oPEN uR mIND

Between erudition and dogmatism : distinguishing parameters

2011-02-06T20:13:00.007+05:30

As i deliberate on concepts pertaining to history,religion,politics etc..and try to piece together my jigsaw puzzle, various doubts keep running through my mind.
Inadvertantly, i also compare my current state of erudition with the level i had while studying in college.

The prominent differences that i have observed are the following :-

1. opinionated attitude : i used to indulge in heated discussions on topical issues with great interest with my seemingly intelligent peers. during such discussions, we would satisfactorily denounce all things that did not fit our 'broad' range of thinking. For example, if someone would raise an arguement in favour of naxalite terrorism stating the typical 'marxist argument' that tribals are deprived of development and hence their actions are justified, we would denounce him in our typical style and accuse him of being irrational, illogical etc.. without providing a single logical argument to justify our stand.
I am not claiming now that i endorse or reject the 'marxist argument', my point is to reflect on how opinionated i was and more importantly on how confident i was about 'knowing everything'.

2. emotional attitude : when i read books on monotheism and was exposed to the fatuousness of these ideas, it was hard to digest all in one go. nevertheless, my impressionable mind 'aborbed' the fact that there is something dogmatic in islam, but it also made various emotional generalizations based on that learning. one of these was that since islam is dogmatic, all muslims are inherently dogmatic and hence all muslims are evil. naturally, i felt an emotional pride for my religion and my country and even discussed with 'intelligent' people on how to fight muslims.
The fact that there are many patriotic muslims serving in the indian armed forces, that our ex-president and the pioneer of nuclear technology is a muslim, that our revered music composer is a muslim, that my car mechanic is also a muslim and all these people are more dedicated in their fields than many hindus never crossed my mind.
Again i am not endorsing or rejecting any fact about islam, i am merely pointing out my foolishness in making emotional judgements and looking at everyone through the same prism.

3. egoistic and excited attitude : when people praise your work, you often get overwhelmed and mould yourself to suit their liking. you speak and write keeping their interests in mind, trying to come up with a popular 'performance' which would win you more accolades. the urge to impress society and the opposite sex overpowers your honesty. this is what has happened with me on many ocassions. my inability to control my excitement while speaking about an issue has led me to tread into terrains i know nothing about. my inability to control my emotional surge has led me to make confident arguments which are often baseless and as fatuous as the claims i am attempting to counter.

There are many factors which distinguish an erudite thinker from a prejudiced believer, and more often than not, we tend to mistake one for the other.
the fine line between erudition and dogmatism is sometimes so flimsy that even logical thinkers may be misled into believeing that they are on the right side.

Therefore,in this period of intense activity, a young man's obsessions like pride,money,sex and his emotionally charged attitude may prove to disconcert his mental endeavours and disturb his fragile equilibrium.
Thus, stability of mind is a crucial ingredient in the making of a scholar.

Now, i understand the following saying :-
wisdom is as unattractive in the young as frivolity is in the old

My intellectual transition is like a bride's caravan journey

2011-01-30T21:50:00.008+05:30

When a traditional hindu girl gets married, she is supposed to migrate from her parents family and assume her new role in a new environment - the role of a wife,mother and daughter-in-law.The critical juncture in her life is this transition from one world to the other and it is interesting to observe her psychological states during this phase.

My psychological journey is analogous to that of a 'migrating bride' in many ways as i feel myself migrate from the competitive world to the intellectual world :-

1. BRIDE :Having spent so many years in her parents home, where she was born and brought up, the bride feels uneasy to reject her family and resists change.

ME :Having spent so many years bound by the belief and idea of materialist and liberal society and being in an environment which loves 'sex and alcohol', i feel uneasy to renounce these pleasures and resist change.

2. BRIDE :She is unsure of her identity, unsure to where she really belongs, of whether her new home will accept her.

ME :I am unsure of my identity, to which side i really belong, of whether i really have an intellectual bent of mind, whether a doctorate in history is suitable for me.

3. BRIDE :But she knows she must go, she must perform her duty, she must realise her role and stay true to her identity.

ME :But I know from the core of my heart that i must go on, i must realise my true self and perform my role.

4. BRIDE :Post marriage,she stays connected with her previous home,family and friends. Despite performing her duties in her new avatar, she seldom visits and stays in touch with earlier relations, obviously with varying importance.

ME :I can imagine that i would always be connected with old school and college friends. Despite performing my duties in my new avatar, i would seldom visit them and stay in touch with earlier relationships, obviously with varying importance.

5. BRIDE :Gradually, she becomes too involved in her new role and too overwhelmed by her duties that most of the old bonds fade away.Her new role gets reinforced subsequently.Her friend circle reduces to include her family and to visit old friends is now a distraction which she generally avoids.

ME :Gradually, i wish i become too involved in my new role and too overwhelmed by my duties that most of my old bonds fade away. I hope that my new role gets reinforced subsequently.My friend circle would reduce to include my family and to visit old friends would then become a distraction which i would avoid.

From unruly student to disciplined teacher : have i bitten off more than i could chew ?

2010-12-19T23:24:00.004+05:30

Life has suddenly become very serious for me. Sometimes i really miss my student (read hostel) life.
There has been such a huge transition in the last one and a half years that it becomes an arduous task to adapt. While i was a flippant and carefree young man in my university days, i have transformed into a disciplined teacher. My immaturity in university was reflected in my abysmal academic records and erratic sleeping schedules. My maturity today is reflected in my strict adherence to a fixed schedule which helps prepare students for GRE and SAT.

How did i change so much ?

Being an academic and a lover of non-fiction books, i spend most of my time trying to seriously analyse an issue from different perspectives.This serious thinking mood is infectious and tends to stay with me longer than i intend it to.
With a brief glimpse into the spiritual world,I have understood that all material satisfaction is temporary, but at the same time i am not serious enough to devote myself to spirituality.
Living with parents also has an effect.While my mother wants me to be more devoted to god, i do not feel that urge so strongly.
I never want to be over dependent on mom because i want to be a self sufficient man because i love my freedom and my independence.

Why i cant go back ?

Life is about moving across different phases and staying true to your real self.
It is not about indulging your vices at will. It is about understanding dharma and your role - your true identity.
Having said that, i also need to find a medium to indulge my material senses in a controlled way. The question is how to :D

In sum, this phase of life is hard because you cant allow yourself to fall on either side. You have to walk a thin line between seriousness and levity because the fall on either side may prove to be fatal.

That will be all for the day :)

How journalists manipulate public opinion.

2010-12-05T08:32:00.001+05:30

In the backdrop of the NIra Radia tapes controversy, i have tried to analyse the column published by Vir Sanghvi on 15th August,2009.

Find the original article here

My interpretations will be visible in bold and they are interspersed between the lines.

THE ANALYSIS

Whenever people tell me that India has changed after the liberalization of the 1990s, that business is now independent of government and that India’s industrialists now get on with the job quietly, I always say, ”Well, up to a point…”

Brilliant start, makes a good base to start his essay.

Older readers may remember a business-politics battle that dominated the second half of the 1980s. Dhirubhai Ambani was emerging as one of India’s top industrialists. While many people reckoned that he had bent the rules and paid off politicians to get there, only one industrialist really took him on.

He creates an analogy which will make it easier for people to relate, but this analogy has a twofold purpose

1. To reinforce faith in the congress

2. To villainize nusli wadia and correspondingly denigrate anil ambani

As the article progresses, we shall observe how he manages to implant both these ideas in the minds of his readers.

That was Nusli Wadia of Bombay Dyeing. Because Wadia had close links with politicians in all parties (he knew BJP leaders well, he had friends in the Congress, etc.) and in the media (he was something of a godson to Ramnath Goenka) he was able to put Dhirubhai on the defensive.

The creation of poles has begun : positive pole refers to dhirubhai (congress) and negative pole refers to nusli wadia (anti-congress)

The Ambanis retaliated with a counter-attack that rocked the foundations of India’s government. By forging letters which Amitabh Bachchan delivered to his friend Rajiv Gandhi, they were able to convince the government that Wadia and finance minister V.P. Singh were really targeting Rajiv. The government went after Nusli Wadia in response. Wadia joined up with V.P. Singh to defeat the government.

Eventually, Rajiv Gandhi did lose the election, largely because of a coalition created by anti-Reliance forces and Nusli Wadia made it his mission to destroy Reliance.

The first purpose has been achieved – he has managed to convince us that rajiv gandhi’s defeat was a conspiracy, while at the same time he has continued to tarnish nusli wadia.

You might think that 20 years later, everything has changed. And certainly, Nusli Wadia seems to have buried the hatchet with the Ambanis and gone on to find success in other fields (biscuits, property, etc.).

But looking at the way the Ambani battle has raged over the last couple of months, I am beginning to wonder if India has really changed that much. In this version of the story, Mukesh Ambani, with his Congress links, is playing the Dhirubhai Ambani role. Anil Ambani is playing the Nusli Wadia part. Like Wadia, he has friends in the BJP (he thinks Narendra Modi should be Prime Minister), in UP politics (just as V.P. Singh backed Wadia so Mulayam Singh is backing Anil) and the Congress.

Clearly the poles get translated along with the analogous situation :- positive pole now refers to mukesh (congress) while negative pole now refers to anil (anti-congress).

Just as Wadia was consumed by his mission to destroy Dhirubhai, Anil seems consumed by a desire to destroy Mukesh. Wadia was constantly launching salvos against Reliance just as Anil does these days. Wadia would attack Congress ministers for their closeness to Reliance; Anil is doing the same. Wadia would hire such lawyers as Ram Jethmalani to fight Reliance in the courts; Anil has done the same thing.

Reinforcing the strength of both positive and negative poles.

And the impact on India in the 21st century is not that dissimilar from the impact on India in the 1980s. Already, the papers are obsessed with this battle – it gets far more coverage than it deserves. Already, we are looking at ministers in the government and deciding who is on which side. (“Shinde is in Anil’s pocket, Mukesh knows Pranab well,” etc.)

Deliberately tries to downplay the significance of government and courts so that decision is ruled in favour of mukesh (positive pole). The sleight of slippery journalism is the last line, “Shinde in Anils Pocket but Mukesh just knows Pranab, to show that Anil buys politicians where as mukesh just knows them.

Anil has done what no industrialist since Nusli Wadia has dared to do: he has openly taken on the government of India and he has made no secret of his links with the Opposition, allowing Mulayam Singh to disrupt Parliament on his behalf.

Clearly, anil ambani (negative pole) is being targeted – even a fool can see through this.

All this is ostensibly a battle over rates charged for gas. I don’t know who is in the right in this case: Mukesh or Anil. My friend Tony Jesudasan who represents Anil took me out to lunch and made out a case for Anil. I was totally convinced till my friend Niira Radia, who represents Mukesh, gave me the other side, which frankly, seemed just as convincing to my inexpert ears.

