Unforgettable day - July 24, 2010

We had been trekking to Matheran from Bhivpuri station. We started from Bhivpuri at 8.30 am and had thought we would be reaching Matheran by 12.30 pm. So it wasn’t going to be a long trek but we reached Matheran at 5.30 pm. On the way we walked to see the Pali dam which was actually unplanned but it added to the time and the energy spent.

Personally I am not a regular trekker, though I have always found it adventurous and fascinating. In our group of 10, most of us were novice and for some it was the first trek. The trek was difficult than what we had expected. It was difficult even for the professional trekkers. We all had started with full vigor and enthusiasm, but as the energy levels started going down, the trek was becoming more steep and difficult to climb. Continuous heavy rains were making it slippery and there were land slides too.

We somehow reached the Thakurwadi village and there was still more to climb. The villagers told us it was just one and half hour more to climb, but it was definitely going to take more time for us as we had been walking since 8.30 in the morning and most of us were already drained out. Still determined we continued climbing till we reached a point where there was no way ahead. We were lost. We were contemplating of returning back but that also seemed difficult now as the Thakurwadi village was out of sight because of the fog and we did not remember the exact way back. There wasn’t a plain terrain close by and we were all there holding the rocks and on the edges of the mountain. Also since last few hours there wasn’t any trace of villagers who climb up to Matheran or down to the village in Thakurwadi.

We were all stuck, stuck between life and death. All I could think of was Lord Dattaguru who has always stood by me in difficult times. Me and my sister were already praying and in no time one of my friends who was ahead spotted a villager wearing a yellow raincoat climbing down with jaggery(गुळाची ढेप). He was going to his home for lunch. He agreed to help us reach the top. With his help we climbed a number of steep points and risky edges which I am sure we otherwise wouldn’t have climbed. Finally we reached the top where the first thing I could see was a tree there were photos of different deities (You will find this in many places in India) and my eyes fell on the big photograph of Lord Dattaguru. I immediately folded my hands and my eyes were full of tears, my sister who was by my side since I was getting exhausted quickly sensed that I am getting too emotional, gestured me to control myself. I composed myself and then we walked.

I must not forget to mention about a black dog who accompanied us from Bhivpuri station to Matheran. He climbed with us all the way and was shivering because of the heavy rains. I felt sorry as there was little I could do to help him. We offered him biscuits which we had and I had thought of gibing him hot milk after we reach the hotel at Matheran, but before we reached the hotel he went away.

The reason I have titled this post as an unforgettable day is not because we successfully managed to reached the top or not because the trek was full of adventure and thrill but because I have never before felt the presence of Lord Dattaguru so profoundly and strongly around me. Or I should put it as of all the times I have felt his presence, I realized it more profoundly this time

|| श्री गुरुदेव दत्त ||

Reality Shows & Children

Reality shows are the growing trend on television these days in India. Some shows have children participants. Many of them are dance competitions or singing competitions or comedy shows where audience is to vote through SMS and judges are also there to evaluate them.

Some days back I was watching a similar reality show where after the child was done with his singing, the judge commented "Beta aapne bahut accha gaya .. par jo expressions the woh nahi aaye" . I was shocked at his statement, was it right on his part to expect the correct expressions of the song from the child? Should a child at the age of 10 know and understand the expressions required for a love song and sing accordingly? Not at all. I felt the judge was irresponsible while making this statement, all he could have done was evaluated the song on the basis of taal and sur; the expressions weren't required for that type of song at that young age. 

I think children should be made to sing  some some devotional , patriotic songs or the ones which are made exclusively for children; though I feel there arent many considering the Hindi film industry. Their Marathi counterparts are better off when it comes to reality shows, I remember the Little champs "sa re ga ma pa", it was very well managed by the host and the judges. On one such occasion, the judge Vaishali Samant had commented that she did not expect the children to sing with expressions when it comes to such songs.

