 23000 of us decide to take samples from all these outlets and send them for testing. To be on the safer side each one can take one policeman as a witness (or maybe bodyguard depending on which part of the country you are from). What will happen if all these reports are sent collated to the management in IOCL? Wont it be a sufficiently big challenge for all the politicians put together to negate all these reports? Maybe I am being too optimistic but if something like this can be orchestrated then I am sure some result will come out of it.
And it definitely wont be what my senior, hostel mate, and fellow being was meted out.
Manju we will all miss you. And those days will always remain etched in our minds when you enthused all of us to win Sikandar. Hope this sacrifice of yours enthuses us now to become real life Sikandars and win the world from those corrupt politicians. Our world.
Eat a chockolate or an ice cream and throw the wrapper on the road. Take the short cut to save time, even though it is a one way. Murder, to get some more money. Well okay that one isn't what we do, you say. But isn't a murder only a higher version of banditry which can safely be assumed to be the big brother of thievery which all of us do indulge in. Some time or the other. Office supplies?? Software piracy?? Music sharing??
Then why blame those murderers? They killed for what they thought was right. IOCL has many more officials who will take this as an example and just take a little bit of bribe and look away. And why not? They have their families to support. Why should it be forced on them as part of honesty morcha to get themselves killed for others?
Why should only a handful suffer for the rest of us? Why should they get the brunt of the corrupt politicians and their hard hitting, killing chamchas? I feel its the duty of the populace to come up and do something instead of just hoping that some people will keep their moral values higher than things that matter. By raising a slogan or two and bringing those killers to justice we may win a small battle. But what about the rest of them? IOCL alone has over 23000 sales points.
He tried to shutdown one. He was killed. But he was alone. What will happen if on one particular day 23000 of us decide to take samples from all these outlets and send them for testing. To be on the safer side each one can take one policeman as a witness (or maybe bodyguard depending on which part of the country you are from). What will happen if all these reports are sent collated to the management in IOCL? Wont it be a sufficiently big challenge for all the politicians put together to negate all these reports? Maybe I am being too optimistic but if something like this can be orchestrated then I am sure some result will come out of it.
And it definitely wont be what my senior, hostel mate, and fellow being was meted out.
Manju we will all miss you. And those days will always remain etched in our minds when you enthused all of us to win Sikandar. Hope this sacrifice of yours enthuses us now to become real life Sikandars and win the world from those corrupt politicians. Our world.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Manju !
Manjunath. Manju, aka Machan.
The man of spirit, who lived life without giving a damn. The one who kept us on our dancing feet with his hearty vocals, the man who kept egging us on the football field with his "Lets go, guys !". The one whom you had to just see to break into a smile.
That hearty laugh, alas, will be heard no more.
And all this because Machan dared to stand up to a simple principle by which he led his life: truth and honesty.
Brutally murdered by dishonest petrol pump owners, who take selling adulterated petrol as their birthright. People for whom the assurance of political patronage makes a murder or two an accepted way of going about their business. People who reasoned that an IOC official had no business trying to ensure that the masses got the fuel that they paid for.
Here's the story on Indian Express: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=158004
Anyone could have avoided these people by easily turning a blind eye to these activities; which is no doubt what most of the responsible authorities have been doing for years. Anyone, in fact could have amassed a lot of wealth with the bribes that these pump owners offer in the first place.
Alas, for Manju could not see things that way.
Alas, for the people for whom he stood up, would never come to know about it; becuase only one newspaper chose to carry his story till now, it wasn't news good enough for the TV channels.
Alas, because due to the high-level connections of the these people to whom pumps were "allocated", those who did this heinous act might be let off in a short time, due the lack of public outcry.
Should they be allowed to ?
Machan, miss u we will. Lots. For all the people I know who we cannot but respect and admire, u are right there on the top, way above. RIP.
Here's Gaurav's post on Manju : http://gauravsabnis.blogspot.com/2005/11/bye-machan.html
The man of spirit, who lived life without giving a damn. The one who kept us on our dancing feet with his hearty vocals, the man who kept egging us on the football field with his "Lets go, guys !". The one whom you had to just see to break into a smile.
That hearty laugh, alas, will be heard no more.
And all this because Machan dared to stand up to a simple principle by which he led his life: truth and honesty.
Brutally murdered by dishonest petrol pump owners, who take selling adulterated petrol as their birthright. People for whom the assurance of political patronage makes a murder or two an accepted way of going about their business. People who reasoned that an IOC official had no business trying to ensure that the masses got the fuel that they paid for.
Here's the story on Indian Express: http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=158004
Anyone could have avoided these people by easily turning a blind eye to these activities; which is no doubt what most of the responsible authorities have been doing for years. Anyone, in fact could have amassed a lot of wealth with the bribes that these pump owners offer in the first place.