Pretends to be objective betraying the line of two poles that he has clearly been following in his article throughout.

The truth is that the vast majority of Indians are not qualified to judge the rights and wrongs of this very complicated issue. It’s a matter that judges and top lawyers should settle away from the glare of publicity.

The irony is that THE AUTHOR OF THIS COLUMN IS CAPITALIZING ON THIS VERY HYPE THAT HE SEEMS TO BE DISMISSING. HE KNOWS HIS CAPACITY AS A PROMINENT JOURNALIST AND HE IS AWARE HOW TO MANIPULATE PUBLIC OPINION. IF HE WERE REALLY INTERESTED IN QUASHING THE HYPE, THE LEAST HE WOULD HAVE DONE WAS TO KEEP QUIET AND STAY AWAY FROM THIS CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE.

So here’s my point: why should the people of India be expected to judge who is right or wrong? We are rarely asked for our opinions on corporate battles. And when other companies have a problem with a ministry, this rarely merits much attention.

Why then is Anil Ambani headline news day after day, week after week? Why is Parliament disrupted because of the battle? Why is the government of India being forced to defend itself at public fora?

Now he seeks to downplay the issue because he does not want the government to continue examining it. He does not want the courts to implement their judgement, he does not want the people to be interested in the issue, because IF THE ISSUE IS SORTED OUT AS PER THE MoU between the two sides, IF THE ISSUE IS SORTED OUT AS PER THE HIGH COURT RULING which goes according to the legal document - MoU, it will be a huge blow for the author’s positive pole (mukesh).Basically, he wants the issue to be handled away from the scrutiny of public so that no one cares about evaluation of justice and his positive pole then stands a higher chance.

More importantly, that is what he has been asked to do. (or payed to do)

Note the line : Why is Anil Ambani headline news ? Clearly, targeting his negative pole.

Who are these people, anyway? And why do the Ambanis think that all of us should take sides in their battle? Or that we should care what happens to them?

He crosses all limits of hypocrisy by saying “why should we take sides” and “why should we care what happens to them”, while all along this article he has done nothing but favoured one pole (mukesh) over another (anil).

Our problem, I fear, is that we have forgotten the lessons of the 1980s. In that decade, we allowed Nusli Wadia and Dhirubhai to turn their corporate war into a national issue. We allowed corporate greed and financial manipulation to threaten the very foundations of the Indian government.

Manipulating with rhetoric, because he wants to reinforce the strength of poles.

Nothing good came out of that experience. When the dust cleared, the corporate situation was exactly what it had been before the fight began. Dhirubhai continued to rise. And Wadia continued to be edged out of the textile business.

Positive pole (Dhrirubhai) continues to rise, negative pole(Nusli Wadia) continues to decline.

But the rest of us all lost out. Rajiv Gandhi’s mandate was frittered away because his ministers took sides in a corporate battle. The Indian middle class was conned into backing V.P. Singh, who gave us a few disastrous months of governance, leaving us with a Mandal legacy. The bureaucracy was corrupted and spoilt. The media were forced to take partisan stands.

Reiterates how Rajiv Gandhi’s defeat was an accident, a mere conspiracy. Again reflects the author’s partisan perspective.

My worry is that history is repeating itself. When a corporate war begins to emerge as the biggest news story in a country that faces so many problems, then you know that something has gone badly wrong.

Worse still, the rest of the world has begun to question the India story. Last week, the Financial Times (London) featured the Ambani dispute and wrote that if oligarchs could create so much havoc in India, then there was something wrong with our system. It made the familiar point about how India’s natural resources were being hijacked by oligarchs.

The use of rhetoric for emotional blackmail ... appears so simplistic and ideal by portraying himself as an advocate of national cause. In this point , he is merely repeating what Ms.Radia has asked him to say.

So, here’s my advice to the Ambanis: I like you guys. I’ve known you for a long time. But please fight your battles elsewhere. They have nothing to do with us. And you are damaging India with your media campaigns and with your political friends who disrupt Parliament on your behalf.

Tries to show his neutrality which betrays the line he has taken throughout the article. He tries to appear simplistic because he does not want to end on a partisan note or atleast wants the readers to praise his objectivity.

And here’s my advice to the politicians: Don’t make the same mistakes all over again. Are you Samajwadis or Ambaniwadis? For India’s sake, let the Ambanis solve their problems on their own.

Why only samajwadis ? still continuing to denigrate Anil Ambani or his supporters (Samajwadi Party)

Just do the jobs we elected you to do. Because your loyalty should be to the people of India not to Mukesh, Anil, or any other industrialist.

It is us you represent.

What an ideal way to end. He knows that a positive ending suggests a positive tone and people will never doubt his credibility and ‘objectivity’.

All purposes solved !!

Posted via email from ankurk's posterous

Karma and Rebirth

2010-11-10T23:00:00.005+05:30

It is ungratifying but true that my upbringing in a modest punjabi family background has imbibed in me several layers of vacuous maxims that have only helped to obscure the truth.
The competitive spirit of my environment and the ambition oriented 'education' i have received have been based on adharmic principles that have inadvertantly become ingrained in the psyche of my people. It is ironical that such perversion of mentality was destined to occur in the minds of those who have inherited the greatest and noblest civilization in human history.

I have grown up learning that :-

1.success(which is brought about by individual hardwork) and failure(which is a result of individual sluggishness) are the two poles which define society just like islam divides society into believers and non-believers.
2.the world is moving faster with every passing second and one must not lag behind in this race to be at the top.
3.society values only those who are rich and powerful, the rest have to live their lives in misery and humiliation.
For more than 23 years, i have tried to fit myself into this model of society and my journey till now has been a roller coaster ride, having witnessed 'success' and 'failure' in unequal measure. It is only when neither of these extremes gave me satisfaction, that i accidentally started this quest to understand life.

Let me try to answer a few questions that i have found interesting.
Does it really matter if you are successful ?It does not. Success and failure are adulterated terms used by people who consider themselves to be intelligent and modern. Basically, all humans seek happiness and sadly, people have confused happiness with success. True happiness can only be found in the refuge of consciousness which betwows peace of mind. A person who connects with consciousness cannot be more satisfied in any other state.

In that case, does it matter if you are good at something or bad at something ?It does not. Because every person is unique and it has to be so because nature is diverse. Not every flower is a lotus, but every flower has its own significance and every flower dies and is reborn. Similarly, fate may bestow you with strengths or it may bestow you with weaknesses.It is a matter of fate. Hence, it is unfair to compare yourself with others because you have a unqiue soul and a unique destiny.

But why should fate be unfair to me in this one life ?It appears unfair because it is fair to all.It gives everyone an equal chance. Also, there are many lives instead of one simple life. Anyone who is strong in this life may have been weak in a previous life and vice versa.

Are strengths and weaknesses bestowed upon a person in any given life purely a random gift of fate ?Everything is not random. Consequences of karma done in every birth carry forward in subsequent births, the soul retains characteristics and it is a composition of karmas done in so many births.If you have been bestowed with certain strengths and you use them in doing adharmic karma, you will have to pay for those sins in subsequent births.On the other hand, if you have been bestowed with weaknesses and if you devote yourself to dharmic karma despite those weaknesses, you will be rewarded in subsequent births.
The dharma in every birth is to do dharmic karma (which means not to indulge in any of the 5 vices) so you are evaluated on that basis alone.
People born with strengths tend to indulge in adharmic karma because it attracts them easily and hence end up being born differently in subsequent births.
On the other hand, those born with weaknesses tend to realize their helplessness and devote themselves to dharmic karma by which they end up being born differently in subsequent births. This is how people switch places in distinct births and the cycle of births continues unabated. Hence it is futile to be proud of your strengths or be hopeless about your weaknesses because either of these are ephemeral.

So, if i keep doing dharmic karma,will i never be born with weaknesses ?The cycle of births has to continue.However,if you keep yourself connected with consciousness for long periods of time, you might attain moksha - which is salvation or freedom from life and death. Till then, your karmas will keep being evaluated.

Hence, dharmic karma is the only true karma.

Parents and Guruji

2010-09-28T16:10:00.005+05:30

The most difficult phase of life is when you have to transform your perception and your way of life according to your natural instincts and unlearn the 'ideas' imposed upon your young impressionable mind by 'practical' society and parents(although inadvertantly). The reason being that your original ideas may be in conflict with the norms prevalent in contemporary society.The fear of being considered an outcast by society and the fear of reprisal by parents for not adhering to the conventional direction can further deter your quest to search for your original self.

Facing such a critical juncture, i met my guruji and was enlightened by his advice.

Parents :- never be satisfied in life.always strive to improve your standard of living.always strive to earn more so that you can earn more respect and status in society.first earn money and live a practical life.

Guruji :- try to be happy with what you have. be grateful to god that you are able to eat and live comfortably.follow your passion and if you really wish to enjoy life,do not bother about society.happiness is best when it is internal and that internal happiness cannot be compared.if you concentrate solely on your aim,the universe will conspire to ensure that you have sufficient money to sustain yourself.
there should be only one desire - to enjoy doing what you love doing, to dedicate your energy to understanding the things that you want to understand.

Parents :- always plan your future well, work hard to ensure a comfortable life so that you dont have to think twice before eating in a 5 star restaurant. emulate other successful people around you and see how far you lag behind them. how far ahead every contemporary has gone and how far you have been left behind. how much that person is earning and how much you are worth ?
be sad that you are not in his place and hence put more and more effort to cover up as much as possible for the lost ground.

Guruji :- search within yourself because the secret to your happiness is unique. you are unique because god has made everybody unique.you have unique desires,unique intellect,unique features. you have a unique passion. what is that ? what is the thing which gives you the highest of pleasure.do not look at society for there is no need and no end to comparison with others.external happiness is always ephemeral and internal happiness is true happiness. do not worry about being practical,it is not meant for people seeking true happiness.
do not worry about the future because you will receive what you are destined to. you will never become rich by working hard. enjoy the present and do not waste time fretting about the future over which you as it is have no control.

Parents :- be as productive as you can. produce the maximum possible in the least time.

Guruji :- be as creative as you can.creativity is unplanned,spontaneous and unproductive. it is natural and hence it must be allowed to take its own course.

Useful links for CAT aspirants

2010-08-05T23:37:00.006+05:30

Hi,
As many of you have been seeking advice about the kind of online resources which could help you boost your Verbal Ability score in the Common Admissions Test(CAT),i have compiled a list of weblinks which you could explore. It is imperative that you start reading more frequently from online journals/newspapers/blogs/websites in order to build a healthy temperament.

1. The Economist : Please register yourself on the website and gain access to 14 print editions for free. If you wish to read more articles, you will need to subscribe by paying the stipulated fee.