Moreover the parents also need to understand before exposing the children to the harshness of the reality shows. Some parents are eager to see their children perform on television, but at the cost of what ... their innocence? It makes me wonder where as a society we are heading? On one side we have removed the merit list to reduce the competition and stress levels of children and on the other side we are exposing them to the competitive world at a very young age. Isn't there already enough competition once you grow up?

Too Busy...

I am well aware that I haven't posted anything sensible since a long time... My blog has experienced more of my silence these days. Its not that I am running out of topics to write, just not having enough time to elaborate on any topic that comes to my mind.

Unfortunately this might continue till next month as my exams are round the corner..

Hope to catch up soon..  :)

Eyes speak

They say eyes speak a lot about ones soul.....

Good people in my life.

This post is written to acknowledge all the good people in my life who have been with me and care a lot about me. It is a human tendency to complain about the not so bright part of your life and keep cribbing about it. But each one of us has something in life which we should be happy about. I am living a blessed life full of so many good people who care and love me.

The most important are my family. My mother who will come up with an instruction set for me right from cooking to shopping. She is a complete disciplinarian. Be it her anger or the selfless care, its all for my benefit. Then my father who is cool, understanding and always supportive in everything. My two younger sisters with whom I have spend a few years of my life fighting on trivial issues (they seem trivial now). Be it about watching a television channel or reading a book, we have fought on almost all things. But  the bottom line remains that they do care.

My close friends with whom I have spent my college days helping each other with assignments, studies during exams. They know my absentmindedness when it it comes to using a cell phone. Most of the times I am unaware that the phone is ringing (as its always on vibrator) and end up missing all calls. They know I am never on time when we decide to meet up :-) . They are the ones who just call up once a while to know what I am upto.

I must not forget to mention about my pet cat in this post. I know she isn't a human being but does show human traits. By human traits here, I mean she is extremely moody. Sometimes she would respond when you call her by her name but otherwise would act deaf no matter how many times you call. When I talk to her she either walks away, yawns or gives me a blank look wondering if I make any sense to her. At other times she would do 'meow  meow' non stop for couple of minutes throwing long sentences at me which I fail to understand.

Well this post doesn't end here as I am looking forward to make new relations and I am sure I would be meeting a lot more good people.

Ciao!

The Impossible

These pictures are worth a thousand words...

The impossible is often the untried

My blog - Speaking my mind aloud..

Since my school days I had this feeling of a writing a diary, but it never really happened. I just collected diaries from my father and after scribbling a few lines utilized the rest for solving some maths problems or making notes.

Just a few months back while chatting with a friend, he suggested that I should start blogging. I was little apprehensive initially as I wasn't sure about what should I write (which I am still not) and finally decided that I would write about any random thoughts that come to my mind.

So here I blog and what you would follow on this blog are the reflections of my mind on things relating to this world so I can have a good laugh when I re-read them some years down the line...

Funny Leave/Job applications

This post is a funny email I had received a long time back. They are collection of leave and job applications.

Hope you like them..

1) "Since I have to go to my village to sell my land along with my wife, please sanction me one-week leave."

2) This is from an employee who was performing the "mundan" ceremony of his 10 year old son:
"As I want to shave my son's head, please leave me for two days.."

3) Leave-letter from an employee who was performing his daughter's wedding:
"As I am marrying my daughter, please grant a week's leave.."

4) Leave-letter from an employee who was supposed to perform the last rites of his mother-in-law
"As my mother-in-law has expired and I am only one responsible for it, please grant me 10 days leave."

5) Employee applying for half day
"Since I've to go to the cremation ground at 10 o-clock and I may not return, please grant me half day casual leave"

6) Another Leave application
"I am suffering from fever, please declare one day holiday."

7) A leave letter to the headmaster:
"As I am studying in this school I am suffering from headache. I request you to leave me today"

8) Another leave letter written to the headmaster:
"As my headache is paining, please grant me leave for the day."

9) Covering note:
"I am enclosed herewith..."

10) Another one:
"Dear Sir: with reference to the above, please refer to my below..."

11) Letter written for application of leave:
"My wife is suffering from sickness and as I am her only husband at home I may be granted leave".

