Obama's Car

President Obama

Riding the unprecedented popularity and expectation, Obama takes over the post of the most powerful position on earth. With the WE CAN campaign, he stirred the nation into action.
He has challenged the status quo. He defied the prediction of several experts to reach to this level. A high decibel campaign, innovative vehicles such as e-channels to reach out, getting a cross section of celebrities to endorse, a relevant punch-line ( We Can!)...

Hats off to America....

Often we reach a point to make a choice: Personal preference Vs Common Good. We come across such situations in our personal, professional and social roles. Every choice has an impact, in short/medium/long term. Needless to add, our motto should be common good, which over a period of time should become a habit. We should always place the society/nation/others/
company/institution/group ahead of ourselves.

Americans had the guts to place the nation ahead of personal preference by voting to office a Black American. History would judge this as one of the defining moments of America. Americans, through this choice, showed why they are indeed a great nation.

Obama has generated himalayan expectations. Let us pray for his success so that he is able to live up to the expectations he and his campaign have created. America and World badly needs such a Great Leadership!

Death of a relative

In one of my earlier postings, I mentioned about the declining condition of a close relative. He merged with the Divine, last evening.

Last few weeks were painful for him and also his family. A former soldier and then a banker. He was a foodie, also a smoker. He had a passion for walking... he would walk long distances, chanting mantras. Perhaps, being a former soldier, he never came across as a religious guy. The image of him was that of a perpetually happy person! As the first to leave among his fellow-siblings, three elder to him and four younger, he 'moves on', leaving behind many grieving relatives.

Personally it was a shock to hear that cancer is the disease. I was more concerned, over the last few months/weeks and then days/hours, when his visits to hospital became frequent and his suffering became unbearable. ( He admitted to my mother, it was getting extremely painful and 'scary' - unthinkable for us, who looked at this uncle as the true hero, strong and joyful). Thus it is also an end to his pain and suffering, also fear. Wonder, what was the 'fear'!

He moves on the Journey to Divine. This happened when India celebrated Pongal/Sankranti...It happened yesterday, when the holiest Makara Jyoti makes the annual appears at the Sabarimala, giving bliss to millions. Indeed he was a precious jyoti within the extended family...

Leaving Microsoft to Change the World

Thanks to the magazine, FRIDAY, read a great feature on John Wood.


A chance meeting with Pashupathi, at Nepal... A visit to one of the local schools and the library with virtually ' no books'! It was the beginning of a beautiful journey...
He quit his high flying job with Microsoft and got into philanthrophy, big time! From donating books and helping communities to build schools, his ROOM TO READ has its presence in India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, South Africa, etc.

• True to Microsoft style, John brought his corporate mindset into his Room to Read also : THINK BIG. (I always wondered why people start off with small activities when it comes to Seva/philanthrophy and be easily satisfied. John Wood is a definite exception.)
• He was inspired by biographies of Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela....
• His father was a great inspiration, who instilled the value system of working very hard. And made him read lots of books.... when he was a child that is:)
• He thinks three things children should get are: Immunisation, Clean Water and Education. (Of course, I would add, bread)
• Check out : www.roomtoread.org and http://www.leavingmicrosoftbook.com/

Grab an opportunity to make a difference. John Wood did that... truly inspiring!

Happy New Year 2009

It is good bye to 2008!
Numerology gave 2008 a perfect '10' (2+8). But, looking back it was no way near perfection, perhaps farthest in the recent years...

• We may be on the threshold of a yet another great depression, an event in a century ( or are we deep into it already?!!). While things may not look up much in the coming year, I feel it is right time to LIVE FRUGALLY! ( check my earlier posts)
• While economic voes are attributed to uncontrollable greed, living frugally just became more relevant.
• On a personal front, it would have been a year of mixed experiences: some ups, some downs... some joys, some sorrows... some success, some failiures... But the key is to pick up the 'experiences' and lessons thereof, and welcome the new year.
• NY Resolutions will never go out of fashion. So, time to resolve on key areas such as physical, mental and spiritual aspects of life...
• Before soon, we would be ready to welcome 2010. Let 2009 not be a missed year...
• Let us Eat well/healthy, read right stuff, work-out to optimum level, work harder (without expecting fruits of action), rest to the right level ( don't over-sleep & waste time), extract maximum quality out of Time... and, meditate unlimited ...