2. Reader's Digest : i have attached the link where you may view the previous issues of reader's digest. you need to select a category and then the specific issue from which you wish to read.

3. Things mom wont teach : a nice blog which will help you understand difficult words and improve your vocabulary.

Sonam Kapoor : a star is born

2010-07-11T23:25:00.006+05:30

The fact that her debut movie - Sanwariya - fared poorly at the box office did little to undermine the verdict of every credible film critic in india - that bollywood's new damsel has arrived, the void which had remained empty for a long time ever since the departure of the likes of Madhuri and Sridevi may now start to fill with the rise of Ms.Sonam Kapoor.

Whether it was her inimitable beauty in 'Sanwariya' or her natural innocence in the hit number 'Masakali', or her captivating simplicity in 'I hate luv storys', she has proved time and again that she is here to stay.
Daughter of gifted veteran actor Anil Kapoor, who has wooed many a hearts with impeccable performances in critically acclaimed films like 'Nayak' and 'Pukar',she seems determined to do justice to her lineage.

Having watched her matchless beauty as 'Sakina' in Sanwariya and as the quintessential delhi girl 'Bittu' in Dilli6, it was hard to miss the hopeless romantic 'Simran' and i felt compelled to watch 'I hate luv storys' today. Needless to say, i was enthralled yet again by her striking performance and flawless skill.

I am eagerly awaiting the release of her next film 'Aisha' which also stars the unconventional actor and someone i admire a lot - Abhay Deol.

I recommend you all to watch the following video and savour her moves :

Isnt she the next big thing in bollywood ?

The need to be skeptical : My journey !!

2010-06-25T22:48:00.005+05:30

The more i read about chinese philosophy, the more i am intrigued by it. Below is a beautiful quote from Xi Zhi, a less known chinese philosopher.

"Large skepticism leads to large understanding. Small skepticism leads to small understanding. No skepticism leads to no understanding"
If you are a scientist,philosopher or anyone whose job is to think and be inquisitive, you would easily understand the profound meaning of these lines.

I have always been perceived as a gullible and naive person because mine is an impressionable mind. However, i have tried to fight the credulous child in me by building a powerful skeptic inside of me. My process of thoughts is generally a contest between that credulous child and the skeptic. The credulous child tends to believe everyone and is usually incapable of discerning pretentious behaviour. His innocence has often made me a prey of various baits and furtive pranks played on me by friends and adversaries alike.
But life's experiences have emboldened the skeptic in me. They have caused me to question and re-examine the speeches i hear and the texts i read.
The fact that my experiences have continuously betrayed the credulous child has helped to reinforce the power of the skeptic.

Growing up as a child, i was taught by parents to always speak the truth, to always remain honest, to love my friends, to remain quiet and obedient.
I adhered to those principles even though i witnessed a lot of aberrations in the real world. I had friends who lied conveniently and escaped their parents' wrath. I had friends who cheated in exams and celebrated their success. I had friends who were belligerent and friends who were unruly and disobedient.
My childhood laid the foundation.The skeptic in me was about to be born.

In the first year of college when i was quite unprepared for the travails and unfit for the practicality of life, i befriended a senior and obeyed whatever he said. I took his opinions as dictums and as the final 'surah of the prophet'.However my experiences belied my assumptions which were based on that senior's opinions. When i often realised what he used to say was not true in every situation, i thought it was time for introspection.
Four years of engineering and many interesting encounters not only empowered the skeptic but also laid the foundation of a cynic - the extreme form of skepticism.
It laid the foundation for an ability long needed - the ability to discern pretentious behaviour.

8 months of corporate experience went further in shaping the skeptic and emboldening the cynic. It went further in improving that ability to discern, to distinguish what was authentic and what was fake.

Last but not the least, my intellectual endeavour - reading - has laid the foundation for a rational mindset which has fuelled the skeptic like never before and is helping me discover the philosophy of knowledge. While reading certain books has also helped maintain the health of the credulous child in me because that child needs to believe that truth is powerful and to have faith in the truth is a virtue.
That is why i quite the corporate job, because my journey to fulfillment begins with the endeavour to be an intellectual.

Will the power of the skeptic rise infinitely, will it prevail over the credulous child in me, or will there be a balance between the two sides ? That is a question only time can answer.

2010-06-01T08:11:00.000+05:30

Watch this beautiful scene from 'As good as it gets' :-

One of the most gifted actors i have seen, helent hunt is as unassuming and spontaneous in her conduct as one can get. She appears to be the absolute same person when she comes alive on screen.
I admire her not only for her near flawless acting skills, but also for her personal thoughts.

In her own words, i would like to quote :-

"To tell you the truth, I don't have any expensive tastes. I'm just as happy going to a beach and sitting in the sun today as I was ten years ago. I wouldn't feel comfortable if I drove there in a Bentley convertible".

"I'm not very sexy or glamorous! I have this girl next door kind of look and I have to do the best I can with that"

"Not having incredible success for a long time probably helped. Of course some 20-year-old beautiful girl, who goes from barely acting to being on the cover [of magazines] ... that's going to be disorienting and confusing, and people can't really be surprised if they have a skewed perspective of their importance in the world, when everyone comes together and tells them they're the most important thing in the world, then hates them for believing it. I didn't go through that. So that was lucky."

The curious case of R Madhavan !!

2010-05-30T11:45:00.004+05:30

I stumbled upon this article which features the story of an IITian who went on to become a successful farmer. He did not appear on time magazine's cover, he was not included in the 'forbes' list of most influential people', nor did he grab headlines in any of the major newspapers of the world, he is not the conventional successful person our society reveres. Because he is an unlikely hero, someone your parents wouldnt like you to emulate.

His story is a must read for :-

1. For every man who wishes to follow his passion, but faces innumerable obstacles in his path.

2. For every man who wants to do something for भारत माता.

3. For every man who places a premium on happiness over money.

4. For every man who is undeterred by societal norms, and unfazed by the so called 'trends' and 'modern way of life'.

5. For every man who belives this story is not an exceptional case, but a snapshot of a realistic society that we can build and we must build for our nation.

For every such man, the following story is a must read :-

http://specials.rediff.com/money/2008/dec/23slide1-an-engineer-from-iit-now-a-farmer.htm

His story was featured on rediff because he was 'off beat' and according to rediff, the so called 'off beat' trend is in !! Now, the media and subsequently the people it influences, will start worshipping those who are doing offbeat stuff. The message of Mr.Madhavan will be lost in oblivion. I am not getting into another tirade against the media, they will always pander to the low desires of society.. So forget about the media, but we as a people need to seriously introspect what we are doing, we need to re-examine our way of life. We need to look for a deeper purpose of life, rather than being driven by the relentless craving for materialistic pleasure.

Like Mr.Madhavan said " Working for money and working for happiness are different. I work and get happiness".

Everybody does not have a true 'non-materialist' passion, everybody does not have a unique talent, but lets try to create a society that is fair to those who do have one.

----

http://twitter.com/ankurk

Posted via web from ankurk's posterous

Garam Chai : a glimpse of hindi bloggers !

2010-04-24T18:35:00.000+05:30

I stumbled upon this old article on Garam Chai, and could not resist publishing the following excerpt from the piece :-

कृषि मंत्री और क्रिकेट बोर्ड अध्य्क्ष, शरद पवार हैं।

इसलिए जब विदर्भ के किसान कर्ज न चुका पाने के कारण आत्महत्या करते हैं तो शरद पवार उन्हें सलाह देते हैं कि जमीन बेच दो और नौकरी करो, खेती में कुछ नहीं रखा है।

और जब भारतीय क्रिकेट टीम 20-20 नाम का एक तमाशाई टूर्नामेंट जीत जाती है तो वे बोर्ड की तरफ से टीम को 12 करोड़ रुपए और युवराज सिंह को एक ओवर में 6 छक्के लगाने के लिए 1 करोड़ रुपए के इनाम का एलान करते हैं।

There are many talented hindi writers/bloggers who deserve as much recognition as their english counterparts. I shall try to make sure i read and follow more hindi blogs from now on.

Quest to be original !

2010-04-20T22:43:00.001+05:30

"An unexamined life is not worth living" - Socrates.

Living life in the fast lane can prove to be disastrous at times. If you were to recall the last time you slept for 10 hours at a stretch, read your favourite author on a single weekend or simply sat by the sea side listening to your favourite music, you would be shocked at how long it has been. Have we surrendered ourselves before the relentless materialistic pursuit which has re-defined the meaning of life ? Have we forgotten about the joys derived out of performing simple activities like swimming or whatever we love doing ? Have we forgotten that the true essence of life lies in exploring our natural surroundings ?

Most importantly, have we become ignorant and stopped reflecting on our lives ? A lot of people are heard saying blogging is a wonderful platform to reflect and introspect, but i wonder if that wasnt supposed to come naturally ?

When i look around me, i find myself covered beneath layers and layers of 'darkness' : and whenever i wish to return to my original self, it takes a huge effort as if i have to pull myself away from the distractions of the layers. In hindsight, its really hard to tell when this process of psychological reformation started and what all factors apart from the society were actively responsible for transforming me into the 'idiot' i have now become. But whats worse is that since i am now aware of this 'virtual world', it is a stuggle to break free from the various mental perceptions and prejudices that exist in my brain, as a consequence of the psychological reformation. I have to keep reminding myself that my struggle is on, i have to gradually break free. I have to realise the true essence of life.

This blog is a brief snapshot of my quest to be original and to do things which allow me to have a sound sleep at night.

Posted via web from ankurk's posterous

What differentiates an intellectual from the rest ?

2010-04-17T21:53:00.007+05:30

Out of all the literature i have read, there are only a handful of books/essays that i can truly label as 'intellectual'. That brings me to the question : what is the benchmark for branding one author as intellectual and the other as another mere mortal.

I would like to illustrate my point with a few examples :-

When Sir Samuel Huntington wrote the famous essay titled 'the clash of civilizations' in 1994, it was trashed and branded as a piece of 'no worth'. When the same essay was expanded into a book and his theories were vindicated in 2001, the world recognised his genius.

When Arun Shourie wrote the famous essay "Hindu fundamentalism and radical islam : where the twain do meet" in Indian Express, he did not explicitly talk about his peersonal beliefs or reflect his opinions in any way. He quoted from various authentic sources, built his arguements. Intelligeent readers understood what he was trying to say.

When George Orwell wrote his famous work titled 'Animal Farm', he wrapped his message and his intent in the garb of a beautiful story. Intelligent readers understood what he was trying to say.

Illustrations are endless, the gist of the matter is :- An intelligent author knows how to play with language, an intellectual author knows how to use language to play with ideas.

Wake up Sid.

2010-04-04T20:06:00.003+05:30

Years and years have passed by, and not even a strand of success has come his way.
The days of spring have come and gone, yet he waits for blossom every day.

