No boundaries on this Earth

Sunita Williams, the Indian-American Astronaut visited India recently. During her visit, she spoke a few sensible words when asked about how Earth looked from above. "The earth looks very beautiful from space. There are no boundaries drawn on this earth. It is drawn in people's minds" she said. How does she make people realise her statement? India being a rich country in diverse culture, we have always fought in the name of religion, caste and creed. India boasts of rich heritage, vast culture and diverse people to the rest of the world. But are we living up to the reputation in the eyes of a Foreigner? Just think for a moment. We have seen innumerable media clips propagating the unity in diversity theme. People watch these and forget next moment. The Ramar Sethu issue has led to so much controversy that Indian Politics is de-graded in front for everyone.

Salman Khan is in news once again. He visited a temple of Lord Ganesh in Mumbai to seek blessings. One of the members of his community gave a Fatwa (an order) that Salman should not belong to Islam since he believes in idol worship. I pity Salman Khan. Can this get more ridiculous? In this democratic country, is there no freedom of worshipping the God of your choice? There are a lot of Hindus who visit the Haji Ali Darga in South Mumbai. All the Churches are visited by people of all caste, creed and religion. Some have embraced other religion as their religion due to the faith that they have in the God and the teachings that the religion has to offer. People have realised that religion is no more a barrier since GOD is a universal entity and does not follow any religion. But its is political motive of some rogues that has introduced the hatred towards other religion.

Let us all be tolerant towards fellow human beings for "Tolerance" is the greatest asset that we as human beings possess. Let us not draw lines in our minds. Wake up! its now or never.

Abhi Aish tie the knot

Finally Abhishek Bacchan and Aishwarya Rai are off the spotlight after much hyped Abhi and Aish wedding. Since the time this much awaited event has occured, there has been a lot of hype from the media, lot of e-mails circulated, news on the internet, public opinion etc. I fail to understand why so much hype is created about the wedding of Abhishek Bacchan and Aishwarya Rai. No ones denies that she was former Miss World and one of the world's beautiful women. However, what we are not understanding is that they (celebrities) have personal life and want to live life like all others.

I read somewhere that lot of people (mainly the youth) are jealous of Abhishek. This is the craziest thing I have ever heard. I started receiving e-mails from my friends with subject line "Exclusive coverage of Aish Abhi wedding". There were photos of the wedding and their chartered flight to Tirupati circulated in these e-mails. The funniest part is that the same e-mails are circulated again and again. Every moment of the marriage has been captured by the media and broadcasted as headlines. Is there nothing else happening in this world? Are we running out of news to broadcast? Media coverage has gone to the extreme that they are highlighting the kind of flowers with which the flight was decorated.

The general public at Tirumala had to wait for long hours before they could get the Darshan of the Lord. They were blocked since Aish and Abhi were given previlage to enter the temple premises with tight security. It is understandable that previlage is given to certain category of people like the national leaders and people who have the VIP status. Public opinion says that all celebrities should be treated as common people atleast when it comes to visiting temples.

For all those folks out there I would like to say that not everyone can get Aishwarya Rai. Be content with what you have got.

Caribbean Cool

The world cup is just around the corner. This time it is in the Caribbean where the best of the cricket teams clash for the coveted cup. The much awaited ICC world cup has got enough hype before it kicks off this March. Added to the hype, we also had a lot of warm up games with many of the teams competing against each other. As an ardent fan of Cricket and as an Indian, I wish from the bottom of the heart that my country takes the cup home. However, it is not going to be easy. The odds are highly stacked against India.

Looking at the recent past, India has not done really well except against West Indies and Sri Lanka at home. We all know that India plays well at home. India has a bad reputation playing and winning in conditions suitable for the bowlers. It would be interesting to watch who would make it to the top 4 and come out as a winner.

Australia is definitely the hot favorites for this world cup as well. They will be defending the cup they won last time. A fit and energetic team poses threat for everyone in the league. It is a great team which boasts of all rounders and why not. Every one in the team contribute a bit. They also are an excellent fielding outfit. All teams need to play out of their skins to beat this team. I think there is a high possibility of this team winning.

The Kiwis may come as a dark horse in this world cup. The resilient New Zealand team has given a tough time for the Aussies recently. They have chased very high targets against a quality Australian attack. Watch out for the Kiwis.

The South Africans have been a professional outfit right from the time they entered the international league. They have been dogged by controversies and bad luck in all the world cups. The team performs consistently and one bad game has thrown them out. We will have to wait to see what this determined South African team does this time.