I sign off praying, Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavanthu

Egypt Holiday

Books: I was weak in history, just did not enjoy the subject ( like so many other subjects!). So, I decided to read and get some basic knowledge before embarking upon the Journey!

I am hooked to the world of web. But, I was not satisfied with the initial results. Decided to pick up Amitav Ghosh’s From the Antique Land. I walked up to the top book store here. The salesman, a fellow expat from my homeland said, 'not availabe/not heard of'!!! He thrust a copy of Lonely Planet (LP). I was reluctant seeing the price-tag! I went by his strong reco and picked up. As I flipped through the pages of LP, I was overwhelmed by the sheer depth of information. I kept dipping into the info all along the trip and tagging it/making notes….
(I have lost the book and I am desperately trying to retrieve it thru my travel agent/Cruise)

I continued to look for Amitav Ghosh’s book all along the journey in Egypt. No luck ! Even Cairo’s leading bookstalls did not carry a copy of it. People were not even aware of the book, though it is rated as one of the best on Egypt!!

I also got to know more about their famous author, Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz. As I read more about the author, I was interested! He led the life of a common man, almost like R K character, like visiting cafes, getting together with friends, etc. But, he was not allowed to write for sometime by the establishment and was even attacked by radicals!! Hence, I was keen to know about his thoughts than to read his famous books such as the Cairo Trilogy, etc. I was very fortunate to see a book in the most unexpected place, at the Nubian museum and was quick to grab it, Naguib Mahfouz at Sidi Gaber. And, I read it just like I would read an ‘unputtable’ fiction!

A separate posting is planned for some the thoughts that stuck me. But, would like to share a favorite…Friendliness can develop only when there is sense of spiritual closeness...

Egypt Holiday

Planning(!!): I have heard how people in the west plan vacation month in advance. I always wondered (and admired) how they are able to do. What normally happens with me is I plan a trip for a long time, but the plan remains in the ‘planning’ phase longer than required. Then it is last-minute finalization of tickets, accommodation, etc. Egypt was different, as I managed to plan and execute, a bit in advance. It was destination – Egypt, the land of Nile, Pyramids and Pharos.

Background: As the travel date approached, lot of developments around me, on all fronts!
Sudden demise of the closest family friend of my parents and the declining condition of a relative. Both, courtesy cancer. The report Cancer is likely to become the No.1 health problem seem to be happening ‘around me’! Then, the terror attack at Mumbai !.....
Hence, when a friend wished ‘bon voyage’, I was prompt to respond, ‘I would have preferred the solitude of Himalaya’. Thanks to the fantastic effort of the reputed travel agency, we were on board to Egypt on the scheduled date.

“EGYPT’ conjures up the images of a great ancient civilization, few centuries BC! Their sheer creation of structures such as Pyramid and other ‘temples’ and more importantly, to withstand the effect of the natural forces for all these thousands of years indicate the proof of their progress. Early morning flight ensured lack of sufficient sleep previous night.
We landed early afternoon, quickly checked into a hotel, dumped our luggage and rushed out to catch a glimpse of Pyramids at Giza. On the way, we picked out a few local versions of sandwiches as we did not want to waste time. The priorities were very clear.

The guide, an Egyptologist, had joined by then to give us some gyaan. We reached Giza. At we reached the ticket counter, behind we saw the upper portion of the majestic and mesmerizing Pyramid.

As we waited for our guide to pick up tickets, we finished our sandwiches.We drove for couple of minutes and then stopped to step out of our Toyota van. There stood the Pyramid in its full splendor. The sight was nothing but breathtaking !

As some of us, esp children, were fascinated by an opp to take camel rides, I was just glad TO BE THERE, near Pyramids of Gizaaaaaahhh!!!

We went out, had a late lunch and got back in time for the Light and Sound Show. The Sphinx and Pyramids, in the evening sunlight looked more beautiful!