He knows his dreams, he knows his skill.
Yet he lacks the will.

Neither parents nor peers have managed to wake him from slumber,
what his fate has in store, one is forced to wonder.

Not long ago, he was a sincere boy, always bubbling with joy.
What transformed him into a dejected soul,
was it the day when he missed his goal ?

He fought and fought like a valiant soldier,
only to land up with a bruised shoulder.
Yet, he rose time and again,
to lose another battle in vain.

He fell in love with a beautiful maiden,
and dreamt of taking her to heaven.
How naive he was to believe,
that she would never leave.

His task is cut out he knows,
yet fears to unleash his bows.

Yet rise he must, despite a shattered trust.

To prove his mettle,
he must not settle.

The test of courage is this,
to do what his duty is.

Without hope and expectation,
to retain his concentration.

Without any memory of the past,
his resolve must last,
till success is cast.

Perseverance : Stuff that legends are made of

2010-03-27T14:13:00.003+05:30

If you have been following this blog,you will have noticed the number of posts i have dedicated to the theme - 'follow your interest' and 'be free to live the way you want'. No wonder, my blog gives the impression of a typical liberal mindset.
In this post, i am going to deviate from the 'line' which i have been inadvertantly
following.

As i have always maintained, my blog is but a refletion of my thoughts and my thought process is but a reflection of my experiences. Hence, if you were to observe a shift in my views - from one blog post to another - be rest assured that it must be because life has forced me to re-examine my long held beliefs. After all, how else will one define evolution of thought ?
From school to college, i have had numerous experiences which have convinced me to believe in the 'follow your heart and be free to pursue your interest' theory. However, life has its own way of teaching lessons. All the while i was cribbing and sulking for being in the 'wrong job', little did i know that it is here in this job that i would learn one of the most valuable lessons which i am going to share with you shortly.

Example1 : When i was a young child of about 10 years, my mother forced me to learn swimming. I was terribly scared of water, and i would usually run away from the very thought of even entering a bathtub. However, a young child can protest only to an extent. My mother had a word with my coach and made sure that i was pushed in to the swimming pool day after day. Initially, i would just remain standing in the shallow pool for the entire period till the bell rang, but that was not going to continue for long. After i had been trained in the basics of 'floating and kicking', i was thrown into the deep water (upto 20 feet deep) where i was too terrified to even look below. I was left with no choice but to struggle and keep swimming in order to reach the other end of the pool. I had to persevere through those 60 minutes of swimming class every single day.
Result : i learnt how to swim and later realized that it is a refreshing exercise.

Example2 : I love food. If you were to know me even briefly, you would know how much i crave for 'chocolate brownie with ice-cream' irrespective of the time of day or season of the year. No wonder then that i have never fasted in my life, not even for a single day whereas my mother fasts on several days. Twice a year, my family members( with my exception) eat sparingly for seven days because they observe the 'navaratras'. This year, my sister challenged me to observe the fasts. I 'persevered' for seven days and proved her wrong.
Result : i know i can control my eating habits.

The point i have been trying to make through the above examples is that perseverance is the real test when it comes to determining whether you are really committed to your goal. If you can keep your faith in adverse circumstances, if you can patiently work through tasks you dont necessarily like doing, if you can deal with people who would otherwise be the last to be your friends, you would not only know the true meaning of 'perseverance', you would also identify your strengths and weaknesses. You would identify your skills and know yourself better than ever before.

Perseverance teaches you how to deal with situations you wouldnt normally expect or deal with people you wouldnt normally encounter. It prepares you for the worst and transforms you into a champion in your own field.

Sachin Tendulkar knew from the outset - what he was intersted in - yet it took him years to become what he had long cherished : a legend.

Bhagat Singh : A commited man lacking intellect ?

2010-03-23T18:27:00.003+05:30

On 23rd March,1931 India lost a young patriot who sacrificed his life for the cause of India's freedom from British Raj. Even though he espoused the methodology of armed resistance, contrary to what popular leader Mahatma Ganhi stood for, he was able to influence the youth to begin fighting and wake up from slumber. That,in my opinion, was his greatest contribution to his motherland.

He was highly influenced by the principles of socialism, by lenin and Marx, which prompted him to propagate the idea of socialism in India without having a profound understanding of a society. He was a self-taught 'marxist intellectual' and most books read by him were written by the proponents of Marxism.No wonder this led him to form the Hindustan Socialst Republican Association. That,in my opinion, was a dubious contribution to his motherland.

Nevertheless, i will always remember Bhagat Singh for the following song which he loved and with which he is always closely associated :-

सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है
देखना है ज़ोर कितना बाज़ू-ए-क़ातिल में है

(ऐ वतन,) करता नहीं क्यूँ दूसर कुछ बातचीत,
देखता हूँ मैं जिसे वो चुप तेरी महफ़िल में है
ऐ शहीद-ए-मुल्क-ओ-मिल्लत, मैं तेरे ऊपर निसार,
अब तेरी हिम्मत का चरचा ग़ैर की महफ़िल में है
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

वक़्त आने पर बता देंगे तुझे, ए आसमान,
हम अभी से क्या बताएँ क्या हमारे दिल में है
खेँच कर लाई है सब को क़त्ल होने की उमीद,
आशिकों का आज जमघट कूचा-ए-क़ातिल में है
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

है लिए हथियार दुश्मन ताक में बैठा उधर,
और हम तैयार हैं सीना लिए अपना इधर.
ख़ून से खेलेंगे होली गर वतन मुश्क़िल में है,
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

हाथ, जिन में है जूनून, कटते नही तलवार से,
सर जो उठ जाते हैं वो झुकते नहीं ललकार से.
और भड़केगा जो शोला सा हमारे दिल में है,
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

हम तो घर से ही थे निकले बाँधकर सर पर कफ़न,
जाँ हथेली पर लिए लो बढ चले हैं ये कदम.
ज़िंदगी तो अपनी मॆहमाँ मौत की महफ़िल में है,
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

यूँ खड़ा मक़्तल में क़ातिल कह रहा है बार-बार,
क्या तमन्ना-ए-शहादत भी किसी के दिल में है?
दिल में तूफ़ानों की टोली और नसों में इन्कलाब,
होश दुश्मन के उड़ा देंगे हमें रोको न आज.
दूर रह पाए जो हमसे दम कहाँ मंज़िल में है,
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

वो जिस्म भी क्या जिस्म है जिसमे न हो ख़ून-ए-जुनून
क्या लड़े तूफ़ान से जो कश्ती-ए-साहिल में है
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है
देखना है ज़ोर कितना बाज़ू-ए-क़ातिल में है.

Living the 'false life' : 5 reasons why i disagree with my father

2010-03-21T19:08:00.010+05:30

These are 5 negative elements which (as per my observation)are prevalent in our society :

1. Social status - we care so much about the way we are perceived in society, about how much we earn as compared with what our friends or relatives do. Our total income and our designation has a direct relation to our status/position and we hold that so dear that we compromise so much to achieve the coveted status.

2. Materialistic nature - Since childhood, especially in India we are brought up in a manner so that we attach prime importance to wealth. We are sent to schools so that we land up with high paying jobs, we are told to work hard to earn more. The objective of most of our activities is to lead a luxurious life, to own a big car and to own a big house.

3. Exceedingly high expectations - Alain de Botton quoted in his TED talk "Never before have expectations been so high about what humans can achieve.. many self-help books focus on one central theme - YOU can do it" .

4. Meritocracy - A meritocratic society is beautifully defined by Alain de Botton :"one in which if you've got talent and skill, you'll get to the top and nothing should hold you back. SO far,so good. but it also implies those who are not skilled get to the bottom. We are responsible for everything, we own our success but we also own our failure". In a meritocratic society,chance is considered an insignificant element since every outcome is purely based on YOUR COMPETENCE.
No wonder,there are more suicides in developed individualistic societies than any other scoiety.

5. Snobs - Alain says " A snob is a person who takes a small part of you and uses that to arrive at a complete picture of who you are". Our society is full of people who are snobbish. They are judgemental and often their judgements go horribly wrong.

SO, next time you come across a person who adheres to any of the elements discussed above, you will know he/she is just another part of the herd.

When will i get a chance to live my life ?

2010-02-18T20:01:00.002+05:30

Hi, i received my first official reprimand today for a reason i am still trying to figure out. And the same old questions came flushing back.. they just need an excuse to pop up in my head .. damn those questions. What are you doing ? Why are you being unable to resist the pull of all materialistic pleasures ? why are you not working in the direction,you are meant to work in ? Where is the intellectual in you ? Why are you still continuing to live the life of a bonded labourer ?

And i hear myself reply : "oh cmon dude.. i cant become a penniless saint. can i ?". well, there you are.. you have the answer, its about the money..
also yes, i need to prove a point to myself that i am capable of earning a living of my own abilities and if and when i chose to "retire" from the corporate world, that choice will have nothing to do with capability but with what i really want from life.

Now coming to what i really want from life .. well, i want to devote myself to intellectual development of my mind, to broaden my understanding of the world, of everything in this universe.. and yes, i want to write because i love to write. i love the power of being able to express my thoughts and feelings, of being able to give vent to a lot of what is inside of me. not to verify if its consistent with what other people have in their minds, but to make me feel better. i may not end up being a writer though,i mean its a huge thing to be able to write a book !!

For now atleast, i have to learn to live life in the moment and not think too much.. i have to build a conventional career for myself first so that i can save some money which i know i will badly require later :P ...

THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO THESE QUESTIONS,THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE REMEDY TO MY PROBLEM.
THE BEST WAY TO APPROACH LIFE IS TO PERSEVERE AND IT IS THIS PERSEVERANCE WHICH I WILL ALWAYS TREASURE.
I KNOW I WILL QUIT MY CONVENTIONAL JOB AT SOME POINT IN LIFE( THATS A GIVEN),BUT ALL I AM SAYING IS I WILL KNOW FOR SURE WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT.. SO,BE PATIENT AND LET LIFE TAKE ITS DESTINED COURSE.

REMEMEBER ROCKY'S WORDS : IT IS NOT ABOUT HOW HARD YOU HIT,ITS ABOUT HOW HARD YOU GET HIT AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

keep at it boy your time will come ...
HUM HONGE KAMYAAB, HUM HONGE KAMYAAB EK DIN !! MAN MEIN HAI VISHWAAS,POORA HAI VISHWAAS,HUM HONGE KAMYAAB EK DIN !!

Why Mr.Perfect does not impress me ?

2010-01-16T09:28:00.003+05:30

Disclaimer : This post is not about Aamir Khan who has unwittingly acquired the title of 'Mr.perfect', so i am sorry to disappoint some of you.

