Let go, Let it flow,run, have fun;
Let go your heart
Let it fear the dark
Let it love the lark
Let it free.
Sate the satan of your soul
Feed the flames of your desires
Plunge down the precipice
Create a world of your own device
Forget the musts, indulge the wills;
Feel the rush of the wind
Feel the ground beneath your feet
Feel the Freedom to feel.
Monday, June 04, 2007
Saturday, May 26, 2007
A life Devoid
Gasping for breath,Looking for light
Enduring through a lost fight.
Living a life Devoid
Of Love of hate of passion, compassion
Bigger the heart, larger the void,
Harder life's lesson.
Rueing the loss of dreams
Of a life void of whims.
Falling down the abyss
Finding nothing to miss.
A life of empty laughs and stifled screams
Of lost chances and ruined dreams
Of broken hearts and missed chances
Of standing rooted as life dances.
Enduring through a lost fight.
Living a life Devoid
Of Love of hate of passion, compassion
Bigger the heart, larger the void,
Harder life's lesson.
Rueing the loss of dreams
Of a life void of whims.
Falling down the abyss
Finding nothing to miss.
A life of empty laughs and stifled screams
Of lost chances and ruined dreams
Of broken hearts and missed chances
Of standing rooted as life dances.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Enchanted
I have been a lifelong fan of Ayn Rand's and The Fountainhead has probably been the most influential book I have ever read. Maybe thats why or maybe because my dad's been building them all his life, I love buildings and before I discovered the fairer sex, a walk down the road was an exercise in structure watching.
Howard Roark might disapprove, but I have always loved historical buildings and the Fort Area of Mumbai and Shahibaug in Ahmedabad as well as the Pols - the narrow bylanes that used to form the dwellings of the bourgeoisie have enchanted me since childhood. Baroda being one of the princely states of the country has a rich architectural tradition and the whole city is dotted with huge palatial buildings built by the Gaekwads.
These days my expanding waistline has forced me to take morning walks in the famous Sayajibaug - aka Kamatibaug. A vast, sprawling plot of lush gardens, kamatibaug is adorned by a huge museum and art gallery right in the middle. The museum is housed in a beautiful Victorian style building with a facade that takes my breath away every morning. The Victorian building complete with arches, intricately carved skylights and window panes of varied hues, shapes and colours. And by god, it is huge, by any standards. Unfortunately visiting hours for the building are from 10:30 to 5:30 and so are my office hours. Hence I am waiting impatiently for the weekend when I can poke around the building at my leisure. But it sure has me bewitched.
Howard Roark might disapprove, but I have always loved historical buildings and the Fort Area of Mumbai and Shahibaug in Ahmedabad as well as the Pols - the narrow bylanes that used to form the dwellings of the bourgeoisie have enchanted me since childhood. Baroda being one of the princely states of the country has a rich architectural tradition and the whole city is dotted with huge palatial buildings built by the Gaekwads.
These days my expanding waistline has forced me to take morning walks in the famous Sayajibaug - aka Kamatibaug. A vast, sprawling plot of lush gardens, kamatibaug is adorned by a huge museum and art gallery right in the middle. The museum is housed in a beautiful Victorian style building with a facade that takes my breath away every morning. The Victorian building complete with arches, intricately carved skylights and window panes of varied hues, shapes and colours. And by god, it is huge, by any standards. Unfortunately visiting hours for the building are from 10:30 to 5:30 and so are my office hours. Hence I am waiting impatiently for the weekend when I can poke around the building at my leisure. But it sure has me bewitched.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
BhagatSingh's Atheism
The following are the excerpts of an excellent article about his atheism by Bhagatsinghji written during his last days. Message me if you want the full copy.