Souvenir, Sai Mahima released

Turn Veggie to Save the World

Rajendra Pachauri ( vegetarian for last 8 yrs) and Sir Paul McCartney ( veggie for 30 yrs!) to save the planet from greenhouse gases created by rearing livestock. Reasons :

• planting of cereal crop for animal fodder,
• fresh water usage
• pollution due to use of agri chemicals

Dr Pachauri and McCartney cite a 2006 report by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, which stated that livestock are one of the most significant contributors to climate change because 70 per cent of former forests in the Amazon have been turned over to grazing and livestock now use 30 per cent of the world's land surface

I am a veggie for last 20 yrs and proud of it :) Let us save the earth !

Source : Times of India

Mumbai Terror Attack

Mumbai returning to normal, very slowly... For Mumbaikar, resident or non-resident, Mumbai will never be the same! The politicians and establishment failed the common man. An operation of this magnitude was being hatched and executed, we had no clue about it.

Robhin Sharma in his blog has prayed for Mumbai.
Indeed, that is what many of us did... could do.... out of devotion ...and also due to a sense of helplessness !

Today people, across major cities, are on the street. Holding candle and expressing their sense protest. Gandhigiri... Mumbai will not forget this easily. We need action this time...from governments and establishment

Mumbai Terror Attack

We lost some precious members of our own Mumbai and guests -the hostages, members of NSG/ATS/Mumbai police...May their souls rest in peace.

Sincere condolences to the members of the family who lost their valuable lives in this tragedy. May God give them the strength to overcome this grief.

• Like New York & London, sadly Mumbai has its own 'Sept 11'. Mumbai does not deserve it, for sure.
• Israeli expert has questioned whether our forces were too fast to 'attack' terrorists. This is in line with the the question I raised in my earlier posting, whether our action was 'professional' enough. We need to address this dispassionately
• NDTV got Shobha De on their channel to react yesterday. Now, they got Sanjana Kapoor on air. Both of them reflect the opinion of the silent majority of Mumbaikars. Prannoy Roy has assured Sanjana his channels would be with voices such as Sanjana in their efforts
• This global phenomenon needs to be handled very strongly, from a position of strength and true to the values of Indian ethos.

Mumbai Terror Attack

Mumbai burns...most shocking attacks on Amchi Mumbai by terrorists. How could they just come on boat, land at Gateway of India and launch an attack at 10 different spots in our beloved city ?

Hotel Taj, is part of most reputed & respected Tata group, is a heritage builging, a world class property, an iconic brand of India and truly Pride of India. Oberoi property is one of the best in its class, world wide. Nariman House would have always been a soft target for terrorist attack - how could the security agency not anticipate a terrorist attack there ? Where is our preparedness/intelligence/preventive measures ????

It is a collective failure of all who are responsible for the security of the city, the financial capital of India and one of the best cities in the World. While the political leaders enjoy the security of Z-category protection, the safety and security of the common man was conveniently forgotten. The reaction of the political establishment, including the televised address of PM, was pathetic!

For God's sake, don't blame Pakistan blindly. If we forgot to lock our home and a thief enters our home ... who is responsible ? Police ? It is our primary responsibility to keep the home locked and secured. Our establishment, political, police/intelligence and defence/navy/coast guard, etc., failed us for not securing our own city.

The image of the burning Taj will continue to linger in our conscience for a long time. The image of an old man helped by a cop in a deserted railway station too...

We lost some senior cops, including ATS head and also NSG Major. Was our response professional enough ?

For God's sake, let us bury our ego and take all international help possible to solve this case.

And, Mumbaikars, let us not allow the policians to sing glory of the Spirit of Mumbai and wait for us to forget and move on. We need to maintain the pressure on political leadership to act now and Mumbai gets what it deserves

Paul Coelho

Stuart Husband's article on Paul Coelho made me share my thoughts ....

• He looks and dresses like a rock star...he is 60 yrs 'young' !


