Posts
Sounds different.... reborn has become a phenomenon with the media and advertising industry using it everywhere. Wear a shirt and you are reborn as..... (something like that). Anyway this post is nothing to do with it.
After about three and half months of "dormancy", what better day it could be than my birthday to start this blog again. I have to sustain the resolution that I had made at the beginning of this year.
Things have changed a lot after August 7 (My previous post). Chandrayaan has reached the moon, Obama is in White house, the world reeling in an economic crisis, the small plant near the tracks in Egmore station grewn a bit (more about this in my next post).
The only thing that has not grown is the posts in my blog. Its again a time for a change... time for a rebirth.
Harish is reborn with this post....
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thursday, August 07, 2008
After Three years…
It might sound like O. Henry’s Short story. Well I really cannot say how it is going to be once you are done reading this. But I am sure this is not a story.
Serving the society or giving back something to the society is one thing that most of the people want to do, but there are only few people who really succeed in it. John Milton once said,
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed,
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait."
So if the people who stand and wait also serve the God, then it also means that, there is really no measure of success in serving the society. Whatever little a person does, can bring a good amount of change. And if many people start doing the same at small levels, it is definitely bound to bring a sea change.
As I walk back four years in my life, I remember that day very well. I was getting prepared for the first job interview of my life. Who will not forget that day? Though it was bound to happen, I was least prepared for it. The most surprising part was that, I had cleared the first round of written test and had reached to this stage. Wearing a formal full hand shirt (I hate them always..) tucked properly in my trousers, I walked towards the block where the interviews where being held.
There I met a few fellow mates, who have attended the interview already. Most of them had been grilled in all computer concepts for around an hour. I was very happy. I did not know anything about Computer Science. I would have gladly answered questions on RADAR than about computers.
Once the questions on computers were done, the students were asked about their interests and hobbies and then the students were supposed to ask anything about the company, work environment etc.
Before I could think about anything, I was called inside for the interview. Seeing me “Areas of Interest” as RADAR engineering, he asked two basic questions on RADAR. I do not know how much aware my interviewer was, but he immediately started topic about my personal interest and hobbies. Once this started, it was more like a discussion rather than an interview. We “chatted” for about ten minutes and then it was time for me to ask some questions.
I did not want to pose the same questions about the corporate work culture etc etc and I did not know what else to ask. I badly wanted to ask something, as there was not much scope for me in the interview, because of my lack of computer knowledge. From some where in the middle of the mind, the question came out. “Is Cognizant (that’s where I work) involved in Social Service Activities?” I asked as though, I was involved in such activities from my early childhood, and the company also should provide a platform for the same. That had never happened. I gave my interviewer a big smile when he answered “YES” for my question and told about few activities that they were involved in. The smile in my face would have surely made him think, I was born to help the society.
The interview was over with that, and hours flew by. It was evening and the results where supposed to be declared. Fortunately or Unfortunately I got selected. And as I write this blog, I have almost completed three years in the company.
But, it was only last week that I was involved in some CSR activity. Our team had donated a set of age specific toys to the Neo Natal Care at Voluntary Health Service (VHS), Taramani, Chennai. These toys will be used for analyzing new born babies for any abnormalities. There are therapists who analyse the response of the child to these toys. We had a demo of the usage of these toys to babies who were 5 to 6 months old to kids aged 2 years. People who have seen the movie “Taare Zameen Par” (I have not seen it) would understand this better.
At the end of the day, it was really something different. Few things learned and few things done is what I can say.
Serving the society or giving back something to the society is one thing that most of the people want to do, but there are only few people who really succeed in it. John Milton once said,
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed,
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait."
So if the people who stand and wait also serve the God, then it also means that, there is really no measure of success in serving the society. Whatever little a person does, can bring a good amount of change. And if many people start doing the same at small levels, it is definitely bound to bring a sea change.
As I walk back four years in my life, I remember that day very well. I was getting prepared for the first job interview of my life. Who will not forget that day? Though it was bound to happen, I was least prepared for it. The most surprising part was that, I had cleared the first round of written test and had reached to this stage. Wearing a formal full hand shirt (I hate them always..) tucked properly in my trousers, I walked towards the block where the interviews where being held.
There I met a few fellow mates, who have attended the interview already. Most of them had been grilled in all computer concepts for around an hour. I was very happy. I did not know anything about Computer Science. I would have gladly answered questions on RADAR than about computers.
Once the questions on computers were done, the students were asked about their interests and hobbies and then the students were supposed to ask anything about the company, work environment etc.
Before I could think about anything, I was called inside for the interview. Seeing me “Areas of Interest” as RADAR engineering, he asked two basic questions on RADAR. I do not know how much aware my interviewer was, but he immediately started topic about my personal interest and hobbies. Once this started, it was more like a discussion rather than an interview. We “chatted” for about ten minutes and then it was time for me to ask some questions.
I did not want to pose the same questions about the corporate work culture etc etc and I did not know what else to ask. I badly wanted to ask something, as there was not much scope for me in the interview, because of my lack of computer knowledge. From some where in the middle of the mind, the question came out. “Is Cognizant (that’s where I work) involved in Social Service Activities?” I asked as though, I was involved in such activities from my early childhood, and the company also should provide a platform for the same. That had never happened. I gave my interviewer a big smile when he answered “YES” for my question and told about few activities that they were involved in. The smile in my face would have surely made him think, I was born to help the society.
The interview was over with that, and hours flew by. It was evening and the results where supposed to be declared. Fortunately or Unfortunately I got selected. And as I write this blog, I have almost completed three years in the company.
But, it was only last week that I was involved in some CSR activity. Our team had donated a set of age specific toys to the Neo Natal Care at Voluntary Health Service (VHS), Taramani, Chennai. These toys will be used for analyzing new born babies for any abnormalities. There are therapists who analyse the response of the child to these toys. We had a demo of the usage of these toys to babies who were 5 to 6 months old to kids aged 2 years. People who have seen the movie “Taare Zameen Par” (I have not seen it) would understand this better.
At the end of the day, it was really something different. Few things learned and few things done is what I can say.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
New fashion in town...
It has become an old fashion accessory, but I got into the groove just now, a little late of course. But that does not mean, I too follow that, it is just that I have started noticing it now.
Thanks to the shifting of my office, and with the administration saying there will be no office bus, I have started using the public transport. And now I see a lot of people, people from different backgrounds, different jobs, schools and college students. And it seems, this thing has taken everyone into itself.
It comes in both wired and wireless formats. Not surprising, because this is a period, where you can make anything wired or wireless.
I did not notice this at least for two or three days. The strangest thing is that, I too own that, but have never used it like how people use it.
I got down at my station, and started walking. The sun was well on top, and was determined to fry the people who ventured out. Suddenly I heard a guy saying hello. I turned back thinking it must be somebody from the office who also must have taken the same train. But to my surprise, I saw a man, whom I have never seen. Just when I was about to think, If he is a long lost school friend of mine, I heard him continue his talk, and walk past me, never bothering to turn towards my side. Anyways, there was no necessity for him to do so.
Just then, I realized he was talking to somebody over the phone, through what is called a “Handsfree”. His hands were really free. A bag in one hand, and the other one free.
