This year went by with probably less than 10 posts. My apologies to my readers. Wishing all of you a very happy new year.
Interesting article on Economist on the possibility to create meat and meat products from individual cells ( no need to kill the animal to get the meat 1
Sept 19,2006
Worked till late in office.For what reason I do not know. Some times I ask this existential question of myself - Why am I doing the work that I am doing? If I had the choice would I not do this work or do I love to do it? Can't figure out? Also I do not know what would I do if I did not get up in the morning in go to an office. (which ever office) . Isn't that strange I just do not have an aim.
Probably some one out there is also going through the same questions !!
July 02, 2006
The world we look at and live in is actually a false world. Something that we have created to forget the world we grew up in.
I would tend to assume that the "jain sahab ki thadi" still has that 8 yr old washing tea glasses for the next customer. It is that India that has still not changed and that part of India actually in some invisible way supports our chauffer driven 4 door sedan world.
I was amazed to see that folks in India care to spend 1000 Rs to gain entry to a discotheque. It is this world vivek, that makes me step back and think is it that important? And the funny part is people like me and you are doing it in India and it is a fair chance that had we been in India we may have also done it. And that is what makes me worry about it.
Sometimes I ask this question to myself: Can I today, buy a II class,unreserved train ticket and travel to Kota or for that matter to Delhi from Jaipur? I do not think I will be able to do it. And for argument sake even if I did it, I am sure I will spend more money buying 3 bottles of mineral water and an AC cab to home in Delhi than I would on the one way train ticket. Funny isn't it. I am at the prime of my life. Physically I am fit and still mentally I am unable to take that stress. It is so funny that a this moment I am actually laughing at myself.
How things have changed in my mind and it seems such a distant past that I used to actually do these things. Here is the funniest part - forget doing it myself I can't even 'imagine' doing it. Even though I did it myself, today it is impossible for me to imagine it. How snobbish can one become!!
June 20, 2006
Very interesting article on Wind power in the economist. 1
June 18, 2006
Why do we exist? What is the meaning of this life. We get up early in the morning, pull ourselves from the bed. Get ready and go to office to do something that may or may not be what we believe in.
We create relationships in this world, which we know is not permanent. One day it is there and the other day it isn't. Last friday I was wondering if today I suddenly vanish from this big crowd of people who are going to work what will happen. I can say with reasonable surity that probably nothing will change. No one will miss a heartbeat. Probably not even the Path train revenues will show a blip.
Why then are we doing what we are doing? Probably the answer is
1. Earn a living
2. Need a pretext to be recognixed in the world ( It probably feels good to say that I work at this big place)
3. Probably I am doing it because the world has programmed into me that this is what everyone does. This is what the society accepts as the correct thing. All this is a social construct that has been justified by some historical marker. I am stuck in the Matrix. I am searching for the Neo in me.
Did I do the right thing by taking the red pill?
June 17, 2006
There is so much that I want to write about. Probably today I will just make a list of those things
1. Global Warming
2. Why do we exist
3. Why do things gain and lose meaning
etc.etc.
June 09, 2006
Today is Friday. Well the weekend is here and lots to do. Am learning the language Urdu. So probably most of the weekend will be spent doing that.
Did you know that the language Urdu is originally from India?
June 08, 2006
welcome back
Dec 25, 2005
Merry Christmas
Dec 23, 2005
please note my changed cell phone number.
Nov 29, 2005
We moved to to New York and it has been lot of fun since then. I have been lazy in updating my blog because of no internet connection from home. Things will change by this friday. And then I hope to be back on the circuit. I promise to work harder to make the time spent by my readers on this blog worthwhile!
I have put on additional 10 pounds. What a shame
Sept 30, 2005
We are moving to New York soon. Will update from there
July 24 ,2005
Have been wanting to read Harry Potter most deperately. But have not been able to go to the local Barnes and Noble shop to get it .
try google earth. It is a pretty good utility.
July 23, 2005
Well as most of you have seen that off late i have become very erratic in updating my blog. I will put forward no excuses. I was taking some time off from work to put personal life in order. It took over 2 months to get used to a changed status in life.
Lot of stuff happenning in the markets
1. The yuan got unpegged. Uncertainity for US goes up
2. Oil prices are touching 60$ a barrel.Is there any logic to that. Saudi Arabia it seems has all the oil that the world will need for a century. Why are we paying so much money for oil then. Ask the answer to these questions to the Hedge fund gurus out there in nyc.
May 19, 2005
Have been busy lately. Well to be honest i have not been that busy also. It is just that after I go back home, I really get busy only in stuff like cooking food for myself , eating it and then calling up people all over the globe. Now I am able to understand the plight of people trying to manage relationships across different time zones.
