Killing the Guilt वगेरह वगेरह !!

              115 Steps over 45 seconds and across six levels - thats how I kill my guilt on daily basis these days. Post shifting of our classrooms to the 4th floor, this formula has been a great tool when it comes to killing the guilt. Guilt, as it happens on daily basis, arises the morning after! And before it overpowers you, there you are, at sharp 0810h, climbing the floors and kicking the guilt out! And I repeat it, generally three or four times in a day and keep killing the guilt that tends to get back to me every now and then. By evening, therefore, I am free of guilt and  ready for another round of indulgence. The guilt that would set in the next morning, gets handled in a similar way. One remains so grateful for such small, little mercies..... Merci!!

                 T-3 came to an end today, ie, as for as surviving long sessions and heavy doses of knowledge is concerned. Now is the time to perform or perish (latter being more likely this time, as far as I am concerned!) and the fun begins tomorrow.....Ni Hao! Looking back, it has been the most organised one till date, the trimester, ie. We had very few changes in the timetable (reminds me of one absent because of such a change + one because of someone sleeping over the issue!) and load remained more or less evenly distributed throughout the trimester. We (our own group) did have a presentation today too but somehow, it did not pinch. Students have small needs and once some compassion is seen on the other end, life becomes cool or as our BC faculty would like to refer to as something that is result of a positive psychology. This trimester, for the first time, also gave us a real good break during the festival of colours and herbal prasad! So, all in all, it has been a pretty fair one. If it is a sign of the things to come, we are maturing as an institute.

              It is also the time to finalise our specialisation subjects. A session was organised yesterday to make us all understand the methodology and the way final year curriculum would be planned. That was a good attempt but sitting amongst my friends, I have a point to make. The choice of selection of the field(s) of specialisation has been left to us (and that is a positive step). But many of us, as I have realised over past two days, are deciding to pick up a subject mainly because another subject is not liked by us. To cite an example, many of us who hate maths (read Finance), are opting for Marketing/HR just to avoid Finance! My way of thinking is that one must opt for say Marketing or HR or whatever field NOT because of hatred for another subject BUT for liking for a particular subject. The difference may appear to be pretty subtle but it matters in the end. In such a scenario, students are looking at their weaknesses and trying to find a way around such weaknesses rather than identifying their strengths and working to further the skills. A shift in approach is, therefore, necessitated. A way to address this issue could be, and this is my personal view, that after taking in the options, faculty may like to relate the choice of every student with her/his abilities or aptitude. By now, we all know  one another very well and faculty members know the best. So, in the interest of the future progression of the students as also that of image of EBS, such an exercise may be a step in the right direction. It can be further refined and fine-tuned by the experience that is available in the corridors of EBS and if found useful, such a system may be formalised for the future courses. In fact, looking back, I get a sense that had such a clause (similar to PPO clause) been there for us too, probably some difference might have been observed. But I generally prefer to use my windscreen rather than rear-view (unless use of latter is merited) and I am of the opinion that such an approach may prove to be good for everyone. It may not really mean a ceiling on the number of vacancies per field (that would be a retro-step) but people must deserve what they get!

                 Today, this blog completes 2500 hits and I am thankful to each one of you for being there and tolerate my musings! It has been a great journey and I hope to keep it going in future too. The very fact that instead of studying Mandarin, I am writing these lines, goes to prove as to how important is this log to me! Please do get back with your opinions and suggestions, as before! 

                All the Best Guys! Do well! As of now, Ni Hao!

On a Red Light!

                                 Red Lights (traffic signals) have dynamics of their own. There are  business opportunities for some (books/flowers/used tyres/sun-shades/ chargers/toys/dusters), Zero-investment-high-return  equations for few others (beggars/eunuchs/ oldies selling fishy looking aggarbatties, knowing well that no one will buy that stuff and most of us would rather give them some money), some questionable bargaining opportunities for many (cheaper toys/pirated books/stolen tyres/ flowers from who knows where!)and time to catch up for yet others (a quick call/call-back, a glance on the SMS/mail or simple fiddling with the FM). All this is 'almost' legal stuff.

     

                  Then comes the illegal part. Tendency to stop after crossing the 'Stop Line', honking even before the lights turn green and even jumping the red signal with a 'smart eye' on the traffic flow, waiting in the left-most lane but swinging sharply to the right as the lights turn green and, thus, obstructing the traffic, blocking the free turn lanes and taking a 'U' where you are not supposed to turn-around and so on. In some of such cases, landing up with a tactically located traffic cop is a possibility even though in big cities like Delhi, there would never be enough cops nor would be many self-conscious motorists (In smaller towns, there are different issues and traffic sense is worse in most of the cases).

