I hate to do this but I see these funny things all the time and can't help but share what I feel.
I am not technology bashing here. I really appreciate how Facebook and Twitter have revolutionized the way we communicate. But how some people are (mis)using it, I refuse to second. It indeed is amazing how empowered we are to let our friends and foes know anytime where we are, what we are doing or what we are planning to do, how our mom feels, what the kids ate, what our 2nd cousins did, what are the neighbors up to...I mean it just gives you that bullhorn at the tip of your fingers. Masses, who matter to you, know it all with just your single and gentle click of the 'share' button.
So I see these intelligent, funny, meaningful Facebook status updates all the time which I absolutely love.
Great!
But some of these, I can't help but notice, are obviously and slyly wrapped in layers of flamboyance. These clearly are a cheesy and desperate cry for attention. 'Hey people, like and comment where I am, like and comment what I bought, like and comment what I have done'. Because before even breathing in the freshness or the beauty of a new experience or a new place, it has been updated for you. It is so critical to desperately juggle with the smart phone to update this act. It is so urgent to let people know and appreciate instantly.
After posting it and before feeling anything real, the smartphone is still not left alone, the fb page is refreshed to check the growing likes and comments.
So here I am not carving the path to enlightened Facebook status updates or twitters. But sharing an observation that perhaps in being obsessed with sharing with the world immediately, we somehow let moments of a special experience slip callously.
The world will know and be happy (or maybe not if that's your intent). But boisterously flashing and seeking satisfaction in their instant acknowledgment is not worth it, I think.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
No one minds
I am the shallow North Indian man who is strongly connected with more powerful people than the subjects I ever passed in school. I sprint my Porsche on Delhi roads wherever I want, whenever I want and in whatever condition I am in. I just cannot stay away from drinking a ‘full full’ Blue label at Gurgaon theka every night. And in my drunken state, speeding and racing becomes irrestibily fun. It is insanely gratifying to squash the little human mosquitos sleeping on the pavements with my powerful wheels. I test drive my imported cars on these human mosquitos. Unless there are a few mosquito deaths, how do I know the strength of my new possession?
No one ever dares to stop me.
Flashing the many connections and money that I have is enough to wash all that blood. The weight of my wallet is enough to carry the entire law and order that has been every made in this country. No one ever refuses me parking and no one ever can deny me an entry anywhere. Of course the blockheads who do are bashed black and blue. My friends and I are always searching for such blockheads. Smashing their heads is as auspicious as breaking the coconut before a pooja and for some days if we cannot find such blockheads we pick up fights without any reason. After all, the auspiciousness should keep going.
Every girl, married or single, loves us for our power and they are desperate to have a good time with us. They love the codding, the ragging and the pinching. Just that they pretend to dislike us and our behavior so we make it easier for them. We rightly force them to do what we want them to do...bloody animals. Pick the best looking animal, when alone and vulnerable, and all of us collectively make them feel like the helpless animal that they really are. After all we are the glorious and fearless representation of masculinity with powerless animals all around us.
I am the ultra-rich, influential and powerful North Indian man. I have no mind but in North India no one minds.
No one ever dares to stop me.
Flashing the many connections and money that I have is enough to wash all that blood. The weight of my wallet is enough to carry the entire law and order that has been every made in this country. No one ever refuses me parking and no one ever can deny me an entry anywhere. Of course the blockheads who do are bashed black and blue. My friends and I are always searching for such blockheads. Smashing their heads is as auspicious as breaking the coconut before a pooja and for some days if we cannot find such blockheads we pick up fights without any reason. After all, the auspiciousness should keep going.
Every girl, married or single, loves us for our power and they are desperate to have a good time with us. They love the codding, the ragging and the pinching. Just that they pretend to dislike us and our behavior so we make it easier for them. We rightly force them to do what we want them to do...bloody animals. Pick the best looking animal, when alone and vulnerable, and all of us collectively make them feel like the helpless animal that they really are. After all we are the glorious and fearless representation of masculinity with powerless animals all around us.
I am the ultra-rich, influential and powerful North Indian man. I have no mind but in North India no one minds.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Hi Jack, have you evolved today?