May 12, 2005
Am planning for a long vacation in India starting end of June. Am pretty excited about taking this time off. It has been a long wait.
Apr 19, 2005
Air tickets in India are stil so expensive. I guess the discount fares are just not enough for all those who want to travel. It reminds me of what a friend told me recently. People in India though have pretty high salaries but the expenses are mostly dollar denominated. For example a coffee in Barista coffee shop will cost Rs 85 per cup. Isn't that ridiculously high? Or for that matter a sandwich will cost around Rs50. Everyone one now needs a cellphone. Whether usage charges are more than 1000 Rs a month when the monthly income in the household is just over 20000 Rs a month. (i.e 5% of the income goes in a cellphone bill, where does money come for the school fees of kids etc.etc.)
So who gets squeezed? People who get squeezed are not the ones who are young, who earn high salaries, but the ones who are reaching the 50's or the ones who have the same old Federal Govt. jobs / pensioners. I hope the pace of development is not that fast that some people just fall off the bus and are crushed on the way.
Apr 18, 2005
Read about this article on Fuel cells driving cars. It is so exciting to see such developments happen. Wish I could be a part of it and wish I live to see these changes in the world. I think that is the beauty of this world. It never ceases to amaze you.
The only problem with it is that it is just too expensive because of Platinum being used in the electrolyte.
Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM). These cells can vary their output quickly to meet shifts in power demand, and are suited for applications, -- such as in automobiles -- where quick startup is required. The proton exchange membrane is a thin plastic sheet that allows hydrogen ions to pass through it. The membrane is coated on both sides with highly dispersed metal alloy particles (mostly platinum) that are active catalysts. The electrolyte used is a solid organic polymer poly-perflourosulfonic acid. Hydrogen is fed to the anode side of the fuel cell where the catalyst encourages the hydrogen atoms to release electrons and become hydrogen ions (protons). The electrons travel in the form of an electric current that can be utilized before it returns to the cathode side of the fuel cell where oxygen has been fed. At the same time, the protons diffuse through the membrane (electrolyte) to the cathode, where the hydrogen atom is recombined and reacted with oxygen to produce water, thus completing the overall process. This type of fuel cell is, however, sensitive to fuel impurities. Cell outputs generally range from 50 to 250 kW.
Anode: H2(g) -> 2H+(aq) + 2e-
Cathode: �O2(g) + 2H+(aq) + 2e- -> H2O(l)
Cell: H2(g) + �O2(g) -> H2O(l)
Apr 14, 2005
I was excited about the peace moves between India and Pakistan. Finally it has dawned upon everyone that this century is the century of economic dominance and not military superiority. And if Indian and Pakistan keep on draining moeny fighting each other, both will come out as losers.
I am trying to plan a vacation to Leh, Laddakh, India. I am pretty excited about it. I hope to do some white water rafting there. Off late I have also started realizing that probably what I like most is understanding how a particular technology works and bringing it out in a form that can change the world. Let us look at the concept of Mobile-commerce(M-Commerce). I think it is going to be one of the next big wave in the world
Apr 8, 2005
Am watching the India Pakistan match over here. And strangely enough India is not in a strong postion. Well weekend is here and i have been doing some reading of the economist site. I have decided not to post any article from Economist. I think all articles on that are good, so all should read it fully.
There has been a long time desire of mine to go to Leh, Laddakh India. I think this summer i may just be able to make it to that place. I have heard it is heavenly. There is a beutifulHemis festival which starts on June 16. HOpefully I can attend it. 1
Mar 25,2005
it has been a very long time since i blogged. Once one stops blogging the inertia sets in and it ruins the entire rhythm. So I guess i will start afresh now.
Spent the entire last week playing squash and getting enough points to move up the ladder. So I hope ot move to the next league by April. Squash is good to lose weight. Have already lost 4 pounds :))
Am planning to buy an Ipod. This new article on Ipod being used as a radio is so cool. I am sure Ipod will become a cult, just like the walkman. 1
Feb 08, 2005
The dollar has started rising again. That is good news. The Technology quarterly on Economist site is out.
Dear Blog: Why do I always come back to you? You know someone was telling me that I am becoming schizophrenic, talking to my blog. I can't understand how they cannot see that you are probably the most demanding friend i have ever had. You need to checked everyday. You throw temper tantrums. So many times I cannot even have a decent conversation with you. For example even now you are hell bent upon not responding to me. Why ??
Blog: Well you see, I am missing my other blog friend "toinks".
Me: What toink's blog.... Why?? BTW Congrats Toinks.