It was then that I started observing people’s ear, for any such thing. In an unofficial and random survey, I found that more than 40% of the people used it, with the ladies using it more than the guys (From ages back, the ladies always had more to talk.).
The best thing was how it had turned into a part and parcel of one’s life. Just like the bracelet or any other thing, it had become a necessity.
The thing that made me admire was how it blended very much with the guys. Taken over by curiosity, I attempted to wear it one day in vain. First I did not know where to put the phone, and then the other was to take the wires from the phone to the ear with the wires visible only near the ears. Hmm…. It was really tough and I have dropped the idea of using it.
If one did not get that many calls, then this was used for hearing music, radio or mp3, whichever one wanted.
The guy who introduced me this handsfree, and the one who overtook me and went was in his own world.
As he walked down the platform, and crossed the tracks, he never bothered to look for any trains coming. If luck was not on his side, the words which he talked in the phone would have been his last ones.
Though, handsfree is a better option, with people not being exposed to radiation, it is still wise not to use while walking. Else, it would be their last words or the last song they hear.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
New York/Chennai
The building was on fire. It was so tall that more than half of the people working there never realized that there was a fire in the building. With two towers, each with 110 floors, it was considered to be the business center of the world and its name World Trade Center was more than apt for it. But on this day, 9/11, everything was different. People from big businessman to the bell boys where running down the stairs.
The local train pulled into the park suburban station in Chennai at a good pace. The train was almost empty. But within seconds, the seats were occupied and it was on its way to its next destination.
The aero plane had hit the building at the correct place. The crash had started. People started running down the emergency stairs. As they looked down at the ground, it seemed as if, they were spiraling down in an infinite well. The World Trade Center had been attacked. It was a black day. Millions of dollars transactions have stopped, with people not knowing when things will get back to normal.
A small girl bought me back to ground reality from ground zero, from New York to Chennai. Jeffery Archer had described the last minutes at the World Trade Center in a detailed way. I closed the Jeffrey archer novel and looked at her. She would have been some three years old. Her white dress was almost brown with dirt.
She tried her luck with an old fellow sitting near to me. The reward was two rupees. If that was the start for the day, then I bet it was a good one.
As the next train pulled into the station, I hurried as usual, a routine, which I almost got used too. As I took the window seat, my eyes rested again on her. She was running now.
The train driver blew the horn, and the train started. My eyes refused to move away from the small girl. I was curious to see where she was going. The train slowly started picking speed. She reached a place, where three people were sitting, a man, a woman and a small boy, whom I presumed to be her father, mother and brother. Her father and mother were busy talking something. She went to her brother and showed the two rupees coin. After a very very brief pause, they both smiled and hugged each other, a very spontaneous action. The train moved out of the station, but that scene refused to move out of my mind.
Most of the days would have been black for the small girl, unlike one black day for New York. She had told a story better than Archer.
The local train pulled into the park suburban station in Chennai at a good pace. The train was almost empty. But within seconds, the seats were occupied and it was on its way to its next destination.
The aero plane had hit the building at the correct place. The crash had started. People started running down the emergency stairs. As they looked down at the ground, it seemed as if, they were spiraling down in an infinite well. The World Trade Center had been attacked. It was a black day. Millions of dollars transactions have stopped, with people not knowing when things will get back to normal.
A small girl bought me back to ground reality from ground zero, from New York to Chennai. Jeffery Archer had described the last minutes at the World Trade Center in a detailed way. I closed the Jeffrey archer novel and looked at her. She would have been some three years old. Her white dress was almost brown with dirt.
She tried her luck with an old fellow sitting near to me. The reward was two rupees. If that was the start for the day, then I bet it was a good one.
As the next train pulled into the station, I hurried as usual, a routine, which I almost got used too. As I took the window seat, my eyes rested again on her. She was running now.
The train driver blew the horn, and the train started. My eyes refused to move away from the small girl. I was curious to see where she was going. The train slowly started picking speed. She reached a place, where three people were sitting, a man, a woman and a small boy, whom I presumed to be her father, mother and brother. Her father and mother were busy talking something. She went to her brother and showed the two rupees coin. After a very very brief pause, they both smiled and hugged each other, a very spontaneous action. The train moved out of the station, but that scene refused to move out of my mind.
Most of the days would have been black for the small girl, unlike one black day for New York. She had told a story better than Archer.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
3...2...1...Go..
The facility was different. It was half constructed, and still the workers were moving around, trying to complete the construction of rest of the facility. Something always looked different here. I was a newcomer to this place. It was only a week since I started working from here.
The environment was totally different from my previous office. Doors with access check everywhere, two or three doors for canteen, rest rooms etc, people with robes as if it’s a nuclear plant made it look very different. As I walked into my small cubicle, I perfectly looked like an engineer, who is designing a small part of the satellite that was going to be launched in 6 months.
Satellite design involves a lot of technical complexities. That is the reason “Rocket Science” always involves people belonging to a different plane. It requires a lot of precision and even a simple calculation may lead to its complete failure.
I had a bad habit of sleeping. So anyone who passed by my cubicle could see a poster with my writing in big “Do not Sleep”. The people who did not knew me, also stopped by my cubicle, just to find out why I had put it up there, and my lead when he finds me sleeping, waked me up and shows the poster (I give a wry smile in response).
Rocket science was a field, which interested me a lot (It is for many people in this world). Becoming a rocket engineer was a dream for me. Here in this office, I found my dream come true. The IT job I was doing had paid me more, but never satisfied me.
I was woken by my lead suddenly. I had slept again. I responded with my usual wry smile. He had lost all hopes of keeping me awake and so did not bother. He directly asked “When is the launch?” Without realizing that he was asking about the web site launch, I replied “6 months” telling about the satellite launch of my dream.
If you really did not understand anything in this post, it is not a fault of yours, since I wrote this in office half asleep.
The environment was totally different from my previous office. Doors with access check everywhere, two or three doors for canteen, rest rooms etc, people with robes as if it’s a nuclear plant made it look very different. As I walked into my small cubicle, I perfectly looked like an engineer, who is designing a small part of the satellite that was going to be launched in 6 months.
Satellite design involves a lot of technical complexities. That is the reason “Rocket Science” always involves people belonging to a different plane. It requires a lot of precision and even a simple calculation may lead to its complete failure.
I had a bad habit of sleeping. So anyone who passed by my cubicle could see a poster with my writing in big “Do not Sleep”. The people who did not knew me, also stopped by my cubicle, just to find out why I had put it up there, and my lead when he finds me sleeping, waked me up and shows the poster (I give a wry smile in response).
Rocket science was a field, which interested me a lot (It is for many people in this world). Becoming a rocket engineer was a dream for me. Here in this office, I found my dream come true. The IT job I was doing had paid me more, but never satisfied me.
I was woken by my lead suddenly. I had slept again. I responded with my usual wry smile. He had lost all hopes of keeping me awake and so did not bother. He directly asked “When is the launch?” Without realizing that he was asking about the web site launch, I replied “6 months” telling about the satellite launch of my dream.
If you really did not understand anything in this post, it is not a fault of yours, since I wrote this in office half asleep.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Hibernation...
The books lay scattered in my bed. I rarely read nowadays, and the reason I give is lack of time (though the real reason is lack of time management), the rubik's cube, which I bought with a lot of enthusiasm lay on the stand, hoping that it would be turned and rotated one day. The shelf was haphazardly arranged. It is always like that, except for a week after I arrange all of them.