Several ideas have been invading my mind lately. Half baked ideas that are burnt coz of the humdrum outside. Today, after reading 'What's your big plan?' in Brunch, I am somewhere close to a fully baked idea. So here goes...
My friends and I, often, have these discussions about our childhood days. I shamelessly have to admit that we are old enough to have seen a 'real' transformation. Things have changed so much and so fast. We discuss and fondly remember the simple and uncomplicated 'Doordarshan' days. The neighborhood Mehtas and Kapoors would finish all the chores to bond together and share the excitement of 'Chitrahaar'. The kids hurriedly finished homeworks to watch the Wednesday movies and didn't we all hate 'Krishi Darshan'. And do you remember the Sunday 'Mahabharat' curfews, nothing so strong can drive so many people indoors these days. Needless to say, if someone important passed away, it meant all of us had to suffer. The sparse entertainment that we were blessed with would turn into melancholic mourning on the sole channel. Of course, we also remember the VCRs and the fun of visiting the neighboring video library requesting the video bhaiya to get the latest video tapes. I remember I spent a lot of my pocket money getting English songs recorded on audio cassettes. I would keep rewinding the cassette to note down the lyrics of my Backstreet Boys and Westlife songs. To a kid today reading this, I would sound insanely bizarre.
The greatest change we experienced were, of course, the computers. After my 'not so impressive' Xth board results, my dad was sweet enough to gift me a desktop. And boy, I was the queen of this world. I could spend hours on DOS and the basic DOS games. Gradually we saw Microsoft rule the world and then there was Apple. The floppies were devoured by the CDs and the CDs being devoured by the pen drives and I am sure as I write this, the pen drives are also on their way out.
We may sit and crib that all these changes have made us more individualistic and less social. But today we can't resist the googles, facebooks and more changes in the making. There is an information overload and we have more power with remotes of all kinds and now, of course, just our fingers thanks to the touchscreens.
What our schools taught us, then, is now obsolete. The jobs that we prepared for in college are passe. What we know today is driven by curiosity and more to keep up with the change. The phenomenal change we have experienced may or may not be experienced by the coming generations. But yes, one thing is for sure, change is happening real fast. We can't claim to be an expert today. Today's experts are obsolete tomorrow or maybe even today for all you know.
The jack of all trades is a reality, rather I would call it the jack of all changes. It is difficult to keep up with everything. But survival is for the one who changes and adapts equally fast. The ones at the forefront are creating the changes. So all you jacks, brace up. Happy changing and evolving.
My friends and I, often, have these discussions about our childhood days. I shamelessly have to admit that we are old enough to have seen a 'real' transformation. Things have changed so much and so fast. We discuss and fondly remember the simple and uncomplicated 'Doordarshan' days. The neighborhood Mehtas and Kapoors would finish all the chores to bond together and share the excitement of 'Chitrahaar'. The kids hurriedly finished homeworks to watch the Wednesday movies and didn't we all hate 'Krishi Darshan'. And do you remember the Sunday 'Mahabharat' curfews, nothing so strong can drive so many people indoors these days. Needless to say, if someone important passed away, it meant all of us had to suffer. The sparse entertainment that we were blessed with would turn into melancholic mourning on the sole channel. Of course, we also remember the VCRs and the fun of visiting the neighboring video library requesting the video bhaiya to get the latest video tapes. I remember I spent a lot of my pocket money getting English songs recorded on audio cassettes. I would keep rewinding the cassette to note down the lyrics of my Backstreet Boys and Westlife songs. To a kid today reading this, I would sound insanely bizarre.
The greatest change we experienced were, of course, the computers. After my 'not so impressive' Xth board results, my dad was sweet enough to gift me a desktop. And boy, I was the queen of this world. I could spend hours on DOS and the basic DOS games. Gradually we saw Microsoft rule the world and then there was Apple. The floppies were devoured by the CDs and the CDs being devoured by the pen drives and I am sure as I write this, the pen drives are also on their way out.
We may sit and crib that all these changes have made us more individualistic and less social. But today we can't resist the googles, facebooks and more changes in the making. There is an information overload and we have more power with remotes of all kinds and now, of course, just our fingers thanks to the touchscreens.