Blog: Toinks is getting married and therefore she may stop writing the blog? I know you can't feel a thing. Humans and specialy human like you are deviod of emotions. You heartless animal!!@@#
Me: I know you feel that way. But believe me beneath me is a very caring person. Just that I decide never to show that side of me. You know I have got to be the stronger ofthe two. Don't you agree?
Blog: Yup that is true. I do not envy you
Me: You have still not answered the question on your girl friend?
Blog: Ok .. right now do your office work and then I will tell you...
Me: OK cheerio
Jan 24, 2005
For years a person tries to keep a dream alive that somehow he is connected to the homeland and makes a determination that one fine day he will pack his bags and go back. Slowly the realization dawns upon him that the first flight he took out in search for a permanent job outside was actually the beginning of the slide into a different life. Gradually this world here put its arms around him and embraced him so tightly that on one side he refuses to realize that he is hopelessly tied to this land and on the other hand it becomes all the more difficult for him to move away.
I felt this when I was at the Minneapolis airport yesterday to receive a friend of mine who was coming from New Delhi. For a brief moment Minneapolis felt like home. I reminded myself that this is not home, this is my work location but till then the effect had happenned. I saw lots of people coming out of the arrival gate and being greeted by their relatives. I guess I have now become a tourist in my on homeland.
Sorry for being so cynical but have been listenning to songs of the Hindi film "Swades" and that has made me think about all this.
Me: I am sure you will be happy with me Mr. Blog. I have returned to you after all. Now that the real world confuses me I am happy to be in your world
Blog: I am happy but I am worried also. If people like you start coming into my world then you guys will make our world as bad as yours. We need to restrict entry of your kinds. After all being human exposes one to such flights of fancy, incoherent blabber and futile intellectual musings. After all look at what you talked about yesterday night.
Me: Yestrday night.Ok what about it. Are you talking about me learning how to make dal(lentils) on phone. You dirty fellow.
Blog: No. The discussion that people spend inordinate amount of money on Indian weddings and they could be better off if they decided to invest that money for future.I think it is a futile discussion.Nothing ever comes out of such talk you know
Me: Why do you think it is futile? I really believe it is so. But by the way why were you eaves dropping. You know that is a bad habit and I really don't like it.
Blog: Aaargh listenning to your conversation is bad but what do you do. Google each and every person's name so as to get information on them
Me: But that is not wrong. It is public information
Blog: And so are airwaves
Me: Ok.. Ok.. I will get you next time. Did you know that oyu haven't changed clothes for the past 5 months. You have the same format
Blog: yeah and it stinks.
Me: Ha Ha that is your punishment.. Stink Ol'boy. I would not even come and change your diapers He He He.. BTW do you have a girl friend ?
Jan 18,2005
Happy new year to everyone. Came back from India after a whirlwind trip with mixed emotions and a promise to myself. For the first time I felt that my plans are not my own but are dependent so much on others also. Even my own success will be futile if there is no one to share it with. This time i really did not feel like leaving India. There were so many things that were left unfinished. So many thing that I had to say and so many things I had to do. I hope to be back soon to make amends if any.
The promise to myself is that in this year I will chart my professional and personal course for the next 2 yrs (2006 and 2007). I hope to make a plan that will balance both.
Read that an open skies agreement is going to be sgined between India and US. This hopefully will be good news for people like me who get that uncontrollable urge to go and visit India every 6 months :).
Media labs Europe located in Dublin is closing. It is sad that such a great place has been closed due to lack of funding. 1
Dec 24 ,2004
Merry Christmas to all the readers. I apologize for the long hiatus ,but I needed the same to recharge my batteries. I will be in India for a couple of weeks, continuing my recharge process and new posts will be from the other side of the date line
Cheers Mate
Finised Bourne Identity and am starting Bourne Supremacy today :)
Nov 24, 2004
For long I was trying to figure out what do Indians do for social security. And then yesterday evening it dawned upon me and the whole game plan became so very clear to me. I like to call it the great Indian social security plan. First of all let me put down the salient points of the reasonably successful US social security plan (though I am not sure if it will remain so in the coming few years)
The difference being that in India it is �Use now and pay later� while here it is �Pay now, Use later�
The US social security as I understand it is that every salaried person pays into a pool which is then used to pay out the retirees. A kind of jumbo govt. sponsored pension plan. It is also based on pay as you go. So today's payments into the pool are used to pay off the liabilities of the present day elders.