When you enter the corporate world,the first few days feel like 'alice in wonderland'.Mammoth stuctures all around, office space sprawling over 70,000 sq. feet. Men and women walking around wearing tailor-made suits. You look at everything around you in awe, and you are immediately tempted to believe that you have landed in a perfect setting for your potential and aspirations.

When you are introduced to your manager,you are struck by their charm, confidence,intelligence and various innate qualities they might possess. You look at them in awe,and you are immediately tempted to believe that you want to be 'just like your manager', in fact you would do anything to switch places with them.

I wish to coin a word for this behaviour, lets call it 'the Corporate Syndrome'. We all suffer from the 'Corporate Syndrome' irrespective of whoever we are. 'Corporate Syndrome' is a universal phenomenon and manifests itself in various forms, just think about it.
People suffer from the 'Corporate Syndrome' all their lives,the worst part is they believe it is the way of life.

Fortunately,an antidote for this syndrome does exist.
Alain de botton is partially right in his TED talk :
"Mostly, our ideas of what it would mean to lead a successful life are not our own,they are sucked in from other people,from parents to television to print media,these are hugely powerful forces which define/claim to know what we want and how we view ourselves. We should make sure our ideas of success are truly ours, we must focus inwards,rather than focussing outwards because the realization at the end of the day, that the ambition we have been pursuing all along was not really our own ambition, can be really crushing."

I strongly feel it is high time that we as a society stopped 'creating idols' and 'role-models' because frankly there is nobody such as an ideal person. I have always believed that everyone is unique in their own ways, that everybody has been gifted with unique attributes,and thus everyone's quest or meaning of life on this earth should also be unique. If you really want to be successful, find out what your original quest is.

Love you all !

So, what did we learn from L.K.ADVANI ?

2009-12-20T23:43:00.001+05:30

I am not a great fan of L.K.Advani, but i think there is something to learn from every person and especially a person who has managed to influence indian politics for more than 3 decades.

I have always believed a man is defined by the questions that he asks of himself and his life is but a sum of his quest to seek answers to those questions, a quest to discover himself and that ‘drive’ lasts as long as the man himself.

This fact was re-inforced in what L.K.Advani -(co-founder of the BJP) said in his farewell speech before he stepped down as ‘leader of the opposition’ :

“jo log kehte hain ki yatri rath se utar gaya, toh main unko yeh bata dun ki meri yatra jeevan bhar ki yatra hai, jo maine 14 saal ki umr mein shuru ki thi aur joh kabhi khatam nahin hone waali".

Posted via web from ankurk's posterous

What sunday has come to mean for me ? and what does it mean for you ?

2009-09-20T12:06:00.001+05:30

Hi . so what is new with you all ? on my front , i am struggling to adjust to a new life as a systems engineer trainee at Tez Networks. office hours hardly allow me to indulge in blogging and social networking has consequently taken a backseat.

Thankfully, i have weekends at my disposal for relaxing and unwinding myself by doing what i like best --- reading . but time is an unrelenting force and such is its ruthless nature that by the time you start doing something concrete( like writing an article) you realise that its too late . weekend over. back to the grind from tomorrow !!

ok,. enough of my self obsessed ranting. lets get to other things .. so, i just finished reading "missionaries in india" by arun shourie .. its a very well written and thought provoking book which reflects the intellectual genius that mr. arun shourie is widely regarded for. i shall write an article related to the subject of this book for www.bhejakhol.com .. we have a lot of articles lined up now.. bidisha has just finished another book review , raghav has finished reading jaswant singh's book on partition , siddharth mukherjee is going to author his first post shortly and i am really excited to read it !!

what about DAN BROWN ?? apparently, his latest novel - THE LOST SYMBOL has already been declared a bestseller, with reports of having sold over 1 million copies in europe and north america alone.. sadly, that is quite contrary to the picture in india.(or atleast in delhi.). if you were to trust the reports of TOI , major bookstores have received a lukewarm response to the book... they claim the demand is not commensurate with the hype that this piece of literature on freemasonry has generated .. indian readers are always unpredictable .. The Fountainhead became a bestseller here much later after it was recognised as an authoritative piece on objectivism, maybe inidan readers react later.. or maybe they are skeptical in purchasing a new book and they wait till it becomes an standard piece of literature in its genre. that arguement justifies the fact that "the white tiger" --- ( the most worthless book ever to win the man booker prize) has been widely read here, even though the reactions have been mixed.

Why do we wait for a book to be recognised as a global literary standard to buy and start reading it ?? do we lack originality in our choice ? do we lack the ability to judge a book ?

these are some questions i would like to ask you this sunday...

But most importantly my question for you is : What has sunday come to mean for you ? how do you spend most of your time on this one golden day of the week ?

Posted via web from ankurk's posterous

I have launched an online reading platform !!!

2009-09-04T22:48:00.003+05:30

Hi, guys .. i am back with a shameless self promotional post ..

I have launched an online platform for you to come and share your knowledge..
It is the hindi translation of the title of this blog !!

Please visit the following link : http://bhejakhol.com/ .
For the uninitiated, it is an online endeavour with the primary objective to get people to read books, share knowledge and thereby "open their minds" to the world around them. It is aimed at providing a wonderful platform for people to develop their own thinking and eventually help them to understand life better.

At the moment , we are a team of 5 authors committed to the objective of bhejakhol.com

Find us on twitter : http://twitter.com/bhejakhol

Love y'all ..

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED !!

2009-07-19T20:44:00.003+05:30

I would like to begin this post by quoting the immortal lines from robert frost's poem - THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED :
" Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference "

As i find myself standing at a critical juncture of my life, these words reverberate in my mind .. this is the time when i have to choose between the coventional way of life and the non-conventional way. this is time when i have to decide whether to follow in the footsteps of the common man, whether to earn a living like everyone else does, whether to pursue a "9 to 5 job" and come back home and go back to the same office next morning .. whether to strive in the conventional way to get a job -since i am currently unemployed..

what is the alternative anyway ?

the alternative is to think radically , to come up with a crystal clear vision, a foolproof plan which lets me live my dream, which lets me feel that i am living and not dragging myself in the pursuit for materialistic pleasure...

what is the next step ?

to focus on THE PLAN, to stop mincing words as i have always done.
to start working and stop preaching ..

Only history will be able to unravel whether i lived to leave behind a legacy or i dissolved in history itself as another man who also ran the meaningless marathon of life !!

BHEJAKHOL IS FINALLY OPEN !!!!

2009-07-12T17:47:00.003+05:30

Hi guys .... i am really sorry for having ignored this space for so long....
i was busy job hunting ... i have a couple of offers at hand now...hope to receive the joining letter by august end..

The main highlight of the last few days however has been my website - http://bhejakhol.wordpress.com/ which i have launched with an old school friend - siddharth gauba..

for the uninitiated , it is quite simply a book review website.
we review books and recommend books for the simple reason : we want you to read good books and develop a reading habit which we believe is a key to understanding life better.

To begin with, we have reviewed the following two books :-

1. to sir,with love - E.R.Braithwaite

2. the ascent of money - Niall Ferguson

You may grab your free copy of our first newsletter from any of the following bookstores :-

1. OM BOOKSTORE,SOUTH EXTN, NEW DELHI.
2. MIDLAND,SOUTH EXTN, NEW DELHI.
3. TEKSONS,SOUTH EXTN, NEW DELHI.
4. MIDLAND,AUROBINDO PLACE, NEW DELHI.

this blog post is a shameless self promotion of my website and i apologize to those of you who despise such endorsements.
i have a lot of thoughts running through my mind and i promise to be back with a wonderful post very soon.

PS : to subscribe to our newsletter , please send a request at bhejakhol@gmail.com.

love you guys....
ankurk.

My interaction with AMIT VARMA

2009-05-15T19:23:00.000+05:30

I reached THE PARK in the busy connaught place at sharp 6:30, but was harassed by the pathetic parking management and the congested space in the basement of the three star hotel. Hence, when i entered the bar - AGNI which was the scheduled venue i saw Mr.AMIT VARMA in conversation with the host for the eveing - Ms.Nilanjana Roy. For those of you who do not know anything about this young and charismatic man, AMIT VARMA is the author of the famous blog - INDIA UNCUT where he writes about the country's problems, what lies beneath the facts of the newspaper headlines and what transpires behind closed doors in new delhi and bombay.His ability to interpret news and eloquence to put it across is immaculate.He recently featured in the forbes' list of 50 most powerful people in india.
Being a regular follower of his blog, i was really excited by the thought of meeting him and hence i was looking forward to the event. After a round of questions which he answered quite comfortably and confidently, he was asked to read a few pages from his debut novel - My friend sancho. the paragraphs that he read were quite hilarious and we all couldnt stop laughing. Finally he took questions from the audience and i was the first one to ask :P . once this brief round was over, we were invited for the cocktail party which some people seemed to be eagerly awaiting !!

after everyone was helping themselves at the bar, i found a few fans getting their copies autographed from Mr.VARMA
i realised the time was perfect for me to ask a few more questions from him at a personal level. by the end of our conversation which lasted only a few mins, i was satisfied that i had got my due !! i had got the answers i was looking for and my vision was now clearer than before, thanks to his forthright answers.

as the evening proceeded and people enjoyed the free drinks and snacks being served to them endlessly, i went to look for a journalist who could give me a break as a freelancer. Ms.Nilanjana Roy directed me to someone working for OUTLOOK and i struck a conversation with the old lady who was initially engrossed in a deep conversation with another woman. She gave me her business card which i have safely preserved in my wallet.

As i left for home later having met a few intellectual people and seen some beautiful women, i wondered why book launches are not that popular in india.

IS IT BECAUSE PEOPLE DONT READ MUCH HERE OR IS BECAUSE WE GUYS DONT GIVE A DAMN ABOUT AUTHORS ??
Please let me know what you think ?

PS:i am sorry to disappoint many of you by not writing about the alcohol and the food. so here is a one-liner: there were all kinds of drinks but the snacks were average :P

MEMORIES OF THE COLLEGE FAREWELL !!

2009-04-11T19:03:00.008+05:30

There is a hindi song that i particularly love listening to each time there is an air of nostalgia. The lyrics go like :

Zindagi ke safar mein rahi milte hain bichad jaane ko,
aur de jaate hain yaadein tanhai mein tadpane ko !!

At the college farewell this week, i did not even feel a sense of nostalgia no matter how hard i tried, emotions always seemed to desert me .. it was like .. GUYS, IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON .. so, there is no particular reason why i will remember this farewell except for the worst dressed people i have ever seen in my life..
I MEAN WHERE IN THE WORLD DO YOU GET TO SEE GIRLS WEARING PURPLE AND RED SARIS WITH STYLES DATING BACK TO THE 1970's .. FUCK MAN.. IT WAS HORRIBLE..
I was left asking : Where have all the women gone ??

here are a few moments captured during the ceremony :

PS : The shorter guy in all the images is me !! I realised that a blog can be a nice platform for shameless self promotion !!

