Michael Jackson.. The Man. The Legend.

It goes without saying that the spell MJ cast on countless fans goes beyond his music. It was his inner soul – innocent and pure that catapulted the Jackson 5 star into the sky. Watching MJ at his rehearsals for the ‘This Is It’ concert fills me with awe about the circumstances concerning his death. But that is not what I will be talking about.

Kevin Ortega’s simplistic yet neatly crafted motion picture is much more than documentary. It is a journey that makes me feel ‘alive’ as if watching the concert and ‘warm” for all the love and affection MJ oozes towards everyone around him, towards life. Clearly, This Is It is not an ensemble of MJ’s all time hits. Its not just another show with cheers of ‘Encore!’. It is the show of a lifetime.

MJ may have had problems. He may have struggled. But he had within him the torch of being human alive. This is it explemifies and beautifully juxtaposes the man’s inherent softness to his princely presence on stage. Afterall, he was the ‘Thriller’ man, a ‘Man in the mirror’ who asked everyone to just ‘Beat it!’ and loved everyone no matter if they were ‘Black or White’ who lived inspite of ‘Billie Jean not being his lover’ and didn’t mind if ‘They didn’t care about us’, cried to express his grief in ‘The Earth Song’ and beautifully culminated all that he had to say ‘This Is It’. MJ was, is and will always be the King of Pop!

I reveled in the extreme care and gentleness with which MJ handled himself and everyone around. He was special and he knew everyone else was special too! That in itself is a very special feeling.

At 50, his moves, his style and his grace was par excellence. Maybe he was heavily gifted. Or perhaps he gifted himself what he has. ‘Thats why we rehearse’ – he’s heard saying in the backstage footage. Yes, Sir, and that is exactly how kings and legends are created.

The world tour would have been a stupendous success. Bring tears and joy to millions of loving admirers. And give a lot of people a part of their youth back when they grew up with MJ on their lips and in their steps. Yet ‘This Is It’ is our passport to reach the sanctum sanctorum of MJ’s troupe and MJ himself. The troupe too is collection of stars. Dancers with moves that further sharpened MJ’s moves and giving his style the status of cult (of course the Moonwalk is more than cult now. Its religion!) on stage. So, are the musicians (vocalists, guitarists, drummers, percusionists and everyone in between).

The gradual unfolding of the various leaves of the show are enigmatic yet simplistic. MJ in all his glory – All he was and all he’d ever have been. May be better (coz he knew what it was to stand infront of the mirror and talk to the one staring back from the mirror).

2 hours of spellbinding music and absolutely bewitching dance moves – of and from the man who made me feel – The time of our lives was here – Right now!! THIS IS IT!

‘God Bless You!’ – MJ

A worth watch – Any day! Siddhartha

Nothing is more revolting that standing in front of the wash basin and blowing your nose. With all your might, you force the air out through your nose hoping that the accumulated filth would get aught up the huge thrust generated and fly out in bursts of yellow spendour. People welcome to Phlegm Tour!

Its 7 AM in the morning. A fresh start as we realize that the huge organism is just shaking a bit. Don’t worry, he’ll be up in 10 minutes and straight to our dream destination. The drain below the wash basin. The ride is gonna be full of adventures and dangerous turns. But we provide you noseat belts because hey you’ve not come to soeme water-cum-amusement park. You are inside the huge organism’s nose. Huge gusts of wind will start blowing, the sound of trickling water falling softly onto the basin ceramic luring you towards itself and the varying stops that you’ll make hile the organism will heave, breathe, pant and rant before he finally ejects you out towards (and Michael Jackson sings along) Freedom.

I have wondered if all human beings can come undera any other common ground category other than ‘humans’ or ‘homo sapiens’. In fact, there can be many. But for today let’ss suffice by all being merchants who manufacture phlegm.