" 'Belief' softens the hardships, even can make them pleasant. In God man can find very strong consolation and support. Without Him, the man has to depend upon himself. To stand upon one's own legs amid storms and hurricanes is not a child's play. At such testing moments, vanity, if any, evaporates, and man cannot dare to defy the general beliefs, if he does, then we must conclude that he has got certain other strength than mere vanity. This is exactly the situation now. Judgment is already too well known. Within a week it is to be pronounced. What is the consolation with the exception of the idea that I am going to sacrifice my life for a cause ? A God-believing Hindu might be expecting to be reborn as a king, a Muslim or a Christian might dream of the luxuries to be- enjoyed in paradise and the reward he is to get for his sufferings and sacrifices. But what am I to expect? I know the moment the rope is fitted round my neck and rafters removed, from under my feet. That will be the final moment, that will be the last moment. I, or to be more precise, my soul, as interpreted in the metaphysical terminology, shall all be finished there. Nothing further. "
The final paragraphs of his writings again reiterate his belief that religion is nothing but a crutch.
"As regards the origin of God my own idea is that having realized the limitations of man, his weaknesses and shortcoming having been taken into consideration, God was brought into imaginary existence to encourage man to face boldly all the trying circumstances, to meet all dangers manfully and to check and restrain his outbursts in prosperity and affluence. God both with his private laws and parental generosity was imagined and painted in greater details. He was to serve as a deterrent factor when his fury and private laws were discussed so that man may not become a danger to society. He was to serve as a father, mother, sister and brother, friend and helpers when his parental qualifications were to be explained. So that when man be in great distress having been betrayed and deserted by all friends he may find consolation in the idea that an ever true friend was still there to help him, to support him and that He was almighty and could do anything. Really that was useful to the society in the primitive age.
The idea of God is helpful to man in distress.
Society has to fight out this belief as well as was fought the idol worship and the narrow conception of religion. Similarly, when man tries to stand on his own legs, and become a realist he shall have to throw the faith aside, and to face manfully all the distress, trouble, in which the circumstances may throw him. That is exactly my state of affairs. It is not my vanity, my friends. It is my mode of thinking that has made me an atheist. I don't know whether in my case belief in God and offering of daily prayers which I consider to be most selfish and degraded act on the part of man, whether these prayers can prove to be helpful or they shall make my case worse still. I have read of atheists facing all troubles quite boldly, so am I trying to stand like a man with an erect head to the last; even on the gallows."
Salutations to the great man.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Travel Travails
A lifelong resident of Gandhinagar, the apologetic capital of Gujarat, my sojourns beyond my home city have been limited ensuring a life as yet innocent to the perils of the world. My project being in Baroda I commute every weekend to Gandhinagar which is at a three hours journey over the expressway.
My work in the company, apart from writing blogs, is largely dependent on a fast processor and loads of primary memory. My CPU used to leading a luxurious life of uploading blogs, watching movies and checking mails was thus put through a horrendous experience of working on SQL server and Visual studion 2005. The poor thing was in such bad shape that once and for all I decided to put it at rest and bought a new one. And so I had to bring it back all the way to Gandhinagar.
I decided to go by a state transport bus and nonchalantly placed my CPU cabinet in the space just behind the driver’s seat. Soon the driver got into the bus, looked at the passengers like a king addressing his court and then noticing the CPU as the only discrepancy in his glory he addressed the audience in coarse gujarati – Who brought this? No electronic items allowed aboard. Off my bus NOWW.
I learnt that there is an octroi applicable on all electronic goods in spite of a VAT that we pay. And the process for the same takes up so much time that you feel it would be simpler to buy another one. I wondered how they will charge octroi on a laptop or a cell phone and why should I pay for a piece of obsolete electronic junk half a decade old.
Anyways, 30 bucks later he drove on and my dear CPU acquired a place of honor behind his butt. I informed my fellow passengers how much I paid thus ensuring they wont be cheated if faced with a similar situation and cursing the roads and the shock absorbers of ST buses I slept all the way back home.
After a restful weekend Dad arranged for my conveyance back to Baroda. On the way back in a Govt. Of Gujarat vehicle, I bought no tickets, paid no toll tax on the expressway, and of course didn’t have to sneak any money under the table as my CPU was home delivered.
I thank god for letting me work in the IT field which offers the opportunity of a life free from such malpractices. Yet at times it seems that in our dear India clean living is a non option.
Have started a blog on rediffiland - www.janit.rediffiland.com . Its a better and a simplere name than this one. In fact if some one could co-author with me there or here it would be much more fun. Awaiting responses.