What our schools taught us, then, is now obsolete. The jobs that we prepared for in college are passe. What we know today is driven by curiosity and more to keep up with the change. The phenomenal change we have experienced may or may not be experienced by the coming generations. But yes, one thing is for sure, change is happening real fast. We can't claim to be an expert today. Today's experts are obsolete tomorrow or maybe even today for all you know.
The jack of all trades is a reality, rather I would call it the jack of all changes. It is difficult to keep up with everything. But survival is for the one who changes and adapts equally fast. The ones at the forefront are creating the changes. So all you jacks, brace up. Happy changing and evolving.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The horror called Marriage
I chanced upon this writing I had written in 2008. Fun read, still is :)
Marriage was a horrifying idea. I thought it to be confining, restrictive and an invasion of my personal space. With paranoia for marriage, my parents could see their hope to see their only child settled being strangled. Every weekend they relentlessly searched for a potential groom to be and fixed a meeting, while I repeatedly turned them down or created a situation for the potential groom to turn me down. One failed weekend passed another and I showed no signs to surrender.
On a hot day of June while I shuttled from one meeting to another at office, I heard a pleasant voice on my phone only to discover him to be yet another prospect recently short listed by my mother. I was quick to postpone our conversation till the evening. It was only by late evening that I returned his call after mom’s insistence to do so. With our first conversation ending in a disagreement of how Sales and Marketing are different and not interchangeable terms, I expected no more calls from him. Proving me wrong, he called the next day during the lunch hour and we discussed the most bizarre foods around the world. For the next few days, our discussions ranged from anything but the topic of ‘marriage’. When it was time to meet, I joked and told him only if there will be lightening and it rains, would I know I met the right guy. Soon enough, I found myself facing a light hearted and a good looking man who passionately told me all about his trip to Europe. True to my nature, I bantered and teased and he took it all sportingly. Our conversation was as comfortable as that of two old friends meeting after a long time and sharing jokes. It was a relief not having to answer the usual daunting matrimony questions. Never did the thought of spending my entire life with this person intimidate me as it had in the past with others. We stayed there for a little longer as there really was a storm and later had started to rain.
Sumit and I got engaged after a few days and married after a few months later. Having been married for little more than a year now, we enjoy travelling extensively, sipping coffee over a serious discussion, crying together watching a movie and even searching and devouring after midnight road side food. It hardly feels like being married. It’s like living with your closest buddy, enjoying the same things together and moving with the same pace in life. And love…it follows.
Marriage was a horrifying idea. I thought it to be confining, restrictive and an invasion of my personal space. With paranoia for marriage, my parents could see their hope to see their only child settled being strangled. Every weekend they relentlessly searched for a potential groom to be and fixed a meeting, while I repeatedly turned them down or created a situation for the potential groom to turn me down. One failed weekend passed another and I showed no signs to surrender.
On a hot day of June while I shuttled from one meeting to another at office, I heard a pleasant voice on my phone only to discover him to be yet another prospect recently short listed by my mother. I was quick to postpone our conversation till the evening. It was only by late evening that I returned his call after mom’s insistence to do so. With our first conversation ending in a disagreement of how Sales and Marketing are different and not interchangeable terms, I expected no more calls from him. Proving me wrong, he called the next day during the lunch hour and we discussed the most bizarre foods around the world. For the next few days, our discussions ranged from anything but the topic of ‘marriage’. When it was time to meet, I joked and told him only if there will be lightening and it rains, would I know I met the right guy. Soon enough, I found myself facing a light hearted and a good looking man who passionately told me all about his trip to Europe. True to my nature, I bantered and teased and he took it all sportingly. Our conversation was as comfortable as that of two old friends meeting after a long time and sharing jokes. It was a relief not having to answer the usual daunting matrimony questions. Never did the thought of spending my entire life with this person intimidate me as it had in the past with others. We stayed there for a little longer as there really was a storm and later had started to rain.
Sumit and I got engaged after a few days and married after a few months later. Having been married for little more than a year now, we enjoy travelling extensively, sipping coffee over a serious discussion, crying together watching a movie and even searching and devouring after midnight road side food. It hardly feels like being married. It’s like living with your closest buddy, enjoying the same things together and moving with the same pace in life. And love…it follows.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Let's have some fun!