I was sick in the past week and lay in bed for four straight days. It was basically a heat stroke that triggered fever, body ache and extreme cough. Now from extreme, I do mean eXtreme. Because, even though I am a regular customer of Cold, Cough and Party, this was the mother of all their visits. Fur days and every 10 minutes I am off to the basin and pumping it out. For those whose tubelight’s still didn’t flash, phlegm (who gave that name anyway? That ‘l’ in between makes onomatopoeic sound resembling blowing the nose. Nice thinking but revolting act.) is the viscous thick yellow gooey substance that you spit and throw when you’ve got cough.

So, all these four days I must have pumped out more than a litre of phlegm. I mean it just kept coming out. I wondered if there was some sort of a storage tank and pump mechanism fit somewhere that was making this possible but how could the body generate so much and from what raw materials fails my imagination. I know is a method ofwaste getting out. This is not an informative post and so I am not going to Google for it and then state the ‘crude’ facts.

But I just want to say – ‘It’s not fair’. A guy is so weak that he can barely walk and he’s supposed to just blow air out. He gets so exhausted! Imagine!

I wish the doctors invented some mechanism to suck all of it out at one go rather than giving Titanium Dioxide coloured bitter tablets and lousy pills.

I am fine now but I still have to go and stand in front of the wash basin again. Sneeze! There’s the call. Gotta go.

Siddhartha

I often wonder how the primitive man lived and how his social skills were. The Homo Sapien had rarely more than 20-25 people living in the ‘city’ and everyone knew everyone else pretty well. Hence, even courting and seduction were worth killing for when love was at a high. Any new intrusion in the group changed the group dynamics completely which led to hitherto unexplored stages in the game.

Today, you are in a world with a 6.7 billion population. A number whose magnanimity is too difficult to fathom. And you find strangers everywhere. Your daily life is replete with unknown faces, unusual people. So, maybe you don’t work too hard on the courting game if you like a girl. Anyway this was what I understood from Evolutionary Psychology. But this post is not about The Game of Courting, rather it is focused on the 6.7 billion strangers around you.

I bunked college today to get the CAT (Common Admission Test) voucher from an Axis Bank branch located miles away from my place. I walked to the Bus Stand in the scorching sun (Believe me, its anything but monsoon out here) and since the seats were full, I just leaned backward on the railing which completely bent due to my weight and I was microseconds away from falling. Just happened to balance my weight and get up. This happened to quickly and a smile erupted on my face combining the li’l embarassment and laughter at what had just happened and my eyes met that of a middle aged auntie who smiled back at me. I felt so good. I guess, everyone feels great when a smile is flashed.

I read somewhere that eyes can detect a smile very quickly and the body then releases endorphins to make us feel better. So, the more you smile, the happier you get (even your hormones aid you in that). Anyway, after waiting for 15 minutes the bus did not turn up and hence I walked to the BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) stand nearby where trial runs of BRTS buses is on. These buses run in dedicated lanes in the centre of the widened road and are similar to the Metro Rail model in metropolitan cities. So, I had to take a ticket (price zero coz trial runs are on). I had trouble focusing due to the heat and sweat trickling down beneath my shirt and tickling my numbed skin and so on the ticket counter I asked for ‘Akhbarnagar’ (And that was the station I was standing on). The counter-wala smiled and I realized my goof-up. ‘Himmatlal Park’ I bellowed as a bus turned up on the station. His crisp actions immediately produced a ticket out of nowhere and place it betwixt my fingers.

Into the bus and finally some respite from the killing sun rays. Anyway, I got down at the stand and started looking for a rickshaw to take me to the bank. Found one and hopped in. As we were crossing the road a speeding scooter whizzed past as we escaped by a whisker. The traffic police caught hold of the scooter driver while my rickshaw driver looked into the mirror straight into my eyes and laughed amusedly. I happily complied. Into the bank, I stood in the line for the CAT form. After 10 minutes, the line still did not budge and I realized there were applicants for both CAT and XAT. And the XAT aspirants were taking up most of the time. In stepped the Security Guard whom I had asked for the location of CAT vouchers and he just whizzed past the line and picked up a form and handed it to me. Random acts of kindness go unappreciated. But I felt great. I sat down and completed the columns and handed it over to the man on the counter. When he handed me my voucher, I looked into his eyes and said a direct ‘Thank You’. No response. Stone face.