My work in the company, apart from writing blogs, is largely dependent on a fast processor and loads of primary memory. My CPU used to leading a luxurious life of uploading blogs, watching movies and checking mails was thus put through a horrendous experience of working on SQL server and Visual studion 2005. The poor thing was in such bad shape that once and for all I decided to put it at rest and bought a new one. And so I had to bring it back all the way to Gandhinagar.
I decided to go by a state transport bus and nonchalantly placed my CPU cabinet in the space just behind the driver’s seat. Soon the driver got into the bus, looked at the passengers like a king addressing his court and then noticing the CPU as the only discrepancy in his glory he addressed the audience in coarse gujarati – Who brought this? No electronic items allowed aboard. Off my bus NOWW.
I learnt that there is an octroi applicable on all electronic goods in spite of a VAT that we pay. And the process for the same takes up so much time that you feel it would be simpler to buy another one. I wondered how they will charge octroi on a laptop or a cell phone and why should I pay for a piece of obsolete electronic junk half a decade old.
Anyways, 30 bucks later he drove on and my dear CPU acquired a place of honor behind his butt. I informed my fellow passengers how much I paid thus ensuring they wont be cheated if faced with a similar situation and cursing the roads and the shock absorbers of ST buses I slept all the way back home.
After a restful weekend Dad arranged for my conveyance back to Baroda. On the way back in a Govt. Of Gujarat vehicle, I bought no tickets, paid no toll tax on the expressway, and of course didn’t have to sneak any money under the table as my CPU was home delivered.
I thank god for letting me work in the IT field which offers the opportunity of a life free from such malpractices. Yet at times it seems that in our dear India clean living is a non option.
Have started a blog on rediffiland - www.janit.rediffiland.com . Its a better and a simplere name than this one. In fact if some one could co-author with me there or here it would be much more fun. Awaiting responses.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Gandhian Economics
Gandhiji first promulgated his radical economic theory in the book “Hind Swaraj” written on his journey from England to South Africa. The book was a powerful disparagement of the Industrial Revolution and its ill effects - written after a first hand experience in the home of the Industrial Revolution. His views on economics and how they have fared over the years is what I have sought to understand here.
Gandhiji held that machinery displaced labour and hence concentrated wealth in the hands of the few. A view which met with dissent from even his most ardent admirers. His ideas though met with constant change over the years from the time when he first published “Hind Swaraj” in 1912.
Gandhiji advocated the Theory of Trusteeship which held the capitalists as trustees of wealth for the service of the society. Reliance in the mid-eighties and Infosys in contemporary times have amply demonstrated the true import of Gandhiji’s teachings.
Gandhiji also advocated the precept of limitation of wants and material comforts as a stint in Industrial Revolution ravaged London convinced Gandhiji of the futility of machine induced economic prosperity. He believed that creating money minting machines out of human beings doesn’t lead to prosperity and hence stressed on village economies which purportedly lead to a life of contentment. To put it succinctly, he considered prosperity to be as much spiritual as material and hence visualized the development of an economy that would lead to prosperity of the self as well as the soul.
Gandhiji believed that the key to the country’s progress lay in the strengthening of the decentralized, self sufficient village economies. Lending power at the micro level ensures decrease in large scale corruption, clipping the wings of politicians and bureaucrats. Also the formation of decentralized, self sufficient economies could ideally lead to a best of both worlds – by lending power to the people it creates a democracy and by preventing the “rich get richer, poor get poorer” cycle it ensures socialism.
Some of Gandhiji’s concepts have lost their relevance over time with globalization and the subsequent opening up of the Indian economy. Yet his clear foresight and idealist thinking have painted a utopian dream that refuses to sink into oblivion.
Gandhiji held that machinery displaced labour and hence concentrated wealth in the hands of the few. A view which met with dissent from even his most ardent admirers. His ideas though met with constant change over the years from the time when he first published “Hind Swaraj” in 1912.
Gandhiji advocated the Theory of Trusteeship which held the capitalists as trustees of wealth for the service of the society. Reliance in the mid-eighties and Infosys in contemporary times have amply demonstrated the true import of Gandhiji’s teachings.