My office desk too was in a bad shape. Having moved to a new office two weeks back, i never had the patience to arrange the things. I had just dumped everything on the desk and it loyally remained there. My beard started pricking my face in this Chennai summer. Then I realised that, I had not shaved.
All these indicate my hibernation mode.
Today, my beard is gone. So I am not hibernating. But all the other things i mentioned above remains the same. The only change is more posts in this blog will keep flowing. Be ready to get wet this summer.
My office desk too was in a bad shape. Having moved to a new office two weeks back, i never had the patience to arrange the things. I had just dumped everything on the desk and it loyally remained there. My beard started pricking my face in this Chennai summer. Then I realised that, I had not shaved.
All these indicate my hibernation mode.
Today, my beard is gone. So I am not hibernating. But all the other things i mentioned above remains the same. The only change is more posts in this blog will keep flowing. Be ready to get wet this summer.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Perfect 10 satellite gone with the wind...
The sea was unusually silent. They did their job of reaching the shore and receding very quietly. It was an island, not very far from the main shore. A perfect place for satellite launch, the island of Sriharikota, generally a calm island was buzz with activity. The clock showed the time as 0723 am 28th April 2008. The two hour count down had just began at that instant. It was a big day. Ten satellites being launched at one shot. A day not to be forgotten for ISRO. It was a world record. As 9:23 am approached, the launch vehicle took off and within minutes, put all the satellites into orbits. It was hailed as a theoretical launch.As I logged on to www.ibnlive.com at around 10:30 am to check about the launch, the main screen splashed with Harbhajan Singh's photo. I had to search the page to find about the launch. Other sites (NDTV,headlinestoday etc) were not far behind. Some sites had photo of Sreesanth hugging Harbhajan. I was very disappointed to find no comments in the news "Perfect 10 for ISRO, PSLV lifts off successfully" whereas the Harbhajan singh's news had more than 100 comments from the readers. The worst part was the interview of Harbhajan's mother about the incident. Does the media knows what needs to be projected and what need not? If the India's leading news channel do like this, what can be expected out of others?The satellite launch would have taken years to complete with crores of rupees spent. The Cartosat which was sent in the PSLV (Was a major payload) would be used to analyse the Earth, soil and earthly resources including water. Is this not a big achievement? Why does the media shy away from putting this in the front? putting in a big banner? These satellite launches are not to prove to the world that India is a super power. These are for the development of the country. They have been developed by the country, for the country and of the country. What is the media going to lose by projecting this? Is Harbhajan slapping Sreesanth needs this much hype?
Shame on the Indian media....
Shame on the Indian media....
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Chennai....
At last I saw Chennai... I have been a Chennizen for the past 3 years. Though my home town is Chennai, I had been moving around to many places, and for the past 3 years, I was here, and most probably going forward, will continue here.
Please do not get surprised, when I say that, I am seeing Chennai at last, even after being here for 3 years. It is almost the same case with everyone in the city.
The Chennai Corporation's order to remove all the big and illegal billboards and hoardings did the trick. The city is very different now. At some places, people are able to see the blue sky now only. Some hoardings were so huge, that it looked like they were painted on the sky.
But now, only the steel frames remain. The city looks different. For a change, many buildings can be seen.
Though the ads in the billboard were eye catchy with some of them being too good, still the removal of them is also a welcome thing.
Please do not get surprised, when I say that, I am seeing Chennai at last, even after being here for 3 years. It is almost the same case with everyone in the city.
The Chennai Corporation's order to remove all the big and illegal billboards and hoardings did the trick. The city is very different now. At some places, people are able to see the blue sky now only. Some hoardings were so huge, that it looked like they were painted on the sky.
But now, only the steel frames remain. The city looks different. For a change, many buildings can be seen.
Though the ads in the billboard were eye catchy with some of them being too good, still the removal of them is also a welcome thing.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
A long gap..
Not again... I cannot allow this. It almost half a month since I last blogged. In this duration, there were many times, when I just logged in to the site, then decided against posting anything. Lack of topics, personal and professional life, I can keep on adding reasons for all this. But does that makes sense? Not at all. Will keep this going through all kinds of trials.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
The wonder that was India
The thought of a visit to a book shop makes me happy. It is as if, I love being surrounded by books, browsing through different titles, different section, checking out new authors, all being more fun than reading a book. Sometimes, browsing the cover pages of many books, gives an immense satisfaction of really gaining some knowledge, rather than reading one whole book (novels excluded).
With the same intention, I was there at landmark at Spencer's. I directly went to the special and new books section. Most of them were Sujatha's books. Though Sujatha is not with us, his words will remain for a long time. அவரை பற்றி எழுதுவது என்றால் தமிழில் தான் எழுதியாக வேண்டும். தமிழில் புதிய எழுத்தாளர்கள் வருவதற்கு, அவர் ஒரு முக்கிய காரணம். தமிழ்நாட்டிற்கும், இந்திய வோட்டிற்க்கும், அவர் செய்த பணி என்றும் மறக்க முடியாத ஒன்று.
Then, I moved on to other sections. As i was browsing, a name caught my attention. The book's title read "The wonder that was India". Curious to read what it meant, i pulled the book from the shelf. This was a History book, written by A.L.Basham. The title struck to me as an odd one. Why is the author saying "The wonder that was India". India has been a wonder, and it still is a wonder, and it will be one always. So just to know how the author justifies the title, i bought the book. Its a big book with around 500 pages, almost resembleing an old time dictionary. As i started reading, the title was justified in the "foreward" section itself (I could have read that in the shop itself, and kept the book back).
It seems, the author was totally against this title, because he too felt that it was not relevant. But the publishers said that this book was a sequel to other books on ancient civilizations like "The grandeur that was Rome", "The splendeur that was Egypt", and even this book should have a similar title. And so, India is no more a wonder according to the title.
I am currently reading this book (Completed almost 200 pages). I think my history teacher would have been very proud and happy, if she came to know that i am reading this book. Just like a typical history book, its taking a lot of time for me to move ahead. I completed 3 other books in the meantime, but this one is still going on.
But it is not as boring as a history book. The author has tried to present many interesting facts about the lifestyles of ancient civilisations. Be it the public political, economical details or the private life of a man and woman, the author has tried to throw light on whatever is known about those days.
A good read for people with a lot of patience and time.
With the same intention, I was there at landmark at Spencer's. I directly went to the special and new books section. Most of them were Sujatha's books. Though Sujatha is not with us, his words will remain for a long time. அவரை பற்றி எழுதுவது என்றால் தமிழில் தான் எழுதியாக வேண்டும். தமிழில் புதிய எழுத்தாளர்கள் வருவதற்கு, அவர் ஒரு முக்கிய காரணம். தமிழ்நாட்டிற்கும், இந்திய வோட்டிற்க்கும், அவர் செய்த பணி என்றும் மறக்க முடியாத ஒன்று.
Then, I moved on to other sections. As i was browsing, a name caught my attention. The book's title read "The wonder that was India". Curious to read what it meant, i pulled the book from the shelf. This was a History book, written by A.L.Basham. The title struck to me as an odd one. Why is the author saying "The wonder that was India". India has been a wonder, and it still is a wonder, and it will be one always. So just to know how the author justifies the title, i bought the book. Its a big book with around 500 pages, almost resembleing an old time dictionary. As i started reading, the title was justified in the "foreward" section itself (I could have read that in the shop itself, and kept the book back).