I often wonder if people are daydreaming or are caught up in some thought or simply indifferent? But whatever the case, even after wards, the bus conductor smiled and the bus driver stopped the bus infront of my college even though it was not a stand and I think a little kindness can truly make someone’s day. Make our daily activities easier and not a chore. Grease the axles to reduce friction for a smooth drive.

Randy Komisar, a venture capitalist, asked a Buddhist sage in Bhutan as to which question still troubled him (the monk). The monk bemusedly smiled and said he didn’t understand why people are still not kind to each other.

Siddhartha

My first full-blown short story! This one is titled “Heartbeats”

HEART BEATS

The long aisles of Landmark wore an abandoned look as Arnab lazily sifted through the ‘Fiction’ titles. A four-year old whizzed past him, toy soldier in hand, being chased by his agitated mother visibly embarrassed with the child’s histrionics. Outside the bookstore, torrential showers dashed with all their might. The eager rain seemed too aroused to make love to the thirsty Earth.

‘Aaaaa-cheee!’

He looked up. Oh my God! Waltzing through the door was the most beautiful creature on Earth. He could feel his heart pounding wildly against his chest and James Blunt croon “You are beautiful” in his ears.

An exquisite beauty – a bright orange flowing skirt that purred along with her fluid movements, a T-shirt adorning her bosom that screamed ‘Let’s Play’ in leafy green, tresses wet with fresh rain idly resting over her face and a nose ring that reminded him of Sania Mirza – clouded his eyes as the world seemed to melt away.

She looked around, fingers running through the water trickling hair as her bracelets made tinkling sounds – a dazed smile across her face. Their eyes met. For a full two seconds, they stared into each other’s dilated pupils taking each other in and then the boy looked down. She suddenly felt a grip tighten in her stomach. She wasn’t sure what triggered the attraction within. But he was enchanting in a way that defied all explanation.

Arnab was busy cursing himself as he stared blankly into the pages thinking why did he not smile. In movies, cupid strikes instantly as both the hero and the girl smile at first sight. ‘Ah! It’s pretty simple. Just look up and s-m-i-l-e!” “No! Damn it!” “She would think I am a jerk”. Thoughts zoomed through his numb brain, yet nothing transitioned into action.

The girl unsure tiptoed back and forth. She stared at the rack of chocolates, absentmindedly picking up some Chocopies. A few seconds later, she again shot a look in the boy’s direction. Nope! He was still into his books. If only he would look up. His ruffled hair, intense eyes and a face dripping with warmth and intellect (at least she felt so) were driving her crazy. Her heart had started playing games she never knew it knew.

She walked past the cash counter and entered the aisle next to his. No reaction. A little dejected, she started scanning the books. “Ahem… Pretty wet, huh? Enjoying the… the… the lovely rain, I guess” – Arnab managed to utter.

“Yeah! Wouldn’t miss it for the world!” He marveled at the twinkle in her eyes as she giggled, “Although, technically, I am not allowed to get wet, you know. Mom and Dad get real cranky…”

The sound of her laughter rang in his ears making him all the more dizzy. “Yeah! Its fun to defy them sometimes and get wild. Loads of fun! I am Arnab, by the way” “Shalini” Their hands shook, the elegance of a palm-to-palm kiss lingering a second longer.

“I wouldn’t want the darling daughter to catch a cold though. Hey, ahem… can I buy you a cuppa coffee?” Damn! Arnab wondered where that came from. But he kept a straight face and tried to smile. She didn’t say anything for a few seconds (as Arnab’s heartbeats escalated limits and seconds felt like eternity) and then her lips parted gently forming the words, “I’d love to.”