So the moment the working class population decreases, the balance tilts and there is a crisis of payments. (A so called "hole" in the cookie jar)
Let�s now look at the Indian Social security structure. Parents invest in the education of their children to the extent that many parents exhaust their retirement savings to provide for education of their children. The children then are expected to provide that medical / long term geriatric coverage to their parents as they grow old. It is based on the premise that everyone will diligently put some amount into the cookie jar i.e. take care of ones parents. The Indian system is also fraught with issues. Many children now after adopting the western culture are moving towards the US system. In the bargain the it is a complete loss situation for the elders of the society as they get no return of their investment in the cookie jar. Such a situation will not come about if we all believe in the "Pay it forward" policy. Let us all imagine that what we would expect of others when we grow old, when we are unable to do our daily tasks, when we need to be taken to the hospital regularly for check-ups. Examples of the Indian system working well is seen when young men and women decide not to migrate to better paying countries to stay with elders, migrants who make it a point to share their wealth with their family. (Though I have a slightly more cynical view on "Why people like me send back money to friends and family in the home country?")
If the Indian system ever breaks, then the biggest losers would be the ones who have already done their due (put their effort in the cookie Jar). And this is where it is different from US system. If the system breaks down in the US (i.e. people stop paying for social security) then the biggest losers would be those people only. This builds in a sense of accountability too. No wonder fixing social security was one of the big election agendas here. But the whole point is that the cookie jar will empty out so far in the future (2030 around) that people with a short term view will not have any marginal utility in pushing for the reforms.
What then can be done to arrest the decay of the Indian system? I think the answer is simple. Every young professional, as soon as he or she enters the workforce should get a medical and life insurance policy. Most Indian companies provide medical re-imbursement for expenses related to one set of parents (can enroll either parents or in-laws) also. Secondly as soon as a couple has children they should invest in a higher education fund for their children. Though financial discipline is an art that very few have been able to master, (I am probably the worst when it comes to saving up) it is of utmost importance that young men and women take these steps.
Nov 22,2004
I have not written for quite a few days and really the shopping season is to blame. Shopping for stuff takes away so much of the time. Am really looking forward to the thanksgiving weekend.
I am learning to live with uncertainties.
More later.. Am looking forward to my trip to India in Decemeber...
Nov 11,2004
A strange thing happened to me day before yesterday. I was talking to my family back in India on the occasion of the Indian festival season and I was unable to remember how i celebrated the festival last year. It completely skipped my mind. I guess the day was so uneventful that I found nothing interesting about it to remember.
Well one thing is for sure that another year has gone and what was good was that nothing bad happened. Nothing bad is actually good. "Life is like an ice cream, enjoy it before it melts" was mentioned by this year's Miss India Ms. Sayali Bhagat. I guess it is pretty true also. I think pretty people make pretty true statements also. From now on till the finals of the Miss World, I am rooting for the pretty looking Ms. Bhagat. I think she has a good chance of winning. Even the futures markets are betting on her. 1
Economist has an interesting article on the increased warming of earth�s artic region. Can we/ should we / must we do something about it. Think about it 1
Nov 4, 2004
Mr. Bush has won the US Presidency for another 4 years. It was fun to watch the results come out. The dollar will probably lose its value ( ref. the burgeoning US deficit and more spending that seems to be in the offing). So if you want to move your funds to India, now is the time to lock in a good exchange rate.
George Soros has also bet on the dollar losing its value against the other currencies of the world.
Oct 29, 2004
Interesting article on cruise liners being the new old age homes. Well, why would any old person want to go and stay in a cruise liner if the person is old and may need frequent medical help. I think the whole concept is based on the reasoning that old age homes become boring and stressful after some time. People need change. 1
So why not a different idea.
A cruise liner ties up with a small hotel and offers people with less frequent need of medical help a larger share of time on the cruise and when they graduate to a greater need of medical help pattern they are moved to the land based hotel kind of accomodation.
All this has made me think that I too need to think about my retirement. Should I also start planning for my retirement / old age etc. Well that is something to think about during the weekend I guess !!
Oct 28,2004
Did you know that this is the 44 week of the year. Whoops the year has gone by and another year is standing there to be welcomed.
Reading the novel "Bourne Identity". Just finished reading "A Suitable Boy". I actually did not read it fully but left the last 100 pages because i felt very bad after reading the death of a character in the story. I think that is the strength of the book. At least I got so attached with the characters that I felt bad when the mother of one of the character dies. I found it diffcult to read further. Finally called up some in India who had read the book to learn the ending of the book.
The author did a damn neat job of putting in those characters.
Well Bourne Identity is nowhere close to "A suitable Boy" but I guess I will read it to sound knowledgeable now that 2 parts of the "Bourne" book have been made into a film.
A very very close friend is getting married but I have been unable to go...Feel bad about it a lot. But so it was meant to be, I guess... sigh...