I often hear people say, life is short, have fun or life is unpredictable, make the most of it. And then we love movies which have people doing the fun things or experience freedom.
What is fun?
My idea of fun might be totally different from yours. What sounds fun to me might be boring for someone else. It will be absolute fun and bliss for me to sit in a coffee shop overlooking snow capped hills while I surrender to the intoxicating sips and read or write. Or it is absolute fun for me to be working on a creatively challenging assignment. It is so exciting to churn some ideas to an entirely new concept. May not be 'fun' to you. Some may want to party till the wee hours or some may want to travel to exotic or adventurous places. There isn't a set way of having fun.
Whatever your fun, I hope you discover it. Not just do the fun things that the entire world thinks to be, ape these and then even brag about it. So I would say: life is short, have your fun while also enjoying others' fun once in a while.
What is fun?
My idea of fun might be totally different from yours. What sounds fun to me might be boring for someone else. It will be absolute fun and bliss for me to sit in a coffee shop overlooking snow capped hills while I surrender to the intoxicating sips and read or write. Or it is absolute fun for me to be working on a creatively challenging assignment. It is so exciting to churn some ideas to an entirely new concept. May not be 'fun' to you. Some may want to party till the wee hours or some may want to travel to exotic or adventurous places. There isn't a set way of having fun.
Whatever your fun, I hope you discover it. Not just do the fun things that the entire world thinks to be, ape these and then even brag about it. So I would say: life is short, have your fun while also enjoying others' fun once in a while.
Friday, December 30, 2011
The year that was (Shilpa, get rid of these clichéd titles)
On this last day of 2011, I reflect back. Not to make any resolutions for 2012, but just to reflect back (I don't believe in resolutions. If you are convinced about something, you do it. You don't need resolutions to do it.)
It was a sad year to begin with. We lost our most precious being. I loved her with all my heart. It was the most painful parting and I still miss her a lot.
As for the holidays, we took a few interesting ones. Mussorie got somewhat adventurous. With Sumit and my 'save the pizza from the rain' adventure. We managed to walk, take a rickshaw ride in the heavy downpour but all to save our precious pizza smelling all the more divine in the slight chill of the hills.
I changed my job too. Just before 2011 slipped away, I did it. Too early to say anything more but am sure it will be a great learning experience. And where there's something mind challenging to learn from a great mentor, there is me.
So here's wishing myself a learning, mind opening and self discovering 2012. I wish I can loose what I want to and also gain what I want to.
And I wish all of you an amazing year in which you can follow your passions. I hope you can achieve your goals or at least can get closer to them. Party crazy today for a saner tomorrow ;-)
It was a sad year to begin with. We lost our most precious being. I loved her with all my heart. It was the most painful parting and I still miss her a lot.
As for the holidays, we took a few interesting ones. Mussorie got somewhat adventurous. With Sumit and my 'save the pizza from the rain' adventure. We managed to walk, take a rickshaw ride in the heavy downpour but all to save our precious pizza smelling all the more divine in the slight chill of the hills.
I changed my job too. Just before 2011 slipped away, I did it. Too early to say anything more but am sure it will be a great learning experience. And where there's something mind challenging to learn from a great mentor, there is me.
So here's wishing myself a learning, mind opening and self discovering 2012. I wish I can loose what I want to and also gain what I want to.
And I wish all of you an amazing year in which you can follow your passions. I hope you can achieve your goals or at least can get closer to them. Party crazy today for a saner tomorrow ;-)
Saturday, December 17, 2011
From the heart
If you do what you do from the heart, there are no regrets,
If you say things from the heart, there are no regrets,
If you believe from the heart, there are no regrets,
If you feel truly from the heart, there are no regrets,
If you see what your heart wants to see, there are no regrets,
If you experience life from the heart, there are no regrets,
If you see yourself as your heart wants you to see, there are no regrets.
If you say things from the heart, there are no regrets,
If you believe from the heart, there are no regrets,
If you feel truly from the heart, there are no regrets,
If you see what your heart wants to see, there are no regrets,
If you experience life from the heart, there are no regrets,
If you see yourself as your heart wants you to see, there are no regrets.
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