Serene Happiness engulfed him as he saw her radiating with joy. He looked down upon the book he was holding. It said, “In a Heartbeat” As both of them started walking out and towards the coffee joint, their hands brushing against each others’, anticipation and uncertainty brimmed up their hearts – life was never going to be the same again.

“Maybe heartbeats do know the answers. Let them guide you. ‘Coz only they can trace through the treasure map that points towards the bountiful riches of life”.

—
Siddhartha

Hey everyone!

I was asked to write something by my teacher for the departmental magazine ‘Chemflash’. I cam up with this during a lecture (as usual ) I doubted if this would be accepted inspite of its tongue-in-cheek nature. But it was.

In a nutshell, my years in undergraduate college are splashed in words below.

Not So Seriously – Life in Nirma

YEAR ONE

Day One we began our journey at Nirma,
D-103 was the place to be.
Deciphering C algorithms with ED drafters,
That confusing was our first step you see.

Bunked classes by jumping through windows,
And caught using my cellphone in A-104.
Oh! Every little ‘mishap’ back then
Is a lovely memory, my personal folklore.

YEAR TWO

Thermodynamics fluidly merged with Economics
And PPIs were termed stupid numbers.
CPI ate away my SPI,
And viva questions became parajumbles.

The ride was rocky and unforetold
But thats the beauty – I like it so.
The times were both boiling coffee and yummy cake
There was ‘Career Orientation’ too – Oh No!

YEAR THREE

With seminars and projects tumbling in
Year Three got crazy, yer personal.
‘Process Equipment Design’ raised eyebrows,
With PDC, I prepared for my funeral.

The burden of responsibilities increased,
But friends and relationships blossomed too.
With papers and models and national tech fests,
The feeling sinked in – Engineering is fun too!

YEAR FOUR

The final lap is what we have entered,
An unscaled peak called ‘ Graduation ‘.
And the three years stupidly make some sense now
All experiences out here deserve saluations.

Maybe not for the assignments or sketchbooks
But for the people – here and around me.
Yeah I slept (“meditated”) on the first bench,
Yet, I’ll be one of Nirma’s proud alumni.

I know people who were or are in the institute will relate more to it. Yet, I thought this is good enough to be here.

See ya!
Siddhartha

A-104, D-103 refer to classrooms n labs.
ED, CPI, PDC are subject title abbreviations.
SPI, PPI are grade point average nos.

What does it really take to get your message across? Presentations. Bombastic words. Sophisticated light-and-sound. Sound creative advertising? Maybe.

Or, perhaps, a simpler form of this mixed bag can come along and make an impact more profound and more essential than whats secondary. Professor Yash Pal’s words to an august gathering at AMA, Ahmedabad was just that magic potion.

Professor Yash Pal lies embedded in my memory since I was in the first or second grade. I remember a beautiful episode of the popular science television show ‘Turning Point’ broadcasted on Doordarshan. A schoolboy had asked him ‘What was gravity?’ He took a pice of paper, drew a circle (implying the Earth) and then small men all over the circumference. He pointed at the man on the top and said – ‘Look he stands alright. But look at the person at the bottom. He doesn’t fall!’ And, then he went on to explain the concept of gravitational pull that suddenly felt so beautiful and exciting. And this is what has changed the perspective of millions who saw the show to look at science and knowledge with new and curious eyes.

Prof. Yash Pal chose a rather long topic (at least the lecture’s title): Inner Processes of Developing an Advice to Radically Change the Culture and Management of Higher Education.

Dressed in a red kurta radiating the vibe of an amused scientist, the man was simply brilliant. His take on studies, education, society and life were unusually original and stupendously encouraged everyone to question everything and everyone around.

He criticized the current growth of education which ‘compartmentalized’ branches and fields thus preventing new breakthroughs. Humanities differs from Engineering. Sociology and Economics are poles apart. Really? Most progress and new innovations result on the boundaries of different fields. Progress within each sphere of education has been tremendous but the interdependence is of vital importance for the inclusive social, technological and economical growth of the country and the society.

