Varun Gandhi episode

This particular topic is getting much more coverage than it deserves.
He is one of fringe-politicians, trying to mis-use his oratorial skill, riding on the hardwork of his mother who nurtured the constituency for the young Gandhi...these irresponsible politicians do not deserve so much coverage.
He proudly declared he is a proud Gandhi, Hindu and Indian.

• What young gandhi did is unfair to the term, GANDHI.
• Hindu : he should read more on Hinduism and Sanathana Dharma. Afterall, he is a 'man of words'
• Indian : same as above.

I request the news channels to reduce the coverage to this small news and focus on more important issues that matters to India and Indians.

Want to know what is inside Tendulkar's kit bag?

I have always been curious about the inspiring stories of great sportsmen - Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Pele/Maradona, Sergei Bubka, Phelps... Recently when asked, Phelps said he dreamt of being Michael Jordan of Swimming. Golf world is glad to see Tiger back in action as it would sustain the total 'industry'!

...and our own Prakash Padukone and Sachin Tendulkar. Years ago, I read how Saurav had carried an inspiring quote inside his kit. But this news about Sachin's kit was a good read. A reflection of the person. Kudos to rediff.com !

http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2009/mar/06flash-fun-want-to-know-what-is-inside-tendulkar-kit-bag.htm

Bapu’s Legacy

· America is the cradle of capitalism. A New Yorker, James Otis, has Bapu’s articles. He decides to auction!
· Indian government makes token noises and feeble attempts to negotiate with the owner and secure the items
· The owner puts forward conditions, such as reduction of defense expenditure and diverts the money for social causes (Good intent. But he should advise his countrymen to try and learn/practice Gandhian values too)
· Few prominent NRI’s enter the fray to ensure the articles reach India
· The articles are picked up for a staggering $1.8 mn…. by UB Group’s Vijay Mallya
· Govt claims they ‘procured the items through Mallya’ and confirms ‘it is UPA Govt victory’ !
Wow ! Govt had to take help of the liquor baron to get these articles…. Bapu always stressed on the need for purity of not only the goal, but also ‘the path’! These articles are symbols of Gandhian values and legacy. But, at what price ? Did our political leaders take a moment to think what would have been Bapu’s stand ? If we really want to express our love and respect for Gandhiji, we should practice his teachings and make his value system (more relevant today, than before) part of our social fabric. Food for thought for our political leaders…. And also for us, the responsible citizen.

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

I read this book ! Finished this evening.

I had tried to pick up a copy as soon as it was awarded Man Booker Prize for 2008. But, was not available at the bookstall! Had to place an order and pick up much later!

Thanks to all the hype, my expectations were very high. After I picked up the book, tried to (religiously) go through the preface. But there was only 8-9 pages of comments from world over.
I read some of them. The expectation shot up further.....

The narrative is very interesting. Having born in a village myself and having worked in interior Karnataka ( Adiga's roots !), Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Mumbai, I could associate myself with several sections of the narrative. It is interesting at stages, funny and sad ...But, I read through quickly. More because of the anticipation ( so quite un-puttable) of the ending! Though I felt there was no suspense as the flow becomes quite predictive. But at the end of it, I am quite dissappointed. Coming in the backdrop of Slumdog, I feel what the Slumdog did on the movie arena, Adiga has done differently on the literary front. India is lot more than what they portray and definitely lot better and positive. I want to go back to a more inspiring category of books !!! Not a self help/autobiography, but something that I love reading!

PS : Perhaps I need to evolve as a reader to appreciate these books. I have great regards and respect for Adiga for his achievement from his very first book.

who am I ?

WE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE...WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY HUMAN EXPERIENCE

SLOW FOOD

Came across an interesting article on SLOW FOOD. Glad to share...
I saw a press report McDonald plans to open many more outlets, a proof no impact of the current crisis ! That is actually great news. My son loves the brand too, just like so many other kids. People continue to eat 'fast & junk' food.
Yesterday, Oprah show had few overweight, obese teenagers sharing the platform with a doctor and sharing their sorrows. An entire generation will suffer from the adverse impact of this junk food culture.
So, need for organic food, slow food, etc type of movents to sensitise all. Especially, our children.

• Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food...This movement was in response to Mac's plan to open a new outlet near historic Spanish Steps at Rome
• Fortunately Slow Food has picked up lot of mementum and more people are joining the movement. Of course, it is not just about food, but also educates people about biodiversity, the food production chain, taste... etc.
• "if developing countries start consuming meat at the same rate the industrialised world has done, we will destroy the planet quicker! Same with fishing. You can't have good ecology without good gastronomy and vice versa. Land, water, and a food community must work together", acknowledges Petrini.
• Slow Food philosophy has spawned an entire movement devoted to 'SLOW'... cities, schools, books, tourism and living ! Everything slow may not be appropriate surely, but then the essence of slow living is different, 'by enjoying life by accepting faster is not better and more is never enough'.
• ' take time to look around, it is too short a day to be selfish', said someone. (read long back, love it). It is to stop and smell flowers, listen to music around, be aware, be minidul.... happy living !