The Red sox won... The curse has been washed away....
Oct 26, 2004
Heard good things about my blog from a first time reader yesterday. It made me feel that I need to write more frequently than I do currently.
Have been following the US election closely. So there has been something to look forward to every evening. And I might watch tonights Red Sox match. Lets see if the curse still holds.
Came across this beautiful word in Urdu. "muntazir" means 'Expectant, One Who Waits'. Jagjit Singh is coming out with a new album of ghazals by the same name.
Oct 25, 2004
Very interesting things happening in the Insurance industry in the US. Add to that the exit of Mr. Jeff Greenberg of Marsh & Mclennan. Very interesting article on the economist. 1
The week went by fine and has provided some new thoughts for the coming months.
Oct 24, 2004
I did not know that the ending sound track of Matrix -Revolutions (III and final part) is actually a Sanskrit shloka (religious saying in form of a couplet)
The weekend was cool. Bought some new furniture and now my apartment looks liveable. Interesting !!
Oct 20, 2004
Sometimes just wonder what the world would be like without television. I spend so much time infront of the television that I feel that without the television world would be so boring. So much time and nothing to do .
Lots of work done during the past week and there was lot of clarity coming to my mind as well. It has taken time but I am happy that the clarity is there. I hope to get a dining table this weekend so that I have someplace where I can study.
The Oil price has gone through the roof. The fndamentals do not support this price. I guess it is all a game of the hedge fund biggies.
Oct 11, 2004
The weekend went by and i did not do much. Now I am in office and there is so much to do. I am just not in the mood to do it.
I just thought that nothing interests me. Once again I have that feeling that I need to get into a strict exercise routine so that I can burn off the fat accumulating on my body. I feel fat is like fungus that just keeps on accumulating by attracting more and more fat to come and reside with it. Funny isn't it. Fat molecules auctioning special places like stomach paunches to the highest bidding colony of fat molecules. And those fat molecule colonies that can't pay top dollar are asked to reside in slums like cheeks , double chins etc.
OK OK ... lot of hallucination. Back to real life and real resolves. I need to work out so the I can fit into my trousers. And my face does not look like a tomato precariously balanced on a pumpkin.
Oct 05, 2004
The formatting of my page has gone for a toss. Please bear with the poor formatting for a few days.
There are some interesting articles on economist website. Apart from that life is throwing up new challenges and as soon as I feel that I now is the time to slacken up and something new comes up. It keeps me on my toes. I guess this is the way God Almighty makes us get along our lives.
Sept 30, 2004
September has come to an end and just three more months are left for 2004. When I started this year I did not know that I will become so strong during this year. Thank you God for making me stronger this year. I am ready to face any other challenge that You want to put in front of me.
It is fascinating to see how much I have become involved in the US politics. I guess I am just addicted ot politics, be it Indian or American.
Interesting article on Economis website of how the graph theory can be used to figure out pattern of social interaction. 1 It may require access password of Economist.com
Yesterday I again saw this Northwest Airlines plane flying in the sky and was reminded of the fact that everyday two flights leave for Indian cities from the city of Minneapolis, but it is me and me alone who decides not to take the flight back home. It is a matter of convenience and self satisfying need that i choose to be here rather than turn back. It is a matter of will power rather than choice.
As the Oracle said ( in the Matrix) "We do not know beyond our choices, we can just believe beyond our choices". Well till the time I cannot prove it to myself I will be here and that flight will leave without me.
OK, a lot of soul searching and now time to talk about things to be done this weekend. I think I will come to office this weekend and study fora few hours. What say you, Blog? I could even go for some Fall color sighting.. That should be cool too
Sept 27, 2004
I had thought that this weekend would be fun, but it hardly was
The reasons
1. The battery of my car got discharged and I had to jump start it and idle it for 3 hrs before the battery got its charge back. The good thing was it got discharged while it was sitting in my garage. Thanks God for small mercies
2. Another Hurricane hit Florida. I felt as if someone had cast a magic spell on Florida. Imagine 4 hurricanes in 6 weeks. It is awful.
Well the first statement is not entirely true. I had fun watching Monsters Inc. It is a fantastic film, Amazing effects of Googoly bear, Mike Wazowski1
Sept 24,2004
The weekend is here. Hope to workout a bit and shop a little
Sept 22,2004
Felt that all experiences of life make one more humane. And that is the reason of life of a human being. All experiences of ones life must one more humane, more compassionate. Today I heard of someone else going through a similar rough patch as i went through a couple of months back. I could feel the changed me, within. I was not the same old "Mr.-Know-All" / "Everything-comes-from-the-brain" person. I could feel that, compassionate me, within. I knew I had become more humane. I knew I was becoming an emotionally stronger person.