Without technology, medical science would be handicapped. Moreover, they adapt what’s developed abroad by importing the technology. Negligible R&D in India has yielded breakthrough innovations in the last twenty-thirty years.

Every field has its own commission governing activities and increasing barriers. There is the UGC (Universities Grants Commission). Then the AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education). The MCI (Medical Council of India). The list goes on. The autonomy resting with Universities is just on paper.

Moreover, even collaborations within the same field between different Universities is lacking. How can then progress happen – if not together?

The Yash Pal Committee has submitted its report a few months back to the Government underlining radical changes. The prime being doing away with all such educational super-heads and replacing with an all encompassing Council for Higher Education and Research that would provide Universities full independence to exercise their ideas into the curriculum and also act as a catalyst to increase collaborations between Universities.

The Professors of Universities should be at par with authorities on the Central Board so that the very best of education pedagogies could be implemented and exchanged. Teachers should have the right to design courses whereas students should have the independence of studying courses outside their discipline.

“Give freedom to education!” is what he underlined.

(I’d recommend you go through the complete list of recommendations of the committee for a fuller understanding of his suggestions. Consult the links at the end of this write-up) Everyone may not agree to what is being said and recommended but at least that opens room for dialogue. And thats what needed for change (and then taking action).

Today, a man is known by his degree. Even that is a ‘race’ – what Professor Yash Pal believes. Competence and ability come second to his degree. The work will get delayed or not done just because they could find ‘the right person’ (who ‘must’ have a degree). The education system is so slow and handicapped that promoting right academic talent and giving impetus and recognition to academicians is extremely less.

Children at home and in school are silenced because of their curiosity. Anything outside their realm of understanding is an enigma to them which they try to understand by questions. The teacher silences them saying ‘What you ask is not a school question’. Amidst a big round of applause, Prof. Yash Pal declared, “Every question should be school question”.

Speaking mostly in Hindi peppered with stylish yet simple English, Prof Yash Pal reminisced his time in Ahmedabad as the first Director of the Space Applications Centre (SAC, ISRO) and the intellectual people he worked with. His wit and humility captured the hearts of everyone in the jam-packed auditorium – be it the baldies and salt-pepper haired intellectuals and socialites to the young blood in quest for meaning and understanding.

His curiosity and wit refuse to dim with age as he advises everyone who is walking on the road (inching towards his goal) to look around and meander, smell sweet flowers on the way and then move forward.

It is meandering (to move around) and thinking out-of-the-box that really brings in life-changing discoveries and insights in the lives of people – whether the scientist or the common man. Citing the example of the Nobel prize winning physicist Richard Feynman, he reiterated his words, “There is plenty of room at the bottom’ – meaning the universe in atoms and cells that is giving us new fields and vistas of science – nanotechnology or say biotechnology (bringing together two branches and thus evolving new unforetold undecided realm of science and technology and indirectly of education).

A man’s potential is much much more than the major he has graduated in. His talents, his voltage may remain latent if the education environment in schools and colleges do not bring it forth.

A University (from the Universe) is not just an entity with two colleges and four degrees. Instead it should try to encompass all realms discovered by or known to mankind – encouraging mixing and all-round development of institutions, society and mankind (which will then constitute thinkers and not just engineers or businessmen).

MIT and Harvard exemplify the meaning of the term ‘University’ which have under their umbrella every small and big field and that too the best academic and research centres for them. A Tech school should encourage Economics or even Music for that matter. An IIT should not just be a factory of churning out undergraduate engineers who go abroad and settle. But rather individuals with rigour and thinkers who change the landscape of education, science and society.

An hour with Prof. Yash Pal rejuvenated many ‘bored’ senses of mine and reignited the questioning boy within. Its important that new blood is transfused in today’s education that shakes the rotten system and in its place establishes a matrix of growth, inquisitiveness, inclusivity and innovation.