MY INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE AT SRCC !!

2009-03-27T14:16:00.007+05:30

HI.. here is a summary of my interview experience at SRCC,DU :-

[ENTERED THE ROOM AND WISHED THE 3 PROFESSORS - P1:female, P2,P3:male]

P1: which school are you from ?
me : D.P.S R.K.PURAM

P2: why did you chose to go to panjab university ?
me: nearest place to delhi where i was getting admission.

P2: that means you did not qualify for IIT-JEE or DCE ?
me: no sir

P1: why do you maintain a blog ?
me : sir, it helps me in introspection .. it helps me to express myself better and vent out my thoughts and feelings in a positive manner. It gives me the opportunity to interact with entrepreneurs from all over the world. I am currently working with a US based entrepreneur who is developing an online picture book bazaar, where you can publish your book online ....

P1: so, what does your blog basically contain ?
me : ma'am the name of my blog is open your mind.. it signifies that we should open up and let our thoughts flow. my blog contains my thoughts , my little discoveries about life like why we should work hard, what failure means etc .. etc... It is more philosophical in content.

P2 : why do you want to shift from I.T. to international business ?
me : sir, i wish to broaden my horizons , expand my knowledge base.. having a strong technical background, i feel that an MBA in GBO will equip me with the necessary qualities and increase my competency in the organisation. I feel GBO is important to understand business on a global scale.

P2: but why do you think you can leverage your skills only by becoming a manager, in fact i have heard that IT companies give a good start and then you can build upon that ?

me: sir, i feel that a manager's role suits my interests and potential more than a core technical job. When i was pursuing my internship at IBM, bangalore i worked under a team manager . I realised that his role was more suited to my interests and potential than the role of my fellow team member who was simply working on developing the code.

P1: so, what did you at IBM exactly ?
me : I worked on a project called Web Based Public Distribution System . the objective was to replace the existing ration card system with a web based system that offers more efficiency. My role was to study the work being done and then recommend my solution to the problem after considering various alternatives. Basically i was supposed to design the model on which this solution would be implemented.

P1: so, that means it was not development of code ?
me: No ma'am, it was related to software architecture.

P1(interrupting) : what is s/w architecture ?
me : it is an approach where we develop the model on which the software will be implemented .

P1(interrupting again) : what is the diff. b/w business analysis , s/w architecture and s/w design ?
me : ma'am, s/w architecture involves developing a software model, whereas in s/w design we go into finer details. For eg. when we are building a house , we first design the achitecture or model , and then we go into finer details like exact measurement of each floor and dimensions etc.. that comes in design part ..
business analysis means looking at the model from an overall perspective including how it will sell, profitability etc..

P1: what ? business analysis means that ?
me : yes ma'am, it looks at the business aspect of the whole idea.
[SHIT, SHE CALLED MY BLUFF ]

P1: smiles and says NO...

P1: ok. what software tool did you use to build your blog ?
me : i have built it on blogspot.com, the templates are readily available on the internet . [SHIT, STUPID ANSWER]

P1: what subjects are you studying in your current semester ?
me: Artificial Intelligence, Web Administration, Network Technology and Algorithm Design.

P3(suddenly wakes up from a sound sleep) : how much salary are you getting ?
me: sir, i am currently studying in the final year of my graduation .. but while after my internship at IBM, they offered me a pay of 3.2 lpa

P3: that is a good start, why dont you want to take up that ?
me: repeated the answer on why MBA

P2: what was the duration of your internship at IBM ?
me: sir, 6 weeks.

P1: what is a .NET FRAMEWORK ?
me : sorry ma'am, i have not studied this topic in my graduation.
[SHIT, WHAT A LIE]

P2: ok, thank you ankur, you may go now.
me: thank you sir..
[GOT UP AND LEFT THE ROOM]

PS : i am keeping fingers crossed.. too much competition man.. cant say anything ...

HAPPY HOLI GUYS !!

2009-03-13T01:47:00.009+05:30

THIS HOLI WAS UNFORGETTABLE ... LET THE PICTURES DO THE TALKING !!

PS : All images were taken at Student Centre,Panjab University,Chandigarh.

Of the Internet and why it is going to change the way you read !!

2009-03-07T02:10:00.009+05:30

Vir Sanghvi recently talked about the demerits of online news and why print media still has a long way to go despite the advent of blogs and other modes of information transmission..

He argued that one of the chief reasons that internet news will find it difficult to replace print media is that people will never pay for an online news feed, they log on to news sites only because the content is free of cost.. hence, the only way that e-papers can earn revenue is through advertising..

To a certain extent i do agree with Mr.Vir Sanghvi , but this is where my point differs :

I am convinced that the internet is the most powerful means of communication even though it may not appear to be so at this point of time.. But slowly and surely, it is leaving its mark in every sphere of life.. it is showing people and especially the common man, how much easier life can be, how conveniently things can be done , how one small click has the power to change so much in so less time....

It is happening... it is only a matter of time before we realise.. Educational institutions all over india already have free wi-fi on their campuses, the government has digitalized so many basic services - from getting a passport to booking your railway ticket , every thing can be done with the power of a click.. THE ONE CLICK !!

Now, coming back to the subject of news reading ..
I am willing to pay Rs 2.50 for a single copy of the Hindustan Times which carries the same boring look everyday, which carries the same political headlines that i am least interested in, which carries the same cliched articles on crime, business, world issues , sports and a hell lot of advertisements that irritate the shit out of me ....

Consider the contrast : Why not pay the same amount online for a paper :
1.Whose look and designs are chosen by me ,
2.Where i can select the news that i want to read on the front page,
3.Where i can decide how much sports , how much business , how much crime news i want to be updated with,
4.Where i can select my favourite columnists and what is more - even reply to their views online (on their blogs or otherwise )...

If i can get so many features and many more for the same cost i would be a fool not to subscribe to an e-paper !!

What VIR sir failed to foresee was that future readers will not behave like they do today, reading habits are going to change drastically , blogging is now making a way into the mainstream media ... I LOVED THE CONCEPT OF HT BLOGS... such an informal interaction with one's favourite columnists was a dream only a few years back...

However there is a flip side to this e-evolution .... Complete dependence on e-papers will have a huge impact on our reading habits and subsequently on our hunger for reading books ... we will grow addicted to the internet and consequently find it harder and harder to relieve ourselves of this 'burden' .....

In sum, i believe that a balanced approach is the best way forward.. While we must not deprive ourselves of the amazing power of the internet and what it has to offer, we must be cautious not to let it affect our lifestyles in an irreparable manner.

HOPE - WHY IT IS THE BEST THING IN THE UNIVERSE !!

2009-02-25T01:22:00.007+05:30

THIS IS A TIME of gloom and despair for many of us, particularly those of us who have been directly hit by the ongoing global financial downturn.
Millions of people around the world are jobless, many have lost their homes, a large number of indians - families and students are returning from the United States after having invested huge amounts of their life savings on their education fee, after having put in monumental efforts in a quest to secure their future , after having spent crucial years in a bid to better their lives. ALL IN VAIN ??
Many of us will be cursing our destiny and blaming ourselves for taking all the wrong decisions at the wrong time. Through this post, I will attempt to assuage the wounds that might seem to be as deep as the ocean at this point of time.

This is probably the best time to learn about the power of hope - which they often call as the weapon of the defenceless OR the last resort of the deceased.
It will be easier to understand if you have watched - 'THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION' which i feel amply demonstrates the immense power of HOPE.

Here is a brief summary of what hope means to me :-

When the world will come crashing down and everyone will begin to frown,
when all promises will appear hollow and nothing concrete will follow,
when stones will be thrown and you will be on your own,
when the past will haunt you and the present will taunt you,

even then, HOPE WILL BE THERE.

Never lose hope guys, evidently history teaches us that :

1.Lance armstrong did not lose hope when he was diagnosed with cancer ,
2.Sourav ganguly did not lose hope when he was dropped from the national team,
3.Thomas edison did not lose hope when he failed in 1000 attempts to invent a bulb ,

There are innumerable examples that cannot be accommodated within this space but each of them conveys one message : HOPE IS A POSITIVE THING AND NO POSITIVE THING EVER DIES !!

PS : a writer's subject usually reflects his state of mind .. love you guys !!

My sunday blog !!

2009-02-08T17:33:00.005+05:30

First things first, i finally managed to go through htblogs.com and i must confess to being totally impressed with the whole concept .. kudos to the entire HT team for executing the plan.. I firmly believe that blogging and internet newsrooms are going to pave the way for a new era where news will be presented and read in a completely different manner.. blogging may not yet be such a popular means of communication in india, but the world has realised it's potential and it is time that india did the same . The future of major business houses and especially media houses is going to depend primarily on what content they own on the web .. HT has shown a rare ability to foresee this eventuality and has been quick to act to that end..

I have been pretty lazy during the last few days, compromising to a great extent on my fitness and discipline .. my room resembles a garbage dump, my 'things to do' list remains untouched, my laptop is replete with viruses and i am too lazy to clean it, probably i should make a list of all the productive activities that i have indulged in for the past week or so :

1. SLEEPING ( have been sleeping for an average of 10 hours daily)
2. MOVIES (have been watching movies back to back, and loving it all the more)
3. GOSSIP (friends+ idle time = gossip)
4. BLOG (cant leave this !!)
5. NEWSPAPER (oh.. my best friend.)

i guess the reasons that i can attribute to this period of inactivity include lack of enthusiasm .. or maybe i am just playing the waiting game (waiting for exam results) or just got bored with the routine activities...

PS: i absolutely HATE being sloppy , i will try and WAKE at 6:30 tomorrow !!

MTV ROADIES : PERSONALITY TEST OR SLEAZY SHOW OFF ??

2009-02-01T22:52:00.004+05:30

I am on a writing spree !! Before i throw light on the subject of this post, i would like to thank Maya Bisineer (www.thinkmaya.com) for those precious words of reassurance that her email text always contains... Maya is an entrepreneur with a very clear vision - to create the best online picture book bazaar, and with an amazing passion to pursue that dream.
Nevertheless, instead of trusting me, you guys should visit her blog and discover her prowess.