For West Indies, they will be playing in their home turf and the conditions suit them. We can never predict this team since one player can turn the whole tide in their favour. Pakistan is in the same league as West Indies for they are so unpredictable. If they are on a roll, nobody can come in their way. One more team which can spring surprises is England who can give any team a run for their money. Counting out the minnows of Cricket (not under estimating), these are the teams to watch out for.

What does it take for India to compete against these teams and come out as a winner? The answer lies within every player and I am sure everyone agrees with me : Commitment, Consistency, Fitness, Focus and the thirst for taking the cup for the second time in history. On paper, the team looks very good with big names and great statistics behind them. But on the ground, they have to start off from Zero every game to make a difference.

All I can say is "May the best team win!!!"

Invasion of technology

Technology has brought people closer. Communication between people situated in different corners of the world can happen in a jiffy. I can very safely say that "This world is a very small place!". May be 15 or 20 years ago this was not the scenario. I remember my uncles and aunts talking about their son or daughter studying abroad and the only means of communication with them was through post. Do we still remember the postman today? Of course telephone existed. But it was more of a luxury rather than a necessity. Calls to international destinations were very expensive. Years passed by and with the advent of Internet, e-mail was born. People thought that this was an amazing discovery. You could connect to the world with Internet. Gradually, technology revolutionized and brought in more and more goodies. Satellite communication, mobile telephony, Internet telephony, voice chat, video conferencing, VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) and the list is endless. Indeed it has brought people closer and if you need someone they are just a phone call away. With the advent of many private service providers, there is stiff competition in the market to provide best service at low rates. Now international dialling is no more expensive. Rates have been slashed making life of a common man a lot easier.

While all these things seem wonderful, there are a few things to ponder about. While I was watching "Lagey Raho Munna Bhai", one of the dialogue delivered by the lead actress of the movie caught my attention. In this universe where everything is moving so fast and the world has come closer, we have forgotten to pay attention to finer points. "Do we know who stays next door?". Of course we do not know who our neighbours are (atleast in metropolitan cities). All are locked indoors and nobody is bothered about what is happening in the society. I am more concerned about the younger generation which is glued to the computers. Gone are the days when kids used to go out and play. All the physical activities among the kids seem to be deteriorating. They are more interested in chatting with a stranger in Brazil rather than playing with folks next door. I had not even imagined about a cell phone during my school days while MMS is child's play among the adolescents these days. Its a pity to know that technology is being used to remember Birth Dates of the dear ones.

I am not complaining about the usage of technology. Technology is definitely a boon for the mankind. Every effort needs to be put in to avoid abuse of it. Let alone people who have been hit by this invasion, I need to come out of this addiction as well and begin to socialize.

The year that was...

11th Jan 2007
Amstelveen, The Netherlands


Looking back at the year 2006, I noticed that it was a mixed bag for me with joy and sorrow. Started off the year with a bright note going out of my home country on job assignment. Came to The Netherlands to see new world, new culture and new faces. Faced some challenges of getting accustomed to extreme weather conditions. One of my dreams to see the Eiffel tower came true when I visited Paris in February. I must tell you this is an awesome place to visit once in a lifetime. I went back to India in March. There was another surprise popping up this time when I was asked to pack my bags again for another assignment. This time it was on a longer term. I was right under pressure to deliver goods. I lived up to the expectations with a couple of successful projects. Received appreciation for projects well done. Truly happy moments for me.

I also happened to chase my second dream of visiting Switzerland. No wonder people call this place "Paradise on Earth". By the time I could realise, I had reached half way through the year. On the personal front I had to go through a rough phase. Now, life started getting monotonous and there was no more motivation to keep me going. I needed to re-fuel. I went back to India to spend some time with my family. Met a friend who came all the way from Mumbai. Lived some nostalgic moments with him. Also, met a friend whom I know for 6 long years. I am blessed to have such friends. It was time for me to bid adieu to Bangalore and come back to Amstelveen.

The last 3 months of the year have shown me that "Life is beautiful". Sweet memories and smooth sailing has taken me to a new level. Overall, the year that was has given me an ideal mix of sweet and bitter moments. I miss my family and friends out there. I look forward to this year to bring success, prosperity and challenges in my Life.

PS: This topic is an inspiration for me from a blog maintained by my cute friend.

Signing off....