It seems, the author was totally against this title, because he too felt that it was not relevant. But the publishers said that this book was a sequel to other books on ancient civilizations like "The grandeur that was Rome", "The splendeur that was Egypt", and even this book should have a similar title. And so, India is no more a wonder according to the title.
I am currently reading this book (Completed almost 200 pages). I think my history teacher would have been very proud and happy, if she came to know that i am reading this book. Just like a typical history book, its taking a lot of time for me to move ahead. I completed 3 other books in the meantime, but this one is still going on.
But it is not as boring as a history book. The author has tried to present many interesting facts about the lifestyles of ancient civilisations. Be it the public political, economical details or the private life of a man and woman, the author has tried to throw light on whatever is known about those days.
A good read for people with a lot of patience and time.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Does the human race think??
I do not know what you people think, but Edward de Bono says "How the Human Race has never really learned to think" in a book with the same big title. In a book of about 120 pages, he tries hard to put down many a example to say that, what humans do is work on a pattern or recognition. The brain is trained to handle all things, based on patterns that are stored, including the previous experiences a person has had.
The first 30 pages went very fast, and at a point I thought I will complete the book in two hours (That would have been a record, considering my poor reading speed which is about 12 pages/hour). Even with such a poor reading speed I was one among the person who read a lot of books. But this was before i started working. Things changed once i started working. "I was born intelligent, but my job ruined me", kind of works for me (Hope my manager does not see this).
Anyway coming back to the discussion of human race, thinking, pattern and de Bono, after 30 pages I found myself asleep for about tem minutes. Then the book did not raise any of my interests and after struggling for 3 hours i completed about 80 pages.
I do not know how long more I would spend on reading this. The only thing in the book is some of the practical examples the author had explained about some simplex (simple-complex) problems. One more thing was about the general tendancy of human beings, sticking holily to the proverb, "Necessity is the mother of invention". Even i am no exception. Currently I am into a maintanence project, and I do not bother about the system that is existing. It is really designed bad and pathetic, but since things are running, I do not give a damn to it. The author has pointed out this example only in the book. It was as if he was talking to me and telling me to do something extra (Just like my boss). This is generally called "Value Add". Frankly I do not know if I will follow this or not.
If the author by any chance reads this (Which is impossible), he would put a comment saying that, i had written this post wearing a "Black Hat".
Luckily, I did not spend money on getting this book :).
The first 30 pages went very fast, and at a point I thought I will complete the book in two hours (That would have been a record, considering my poor reading speed which is about 12 pages/hour). Even with such a poor reading speed I was one among the person who read a lot of books. But this was before i started working. Things changed once i started working. "I was born intelligent, but my job ruined me", kind of works for me (Hope my manager does not see this).
Anyway coming back to the discussion of human race, thinking, pattern and de Bono, after 30 pages I found myself asleep for about tem minutes. Then the book did not raise any of my interests and after struggling for 3 hours i completed about 80 pages.
I do not know how long more I would spend on reading this. The only thing in the book is some of the practical examples the author had explained about some simplex (simple-complex) problems. One more thing was about the general tendancy of human beings, sticking holily to the proverb, "Necessity is the mother of invention". Even i am no exception. Currently I am into a maintanence project, and I do not bother about the system that is existing. It is really designed bad and pathetic, but since things are running, I do not give a damn to it. The author has pointed out this example only in the book. It was as if he was talking to me and telling me to do something extra (Just like my boss). This is generally called "Value Add". Frankly I do not know if I will follow this or not.
If the author by any chance reads this (Which is impossible), he would put a comment saying that, i had written this post wearing a "Black Hat".
Luckily, I did not spend money on getting this book :).
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Odyssey
A journey that i took 2 years ago had stopped suddenly. Stopped for no apparent reason. The odyssey (thats how i refer to the journey), took a back track with me not able to balance my work personal life. But its the wish, desire and whatever one calls it, made me start this journey once again. And i badly want to continue this journey till where my legs and body take. Because, my mind can assimilate many places, but not my legs and body. And i am very happy to invite you all to join my ODYSSEY
Friday, March 07, 2008
New Year Resolution II....
New Year resolution…
New Year resolution? Again? People might think, it is already March, too late for a New Year resolution and early for a Tamil New Year resolution (Tamil New year generally falls on 14th April). This is a result of the “New Year resolution” (http://kuppathotti.blogspot.com/2008/01/new-year-resolution.html), I had already posted.
I am a person who strongly believes that a resolution can be taken at any time, but the important thing is to keep it going. Yes, keep it really going (I have flunked many of the resolutions that I had already took).
The “New Year” post I had put was just to motivate myself. Yesterday, in one book, I had read that “Tell your plans to your well wishers, then at least to show them, you will follow the plan”.
Unknowingly, I did the same thing.
But it turned out to be in another way. After reading that post, many of my friends were more inspired. I got a couple of mails saying that, the post was good and they too were going to blog regularly. Few of them had a blog and were not posting regularly, and others did not have one at all.
This made me realize the positive effects of something told positively. Once, Kalam had commented about the print media in India. He was presiding over a function hosted by a leading newspaper in the country (I am really not sure which one). He generally commented about the news that is printed in the front page. Mostly, they were about some bad incident that took place. When the reader starts his day with this news, it fails to boost the morale of the person. He starts cribbing about the world in general. If the good news, however small it may be, is put in big and bold letters, it will surely bring a visible change.
So, “Happy blogging” to all those who have started fresh and for those who are continuing their old ones. Spread the positive note and do your bit. It does bring a change.
I am a person who strongly believes that a resolution can be taken at any time, but the important thing is to keep it going. Yes, keep it really going (I have flunked many of the resolutions that I had already took).
The “New Year” post I had put was just to motivate myself. Yesterday, in one book, I had read that “Tell your plans to your well wishers, then at least to show them, you will follow the plan”.
Unknowingly, I did the same thing.
But it turned out to be in another way. After reading that post, many of my friends were more inspired. I got a couple of mails saying that, the post was good and they too were going to blog regularly. Few of them had a blog and were not posting regularly, and others did not have one at all.
This made me realize the positive effects of something told positively. Once, Kalam had commented about the print media in India. He was presiding over a function hosted by a leading newspaper in the country (I am really not sure which one). He generally commented about the news that is printed in the front page. Mostly, they were about some bad incident that took place. When the reader starts his day with this news, it fails to boost the morale of the person. He starts cribbing about the world in general. If the good news, however small it may be, is put in big and bold letters, it will surely bring a visible change.
So, “Happy blogging” to all those who have started fresh and for those who are continuing their old ones. Spread the positive note and do your bit. It does bring a change.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Reel to Real
As i took the news paper in a hurry to have glance before i started for my office shuttle, the photo in the front page made me sit down. But time never stops for us. As seconds ticked away, i quickly decided grab a few minutes to read the article. It was the photo of Thanjavur Brihadisvara temple, and my recent visit to Gangaikondacholapuram had evinced an interest in the ancient temples. The story was about the tamil historian Kudavayil Balasubramaniam (http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/02/29/stories/2008022951100100.htm) in the Friday Review published by The Hindu. As i read through the article, i felt as if the character in my previous blog "proposal" (http://kuppathotti.blogspot.com/2008/02/proposal.html) resembled this person in real life. When i had written the post "proposal", half was true or rather i can say that i could map the characters to real life persons. This part was not so. The archaeologist i had mentioned was truly and completely imaginary till i had read this article. Though i had a hint that there will be persons in the real world just as i had mentioned in the post. But i came to know about it pretty soon.