Alas, for Manju could not see things that way.
Alas, for the people for whom he stood up, would never come to know about it; becuase only one newspaper chose to carry his story till now, it wasn't news good enough for the TV channels.
Alas, because due to the high-level connections of the these people to whom pumps were "allocated", those who did this heinous act might be let off in a short time, due the lack of public outcry.
Should they be allowed to ?
Machan, miss u we will. Lots. For all the people I know who we cannot but respect and admire, u are right there on the top, way above. RIP.
Here's Gaurav's post on Manju : http://gauravsabnis.blogspot.com/2005/11/bye-machan.html
Thursday, November 03, 2005
WIP .. completed !
So finally its done. Over. Finito. And here's what it looks like:
Still havent learnt to differentiate between shadows and skin tones, thats why she appears a lot darker than she really is ..
And I got a request I couldn't refuse ;) to post the reference pic, too : so here they are, side by 
side.
Am posting this in a really small size so that you would have a more difficult time if you started playing "Spot the Difference " ... :D
I hope to catch up on doing some landscapes next time ..
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Random Thought
Here is a random thought, a little didactic though...
In the jaipur match against srilanka, India were 175 at 24.5 overs, a run rate over 7. But most of us watching the match were still looking at the target, 124 in 25 overs which was almost 5 an over. And I felt with this extra focus on the target, sometimes we loose the charm of the pursuit of achieving it. Targets gotta be there, but once your goals become the primary key of your existence, the process of surviving looses its sheen. Though the destination is important, path has its own beauty which we should not deprive ourselves of relishing.
In the jaipur match against srilanka, India were 175 at 24.5 overs, a run rate over 7. But most of us watching the match were still looking at the target, 124 in 25 overs which was almost 5 an over. And I felt with this extra focus on the target, sometimes we loose the charm of the pursuit of achieving it. Targets gotta be there, but once your goals become the primary key of your existence, the process of surviving looses its sheen. Though the destination is important, path has its own beauty which we should not deprive ourselves of relishing.
stuff for my CV ..
We were supposed to go-live on th e 31st. As it turned out, the CMD scheduled a visit to a nearby location on that date.
Efforts to bring the CMD to do the ceremonial click of the mouse to herald the go-live proved ineffective. His calendar was simply too busy. With this, dawned the fear that all the important officials would be of course, tailing the CMD, and we would run short of any official to do the ceremonial mouse-clicking for us! (The success of a go-live is often measured by the importance quotient of the individual who comes for the occasion; a go-live by any person below the rank of a GM would have been considered as an insult to the status of our project in the scheme of things .. )
So all said and done, our project was advanced by one day, to happen now on the 30th.
Isn’t that simply great?! Now, I get to write in my CV: “Completed successful delivery of XYZ project, before time”
Do I need to mention that it was advanced by one day? Nah, I think I will stick with the general truth that it was delivered before time, no need to mention petty statistics.
Do I need to mention the fact that it was originally scheduled to be delivered on the 20th; and was already extended by 11 days? Nah, I think I will just omit to mention this too. After all, I am still stating the truth, just not stating some other truths. That’s for recruiters to find out, if they so desperately wish to.
And what happens, if for some reason, the go-live is shifted back to the 31st? I think I should go make my CV now, right away. After that, if it does get postponed, I will just forget to update my CV, that’s all.. the recruiters will have to do with a CV that’s a bit out of date .. .
Thank you, Mr. Scott Adams, for introducing me to Weaselese !
Efforts to bring the CMD to do the ceremonial click of the mouse to herald the go-live proved ineffective. His calendar was simply too busy. With this, dawned the fear that all the important officials would be of course, tailing the CMD, and we would run short of any official to do the ceremonial mouse-clicking for us! (The success of a go-live is often measured by the importance quotient of the individual who comes for the occasion; a go-live by any person below the rank of a GM would have been considered as an insult to the status of our project in the scheme of things .. )
So all said and done, our project was advanced by one day, to happen now on the 30th.
Isn’t that simply great?! Now, I get to write in my CV: “Completed successful delivery of XYZ project, before time”
Do I need to mention that it was advanced by one day? Nah, I think I will stick with the general truth that it was delivered before time, no need to mention petty statistics.
Do I need to mention the fact that it was originally scheduled to be delivered on the 20th; and was already extended by 11 days? Nah, I think I will just omit to mention this too. After all, I am still stating the truth, just not stating some other truths. That’s for recruiters to find out, if they so desperately wish to.
And what happens, if for some reason, the go-live is shifted back to the 31st? I think I should go make my CV now, right away. After that, if it does get postponed, I will just forget to update my CV, that’s all.. the recruiters will have to do with a CV that’s a bit out of date .. .
Thank you, Mr. Scott Adams, for introducing me to Weaselese !
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