Govinda Govinda

Tirupati is a small town in Andhra Pradesh in the South Eastern part of Great India. Here resides Lord Venkateshwara, an incarnation of Vishnu. According to the Hindu Mythology, Lord Venkateshwara was angry with his beloved wife Padmavathi and took seven giant steps back which became 7 hills. It is well known as Tirumala. There is a beautiful temple for the Lord which is decorated with with Golden Dome (Gopura). People throng to see this temple and have a darshan (view) of the lord. For ages, people have been coming in millions to visit this temple. He is considered as Kaliyuga Daiva (God of this new age). It is said that this temple is second richest in this world in terms of revenue.

People come here with utmost devotion (bhakti) and worship the lord. It is believed that he grants all the wishes that one may have. Of course this will continue for a long time to come. The scenario has changed nowadays. Couple of years ago, there was an assassination attempt on former chief minister of AP, Chandrababu Naidu. The temple authorities have enforced strict security in and around the temple premises since then. It all starts at the bottom of the hill. All vehicles heading towards Tirumala have to undergo rigorous security check. You feel that you are visiting the Prime Minister of India and not to see the idol of the lord. Security officers come with metal detectors and check on individual basis. This is the first step. At the main entrance of the temple (Mahadwaram), you will notice security guards armed with guns. There are sand bags laid out here and there and officers keep a vigilant eye on the proceedings. It gives a feel that the devotees are walking through a battlefield. Finally, there are X-Ray scanners to check the contents of the hand bag inside the temple.

Due to the exponential increase in the devotees visiting the temple year after year, the temple authorities have come up with a scheme of issuing tokens mentioning the date and time for darshan. It reminds me of taking an appointment with a VIP. An image of the finger print and a photo of the individual is taken while issuing the tokens. Don't be surprised if a retina scan is made in the near future. This is done to prevent sale of tickets unofficially.

With all this commotion and chaos, does bhakti (devotion) still sustain in people? Only time will tell.

Welcome to India

Finally, my long wait to see my family was over. It was time I packed my bags and left for India, my Motherland. I was very excited and eager to land in my hometown, Bangalore. It all started at 5:30 AM when I took the taxi from Amstelveen to Schiphol Airport. The taxi driver dressed very neatly approached me with a smile and wished me good morning. When I reached the
airport, he showed absolute courtesy and wished me a pleasant journey. It was a feel good factor. I went straight ahead to the check in counter where a beautiful lady with a smile took in my luggage and checked in. I could see smiles everywhere right from the security check to the cabin crew in the flight. For even once did I have a feeling that I was passing through rigorous securitycheck. After a long wait at the terminal, I was in the flight with a long
curve on my face. Two hours later I reached Paris. I was amazed with the way the airport is built. It was a gigantic. I literally took a bus to reach the terminal where my connecting flight was waiting. At the immigration counter, a Frenchman greeted saying "Vanakkam". He could close his eyes and tell that I was an Indian. I boarded the flight to Bangalore. My pulse was racing and I was literally counting the hours left for reaching my destination.

I landed in Bangalore at 30 minutes past midnight. Now comes the interesting part. The aircraft had to wait in the service lane since the terminal was occupied by another flight. We had to wait almost 30 min before we could hit the terminal. Finally, I came out of the aircraft and was really excited to get out of the airport and head towards home. The entire scenario changes when you reach India. People are no more friendly, there is so much chaos around you, rude immigration officers and confusion. I came out of the immigration queue tired. To my surprise I saw that there was literally a fight to collect the baggages. I managed to push through the crowd and stand near the conveyor belt waiting for my luggage. 45 minutes passed waiting for my luggage and still no sign of it. It was very frustrating. Then I heard someone cry out my name from behind. I turned back and noticed a young lad in a suit was carrying my name on a name plate. I approached him to find out that my baggage was missing. I was taken aback. How could this ever happen? He quickly handed over a form to me. Before I could question him, he asked me to fill out the form for claiming my luggage. I spent an hour in the airport to figure out what happened to my luggage and when I would get it back. I felt like tearing my hair off. What a contrast in behaviour of people in India and people abroad?

I handed over the form at the counter and made my way to the exit. I encountered a customs officer at the exit. He asked for my baggage to carry a routine check. I told him diplomatically that he was unlucky that day since my baggage was missing. He put an evil grin on his face and told me " WELCOME TO INDIA" (it all happens here).

I pondered over his statement and got out of the airport.