Result...
I didn figure in the list of first three prize winners for the proposal writing competition :(.
http://kuppathotti.blogspot.com/2008/02/proposal.html
http://kuppathotti.blogspot.com/2008/02/proposal.html
Sunday, February 24, 2008
What now???
Its one week from my the time i posted my last post and its time for the next one and i swear i am dried out of topics. I was pre-occupied with many things last week that there was no idea that sparked out. இப்போ தமிழிலும் ப்ளோக் செய்யலாம் :). ஆனால் இப்படி செய்தால் தமிழ் மறந்து விடுவோமோ என்று தோன்றுகிறது.
சீக்கிரம் மீண்டும் சந்திப்போம் .
சீக்கிரம் மீண்டும் சந்திப்போம் .
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Proposal...
The following is a proposal writing i had to write in an hour for a competition at my office. There was actually a day, but i was able to give only one hour to it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The terrain was very rough. Each step spelt danger. One wrong move and you are deep down into the valley. Ramesh moved very cautiously. The dawn had not broke still now. The temperature did not wish to rise above the zero level. The gun firings which had started the day before had not stopped. He heard few hours before that, the enemies had been marching continuously and they more and more troops had been deployed on heir side. Trying to throw away the memory of all his family members, the chillness that was boring down into his bones, the death that awaited on the deep valleys on one side and the enemy bullets on the other side, he bravely marched ahead, to chuck the enemies out of his country.
The train entered the station smoothly. It was the Delhi Metro, an engineering marvel even in the 21st century, executed in time and within the allocated budget in spite of the red tapism in the government. An alternate, affordable, pollution free, fast transport was developed with the efforts of a lot of people from engineers to workers under the leadership of Sreedharan. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has bought in many “Best Practices”, even to the high performing private sectors in India.
In a village in Kerala, as the kid reached the school, he was surprised to see a small TV there. One can easily count the number of times he would have seen a TV, and he never expected to see one in the class. As the class began, a lady whom the boy never saw in his village appeared and started teaching him. It was a very new and exciting to him. It will still take him few years to know, how the efforts of scientists at ISRO and other organization has started making impact on the education in India.
The old man tried hard looking at the photo. It was very easy to spot him among the big chunk of people, who had gathered to visit the “Exhibition on Wheels” organized by the Indian Railways to celebrate 150 yeas of “Revolution of 1857”. The expression in his face told that, he still remembered those times. He was wearing a White Khadi shirt with white Khadi Dhoti. As he walked along the compartments of the train, it showed that his will power and love for the country has not aged with him.
The man felt the stone for one more time. He had always loved them. It all started from a visit to the Brihadisvara temple at Gangai konda Cholapuram in TamilNadu. He would have never thought that he would be spending most of his life in this temple with the beautifully carved stone structures. As an officer in the Archeological Survey of India, he was posted at the same temple, where his love for old temples began. He was responsible for maintaining the temple, the temples which are the living proofs showing the ingenuity of Indians.
“I love you ‘my country’. I love you ‘the people who love my country’”
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Metro..
December 2006
The building stood 100m away. Never did I think it concealed something amazing. It was a very small building and can be better called as a structure. I had just come out of the New Delhi railway station and as I approached the building, I could see the fluorescent signboard; a circular one with two horizontal chords and a forward slash connecting them. It was the sign board of the now famous Delhi metro. Though the metros all over the world have signs of similar sort, I do not know if there is one which is exactly similar to this. The entrance was quite normal, typically Indian with pan spit over the walls, but as I descended down the stairs, I was magically transported to another world, without a 9 3/4 platform or the Hogwarts express; ahead of me lay a neat platform; bright advertisements on both side; Kajol was smiling at me with her tata indicom phone. With bright displays guiding me at all places, I think I never stopped at any place looking for directions; I walked as if I was a regular commuter there.
I passed the uniformed persons at the ticket counter and the security persons to reach the platform (Check out the station photo that I took @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharishkrishnan/331001132) . The train entered smoothly and I was transported to my destination within a quick time frame, in a time that’s not possible in the fumy roads of Delhi.
January 2008
As I was browsing through the list of Padma Vibushan awardees, one name struck different. Most of them were famous personalities in different fields. But this name sounded familiar, but I was not able to relate it with anybody. I read the name once again E. Sreedharan. Then from some corner of my mind, I recollected him as the Managing director of Delhi Metro. A quick search in wikipedia gave away his resume (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Sreedharan). It reveals the strong personality and integrity of this person who has executed some biggest railway projects within the stipulated time and budget, given the red tapism in the Indian government.
The Delhi Metro is one among them. It had made lakhs of people happy just like how I was that day, and it still continues to do so.
Hats off to that gentleman. India needs more Sreedharans in the future.
The building stood 100m away. Never did I think it concealed something amazing. It was a very small building and can be better called as a structure. I had just come out of the New Delhi railway station and as I approached the building, I could see the fluorescent signboard; a circular one with two horizontal chords and a forward slash connecting them. It was the sign board of the now famous Delhi metro. Though the metros all over the world have signs of similar sort, I do not know if there is one which is exactly similar to this. The entrance was quite normal, typically Indian with pan spit over the walls, but as I descended down the stairs, I was magically transported to another world, without a 9 3/4 platform or the Hogwarts express; ahead of me lay a neat platform; bright advertisements on both side; Kajol was smiling at me with her tata indicom phone. With bright displays guiding me at all places, I think I never stopped at any place looking for directions; I walked as if I was a regular commuter there.
I passed the uniformed persons at the ticket counter and the security persons to reach the platform (Check out the station photo that I took @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharishkrishnan/331001132) . The train entered smoothly and I was transported to my destination within a quick time frame, in a time that’s not possible in the fumy roads of Delhi.
January 2008
As I was browsing through the list of Padma Vibushan awardees, one name struck different. Most of them were famous personalities in different fields. But this name sounded familiar, but I was not able to relate it with anybody. I read the name once again E. Sreedharan. Then from some corner of my mind, I recollected him as the Managing director of Delhi Metro. A quick search in wikipedia gave away his resume (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._Sreedharan). It reveals the strong personality and integrity of this person who has executed some biggest railway projects within the stipulated time and budget, given the red tapism in the Indian government.
The Delhi Metro is one among them. It had made lakhs of people happy just like how I was that day, and it still continues to do so.