• He is not irked by the fans who want to pose with him for a photograph or apprach him for his autograph ( Recently my son was shooed away by a body-guard of a Bollywood superstar at the lounge in Mumbai's international airport. Security was obviously not the reason. My son felt sad. I thought what is a superstar if he is not able to reach out to his fans !!) For me, someone like P C is a bigger star, esp when he has this humility !


• one fifth of his 100 million books sold has come from THE ALCHEMIST. I liked the book, but never rated it as anything very great. But the line, WHEN YOU WANT SOMETHING, ALL THE UNIVERSE WILL CONSPIRE TO HELP US ACHIEVE IT is just great !


• Hs background is interesting. Do check out http://www.gulfnews.com/weekend/books/10259315.html


• His advise, FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS...

SPB at Saigramam

Saigramam celebrated birthday of Sri Sai Baba in their usual spiritual style... check out

Living in the present economic crunch

we are living in 'interesting times'. Collectively and individually too...

Just read an internet forward from a friend, Interesting Article from Adam Khoo - Youngest Millionaire. Few points stuck, sharing same...

1. it is not necessary to live a flashy life, acquiring the expensive and big brands of clothes/watch/jewellery/accessories or travel first class.
2. He suggests, save instead.
3. He sympathises with people who lean on material things for happiness

What makes him happy ? when he sees his children laughing/playing/learning...when he is able to reach out to others to make them happy by inspiring/training them... cool !

LIVE life frugally ! bE HAPPY !

Master calls it, CEILING ON DESIRES

did you meditate today ?

Indian team wins Dada retires

Big day for Indian cricket... Indian team wins a series against Australian team... Kudos to the men in white...

• A great team effort
• Dhoni led from the front. He continues to maintain his cool. I like him for his captaincy, how he has retained his 'cool' and the character he exhibits on & off the field. To lift and carry around Kumble at Delhi was cool. To pass on the baton of captaincy, temperorily to Dada at Nagpur this eve, was 'cooler'.

Dada enjoyed few moments of 'captaincy'.

• He brought about a new aggression to Indian cricket ( though taking off t-shirt at Lords was a bit extreme :) But then, that was his brand of aggression!)
• Some of the best cricketers in the GenNext owes their career-progression to Saurav
• Left handed batsmen have a natural advantage, but Saurav was very specially elegant.
• He, with Sachin, made one-day cricket more interesting at the opening slot.

Couple of years ago, when he was down and 'out' of Indian team, I saw him at Hotel Taj Lands End, Mumbai. I wanted to go across and tell him, 'keep going & fight the system'... But true to his usual style, he bounced back. Indian cricket will surely miss Dada...

Kumble Retires

Kumble also has decided to hang his boots ! Some thoughts...

• He has always been a great fighter, a symbol of true aggression. People always think 'aggression' is to throw about your weight around, shout and abuse all in the vicinity. ( So common in our corporate life, esp in the field of Sales !!). It is perhaps his education, which the Master says 'should end in CHARACTER'. Or, is it 'sanskar' or upbringing ? Worth emulating, indeed...(He unusually exhibited his emotions yesterday, when he shouted at Amit Misra, for poor fielding)
• Departure of Dada and Jumbo will leave a big gap. We have some exciting talent waiting on the wings, but not yet good enough to fill the vaccuum. No need to look far for examples. Ask the visiting Aussies
• I agree with Sachin and whole lot of others. We 'don't respect seniors'. Our culture boasts of Respect for Elders as one of its pillars. But, that does not seem to be applicable to senior cricketers. Or is it change of our value system ???

We may produce more great spinners such as Kumble... but few will bring his character on to the cricket field. That is the true loss to international cricket.

Sri Yesudas at Saigram

Diwali Greetings

With the world facing the current economic crisis ( unanimously attributed by common man to GREED), there is more 'darkness'. But, too early to panic. Moreso, on the holy, auspicious occassion of the Festival of Lights!
I am writing this after Diwali, as we need to sustain the spirit of Diwali for days, weeks and months... It is our choice !
TAMASOMA JYOTIRGAMAYA... Let us take the first step from darkness to Light. It is the personal choice of each one of us...
Happy Diwali...