Its a Bird's life

Birds are a wonderful species gifted by nature. Humans have drawn inspiration from them and learnt to build machines that can fly like a bird. When birds breed, they build nests ensuring that their siblings are kept away from nature's fury and predators. The mother bird collects small branches and twigs from trees, put a lot of efforts and builds its nest. These wonderful creatures await for that special moment when the eggs hatch and a new life begins. The new borns are innocent and helpless. They cannot fly, hunt and feed themselves. Its the Mother who takes care of them, feeds them, keeps them away from danger and nurtures them until they can take care of themselves. But what happens when the birds are fully grown adults? They fly in different directions in search of their life.

I now compare humans with the birds. We have been gifted a life by our parents. They have made many sacrifices in life for making us what we are today. Most of us go in different directions in search of goals leaving them groping in the dark. There may be many reasons behind this. Let us not become BIRDS in this case. Let us ensure that we are there for them when they need the most. Its time for us to repay.

P.S: Inspired by real life incidents.

Chup chup ke.....

Recently I watched Priyadarshan's "Chup chup ke". I am still tearing my hair off. I have been a fan of Priyadarshan and I am really disappointed with this one from him. He has pulled off many a hits like Hungama, Hulchul and Malamaal Weekly. One would go to Priyadarshan's movie with the expectation that there would be a wholesome entertainment. This one fails to bring any smile on your face.

I am surprised by the selection of the star cast by the director. Except for Paresh Rawal, Om Puri and Rajpal Yadav the others are surprise inclusions. I am wondering what Neha Dhupia was doing in the movie. Apart from shaking a leg or two in two songs, she has nothing much to do. Probably the audience is used to seeing skin show by her which is not presented in this film. By the way that reminds me of the songs in this film. Himesh has scored mediocore numbers that fails to entertain even the front benchers. God save Multiplex audience. Paresh Rawal for the first time is a disappointment. But this has been compensated with some lively performance by Rajpal Yadav. He is a live wire in this movie.

Shahid Kapur has been struggling in this industry and this movie does not do any good either. Its difficult to tap the talent in him even by the best of the directors. Kareena plays a dumb girl in this movie and has done a decent job. The director has thrown some surprises by casting Sushma Reddy in a widow's role (I am still laughing). Did I mention Suniel Shetty? Ahem....yes he is also one among the star cast. He is portrayed as a caring and protective brother of Kareena. With his wooden looks, he is also a drawback for the movie's success.

All in all, this movie has no elements of comedy. The director is confused with the plot and so is the audience. Hopefully, Priyadarshan realizes and comes up with a good flick next time.

Going Dutch

There is a saying that "God created the world and the Dutch created Holland". Holland (officially called Netherlands) is small and peaceful country in the North West part of Europe. This piece of land was reclaimed from the sea. Holland is below sea level. Yes you heard it right "below the sea level". It is surrounded by "Dykes" which prevent sea water entering the land. It is amazingly flat and there is no sight of a hill or mountain anywhere. The population of the country is 7,35,000 (not an exact figure).

So what is so special about the Dutch? I am diving right in. The Dutch people are very tolerant. They are open to many cultures of the world. In Holland you will notice people coming from different Origin. My initial fear of how these people would treat Indians was erased from my mind. My first meeting with a Dutch colleague was an amazing experience. I walked through the corridor and took an elevator to the sixth floor. I encountered a well built man in a navy blue blazer, well groomed hair and with a briefcase in the elavator. Casually, I had quick look at him and took my eyes off him. He immediately said "Goed Morgen" (Good Morning) with a smiling face. I was taken aback with his reaction. We (Indians) are generally not used to smile at strangers. I did not know how to react. I just managed to give him a smile. The elevator door opened and the man went away saying "dag" (nice day). Before I could say anything, he had vanished. I moved along the corridor and went in to the meeting room. I was 2 minutes late for the meeting. My Dutch colleague was already on time and waiting for me. We exchanged a handshake and started our meeting. I realized that the Dutch are very punctual and expect everybody on time. One of the very good qualities about them. To my astonishment, almost every person in Netherlands can speak English. This was a comforting factor for me.

It is very inspiring to see how they plan out their schedules and execute them. Another noticeable Dutch behaviour is that they are open to suggestions and opinions. Decisions are not taken without consulting all the colleagues. This means that there are lot of meetings and coffee.
When you see the Dutch in offices, shops and public places, you will always be greeted with a gentle smile. This is definitely one of the striking differences I find when I compare it with my culture. One of the very good points to pick up from the other cultures of the world.