Guess what ?? While YUKI BHAMBRI was on his way to winning the Australian Open, many 'happening' youngsters in delhi and mumbai were busy watching the popular reality show : MTV ROADIES !! i am amazed at the surge in the show's TRP ratings and the rapid monetary gains (look at the sponsors!!)it has made ..
so what makes MTV roadies so popular and why is it every youngster's dream to be a'roadie' ?

the concept : A select group of 15 foolish, ambitionless and perfectly idle young boys and girls is formed. They are given a set of 'challenging' tasks some of which involve receiving blows on their sexual organs ( who cares about impotency ... these guys are "daring" ) !!
Success or failure in completing the task has little to do with their survival on the show as they are eliminated in turn by an 'ingenuous' system of vote-out , that means all participants decide amongst themselves which of them does not deserve to be a part of their august league !!

the U.S.P : after watching a few episodes(out of curiosity), i was addicted to the show because of only one reason : THE WOMEN ARE HOT !! and as we go along , we discover how a bunch of utterly stupid guys can dish the dirt through weeks and EARN MONEY AT THE SAME TIME !!( can you believe it ?) i realised its no wonder why everyone loves this show and wants to be on it - if you get hot girls to go around with, awesome resorts to sleep in ,are being watched on international television by millions and MAKING MONEY , you'd be on a high !!

the objective : while these guys have already made MTV ROADIES a brand thanx to a sea of youngsters bidding to be a part of the show, their focus is now on inculcating a new ideology to the "next generation"... the ideology consists of setting a ZERO AMBITION , indulging in MAXIMUM GOSSIP, learning INNOVATIVE ABUSIVE JARGON, and subsequently building the HOT IMAGE.

GOD SAVE THE AUDIENCE FROM AN INTELLECTUAL DISASTER !!

PS : if you are a roadie fan, kindly forgive me ... i know that the show is devised to test one's personality but i dont see that objective being achieved in any way !!

Remembering HIM

2009-01-30T19:56:00.002+05:30

Today is 30th january.
I would like to pay a tribute to one of the most influential men the world has ever seen.
A man who paved the way for millions to follow , who remained undeterred and resolute in his approach , a man who inspired many nations and whose famous words : 'change is necessary' are being reverberated in the speech of Barack Obama.
I would like to quote some of his lines that i value the most :
" first they ignore you,
then they laugh at you,
then they fight you,
then you win ,
TRUTH HAPPENS"
- M.K.GANDHI

i do not know how far his beliefs and values are relevant in the present day where we thrive on deception and muscle power !!

PS : guys, i was not able to access the internet on 26th although had a lot of things running on my mind.. :(

not really in the best of spirits

2009-01-24T20:56:00.002+05:30

hey....this is a stupid small post reflecting my dependence on this space, sometimes i feel it has become like a diary.

i have an important exam tomorrow morning, currently i am battling a fever and severe body ache.....
dunno whats going to happen.... testing times really man... i dont feel like calling anyone seeking moral support or shit ... but i am really low... however i am feeling better as i type each word here , not because someone somewhere will understand...
the primary reason is that i love writing down because it gives a vent to my feelings, to my negative energy....

this whole thing is kind of ironical i know, but whatever ... i am the king of this space , and i decide what gets written here !!

love you all guys..

PS: i am not seeking sympathy guys, hope u'd understand !!

HE IS BACK AND HOW !!!

2008-12-30T21:08:00.005+05:30

I have been on a 'sabbatical' for many weeks , owing to my B school entrance exams and the strict atmosphere at home which did not permit me the luxury to blog at will.
BUT I COULD RESIST NO LONGER....

First things first, I am an ardent fan of Mr.Aamir Khan.
Hence it is imperative that i dedicate this post to an actor who is back with yet another riveting performance and who i believe is one of the few people in this country who have the potential to make a film that can shake the world !! and i really hope he does that soon !!

Coming over to ghajini , i just have to say one thing , IT WAS A TREAT TO WATCH !! Many critics have pointed flaws in the movie ( it was a remake of 'memento' , it is physically impossible for one man to thrash hundreds of men , the movie's story is old and cliched etc ..etc..). I totally disagree with each one of them, because i sincerely feel that a movie is always judged by the following parameters:
1.Quality of the actors' performance,
2.The intensity of emotion that the movie is projecting,
3.The concept(or script)

On all three fronts , GHAJINI has scored heavily.. yes, i agree it was a typical commercial movie( hero takes revenge of girl's death from a nasty, merciless villain)
but the manner in which the story was depicted , interspersed with the "short term memory loss" was simply phenomenal.

In sum, i must confess that AAMIR ( just like sachin) has proved yet again why he is deservedly called THE PERFECTIONIST.

PS : HE COMES, HE SEES , HE CONQUERS ... THAT IS AAMIR KHAN FOR YOU !!

5 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT 'FAILURE'

2008-12-17T03:01:00.007+05:30

Everyone talks about success because everyone loves successful people. They narrate their success stories, but HOW MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT FAILURE , WHICH IS A MORE IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR LIVES ??

This low phase in my life led me to introspect and reflect upon many things which constitute the effects of failure. i would like to share some of them :

1. INTROSPECTION : This is the most important fallout of failure, and you can truly avail this opportunity only if you are 100% honest with yourself. When you dont succeed , the first thing you do after coming out of depression is analysis of the reasons , of the factors , of the circumstances that led to your defeat. Eventually, you emerge a learned person.

2. INNOVATION : After introspecting and reflecting upon the mistakes that you made, you attempt to rectify them, you attempt to change your strategy, your gameplan , your approach. In this process, you are innovating , you are trying different alternatives to see which one can work best , which one can best replace the existing strategy, which one can do the trick for you.

3. THINKING : I have always believed in the philosophy of RENE DESCARTES: "I THINK THEREFORE I AM" . If you dont think about life, about the universe around you , about your goals, about your likes and dislikes etc... you are non-existent as an individual, you have no identity of your own, because a person is only known by his THOUGHT. Failure compels you to think.

4. SELF-DISCOVERY : A famous philosopher once said : "To the question of your life you are the answer, and to the problems of your life you are the solution " . He could not have been more apt , could he ?? When you fail , you ask yourself : what is my real calling in life ? have i been following the right path ? have i been following my dream ? am i destined to be what i am trying to be ? answers to these questions trouble you because they are not easy to find.

5. POSITIVE CHANGE : This is the sum of all the elements of which failure and success are made, it is the logical end of whatever you have worked upon. The ultimate result of all the lessons that you have absorbed till this moment. The most beautiful part about this part of the process is that you can never tell while it is happening , you can only observe the effect when you compare yourself with what you were earlier.

PS : I am not here to preach and talk about the lessons that i have learned , and neither do i intend to come across as a boring philosophical individual, all i wanted to do was vent out some of the energy !!

Thanks guys...

love you all... take care.

EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY !!

2008-12-11T00:37:00.004+05:30

hi.... finally i am free (atleast temporarily), from the perpetual burden of exams !!
so i am going to blog and blog i will like noone ever has !! friends have been complaining that lately my posts are either too short or too vague or too boring .. today i am on a mission to satiate each one of them...

The reason i am feeling so confident today is because i am feeling full of energy.. full of thoughts.. full of ideas overflowing in my mind , which are waiting to be expressed.. I have been doing a lot of blogging these days.. that probably explains the lengthy blog list i have now started maintaining on my home page !!
i'll take things one at a time :

1. I'M FEELING UPBEAT TODAY : Sachin tendulkar once said " there are days when i wake up and feel i am going to score big today. i am feeling more healthy, more energetic and more positive" . i am absolutely sure most of us would agree with him.
i do not know whether it is a matter of how well you slept the last night or how happy you were when you woke up or maybe something else.. Have u ever wondered why it is that you on some days you feel that you are more alert, agile and your mind is functioning at its best ? different people will have their own theories to justify this peculiar phenomenon and i would love to read all your comments !!!

2. WHY CANT WE FOLLOW OUR HEART : Most of us are living a life of slavery, we are slaves of this system which feeds on us. We are stuck in our activity for materialistic pursuit... YES... STUCK IS THE RIGHT WORD ... but still we go on , atleast in my country people hardly complain about their lifestyle even if it sucks the hell out of them.. and when you politely ask them , this is what they spontaneously say :" KYA KAREIN YAR , LIFE MEIN ADJUST KARNA HI PADTA HAI " ... that precisely sums up the whole situation. people everywhere are adjusting because of family circumstances/societal pressure/parental pressure etc etc...
accept it or not guys... we have become so dependent on the system (educational/corporate/social), that we have now trained ourselves to think along their lines.... in other words we have lost originality and most importantly people in my country have lost the courage .. to state it more precisely, they have become "intellectually coward" ... that is why we fail to produce brave entrepreneurs like BILL GATES, STEVE JOBS etc... because unlike us these guys thought out of the box.. they had the guts to drop out of college and pursue their dream... i am not a huge fan of any of these guys, but to sum it up , this is how i feel :

OUTSIDE THE WINDOW, I CAN SEE MY LIFE FLYING PAST,
BEGGING ME TO TAKE ITS HAND TILL THE LAST,
BUT I AM PREOCCUPIED WITH THE 'EVENTS' IN THE ROOM,
OBLIVIOUS OF THE FACT THAT THIS 'REVELRY' IS EPHEMERAL.

there is a lot more to write, like an endless sea ... i shall get back and update after i return from watching SHAHRUKH KHAN IN RAB NE BANA DI JODI !!!

take care guys...love..

* ------------------------- * ------------------------ * ---------------------- *

hey... it is 4:19 am, returned from the cinema hall about 2 hours back... the movie was the typical stuff that hindi cinema has tirelessly produced since ages !! nothing extraordinary in the storyline or anything ... the only concrete appeal of the whole show was shahrukh's acting prowess .... he was IMPECCABLE in the role of an average middle class office goer !! really hats off to shahrukh as such a role could have been played to such perfection by noone other than him ... anushka sharma proved to be a good dancer, but on the acting front she needs to go a long way..
enough of a movie review i guess... it is 4:30 am... need to wake up early for the morning run .

take care guys...

love. ankur k.

HERE I AM , THIS IS ME !!

2008-12-05T19:55:00.000+05:30

HI guys ..... i have a semester exam tommorrow, and yet i am here , blogging my way to bliss !! i guess , thats the real essence of blogging , it allows you to break free ffrom whatever your daily boring routine is , and allows you uninhibited freedom on whatever you want to do .. but more than that , i think i am attracted to this page , because i really love this space ...

and yeah , i realised that if you dont do things that really interest you and if you keep following the world in a rat race , you'd surely end up nowhere near bliss !!

i saw a photograph of my hostel mate in the newspaper today , he is about to embark on a journey on foot , from chandigarh to dharamshala !!! and he's a real sports freak and apart from all those diplomatic reasons that he wants to spread awareness on global warming and shit , the real reason is that he loves what he is doing , even if it doesnt give him the moolah !!

chalo .. i'll sign off for now , got loads of syllabus to cover .. ciao ..

I WISH I COULD RUN !!

2008-11-17T19:16:00.000+05:30

first things first ... I SCREWED UP the CAT(Common Admissions Test) on which i had pinned all my hopes..
WHAT DO I DO NEXT ?? the anguish in me knows no boundations at this point in time..