Gandhiji also advocated the precept of limitation of wants and material comforts as a stint in Industrial Revolution ravaged London convinced Gandhiji of the futility of machine induced economic prosperity. He believed that creating money minting machines out of human beings doesn’t lead to prosperity and hence stressed on village economies which purportedly lead to a life of contentment. To put it succinctly, he considered prosperity to be as much spiritual as material and hence visualized the development of an economy that would lead to prosperity of the self as well as the soul.
Gandhiji believed that the key to the country’s progress lay in the strengthening of the decentralized, self sufficient village economies. Lending power at the micro level ensures decrease in large scale corruption, clipping the wings of politicians and bureaucrats. Also the formation of decentralized, self sufficient economies could ideally lead to a best of both worlds – by lending power to the people it creates a democracy and by preventing the “rich get richer, poor get poorer” cycle it ensures socialism.
Some of Gandhiji’s concepts have lost their relevance over time with globalization and the subsequent opening up of the Indian economy. Yet his clear foresight and idealist thinking have painted a utopian dream that refuses to sink into oblivion.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Talent Hub
The last time I blogged, I promised myself that I’d blog everyday. Wasn’t able to keep up the promise since in these days of E - , it seems that our MCA department is facing severe toilet paper crunches, requiring us to send them reams and reams of project reports – project joining report, project information report, project activity report , project engagement report and what not. Cooking up these reports burdens my already overtaxed imagination leaving no time for blogs.
Some days back as a part of our training we went out on a tour. Our first destination was a primary school in Thamna where we greenhorns were instructed to conduct an inspection. Next we went to Changa Institute of Technology, another Technical Education Institute developed on the lines of good old Nirma University and located near the famed Vallabh Vidhyanagar township. The presence of such Institutes bolster the conviction that in our booming economy education is by large the second most profitable sector after religion. As employees of our company with an interest in developing a relationship with that institute for the success of our placement portal we made a few presentations to the faculties there. The audience was present as the attendance was taken. At the end of our charade one curious incident happened. It so happened that we asked the Professors to note down the internet address of our website and Lo !! Out came the books and it seemed that the dull and dreary audience came to life. ( Can’t blame the presentations for their plight as one of them was by yours truly.) They duly noted down the address which was much more simply memorized and returned back to their lifeless selves. Their behavior was testimony to the quality of our education staff. Since my school days I have classified a classroom as consisting of three primary categories of people - The front bench nerds, The last bench lukkhas and the Non-existent rest. The behavior of Changa professors somehow resembles that of the third category.
Finally after Changa we took off towards the most profitable of all enterprises. Dakor seemed so different to my vague memories of a school trip I had there years ago. Relieved of some more of my depleting finances I reached home late at night and capped off the eventful day with a dinner as Chauffeur in chief and some delicious Dairy Den softy.
Some days back as a part of our training we went out on a tour. Our first destination was a primary school in Thamna where we greenhorns were instructed to conduct an inspection. Next we went to Changa Institute of Technology, another Technical Education Institute developed on the lines of good old Nirma University and located near the famed Vallabh Vidhyanagar township. The presence of such Institutes bolster the conviction that in our booming economy education is by large the second most profitable sector after religion. As employees of our company with an interest in developing a relationship with that institute for the success of our placement portal we made a few presentations to the faculties there. The audience was present as the attendance was taken. At the end of our charade one curious incident happened. It so happened that we asked the Professors to note down the internet address of our website and Lo !! Out came the books and it seemed that the dull and dreary audience came to life. ( Can’t blame the presentations for their plight as one of them was by yours truly.) They duly noted down the address which was much more simply memorized and returned back to their lifeless selves. Their behavior was testimony to the quality of our education staff. Since my school days I have classified a classroom as consisting of three primary categories of people - The front bench nerds, The last bench lukkhas and the Non-existent rest. The behavior of Changa professors somehow resembles that of the third category.