                   Beyond such obvious details, there are certain other phenomena too. One such phenomenon is to observe (not referring to ogling here)and I have this uncanny habit of picking up the unusual. Like today, while waiting at the traffic signal that is located closest to EBS (NIT crossing), I happened to see a middle-aged man in his shorts and t-shirt, walking on the footpath. His dress and his demeanor did not gel though since he did not appear to be a jogger or walker despite his sporty attire. With more than 80 seconds to go, I kept on looking at the man with some inexplicable interest. The gentleman halted next to a tea-vendor (who sits on the pavement, without any roof or cover) and I realised that he was wearing bathroom slippers. So, he was certainly not out to gain health - it became obvious! Over next 30 seconds or so, he had a cigarette between his lips and a pouch of ghutka (tobacco laced pan-masala) in his hands. The vendor, obviously, knew his customer well. The macho-man, then, peeled off the pouch and emptied the whole sachet into his mouth, carelessly discarding the pouch on the road itself (I hated the last part the most). I moved on, coaxed by a honking car behind my back. Nothing unusual and yet the scene kept coming back to me even as I climbed four levels to reach the classroom. Was it illegal smoking in the public; was it dirtying the place; was it such an unhealthy habit that had dragged him out of his bed or what else was it? I am still not sure!

                    Writing about traffic signals, there is one phenomenon that makes me vulnerable time and again, more so after shifting to this mad city. I am not a person who drives rash or who jumps the lights but there are times when the yellow blinker comes on as you struggle to cross the stop line. Legally as well as morally, stop line should not be crossed after the green turns yellow but initially it used to be because of someone (with his/her tail on fire) honking behind me and now, more out of reflex, I have noticed myself crossing the line once in a while. Even though I always keep time-cushions and I am generally comfortable for time, the idea of moving on instead of waiting another minute or so, appears to be too tempting at times. This is a confession and I now pledge not to get sucked into the vacuum that gets created whenever Greens give way to Yellows!

A close Shave!

         RUSHING to drop Czia in the morning today, we had a pretty close shave! Actually, a speeding metro train ran over us; the only saving grace being the fact that it was running on top of the bridge underneath which we had been passing! Mercii Lord!

         I was just going through my mail today when I came across this interesting Jewish saying..... 

"A Jewish wife will forgive and forget, but, she'll never

forget what she forgave."

.........well, this could be as dangerous as the metro train episode. On a serious note, though, these lines hide a deeper meaning when we look at our daily lives and inter-personal relationships. What is better? To forgive and forget OR to forgive but not forget OR neither forgive nor forget! I think the lighter we keep the mass of our baggage, better it turns out for us. Not forgetting and/or not forgiving would only add some extra stones to an already heavy bandolier of ours. Having said that, how easy is to actually forget even if one decided to forgive! Debate can continue but sooner we got into a mode of travelling light, better would it be. Not only would our journey ahead become more pleasant, we would also have fewer irritants to look into every now and then.

              T-3 entered its last week today. Post exams that would be held soon thereafter, we would be off to our summer internships. For the uninitiated, it would be an education, and a real one while for others, it would be more like re-visiting the old pastures. I wish you all the luck for exams as well as summer internship (not, though, that I will not be here on more than one occasions before we say bye-bye to each other)!

          

    

Our Ancient Past and Distant Future!

                  The other day, while in the Economics class, we had been discussing nuclear reactors when I was reminded of an interesting article that I had read some years ago. Having grown up in the era when reading used to be seen as a normal hobby unlike these days when FB spells your state of mind (myself, being a non-user of FB, can be considered as an abnormal guy, for example), it was quite a fascinating experience to go through books on Bermuda Triangle and such like issues (The Chariots of Gods being an example). People, the world over, have been trying to find meanings of the things that beat scientific logic, for quite sometime now. While many discoveries have been made in the process, courtesy man's unlimited desire to probe and yet many issues remain unexplained. As the tradition goes, having given '0' to the world and having ridden high on the waves of knowledge (both material and spiritual), Indians have, for the reason not even known to us, taken a backseat for a while. So, left to themselves, many westerns have been trying to decipher such mysteries in their own ways. 

                     As we sat down discussing nuclear issues the other day, remembrance of that article suddenly came back to me as if as a reflex. The article had mentioned about possibility of our revered 'Shivling' as being a precursor to the design of present day nuclear reactor. Yes, there are certain striking resemblances between a nuclear reactor design and that of a Shivling. Both have that typical dome-like top, for example. But I have a slightly different take on the whole issue.

                    I am of the firm belief that our ancestors were pretty scientific and developed before some unseen event (or an over-enthusiastic researcher of that time, over-stepped his/her brief and brought a sudden end to the world, as it must have existed during that epoch). After all, no one can perform a surgery that results in successful attachment of an elephant head with a human body; a goat's head with another human being, for that matter. There are numerous examples in our mythology that can make present day surgeons/chemists/ scientists and so many other such specialists sweat for their money.