I wish I had changed a lot sooner. I could have made lesser mistakes in life.
Remebered an Old couplet
kahin kisi ko mukammil jahaan nahin milta
kahin zameen to kahin aasmaan nahin milta
No one gets the right world
Someone does not get the earth and someone the sky
Sept 16, 2004
Half of Sept has gone. This year is about to end. I realized it when someone asked me to make the selection for next year's benefits program. Time went by quickly.
Was reading this article on bond yield's behaving irrationally.1
Sept 15, 2004
Started reading the Bhagwad Gita. Listenned to this ghazal in the film Chasme Baddoor. It is nice. It was a welcome change to like a romantic ghazal. :-)
Is nadi ko mera aaina maan lo
ki mohabbat ka behta nashaa jaan lo
tarangon mein dhadkan, lahakta jigar
raks karte kamal, thartharata bhanwar
yeh cheenthe kisi ki tamanna na hon
kahin aapke haathon tanha na hon
Is ufaq(Horizon) ko mera aaina maan lo
ankahe raaz ki daastaan jaan lo
Tani doriyon par saji zindagi
ishaaron pe chadhti utarti khushi
hawaaon ko itni ijaazat na do
Ki auron ka bhi sabr tauba karo
Is nadi ko mera aaina maan lo
ki mohabbat ka behta nashaa jaan lo
Meesa feeling good, better .. .The best is yet to come. I am planning to change my photograph in a few days. Am just looking for the right time.
After 3 mins:
I changed my photograph
Another 30 mins
I was going throught this article about death and was touched by it. I have got to post excerpts of it
When It's Time, Let Go of Life
By T Rajagopalachari
Death is an enigma. It is impossible to define life without death. Up to its very last link, life is a biochemical chain reaction. Once life is launched, like a bullet it must reach its final destination, which is death.
Death is less frightening, however, when we concede that life attains maximum fullness only when it is guided by an ideal, by something for which we are willing to die if necessary. Whatever incites us to die also incites us to live with greater intensity. Thats why the lives of heroes, mystics and martyrs are more intense than the life of an ordinary mortal. Thats also why love and the pleasures of the senses are felt more intensely by people who are facing death in a war or revolution.
Carl Jung said, The decisive question is: Are we related to something infinite or not? Only if we know that the thing which truly matters is the infinite can we avoid fixing our interest upon futilities and upon all kinds of goals which are not of real importance
Nietzsche said, like a torch which dies exhausted and glutted with relief
Reminds me of a poem from the Hindi Film Anand
Maut tu ek kavita hai
Mujhse ek kavita ka vaada hai, milegi mujhse
Doobti nafson mein jab dard ko neend aane lage, zard sa chehra liye chaand ufaq tak tak pahunche
din abih paani mein ho, raat kinaare ke kareeb
Na andhera na ujaala, Na aadhi raat na din,
Jism jab khatm ho aur rooh ko saans aane lage
Mujhse ek kavita ka vaada hai, milegi mujhse
Maut tu ek kavita hai
Another one which is just too good. Read it on another blog
Dil gumsum zubaan khamosh,
ye aakhen aaj num kyu hain?
Jinhe kabhi paaya hi na tha,
unhe aaj khone ka gum kyu hai?
Sept 14, 2004
Had a good day and there was lot of clarity in mind as well. Someone sent me an online version of Bhagwad Gita and I have decided to read it. I hope that will help me solve some of the puzzles of life.1
Sept 12, 2004
0015 hrs
I have some invites of Gmail available. If any of you want it them send me an email. Am watching the "Band of Brothers" (It is a TV series based on the true stories of the 101 Airborne Easy comany operations in WW II. Tom Hanks has done a great job directing this tv series
Made some delicious Kheer ( rice cooked in sweet milk). Actually i bought some extra milk thinking I will be able to finish it but as the expiry date neared I had to put it to some use and ended up making kheer. (So many calories but it still makes a good dessert.)
Sept 11, 2004
1600 hrs
Today's post is going to be really long. Somebody reminded me that blogs are alive and also have feelings. I should not ignore them. I completely agree. I feel they are not only alive but also great pals. Atleast they do not leave you when you need them the most. Thank you my blog. You have been my close pal for more than two years now.
Today I bought a honewdew ( known in India as a Kharbooja). Thanks to the expert tips given by someone, I cut it along the longitudinal axis and then made further slices. Think of it like the earth and then slice it along the longitudes. I think it is an amazingly sweet fruit. I need to try the other half first thing in the morning tommorrow.