That’s what I have come to understand and reflect upon in the air-conditioned hall with people surprised yet illuminated by the wisdom and common sense Prof. Yash Pal, at the age of 82 in a splendid kurta and a resplendent smile, in his words and thoughts projects.

Ciao!
Siddhartha

For Prof. Yash Pal’s luminous CV (till 2005 – Its a privilege to view his), download it here: http://www.iiasa.ac.at/Admin/YSP/yssp2006/lecture-bgfiles/CV_Yash_Pal_18nov05.pdf
or for a brief intro go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yash_Pal

For a brief of the recommendations made by the Yash Pal Committee on Higher Education see:
http://www.academics-india.com/yashpal_report.htm
Full Report: http://www.hindu.com/nic/yashpalcommitteereport.pdf

Looking for inspiration?

It’s strange – the excuses we put forth to put off what is important
‘Oh! I don’t feel like getting to the task. I am moody, you know!’
‘I am so busy, for God’s sake’
The test match just got interesting and I am shouting ‘Come on India dikhaado!’

You think you need the spark, the inspiration
That it is the switch that will get you the love and glory.
Alas, my friend! Its time you opened your eyes
Coz ‘Life is a craft’ and if you don’t start now, you will be very sorry.

Siddhartha

Neale Donald Walsch wrote in ‘Conversations With God’ that the message from God to Man is “There is only one purpose for all life and that is to experience life in its fullest glory”. If this message reached everyone on Earth, they would ‘care’ a little more for themselves. Everyone would consider his life, emotions, experiences and inner thoughts important and avoid self-deprecation that leads to self-damage.

Appreciating and embracing the five senses, we are endowed with, can be extremely ameliorating. Children are the most beautiful creation – more powerful and awe-inspiring than nature. They are the ensemble of nature’s magnificence and innocence. A child is the most receptive of his senses and enjoys them totally. No one laughs as wholeheartedly as a kid. And no one cries like one (a child) too! The five senses exemplify nature’s vividness and ardor in gifting mankind.

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. A satire for this line replaces the ‘beholder’ with ‘beer-holder’. Truth be told, we all view the world with our tinted glasses and, yes, are in some way biased. But this individuality is itself rewarding because of the vantage points every situation, every play, every human being offers. Giving our eyes generous doses of beauty – nature, loved ones, man made marvels, movies (which double as sound-and-light extravaganzas), artwork (check out deviantART.com to know what I mean) and all things bright and resplendent – is the least we can do towards adopting and appreciating the good life. The video cameras atop your face are too precious services not to be availed of.

Sound is more than music. Its the basis of language and the assurance of company. Music illuminates the soul. They are the strings we pull when we are happy or blue, excited or nervy. Indulging in some soothing tunes can alter the chemical balance of the brain by releasing endorphins and uplift anyone. Rarely has mankind come across something so powerful and life-changing. Exploring new horizons in our choice of melody by adding new artists and styles in our music vocabulary truly is gratifying and a gift to the ears. Be it Rahul Sharma and Chinmaya Dunster straddling the santoor and sarod to give soul-stirring tunes or a Laura Pausini singing classy Italian songs, a mother humming lullabies to her child or the soft fall of rain drops on the window pane – melody is essential for human beings to unwind, savour and value their lives.

Nothing beats the aroma of the paayesh (Bengali for kheer) that Maa usually makes when I return home once a month. Throw in the mutton delicacies, the paneer bhurji and the roshogollahs and you surely know that at least for one guy (me!), the route to the heart lies through the stomach. Even humble arhar-dal and rice both smell and taste like heaven if we relish every morsel and allow the taste to linger. The sense of smell and taste are a delightful combo. Did you know that both apple and onion taste the same! It’s only because of the nose that we distinguish between them. The 10,000 or so taste buds are our passport to yummy-fy (Yeah, I know there is no such word!) a drink, a kiss or, even, chilly chicken!