                    But I am also a firm believer of the fact that history  repeats itself, length of intervening periods notwithstanding. So, for me, looking forward or looking back into history are two sides of the same coin. Here, I would prefer to look ahead rather than look back in an attempt to decipher this nuclear reactor-Shivling relationships. At the face of it, both look so similar....

(from www.astrologyvastugems.com)                               www.guardian.co.uk

                                      And then is the common need to keep both these entities cool through running water. While heavy water is pumped to keep the reactor cool, a constantly dripping water over the Shivling is an absolute necessity too. Also, water from both the entities is not used elsewhere. In our religion, sacred offerings of all kinds are consumed as prasad, be it rat-tasted sweets at Karni Mata (near Bikaner) or marijuana like content of Shardai (used during Holi as also one of the prasads from Shiva). So, isn't it surprising that milk/water flowing down from the dome of a Shivling is simply discarded and not take/consumed as a prasad!

                      Snakes on/around a ling may signify security ring that is generally thrown around any nuclear plant. Also, let us not ignore the fact that both the entities possess extraordinary destructive powers even though they do possess some of the hugely beneficial and constructive powers too.

                         Anyways, looking ahead, I would like to believe that one day, some centuries from now (of course, if mankind survives that long), every settlement, if not every household, will have a miniature nuclear plant amidst itself. The energy-efficient future settlements as also homes, will probably take such things as granted too! Talking about the cycle of the history, I would also like to believe that there was, timeline unknown, surely an era when our ancestors did have such households and settlements where miniature nuclear plants used to be operational. No wonder then that most of our devtas had personal airplanes, capable of flying to distant lands/planets and solar systems without any aviation fuel/rocket propellants and such like fuels. We already have nuclear submarines in this world, one day we will have nuclear fired aircraft too. And yes, someone, down the line, will actually possess a personal nuclear plant that would be so safe that just a simple trickle of water will meet its cooling needs. Man, by that time, would have certainly forgotten about Shivling and 'ancient beliefs' but unknown to that learned man, a Power, as ever, will be lurking around. Amused by the arrogance of such a self-made man, that Power would witness the unfortunate event of self-destruction by such a man before the beginning of another cycle where Shivlings will be worshipped again. As said a little while ago, the history does repeat itself!

Rear View Mirrors and The Front Wind Screen!

                        Most of us drive our vehicles. Unless and until you are the one who relies solely on your luck or on the deity whose name you might have written on the rear windshield (rear glass as it is known too), you would be using rear view mirrors (outside and/or inside) a lot. Of course, for the mahouts who charge the roads with bulkier vehicles, there would generally be one or two additional rear view mirrors. Bikers of my vintage also liked both the rear view mirrors on the handlebar (I prefer to have four, including two on the leg guards) even though present day riders tend to have none. Whatever may be the numbers, the fact remains that rear view mirrors, even though very useful/helpful, can not match the utility of a windscreen (car) or that of a visor on the helmet (bike) IF aim of the man on the wheel/in the saddle is to move forward. Here, I would cite a quote :-

"The car you drive has a large windshield, but only a relatively small rearview mirror. The implication is obvious: What happened in your past is not nearly as important as what is in your future. Where you are going is much more important than where you've been. " 

                                                                   ~ Joel Osteen, Become a Better You

               I would take some literal liberty and modify this famous quote by JO. I would say that while past can not be neglected in absolute terms (nor it must be in the first place), too much of looking back does not help either. You will either bang into someone (ie if you look more into a rear-view mirror than across the windshield in front) or reach somewhere you were not planning to go in the first place. So, lessons must be learnt, some important data must be stored (especially when most of us are actually not able to utilise a huge proportion of the grey material that comes packed from top) and then one must look to the fore. 

              So, as I look back for the one last time at the recent events, I see some great lessons for many of us (I would leave the learning part to individuals lest Astha channel starts offering me a prime slot for preaching!). But even though there were some tense moments, there were also some great opportunities to assess true worth of many people. I take this opportunity to thank each one of you (you know it, guys!) who simply decided to stand by what they perceived was right! I am also thankful to one particular joker who exposed himself in the process. My counter-espionage trap was so simple but it did work! That stinking soul would do well to stay away (He knows it too!). So, some useful education on PR did flow through too. But I do not intend to linger on for long nor do I intend looking back too frequently. With my eyes set on the road and with my compass set on a course, as I press the pedal, I would do well to look ahead and reach where I wanna reach. 