Today I was wondering that why is there so much pain in the world. And the thought that came to my mind was one should be happy for what one has. if one looks around there is so much pain. The pain that I am sufferring is so less. I thought of the tragedy at Beslan. May God Almighty give all those people the strength to get through this period. I remembered the saying that goes like this
"Duniya mein Kitna gham hai, mera gham kitna kam hai"
When translated it is "There is so much pain in the world, my pain is so less"
2100 hrs
Cooked chickpeas. I remembered what someone had told me. "One should add salt not by measurement but by ones judgement". I think they are true words. Thanks
Tommorrow I want to get up early and just get out of my apartment. It has been so much time that I went out of my apartment and just did nothing at all. Just plain nothing. Emptiness!
Sept 02, 2004
Pardon me for my Sept 1 incoherent post. Was reading about Hurricane Frances and felt bad for folks in Florida. I really feel 2 hurricanes in 3 weeks is not fair. The Federal government should step in to help people.
Was reading about the Privatization exercise of Japan Post (Japan's National Postal service) and obstacles in doing it. It sounded so much similar to the problems privatization in India. 1
Sept 01, 2004
Worked till late yesterday and came back just in time for dinner. Kept on thinking a lot and felt lost. I mean to give an example as I was warming the pre cooked Indian food packet of kidney beans, I just saw that the package had a photograph of onions on it . On impulse I cut an onion and ate it though I do not like raw onions. but I wanted to be driven by someone else rather than think and do something myself.
It seems I need a goal , I need a "lakshya".
Am reading the book "A Suitable boy" by Vikram Seth.
Aug 29, 2004
Was watching the film Lakshya. The protagonist Lt. Karan Shergill played by Hrithik Roshan resembles a close friend of mine.
Happy Sunday all readers!!
And Oil prices have gone down.. Congratulations!
Aug 27, 2004
Was listening to the song from the Hindi Film "Dil Chahta Hai".- Jaane Kyon log pyaar karte hain ( Who knows why people love)
Weekend is here and I sure hope it is nice
Aug 17, 2004
Was reminded of this ghazal... I must apologize to my blog today. Yesterday it woke me up and complained that it has had enough of the ghazals and "lost in love" songs. It misses the other "me". I could only feel bad for my dear blog.
For it is not only my blog who misses the other me, it is I also who misses the other "me". Sorry blog, yet another blog post of a ghazal. Forgive me.
This is a ghazal from film "Arth" (means "Definition") 1
koi ye kaise bataaye ke woh tanha kyooN hai
wo jo apna thaa wahi aur kisi ka kyooN hai
yahi duniya hai to phir aisee ye duniya kyooN hai
yahi hota hai to aakhir yahi hota kyooN hai
ik zara haath baDha deN to pakaD le daaman
uske seene meiN sama jaaye hamari dhaDkan
itni kurbat hai to phir faaslaa itna kyooN hai
dil-e-barbaad se nikla nahiN ab tak koi
ik loote ghar pe diya karta hai dastak koi
aas jo TooT gayee phir se bandhaata kyooN hai
tum masarrat ka kahO ya ise gham ka rishta
kehte hain pyaar ka rishta hai janam ka rishta
hai janam ka jo ye rishta to badalta kyooN hai
Aug 16 ,2004
Two new moons of Saturn discovered by the probe Cassini. 1
Why am I excited about it?? Well Saturn has the only moon system in the entire solar system where moons also have their own atmosphere. Who knows someday there might be discovery of life on that planet.
Aug 15, 2004
It is the independence day of my country, India. Happy Independence day India.
Posted by a proud Indian
If God gave me one more birth, I would still ask him to make me an Indian.
Listening to a old song in the film "Sunny" (Hindi film)
"Jaane kya baat hai" Pretty touching!
Aug 13, 2004
It is Friday the 13th.. Dunno what is the history behind it.
Was talking to a friend of mine and we remembered these lines from a Ghazal (poem) by Ghalib
tere vaade pe jiye hum, ki yeh jaan jhoot jaana
ki khushi se mar na jaate, gar aitbaar hota
[When I lived for your promise, I believed this life to be a lie
For, would'nt I have died of happiness, if I had the trust?]
Yeh na thi hamari kismat, ki visaal-e-yaar hota,
Agar aur jeetay rehtay, yahi intezaar hota !
[I was not lucky enough to meet my friend,
If I would have lived any longer, I would have been still waiting for this meeting !]
Kahoon kis say main ki kya hain, Shab-e-gham buri bala hai
Mujhay kya bura tha marna, agar ek baar hota !
[Whom should I tell what this is, Night-of-sorrows is a terrible thing,
I would not have hated to die, if it was just once only !