Slow Food is a non-profit, eco-gastronomic member-supported organization that was founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.Today, we have over 85,000 members in 132 countries

http://www.slowfood.com/

India win T20 match at SL

What a match ! what a win !!
The match had all the usual masala of a T20 match indeed. The big names failed to fire. It was left to the Pathan brothers to raise their game to a new level and ensure the win. Hats off to the Yusuf and Irfan!

Earlier, SL pulled off a win in the last ODI. India lost the toss and failed to win the match !!! Was the toss crucial throughout the series ? Why was Sachin 'rested' in both the last two ODI? We have been unable to get to view the master play ? The team management is guilty of this. Not fair. Wonder what would be Sachin's state of mind as he takes guard in NZ! Let Dhoni and team management remember, NZ will be a different ball game altogether.

Sachin has volunteered to stay out of T20 team. We, the common cricket fan, would like to see more of him. But respect his decision. To quote Sachin, Tendulkar also said that the good show of the Indian team, in a way, acts as a balm for the countrymen in these difficult economic times. I fully agree...lacs of other cricket fans too...

Indian cricket is on track. Let these small glitches be avoided in true sportsman spirit.

Layoff Tracker

Number of layoffs since Nov. 1, 2008, at America's 500 largest public companies:
378,480

Source : Forbes.com
http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/17/layoff-tracker-unemployement-lead-cx_kk_1118tracker.html?feed=rss_popstories

India No.2 in ICC ODI Ranking

I watched IPL 2 story unfolding this afternoon with mixed feelings . . .But this is a real news to cheer about...
India has moved up to the second slot in ICC ODI ranking. This is great news indeed.

A good example of fine captaincy (MSD), team effort, team-management(esp, manager/ Robin Singh/Venkatesh Prasad), selection committee ( Kris Srikanth & Team) and may be, less interference by BCCI ( :) ! )

Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on Meditation

"Meditation should be performed enthusiastically, withfull faith and care, and strictly according to the disciplineslaid down. If this is done, it will bestow not only allhappiness and all victory but even the vision of the Lord.Therefore, begin meditation, each one ofyou, from today —even from this moment!"-Dhyana Vahini ch.1 p.8

Krishna told Arjuna that....while meditating the body should not touch the earthor another body. This is because contact with the earthmakes the individual lose the divine current generatedin him during meditation.
Meditation will be more meaningful if desires arecurtailed. Less luggage, more comfort make travel apleasure; fewer desires make the journey of life easierand happier."-- Summer Showers in Brindhavan 1979 p.117
"Everyone has the right to achieve this high degree ofsuccess (in meditation). I do not say this in just a quiet tone; I declare thisloud enough for all quarters to hear. Knowing this, meditateand advance! Do meditation and progress! Realise the Atma!"Dhyana Vahini -Ch.2

IPL auction 2

It is again auction time... yet again.

• 'Auction' of sportmen is still not palatable, as I posted last year ( American elections, Lincoln... all top of mind and hence more linkage to 'slavery' ??)
• More celebrities enter.. with Shilpa Shetty, etc. and the glamour quotient :)
• Mortoza going for 12 times the initial level indeed is the proof of celebrity ego, I feel.
• Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen goes for top two bids, ahead of last year's topper, MSD
• King of good Times, owner of Bangalore team, has to put up with KP and another player, whose alcoholic affinity would make it interesting. Mallya might see the value of a professional like Rahul Dravid, when he has to handle these players now!

The sportsmen suddenly see their future more secured and I am happy for them. . .But I still have the nagging feeling, the 'sport' is moving away from its core values! Lalit Modi, BCCI, former cricketers....are you listeing ?

Neo Sports' dANUBE Lizards ad

I love wordspace for its continuous music, no commercial or gyaan-baazi. We do not have such luxury with cricket telecasts, these days.
But this hit a new low when Neo Sports started telecasting some sub standard ads.
While Western Money Union is a good commercial, all their other commercials have been quite 'painful'! The ads on tissue paper, masala from Adil, etc...
The new Danube ad featuring lizards is UNBEARABLE. My family insists on changing channel, not even 'mute-ing', whenever the ad is telecast.
The joy of a wonderful match is robbed by these below par commercial.
Is it not the responsibility of a channel to ensure the total telecast/product/package is worthy of a VIEWER-DELIGHT !

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