The gift of speech (indirectly, a sense organ – tongue) is equally exhilarating. The ability of the tongue to move in a gazillion ways to throw a bewildering array of words – limited only by our knowledge of languages and vocabulary – is fantastic. The power of the tongue – coupled with the brain – is what distinguishes charismatic people and, well, people (at least, in most cases). Both diplomats and playboys – understand and harness this axe. In fact, a smattering of words – kind, inspiring or intimidating – can make or break. As Casanova (played by Heath Ledger in the film of the same title) put it, “Be the flame – not the moth”. And the tongue is your unfailing aid in all relationships – personal and professional.

Finally, touch. Touch is the most underestimated of all senses. Skin does more than just perceiving pain. Ever tried bathing slowly feeling every trickle of cold water flowing you’re your skin? It feels like heaven. Its pleasure redefined. In an accommodating society like India which stands for love and togetherness, it’s a surprise that individuals and families shy away from touch (not only in public, but also in private – except when shaking hands or making love). Embracing in public between the same sex might be alright (the trademark of politicians and actors) but if a boy and a girl do so – it’s against Indian ethics! I am not endorsing or condemning anything; simply stating facts. The truth is hugs and pats reaffirm that we are loved and respected and they are crucial for emotional freedom and expressing affection. Its for you to incorporate them into your lives and those of your loved ones.

Incorporating awareness of senses makes life a blast. It brings you closer to your soul and releases suppressed emotions – leading to a healthier, happier, feisty and lovely life. Life is pleasurable. The following lines from an anonymous writer are close to my heart and best describe the essences of senses: “Most of us miss out on life’s small pleasures. The Pulitzer. The Nobel. Oscars. Tonys. Emmys. But we’re all eligible for life’s small pleasures. A pat on the back. A kiss behind the ear. A four-pound bass. A full moon. An empty parking space. A crackling fire. A great meal. A glorious sunset. Hot soup. Cold beer. Don’t fret about copping life’s grand awards. Enjoy its tiny delights. There are plenty for all of us.”

C’est la vie!

Siddhartha

Hey everyone!

Its good to be back after two months. Albeit, a vacation and yeah I did have a net connexn back home, I chose to relax and savour the love of family. Mouth-watering food, yummy desserts, some charming jokes and relaxing moments. Its good to go on breaks in between. It helps you rejuvenate! Shake off the dust and, in a sense, reborn.

I love the song ‘Time To Pretend’ sung by the band MGMT that many must have heard as the track playing when the movie ‘21′, starring Jim Sturgess and Kevin Spacey, begins.

Watch the song intro in the movie here:

The words mean things most youth feel as their rock n’ roll life begins. I’ll quote a few lines I love:

I’ll miss the playgrounds and the animals and digging up worms
I’ll miss the comfort of my mother and the weight of the world
I’ll miss my sister, miss my father, miss my dog and my home
Yeah, I’ll miss the boredom and the freedom and the time spent alone.

But, a few words make your spine tingle too:

–
There’s really nothing, nothing we can do
Love must be forgotten, life can always start up anew.
–

‘Life can always startup anew!’ That is such a uplifting thought. And, since you have only one day at a time, Dude, you are a heck of a lucky guy! Yeah, everyone of you. No need to be morose and mundane about the past. ‘The thrill of getting back’ every morning is more than just a line. Its adrenaline for your ride!

Finally, my favorite artist Laura Pausini. Its because of her that I have started listening to Italian and Spanish songs. And, though, I don’t understand most of them, I search for translations and savour both music and meaning. My favorite Laura Pausini track is ‘Primavera in Anticipo’ (featuring James Blunt) which roughly translates into ‘Spring Come Early’. The video is here:

And the lyric translations here:
http://www.ooltra.net/Lyrics.php?a=LauraPausini&s=PrimaveraInAnticipo

So, go ahead! Listen to the track that sings of healing and abundance of life. The spring of life is perennial.

Siddhartha

Hey people..