Hats off to that gentleman. India needs more Sreedharans in the future.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
New Year resolution
The first month of 2008 is going to end. Still it is a new year, new month everything is new. A time when people start many things they had always wanted to do. It all starts with the New Year resolutions. Resolutions are always funny to hear. Though the people have noble intentions of achieving something, it ends up being very different for most of the people.Recently I have started blogging regularly (at least two posts for a week is regular for me). I was very happy for it. I felt as if I am writing a “regular featured” column in a leading newspaper. I had started this in the end of December and it had nothing to do with New Year or New Year resolutions.That day I had started from office at 8.15 pm. it was the last office bus that directly took me to my place, and I was happy to get into it. As I took the window seat, I saw my school buddy keerthi come. It was long since I had met him though he sat just two floors below me. It sounds strange in a world revolutionized by telecom technologies. People have still moved apart despite the development of technologies. Technology is just a medium. At last it ends up with the people utilizing it or not. There are many technologies which are more misused than used. The latter is more dangerous than the former one.
As the engine of the bus roared to life, and I started feeling the vibrations, a smile came to my face, just like a school kid reacting to the evening school bell. It was then that I started talking to Keerthi. We kept talking, basically discussing about the things happening in each other's life, in technical terms “updating” each other about various things right from the things at office to home, a 26 Km drive which swallows almost one and half hours of my life in a day.
Then we reached to that point of discussion. I had recently started putting my blog address in my email signature. Keerthi being a professional blogger, no wonder wanted to ask me about that. The first thing he asked me was “Do you post anything regularly?” It came suddenly and in a time I never expected. I had hardly posted anything. That was the truth, truth till few weeks ago. Things had changed. Changed for good. All the happiness of writing was washed away from my face for an instant. Then I told him that recently, I have started posting regularly.
Then immediately he shot his second questions. On hearing that I wondered the first one was a lot better than this one. “New year resolution? Will your blog have the same frequency during November 2008?” Hmm I don’t know if I had started at the right time or wrong time. Neither had I related this to the New Year resolution. But the time I have started had made people think that way.
I will leave it to time to answer the question.
As the engine of the bus roared to life, and I started feeling the vibrations, a smile came to my face, just like a school kid reacting to the evening school bell. It was then that I started talking to Keerthi. We kept talking, basically discussing about the things happening in each other's life, in technical terms “updating” each other about various things right from the things at office to home, a 26 Km drive which swallows almost one and half hours of my life in a day.
Then we reached to that point of discussion. I had recently started putting my blog address in my email signature. Keerthi being a professional blogger, no wonder wanted to ask me about that. The first thing he asked me was “Do you post anything regularly?” It came suddenly and in a time I never expected. I had hardly posted anything. That was the truth, truth till few weeks ago. Things had changed. Changed for good. All the happiness of writing was washed away from my face for an instant. Then I told him that recently, I have started posting regularly.
Then immediately he shot his second questions. On hearing that I wondered the first one was a lot better than this one. “New year resolution? Will your blog have the same frequency during November 2008?” Hmm I don’t know if I had started at the right time or wrong time. Neither had I related this to the New Year resolution. But the time I have started had made people think that way.
I will leave it to time to answer the question.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Different walks of life...
It was 9.30 pm as I descended at my stop from my office bus. It will usually take me about fifteen minutes to walk to my home. I hurried most of the time, just stopping by when I had to cross roads. It was according to the popular line “Children walk to school, but run back home”. I usually rush back home once I get down, just to have a quick dinner and relax (I have already told this in my previous post). Just as I started walking down the road, I saw a husband and wife walking. The wife seemed worried. Something was bothering her very much. It was very much evident from her face. The husband was talking to her in an advising tone.
I have a habit of walking fast. At least faster than the people’s average speed of walking. But when I crossed the couple, I heard the husband say “why don’t you see the good things”? It was as if he had asked me. I suddenly noticed that I had slowed down. He had told his wife in some other context, something for which she was upset.
It was then that I started seeing things around me. As I walked some distance ahead, I saw a man carrying a small child for a night walk. The kid was so small and cute. I was pretty sure, it was so young, but the man kept talking to him. Then I remembered that, kids start hearing things from a very young age, and if good things are told frequently, they get registered in their minds. I just thought how much the kid would enjoy this walk every night, whereas I was walking like a dead man.
Then just a few blocks I saw a group of boys having pani puri. They were just back from a cricket match. The tiredness in their face and the bat and stumps they carried told the same. They were chatting and laughing loudly. It was as if the fun had just begun.
Few blocks away, I saw a family back from beach. The family of four was squeezed in the hero Honda bike, driven by the skillful by the family head. As they got down from their bike before their house, they dusted off the sand from their legs, but they would have surely liked to carry the memory forever. It was kaanum pongal day, a day which most of the families spend at the beach.
A 15 minutes walk on a road can bring many different things before our eyes, is what I realized on that day.
I have a habit of walking fast. At least faster than the people’s average speed of walking. But when I crossed the couple, I heard the husband say “why don’t you see the good things”? It was as if he had asked me. I suddenly noticed that I had slowed down. He had told his wife in some other context, something for which she was upset.
It was then that I started seeing things around me. As I walked some distance ahead, I saw a man carrying a small child for a night walk. The kid was so small and cute. I was pretty sure, it was so young, but the man kept talking to him. Then I remembered that, kids start hearing things from a very young age, and if good things are told frequently, they get registered in their minds. I just thought how much the kid would enjoy this walk every night, whereas I was walking like a dead man.
Then just a few blocks I saw a group of boys having pani puri. They were just back from a cricket match. The tiredness in their face and the bat and stumps they carried told the same. They were chatting and laughing loudly. It was as if the fun had just begun.
Few blocks away, I saw a family back from beach. The family of four was squeezed in the hero Honda bike, driven by the skillful by the family head. As they got down from their bike before their house, they dusted off the sand from their legs, but they would have surely liked to carry the memory forever. It was kaanum pongal day, a day which most of the families spend at the beach.
A 15 minutes walk on a road can bring many different things before our eyes, is what I realized on that day.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
She....
Our eyes met just for a second, and I couldn’t resist myself from staring at her. She looked the most beautiful. The new dress, the big bindi in her forehead and the flowers all added beauty to the beauty. She was standing in front of the house, with a hint of shyness in her face. I think she felt, she is attracting a lot of attention from the people going through that way.
I usually used to see her on my way back from office. She would be standing before the house. I never used to pay much heed and used to rush to my house. Dinner would be waiting for me in my house, and I really would be hungry. After a tired day’s work and a more tiring journey back home, I always wished back home early, and completing my dinner and relaxing will be on top of my mind.
But today, it was a sheer accident that our eyes had met. Even if they had not, I would have surely seen her. It was as if, she was at the centre, with a white spotlight that was following her wherever she went.
She had a gang of 2 friends. Mostly I would find all of them together. I had seen them sometimes near my house, sometimes in the next street. The people in the house never cared where she went.
I don’t know how old she was, but my mom liked her. My mom used to give bananas, which was her favourite.
All this new dress and make up will only be for one day. As Maatu Pongal (The day after pongal, when the cows are celebrated) ends, she will be back to her old ways of her life, standing before her house, grazing in our next street, trying to get a banana from my mom, till the next maatu pongal comes.
I usually used to see her on my way back from office. She would be standing before the house. I never used to pay much heed and used to rush to my house. Dinner would be waiting for me in my house, and I really would be hungry. After a tired day’s work and a more tiring journey back home, I always wished back home early, and completing my dinner and relaxing will be on top of my mind.
But today, it was a sheer accident that our eyes had met. Even if they had not, I would have surely seen her. It was as if, she was at the centre, with a white spotlight that was following her wherever she went.