Aug 11, 2004
Finally got the High yield index constituents that I wanted. Cold weather is approaching fast in minneapolis. I can't believe that the summer is getting over. It is unfair. I did not even enjoy it fully. (Am sounding like Calvin! isn't it)
My routine has changed the dinner time has now become 6:30 pm. It is kind of cool also..
Reading a book on the 6 day Arab Israel war.
August 04, 2004
It is a truth that even when everthing else is lost, one atleast has ones blog to go back to. Hi Blog.. How are you? For a long time I have neglected you but you are still so faithful to me and listen to me. Thanks for being there.
Whooopssss.... Had the most bizarre two months, June and July. Today's post is long and may not interest a lot of people but I will still recommend these ghazals to people. I bow before these great poets.
A Ghazal written by Shakeel Badayuni and sung masterfully by Begum Akhtar
Aye mohabbat tere anjaam pe rona aaya
Jaane kyon aaj tere naam pe rona aaya
Yon to har shaam ummeedon mein guzar jaati thi
Aaj kuch baat hai jo shaam pe rona aaya
Kabhi taqdeer ka matam , kabhi duniya ka gila
Il-e- ishq mein har gaam pe rona aaya;
Jab hua zikr zamaane mein mohabbat ka shakeel
Mujh ko apne dil-e-na kaam pa rona aaya
Translation in English
O love! Your end made [me] cry
[I] wonder why today your name made [me] cry
Evenings would, ordinarily, pass in expectations
Today there's something that the evening made [me] cry
At times the bereavement of fate, sometimes the grievance of the world
Every step towards the destination of love made [me] cry
When the discourse of love began in the world O Shakeel*
The shattered love of mine made me cry.
Another one written by Sudarshan Faakir and again sung masterfully by Begum Akhtar
Kuchh to duniya ki inayaat ne dil tod diyaa
Aur kuchh talkhi-e-haalaat ne dil tod diyaa
Hum to samjhe thhe ke barsaat mein barse gi sharaab
Aai barsaat to barsaat ne dil tod diyaa
Dil to rotaa rahe aur aankh se aansoo na bahein
Ishq ki aisi riwayaat ne dil tod diyaa
Wo mire hain, mujhe mil jaaynge, aa jaaynge
Aise bekaar khayalaat ne dil tod diyaa
Aap ko pyaar hai mujh se ke nahien hai mujh se
Jane kyon aise sawalaat ne dil tod diyaa
Translation in English
The 'kindness' of the world has crushed the heart a little
And the grueling circumstances have further shattered the heart
We had believed that wine would pour during rains
[However] when the rainy season arrived it shattered the heart
[Let] the heart keeps crying yet the tears shouldn't gush out from eyes
Such norms of love have shattered the heart
She is mine, I'll get her, she'll come to me
Such worthless thoughts have shattered the heart
You love me or don't you love me?
Wonder why such questions have shattered the heart
Finished reading 84 Charing Cross Road based on someone's recommendation. Good book. I liked the way Helene Hanff has tried to bring out the economic conditions of Post war Britain in the simple and short letters of Frank Doel. 1
July 29, 2004
Life is a complex equation. I can never seem to understand it.If one adds to that the complexity that human beings bring to it, It ends up in a simply unexplainable situation. However much I try and solve the puzzle I end up making it more complex.
I wish I could have some way of reducing this complexity and see things clearly. It is a pity I cannot understand people. It hurts a lot and makes one feel miserable. If only one knew the reason for this complexity.
Apologies for being so esoteric. Honestly I also do not know why, what is happening, is happening? There seems to be no "method in the madness". Or no "method" that I can make any sense of.
July 23, 2004
Interesting quote by a professor.
"..You can always tell the particles apart, in principle--just paint one of them red and the other one blue, or stamp identification number on them, or hire private detectives to follow them around. But in quantum mechanics the situation is fundamentally different: You can't paint an electron red, or pin a label on it, and a detective's observations will inevitably and unpredictably alter the state...It is not merely that we don't happen to know which electron is which; God doesn't know which is which.."
Read about the controversy about Stephen Hawking presenting a baseball encyclopedia to Dr. Preskill. Ok Ok lot of vague references! Hawking and Preskill had made a bet about black holes gobbling up data such that it can never be recovered again. On July 21st in Dublin Hawking conceded that data could be recoverable from the black hole. Essentially killing the theory of a parallel universe and other such sci-fi ideas about black holes.1 2
Also read about an Indian researcher Dr. Samir Mathur who talks about the string theory to explain the phenomena. This is definitely worth a read.
I guess I will spend some time this weekend learning the string theory
Interesting article on implied volatilities in the market 1