I was wondering how a few things human beings pick up may be in their formative years or even later and it sticks with them throughout their lives. It might be a lousy habit, an unsual swear word or even stupid unconscious physical movements but nevertheless they go on to shape us into what we eventually become.

Again I was on my way to University, and I found myself snuffed between a mango vendor and a middle-aged auntie. The auntie continued to finger her nose when she entered the rickshaw driving here finger through all nooks and corners inside her nostrils with an adeptness even a vacuum cleaner would fail to imitate.

She further kept staring at the mango vendor who held here basket even more tightly. I couldn’t help laughing. Albeit, all this was innocent and wasn’t perhaps even being recorded in her brain but all this was completely part of her.

I guess when we stare deep into our daily activities – what we do, how we talk, the gait we take, the faces we make – you realize you have a star comedian within you. Everyone of us!

And its not just true about habits. Our mindset too can be programmed this way and we don’t even realize that we are spinning of creating a new negative pattern which is gonna be your way of life in the days to come.

The point is: We spend days twisting and twirling things in our brain and it takes YEARS to straighten them out.

Be a little more aware of everything you do, say (even to yourself) and think. I guess life could be much better and wholesome.

Atleast now you can finger your nose looking in the mirror and Know you enjoy doing it.

See ya!
Siddhartha

Hey people..

I am only posting this as there have been no posts for more than two weeks. Its actually a poem I wrote as an assignment alongwith a poster I created for a course (called Non-Conventional Energy Sources). Its not a typical my kinda poem but thought maybe its worth posting.

I’ll be back with intriguing n thoughtful posts after my exam. You see its in a couple of weeks and I have finally started to study. Here goes:

The Unconventional Path

They say about Energy – ‘We are running outta time!’
Do I have to make this techie poem rhyme?
Its time we gave this issue some serious thought
Or life on Earth will be akin to an empty coal mine.

Just walk out on fossil fuels that pollute,
We are hanging onto a faulty parachute.
To sustain the beauty and loveliness of the only ‘Home’
Look around – You’ll have answers you can’t refute.

The adventurous wind like my dream girl
Erect sturdy turbines – let the harnessing unfurl.
The warmth of the sun is more than just light
Its untapped potential – A massiv energy swirl.

The fore of oceans are waves – mammoth n huge
There is so much in what you throw out and call ‘Refuse’.
Solar, Wind, Tides, Biomass – The possibilities endless,
Lets take the Un-Conventional Path n make its good use.

—

I know it lacks a little bit coherence n was written again in class whilst the lecturer talked about crystallization. Anyway, hope you like it.

Siddhartha

Another droning lecture and I am back to my poetry tactics. Well, I wrote this while the class struggled to stare and miserably failed to keep its eyes open in a lecture on hydrocracking. Was it hydrocracking? I am not sure.

Anyway, this one is actually inspired from an episode of ‘The Wonder Years’ and a li’l of it has my school life in it too.

So, here goes…

The Sweet Pain

Sweet, indeed, is the pain as you reminisce those moments,
And relive the heart beats that accompanied you.
As you take the path down memory lane again,
That girl, your buddy, stands out in the queue.

Ah! The softness of her skin, the lilt in her voice,
And the flowing hair that smelt like fresh cut hay.
The cuts and curves of her gown flawless,
And the most sparkling smile that lit your day.

One dance is all I ask for and you lovingly oblige,
We sway to the music, the affection seeps through.
The night seems to be my best friend,
As it envelops the intimacy between me and you.

I wish to the heavens above – Let the night never end
But dawn has to break, the warm sun godsend.
And before I could pop the question, our paths diverged away;
As I was left thirsty and away was snatched from me your bay.

I never knew how you felt back then, nor do I know now,
I wonder where you are, and how life has given you reasons to ‘Wow!’
But every morning as I rise with the sun, I feel alive,
And your memories fill me with love and I know you too remember me somehow.

Well, there goes

Siddhartha