She had a gang of 2 friends. Mostly I would find all of them together. I had seen them sometimes near my house, sometimes in the next street. The people in the house never cared where she went.
I don’t know how old she was, but my mom liked her. My mom used to give bananas, which was her favourite.
All this new dress and make up will only be for one day. As Maatu Pongal (The day after pongal, when the cows are celebrated) ends, she will be back to her old ways of her life, standing before her house, grazing in our next street, trying to get a banana from my mom, till the next maatu pongal comes.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Life.....
--------- Today
The car was moving slowly. The rain had just started. The song was going to end, a melodious song, a good one to hear during a drizzle. Then the RJs voice crackled in the radio. The RJ talked in a great way. Shyam, a software engineer, who was driving his white Toyota Corolla, was enjoying it. He felt as if the program was being played for him. It had an invisible element, which seemed to connect with Shyam.
--------- Two months ago
Arun could not believe that it had happened. I was not an unusual thing, still he could not understand. He had tested the code very well, but one of the core functionality was missing. Arun was an expert programmer. He exactly knew the best way to write any code. It was as if, programming was born with him. No wonder that, the functionality was missing, because, if Arun would have done that, he would have done that perfectly.
With a project release nearing, and a tight work schedule, he could not do what he liked the most. This made him more sick and frustrated. He could not even spend one fourth of the time which he used to spend, when in college.
------------ Today
Shyam had started late from his office, and he cursed himself for setting up the onsite call that day. He never expected it too last too long, but things never turn the way we think. Shyam’s wife called him up asking him not to drive, but to take the office cab and come back home. But when Shyam stepped out of the office, it had just started to rain, and he decided that he should not miss the joy of driving. He wanted to relax, by driving on such a good climate and a traffic free road. He just prayed that, the radio be tuned up to his mood.
------------- Two months ago
But Arun hated the job. He hated it the most, though he was the best in his team and was expected to grow high in the corporate ladder faster than many others. He never showed his hatred, except for his talks with his close friends.
Arun’s success was more attributed to his voice and speech skills. A wonderful voice with a wonderful talking skill made all the girls in the company his fans. He had the sense of humour which appealed to everyone. He had a great fan following even in his college. From the college fest to the company’s annual event, everything went uneventful without his participation. Arun not only liked it, but thoroughly enjoyed it too.
---------- Today
It was called as Nair’s tea shop. Venu was not a Nair, but any person from Kerala, who sets up a tea shop in Tamil Nadu ends up being a Nair. He was a content and happy man. He had a large chunk of regular customers, and they had become more a friend than customers. His shop was open till midnight and he was back early morning to start his work. His rest was mostly in the afternoons and evenings. His customers were mostly the shift goers in the offices nearby. Around midnight he used to be idle, for very few customers used to come by. His entertainment was the radio he had got recently. The RJ never ceased to impress Venu.
------------- Two months ago
It was around 11 AM and Arun got into the white indicab. He had spent a whole day and night at the office and was not in a state to stay anymore. He just got in and rested himself. As the driver started the cab, Arun just wanted to get back home and sleep. He was in a semi conscious state, and he rested his head on the seat and started staring at the outside world through the window. It was twenty hours since he had seen this. The computer screen, which he had been seeing all day flashed in his mind. It refused to go away, and Arun tried hard not to think any more about that.
Suddenly the radio cracked to life, and he could hear the RJ say something. Then came the song and Arun was more into the song than the computer screen. He started talking to himself commenting on the song. He then dreamt about his voice flowing throughout the city, reaching all the people at all times.
It was supposed to happen. If it was supposed to happen, who could stop it? None. Arun never thought that its going to be a turning point in his life, a day which he will never forget throughout his lifetime. He could not figure out how he reached the radio station for the audition. Within an hour, he found himself surrounded with lots of audio equipment and he was anchoring a dummy show.
---------- Today
Within two months, he was a hit. He had a huge fan following from Venu to Shyam. Just as he came out, he saw the drizzle has not stopped. He boarded the radio firm’s car to his home. It was half an hour past midnight, still he was with his full energy. He was even ready to do the next programme.
He was staring out of the window. A man was closing his tea shop. There were no vehicles found on the road. After sometime a white Toyota Corolla overtook his car and zapped away. As Arun lowered the window glass more, he could feel the chill air brazing his face. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear his own voice drifting in the city air.
The car was moving slowly. The rain had just started. The song was going to end, a melodious song, a good one to hear during a drizzle. Then the RJs voice crackled in the radio. The RJ talked in a great way. Shyam, a software engineer, who was driving his white Toyota Corolla, was enjoying it. He felt as if the program was being played for him. It had an invisible element, which seemed to connect with Shyam.
--------- Two months ago
Arun could not believe that it had happened. I was not an unusual thing, still he could not understand. He had tested the code very well, but one of the core functionality was missing. Arun was an expert programmer. He exactly knew the best way to write any code. It was as if, programming was born with him. No wonder that, the functionality was missing, because, if Arun would have done that, he would have done that perfectly.
With a project release nearing, and a tight work schedule, he could not do what he liked the most. This made him more sick and frustrated. He could not even spend one fourth of the time which he used to spend, when in college.
------------ Today
Shyam had started late from his office, and he cursed himself for setting up the onsite call that day. He never expected it too last too long, but things never turn the way we think. Shyam’s wife called him up asking him not to drive, but to take the office cab and come back home. But when Shyam stepped out of the office, it had just started to rain, and he decided that he should not miss the joy of driving. He wanted to relax, by driving on such a good climate and a traffic free road. He just prayed that, the radio be tuned up to his mood.
------------- Two months ago
But Arun hated the job. He hated it the most, though he was the best in his team and was expected to grow high in the corporate ladder faster than many others. He never showed his hatred, except for his talks with his close friends.
Arun’s success was more attributed to his voice and speech skills. A wonderful voice with a wonderful talking skill made all the girls in the company his fans. He had the sense of humour which appealed to everyone. He had a great fan following even in his college. From the college fest to the company’s annual event, everything went uneventful without his participation. Arun not only liked it, but thoroughly enjoyed it too.
---------- Today
It was called as Nair’s tea shop. Venu was not a Nair, but any person from Kerala, who sets up a tea shop in Tamil Nadu ends up being a Nair. He was a content and happy man. He had a large chunk of regular customers, and they had become more a friend than customers. His shop was open till midnight and he was back early morning to start his work. His rest was mostly in the afternoons and evenings. His customers were mostly the shift goers in the offices nearby. Around midnight he used to be idle, for very few customers used to come by. His entertainment was the radio he had got recently. The RJ never ceased to impress Venu.
------------- Two months ago
It was around 11 AM and Arun got into the white indicab. He had spent a whole day and night at the office and was not in a state to stay anymore. He just got in and rested himself. As the driver started the cab, Arun just wanted to get back home and sleep. He was in a semi conscious state, and he rested his head on the seat and started staring at the outside world through the window. It was twenty hours since he had seen this. The computer screen, which he had been seeing all day flashed in his mind. It refused to go away, and Arun tried hard not to think any more about that.
Suddenly the radio cracked to life, and he could hear the RJ say something. Then came the song and Arun was more into the song than the computer screen. He started talking to himself commenting on the song. He then dreamt about his voice flowing throughout the city, reaching all the people at all times.