I WISH I COULD RUN...

WISH I COULD RUN AWAY FROM THE FAILURES THAT I HAVE FACED,
WISH I COULD RUN AWAY FROM THE HURDLES THAT LIE AHEAD,
WISH I COULD RUN AWAY FROM THE UNCERTAINTY THAT STARES ME IN THE FACE,
WISH I COULD RUN....

WISH I COULD RUN AWAY FROM THE CRUEL WORLD I HAVE TO FACE EVERYDAY,
WISH I COULD RUN AWAY FROM THE BURDEN OF EXPECTATION THAT MY PARENTS HAVE FROM THEIR ONLY SON ,
WISH I COULD RUN AWAY FROM THE HOPE AND THE DESIRE THAT GETS RE-IGNITED INSIDE , EACH TIME I DECIDE TO PURSUE A NEW GOAL,
WISH I COULD RUN AWAY FROM THE ANGUSH THAT I FEEL EACH TIME I FAIL TO ACHIEVE THE SAME,
WISH I COULD RUN...

BUT WHAT WOULD I RUN INTO ?
WHERE COULD I RUN TOWARDS ?
WHAT WOULD I EVENTUALLY GAIN ?

NO BLISS... I WOULD LOSE THE STRENGTH TO FACE ANY AVERSITY...
I WOULD BE ABLE TO RUN AWAY FROM PEOPLE, BUT HOW CAN I RUN AWAY FROM MYSELF ??

I HAVE TO BE A MAN.... AS RUDYARD KIPLING ONCE SAID...

ON A CLOSING NOTE I AM ENCLOSING HIS FAMOUS LINES :

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

THANX GUYS... LOVE YOU ... TAKE CARE...

GOD HELP THE P.U. ADMINISTRATION !!

2008-10-20T01:09:00.000+05:30

hi .. its been a long time.. i was really missing this space ( although i doubt if any of you was feeling the same :P) .. anyway, but this time its the Panjab University authorities to blame .. they have blocked access to every second website . to name a few : blogger , orkut (expected), torrentz(all download sites), porn (of course) , GTALK (most unexpected and unnecessary) and anything that u can think of .. i have no idea and no understanding of what "conspiracy" they have been planning on ..

such is the current state of things that most of us have stopped using the internet , because even proxy servers are hard to pass now..

anyway ... i guess with only about 28 days remaining for CAT , i would rather take it as a blessing in disguise ..

chal i gtg now... aaj kuch bhi nahin pada !!

PS:
take care .. i'll try and be back as soon as possible ... and as soon as these 'morons" let us surf the net in peace !!

HEY

2008-08-20T03:10:00.001+05:30

it will be just a few days before i write again .. sorry .. keeping a li'l busy abhi and waise bhi no concrete thoughts coming to my mind abhi ..

take care.

A tale of two cities

2008-07-19T21:54:00.000+05:30

hey guys ... its been quite a long while since my last post.. i've been trying to get back to the blog many times during that interval , but then hostel life hardly gives you time to indulge in such luxuries, esp given that u have a restricted internet access (6pm - 8 am ).. that is one of the many reasons i always love coming home.. its as if the length of the day gets expanded ( thats coz i am not allowed to sleep for long hours at home :D ).. i have all the resources at hand .. and i can indulge in as many activities as i want.. but there is a downside .. i cant party, i cant wake up till late at night, i cant consume alcohol and there is no cheap swimming facility nearby !! and yeah .. i have to study for atleast 3 hours a day, to convince mom that i am serious about my B-school aspirations !!

so.. thats where the title of this post comes into effect.. " a tale of two cities ".. - DELHI ( home ) and CHANDIGARH ( hostel ) .. i lead two lives ... i spend weekends at home, while the 5 working days are spent in chd .. im sure most of you would find this habit ridiculous and irrational as did most of my peers .. but i remain unfazed, for obvious reasons !!

PS : i was overwhelmed by the response i received for the previous post .. thans a lot guys .. blogging is so much fun now !!

SINKING INTO AN ABYSS

2008-07-02T16:01:00.000+05:30

the last time i remember being genuinely happy was .. hmmm... 6 years back.. in june 2002.. after the declaration of my Xth board results !! the result was not all that great ( as per the standards of our school ) ... but something one could pass on as above average.. and something that would help reduce my family members' unabated remonstration on my academic performances !! ...

if i were to believe in astrology, i would conveniently have termed this 'period' during which the stars did not oblige .. but alas !! i am a science student and more importantly a rational one, and i believe that things like astrology, numerology etc. are OPIATES for people seeking excuses to shirk away from work or too shy to admit their own follies..

i may sound too cynical , or maybe too critical in my opinions .. however the point i wish to keep here is, I have made a mess of my career and nobody else but me is to blame for the position that i find myself in at present..

I do not know where life will take me from here , nor do i have any idea whether i am ever going to realise the goals that i had once optimistically set for myself...

At times when there seems to be no hope and only despair, one can't help recalling the words of WINSTON CHURCHILL : SUCCESS IS THE ABILITY TO GO FROM FAILURE TO FAILURE WITHOUT LOSING YOUR ENTHUSIASM !!

HAIL CHURCHILL.... ATLEAST HE MANAGED TO PEP ME UP IN THESE TRYING TIMES !!

regards,

ANKUR K.

fitness freak .... well, not the stereotypical one !!

2008-06-10T10:29:00.000+05:30

hi guys, long time i know .... not that i have been keeping busy , y'all know i am the biggest vella , but then.. life does become monotonous at times, you get pissed off looking at the same mundane things in life... that is when Barack Obama's words resonate in your ears .."CHANGE" ...

However, what i wish to reveal through today's post is that i have finally started doing physical exercise ( it took me a 100 million reasons to convince myself that i had to do it), i go for a run in the morning , cover about 2 kms ..and that my friends is the most satiating job of my day..

no other activity during the entire day gives me as much satisfaction and joy as this drill.. hence i am writing this post with pride..

i know a lot of you might be thinking its no big deal, especially the fitness freaks among you , but i give a damn.. and i am not a "fitness freak" who in his stereotypical fashion will go to gym .. because that is what exercise means to many of those fitness freaks ...

that will be all for the day .. i hope to be more regular now given that i have little else to do.. !!

take care..

regards,
ankur k.

hum kis gali jaa rahe hain ??

2008-04-22T00:19:00.000+05:30

hi,seems like most of you have stopped frequenting my blog... and i know i am partly to blame for that.. i have been too erratic with my posts.. i will try and be more regular in future...

the past few days have rather been like a roller coaster.. there were moments of extreme pressure and intensity during the last few hours before my minor exams when i had to finish off the course... there were extremely dull moments when i was so 'vella' that i didnt know what to do..
and then there is the Indian Premier League - the bonanza of cricket in india ... the one thing that every indian is hooked to , no matter whether he is a top shot executive in an MNC or a 'chai-wala' at a nearby dhaba !!

at this point in time.. i cant see where i am going , i mean... i have been spending the last few days either doing all the stuff that i have least interest in ( studying for exams) or watching IPL matches( which seems like being driven by this huge force of attraction and also peer pressure) .. basically, i have been whiling away time , not being able to indulge myself in any self satisfying activity...

hence , i am hugely disappointed with my conduct ... i love reading and sadly i havent found anything substantial to read for the last 15 days execpt of course the newspaper.. ( i also subscribed to HT today , so hopefully it will make for some interesting read !!) ..

i have various magazines kept in my room , all of them are biting the dust..
something seems amiss !!.. i dont know what...

i hope to find that in the coming days...

ciao soon...

The IPL is driving me crazy --- for the WOMEN !!

2008-04-20T15:29:00.000+05:30

hey guys.... watsup ? im posting after a long hiatus, was overburdened with exams and trips to and from home... so, there must have been little doubt that i may not write about the ongoing cricket extravaganza in INDIA which already has the entire nation on its tenterhooks !! ... i really wonder wat it is about cricket that can make a superstar like SHAH RUKH KHAN or PRIETY ZINTA put their entire life savings at stake !!....

dont know about the players, but atleast there are quite a lot of revelations off the field ... the first of them being the introduction of cheerleaders !! wow .. i love them... they are sexy, they are full of zest and zeal all the time.. no matter which team is winning...

truly, the Indian Premier League is giving everyone a run for their money !!

aamir khan shaves head for his next film !!

2008-03-23T20:44:00.000+05:30

hi, would like to begin this post with an interesting suggestion that i just received from one of you... i was asked to be more regular in publishing my posts .. i am unable to decide how to take this piece of advice .. i mean, im glad that you like the blog and expect more interaction on it... at the same time, im sorry if i was too sluggish or appeared to be inactive... but trust me , i just write wenevr i feel like.. but i'll def try to be more regular now , and hope the same from all of you.. :)

anyway, coming to today's post.. aamir khan is sporting a new look for his next film - GHAJINI .. i didnt really find his new look appealing..how did you all find it ?? nevertheless, we must appreciate his commitment to the role , i mean not many actors would go out of their way to get into the skin of the character...
and now coming to this :
What is the wlidest or weirdest thing your favourite actor has done to enable him/her potray the character better ??

try and rack your brains !!

thanx guys ..... and HAPPY HOLI !!

2008-03-20T19:08:00.000+05:30

hi..maybe its too early to thank many of you who have cared to visit my blog, go through its contents.. and also give me an honest feedback.. :)
the following is a list ( in alphabetical order) :
apaar sadhwani, ankur gupta, jyotirmoy banerjee, prerna kakkar, rohan mahajan, rupak banerjee, rajat saxena, saurabh mishra, siddharth gauba, sonal sngh, sujeet kumar, sushant kakkar, tania jacob, vinay kumar.

thanx a lot guys , although only 4 of you have bothered to post a comment .. :P

nevertheless, efforts are on to make this blog more interesting ..

on this positive note , i wish you and your family a very HAPPY HOLI !!

hi, guys ... welcome to my blog .. :)

2008-03-04T18:42:00.000+05:30

so here it is ... my blog space ... i have finally given in to my long persistent desire to maintain a blog , and no wonder it was bound to come at a time when i have nothing really worthwhile to spend time on.. and also when my career/studies are at all time 'low' .... dont wish to talk much about studies , for obvious reasons , i have turned to blogging as a " stress buster " , and also where i can have a healthy exchange of views on various issues , hopefully besides engineering !! .

ok, so to start with cricket .. india won the CB series today .. yee !! , however lets not analyse the players' performance or anything , rather lets talk about how the indian media reacted to this special victory ... oops. i just saw a hindi news channel play the song " haari baazi ko jeetna humein aata hai " , in the background while telecasting some great highlights from the match ... i'd have probably banned the channel for "grossly exaggerating" a small piece of news to improve TRP's , had i been the I&B minister .... what say ??