Finally after Changa we took off towards the most profitable of all enterprises. Dakor seemed so different to my vague memories of a school trip I had there years ago. Relieved of some more of my depleting finances I reached home late at night and capped off the eventful day with a dinner as Chauffeur in chief and some delicious Dairy Den softy.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Nostalgia
Nostalgia - Feels like a hard hitting word.....so much at odds with the feelings that it tends to convey. Leaving my college and all my friends, the canteen, our block, every wall and every brick that partook our joys, our laughter, our shrieks of happiness tears at the strings of my heart.
I vividly remember sitting at my usual last bench in B-Audi on my first day in Nirma. Sitting with complete strangers who over the course of time became a part and parcel of my life. Friends and fellow mates who I came to love, trust and respect. And now the time has come to bid goodbye.
From a joyous past to the enticing morrow;
Caught in the midst, fraught with sorrow.
Through all of my ups and downs, whenever I have stepped onto the cement tarmac of Nirma University, whenever I read that plaque adorning the gate, whenever I looked at the steps leading to my beloved B-Block I had a zing in my step. More than anything, the pride of being a Nirmaan never failed to rouse my spirits. I have spent some of the most fulfilling days of my life and picked up some of the most loving friends in those hallowed halls of joy.
Traditionally incompetent at goodbyes, I hope I manage to break the precedent.
I vividly remember sitting at my usual last bench in B-Audi on my first day in Nirma. Sitting with complete strangers who over the course of time became a part and parcel of my life. Friends and fellow mates who I came to love, trust and respect. And now the time has come to bid goodbye.
From a joyous past to the enticing morrow;
Caught in the midst, fraught with sorrow.
Through all of my ups and downs, whenever I have stepped onto the cement tarmac of Nirma University, whenever I read that plaque adorning the gate, whenever I looked at the steps leading to my beloved B-Block I had a zing in my step. More than anything, the pride of being a Nirmaan never failed to rouse my spirits. I have spent some of the most fulfilling days of my life and picked up some of the most loving friends in those hallowed halls of joy.
Traditionally incompetent at goodbyes, I hope I manage to break the precedent.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Baroda Blues
After an indolent month in Gnagar I embarked on a frenzied tour of Ahmedabad's IT companies seeking a final semester project. Most of the times I managed to extract a smile from the beautiful secretary adorning our prospective offices alongwith a disappointed (hopefully) "sorry" from them. Of course captivated by the views on offer we weren't dissappointed easily and so we enthusiastically managed to knock many more doors till I had to leave for a last minute arranged New Year Bash with my childhood prank partners. After watching a bit too many drinking, puking bouts I returned home a newly converted beer fan only to find most of the company doors closed and so decided to take up the easiest offer at hand - the one at Libra Process Technology, Baroda.
I had Yudi's place to stay at here but i decided to shack up with my fellow homeless refugees at a one bathroom first floor room where i realised the true importance of the notion of self control. It take monumental degrees of self control for 5 people to accomodate in a room of 10 by 10 ft size and even more so to piss and shit serially. The best part though is to have someone screaming at the door as you shit at ease. Also working at a place where you are responsible for just about nothing and which levies zero expectations on you is ........ matter of factly nothing new for me. Also as I always say - Throw me into hell and I will tickle the asuras. No place is too bad for the big baddie.
Apart from the food and lodgings the company provides a net connection too and so now I can restart my regular blogs. Its good to write regularly as it helps me to arrange my thought processes better and once you find the rhythm its a lot more fun as it helps you concentrate like programming does. In short its addictive and its good for the heart - a rare combo.
I had Yudi's place to stay at here but i decided to shack up with my fellow homeless refugees at a one bathroom first floor room where i realised the true importance of the notion of self control. It take monumental degrees of self control for 5 people to accomodate in a room of 10 by 10 ft size and even more so to piss and shit serially. The best part though is to have someone screaming at the door as you shit at ease. Also working at a place where you are responsible for just about nothing and which levies zero expectations on you is ........ matter of factly nothing new for me. Also as I always say - Throw me into hell and I will tickle the asuras. No place is too bad for the big baddie.
Apart from the food and lodgings the company provides a net connection too and so now I can restart my regular blogs. Its good to write regularly as it helps me to arrange my thought processes better and once you find the rhythm its a lot more fun as it helps you concentrate like programming does. In short its addictive and its good for the heart - a rare combo.
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