It was supposed to happen. If it was supposed to happen, who could stop it? None. Arun never thought that its going to be a turning point in his life, a day which he will never forget throughout his lifetime. He could not figure out how he reached the radio station for the audition. Within an hour, he found himself surrounded with lots of audio equipment and he was anchoring a dummy show.
---------- Today
Within two months, he was a hit. He had a huge fan following from Venu to Shyam. Just as he came out, he saw the drizzle has not stopped. He boarded the radio firm’s car to his home. It was half an hour past midnight, still he was with his full energy. He was even ready to do the next programme.
He was staring out of the window. A man was closing his tea shop. There were no vehicles found on the road. After sometime a white Toyota Corolla overtook his car and zapped away. As Arun lowered the window glass more, he could feel the chill air brazing his face. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear his own voice drifting in the city air.
Monday, January 07, 2008
ஊனம்
திங்கக்கிழமை காலை அலுவலகத்திருக்கு கிளம்பி கொண்டிருந்தேன். இரண்டு நாள் விடுமுறைக்கு பின்பு அலுவலகம் போவது எப்போதுமே கடினம் தான். மனதை திட படுத்தி கொண்டு பள்ளிக்கு செல்லும் பிள்ளை போல் கிளம்பி சென்றேன்.எனது அலுவலகத்தில் மூன்று அடுக்கு மாடி கட்டிடங்கள் உள்ளன. அதில் மிகவும் உயரமான கட்டிடத்தில் தான் நான் வேலை பார்த்து கொண்டு இருந்தேன். அதில் ஆறு மாடிகள் உள்ளன. என் இருக்கை ஆறாவது மாடியில் இருந்தது. அங்கே தான் கம்பனியின் சீ இ ஒ வின் இருக்கையும் இருந்ததால் எனக்கு எப்பொழுதும் உள்ளுர ஒரு மகிழ்ச்சி. அதை தவிர தென் சென்னையின் பல பகுதியினை எங்கள் மாடியில் இருந்து பார்க்கலாம்.
ஆறு மாடிகள் உள்ளதால் அங்கு லிப்ட் வசதி உண்டு. இருந்தாலும் நான் தினம் காலையில் மட்டும் படியில் செல்வது வழக்கம். நான் செய்து கொண்டிருக்கும் ஒரே எக்செர்சிஸ் அது தான்.
மென்பொருள் துறையில் இரண்டு வருடம் வேலை பார்த்த பின்பு நான் சம்பாதித்தது உடல் பருமன் மட்டுமே.
அதை சரி செய்வதற்காகவே நான் மாடி படியை நாடினேன். எதோ நம்மால் முடிந்தது அது தான். வழக்கம் போல் லிப்டை கடந்து மாடி படியை நோக்கி சென்றேன்.
தினம் ஆறு மாடி ஏறுவது கடினமாகவே இருக்கும். போக போக பழகி விடும் என்ற நம்பிக்கையில் காலத்தை கடத்தி கொண்டிருந்தேன். ஆனால் இன்று பெரும் நம்பிக்கை உடன் சென்று கொண்டிருந்தேன். ஏனென்றால் இரண்டு நாள் முன்னால் தான் திருப்பதி சென்று வந்தேன். அங்கு நான்கு மணி நேரத்தில் நாலாயிரம் படிகள் ஏறின விளைவு.
ஆறு மாடிகள் ஒன்றும் இல்லை என்று தோன்றியது. லிப்டை கடந்து செல்லும் பொழுது போலியோ நோயினால் தாக்கப்பட்ட பெண்ணை கவனித்தேன். அவள் லிப்டுக்காக காத்திருந்தாள். நான் என் வழியை நோக்கி சென்று கொண்டிருந்தேன். மூன்று மாடிகள் ஏறிய பின் நான் அவளை பார்ப்பேன் என்று நினைக்கவில்லை. ஆம் கிழே பார்த்த அதே பெண். அவள் வேலை பார்ப்பது நாலாவது தளம் போல. மூன்று மாடிகள் லிப்டில் வந்து ஒரு மாடி படியில் ஏறுவது தான் அவள் வழக்கம் என்று உணர்ந்தேன். அந்த பெண் அவள் செயற்கை கால்களை தூக்கி ஒரு ஒரு படிகளாக ஏற என் கன்னத்தில் அறை விழுவது போல் ஒரு சத்தம். இனிமேல் எந்த காரியத்தையும் துச்சமாக நினைக்க கூடாது என்று முடிவு எடுத்தேன். அந்த பெண்ணின் நம்பிக்கை மற்றும் முயற்சியை பார்த்து மகிழ்ந்து கொண்டே இருக்கையை நோக்கி சென்றேன்.
ஆறு மாடிகள் உள்ளதால் அங்கு லிப்ட் வசதி உண்டு. இருந்தாலும் நான் தினம் காலையில் மட்டும் படியில் செல்வது வழக்கம். நான் செய்து கொண்டிருக்கும் ஒரே எக்செர்சிஸ் அது தான்.
மென்பொருள் துறையில் இரண்டு வருடம் வேலை பார்த்த பின்பு நான் சம்பாதித்தது உடல் பருமன் மட்டுமே.
அதை சரி செய்வதற்காகவே நான் மாடி படியை நாடினேன். எதோ நம்மால் முடிந்தது அது தான். வழக்கம் போல் லிப்டை கடந்து மாடி படியை நோக்கி சென்றேன்.
தினம் ஆறு மாடி ஏறுவது கடினமாகவே இருக்கும். போக போக பழகி விடும் என்ற நம்பிக்கையில் காலத்தை கடத்தி கொண்டிருந்தேன். ஆனால் இன்று பெரும் நம்பிக்கை உடன் சென்று கொண்டிருந்தேன். ஏனென்றால் இரண்டு நாள் முன்னால் தான் திருப்பதி சென்று வந்தேன். அங்கு நான்கு மணி நேரத்தில் நாலாயிரம் படிகள் ஏறின விளைவு.
ஆறு மாடிகள் ஒன்றும் இல்லை என்று தோன்றியது. லிப்டை கடந்து செல்லும் பொழுது போலியோ நோயினால் தாக்கப்பட்ட பெண்ணை கவனித்தேன். அவள் லிப்டுக்காக காத்திருந்தாள். நான் என் வழியை நோக்கி சென்று கொண்டிருந்தேன். மூன்று மாடிகள் ஏறிய பின் நான் அவளை பார்ப்பேன் என்று நினைக்கவில்லை. ஆம் கிழே பார்த்த அதே பெண். அவள் வேலை பார்ப்பது நாலாவது தளம் போல. மூன்று மாடிகள் லிப்டில் வந்து ஒரு மாடி படியில் ஏறுவது தான் அவள் வழக்கம் என்று உணர்ந்தேன். அந்த பெண் அவள் செயற்கை கால்களை தூக்கி ஒரு ஒரு படிகளாக ஏற என் கன்னத்தில் அறை விழுவது போல் ஒரு சத்தம். இனிமேல் எந்த காரியத்தையும் துச்சமாக நினைக்க கூடாது என்று முடிவு எடுத்தேன். அந்த பெண்ணின் நம்பிக்கை மற்றும் முயற்சியை பார்த்து மகிழ்ந்து கொண்டே இருக்கையை நோக்கி சென்றேன்.
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