                 Baisakhi is a new year of Sikhs (By the way, who am I? A northern Hindu Brahmin (by birth) or a die hard southie (my 22 odd years with troops hailing from that part of the country) or a Sikh (some of the most memorable moments, including a huge turning point, have been spent with troops who wear turbans rather than steel helmets!) I think I am a bit of all these and I would like to be that way. Coming back to the Baisakhi, it marked closing of a chapter while initiating a new one. So, it is the time to hit the road, look ahead and bash on. It is, also, the time to say Happy Baisakhi and move on.

                     Let Good Times Roll, guys!!

Deh Shiva bar mohe-i-hai.....

Deh Siva bar mohe-i-hai, shubh karman the kabhu na taroo 

Na daroo ar siyoo jab jah laroon, Nischai kar apni jeet koroo 

Ar Sikh hao apne hi man ko, Eh lalch hou goon tau uchroo 

Jab aav ki audh nidhann banay, Aut he rann me tab joojh maroo......!!

                  These lines, from Sri Dasam Granth, as composed by Sri Govind Singh Ji, never fail to inspire. I have a special fascination for these lines as a  print of these lines adores a very special place in our nest and it is on daily basis that I see, read and get inspired by these lines. These four lines have so much to say, only if we are willing to hear; otherwise, these are like many other hymns that people (with mind focussed elsewhere) tend to mutter as a part of daily routine. It does not need any special talent to understand what path is being shown for lesser mortals; location, context, ground situation remaining irrespective. Take any situation and apply it to see what option do you get and you will be surprised.

                     Why suddenly these lines? As you may begin to wonder lemme tell you that these lines, though being written for the first time in this blog, have been with me for long and 'we' interact with each other on daily basis. But yes, there is a reason for writing these lines here but before I elaborate on that, lets ask ourselves a simple question! What is an evil in the real sense? Is it a hand that commits a sin? Or is it a person who, say, does a sinful act? Or is it a person who is actually caught in an act and had he/she not been caught, he/she would have come out clean? Well, the answer is common to all questions here and that is in affirmative. So, that means that there is some central point inside every living being and it is there at that point that the evil resides. So, what do we call this point? Is it mind or is it heart? In India, we do colloquially use terms like 'black hearted' or 'evil hearted' and so on but the science believes that evil lives inside a penthouse, called brain. Now, as far as I am concerned, whether the evil (gender neutral) lives in brain or inside the heart or keeps shuttling between the two, it is important to identify this entity. Once identified, killing the evil is just a matter of detail. So, who is this entity? From little that I know from my experience, it is called, " Intent"! Unfortunately, INTENT has two faces - evilish and good! Readers of this blog being mature, do not really need any further explanations.

                  Going back to those lines now, evil can not win over good and when you go after an evil, you do not have to worry or wink because Good Intent (GI) of yours will always have an edge over Evil Intent (EI) of any joker, his/her stature being irrelevant. So, here I am.... got challenged by an EI a few days back. Yes, challenged! Though it may sound strange but it is nothing unusual, given the fact that when an EI has a fool as friend, the logic gets tossed off first because the entity called Logic (L) likes to live alone and does not leave its original path. But in situations when EI begins to overlook the L, L simply goes away. Thereafter, once EI comes to senses after getting bashed up (reminded of something very recent....ha, ha), it is generally too late. L would be seen but would be of no use and as the EI's ship begins to sink, rats are the first ones to jump off....... and the world watches! The EI that I have decided to take on, has gone a step ahead than usual! My personal property, I believe, is being manipulated to train guns on many innocent souls! But dear EI, I stand between you and the victims and I have GI on my side. We do not really have to wait for the results........ as these lines have always proved, GI will prevail over the EI.

                  I got something "from the desk of'' someone on 10th! I sent something back ''from my heart'' today! While 'from the desk' sounds very impressive (as if coming from 7, RC or White House), the fact remains that 'from the heart', even though humble and decent, can destroy wooden desks. 

                     

Have fun guys; at least I will live only once!

The Complaint Box

              This contraption has lots and lots of value....

              ..... so at least I was very happy when EBS installed this box in the cafe today. While youngsters were amused (e-mail users will not understand unless explained), I did, for a little while, wonder about the efficacy of the new system when the box is placed in an area covered by CCTV coverage. Its utility thus, while remaining a big question, needs to be increased by placing it in a blind spot. 

              Anyways, I was just going through a mail today when I came across this joke...

There is a group of Christians trying to paint the entire church white. At one point, they start running out of paint. So, they dilute half can of paint with thinner and finally paint the entire church. Suddenly, thunder roared, and God said, “Repaint and thin no more.”

( God said, “Repent and sin no more.”)

......... Life goes on (even though s*** may happen sometimes)...... have fun; keep smiling!