12) A candidate's job application:
"This has reference to your advertisement calling for a ' Typist and an Accountant - Male or Female'... As I am both for the past several years and I can handle both with good experience, I am applying for the post.

A Few Lessons from Life

1) Criticism doesn't always bring the best in the people, it can discourage and put them off completely . Choose wisely

2) Office politics..Try not to get involved and affected by it

3) Think before you speak and don't speak when you are angry as you arent in the right frame of mind to think. Wounds created by harsh words may never heal.

4) First impressions can be misleading. After all they are based on our mindset and prejudices.

5) Find time for yourself to do things you love to

6) Show affection, love for the people you care about. Express your emotions

7) If you have a problem, talk and sort it out rather than not speaking at all.

8) Money is not everything in life. What you feel has nothing to do with how much you have.

9) Money has no memories, experience has.. you don't remember know how much you spend on your education, but you remember your school days, college days and the friends you made.

10) Life is beautiful, don't let circumstances and society fool you into believing its not.

11) No matter what Life goes on.

12) When you are feeling helpless remind yourself that this too shall pass. Have faith in yourself and God

13) God doesn't give one person all the happiness and other person all the miseries. Every one has got their own set of happiness and difficulties.

14) Smile because it hardly goes unreturned.

15) Don't wait for big things to bring you happiness. Find happiness in little things of life as well.

16) Speak your mind, but also learn to keep your mouth shut sometimes.

Rain Rain Come Again !!!

This year the summer is too hot here in Mumbai. The scorching heat is simply unbearable..
Today since afternoon , it seemed a little cloudy.

Hope it rains... I simply love it when it rains..

Tears & Me

Unlike many people, I cry pretty easily. Not that I am a cry baby, people who know me can vouch for this but I simply have no qualms in crying and it isnt a ego problem for me at all.

My tear glands are super sensitive... I cry watching a touchy movie or seeing the people I love in pain.
You can see some good thick tears rolling down my cheeks when watching movies like Kuck Kuch hota hai, Dil to Pagal hai or any family drama..

People in the garb of being strong have done away with shedding tears. I believe the ones who feel are the ones who truly live and there is nothing wrong in expressing your emotions.

Once upon a time

I wonder with so many inventions we have screwed up our life more rather than making it better.

There was a time when people led a calm peaceful life... They were happy and satisfied.. and now the days have come where we have to learn the Art of Living ... Art of Breathing... :P

Aaj din chadiya..

Aaj din chadiya.... a really nice song.. with equally good lyrics ...

The song kept lingering on my mind all through the day... This is what happens when u sleep the night before listening to the song.

efarming - Farmville

Have been wondering what makes most of my friends play Farmville on Facebook... Well checked it out today...

Thanks to Farmville we have lot many of efarmers today:) ... cultivating various crops on their farm.

Happy Farming!!

5 Things

5 Things I am passionate about:
1) Books
2) Music
3) People I love and care about
4) Internet... always upgrading my knowledge
5) Nature..

5 Words or Phrases I use often:
1) Cool
2) Oh shit
3) Hmmm
4) Sahiii
5) Arey yaar...

5 Things on my Wish List:
1) A trip to some exotic place
2) A nice camera...
3) A garden full of flowers...
4) A nice stroll on a beach barefooted...
5) Learning to whistle...

Interview of SindhuTai Sapkal

Today I watched the interview of Sindhu tai Sapkal telecasted on IBN Lokmat

SindhuTai Sapkal, a brave woman who fought back inspite of all adversities and now has a numerous awards to her credit.She runs four ashrams for the basic rights of the underprivileged children which includes education.

It is difficult to believe that this woman once contemplated suicide when she was unable to feed her daughter. She used to make a living by begging in the train after she was disowned by her husband and family.

Read More

What is life if full of care?

This is the poem which comes to my mind when I think of life of a software engineer

A poem by William Henry Davies..

What is life if full of care,
we have no time to stand and
stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or
cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in
grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at
night.

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can
dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and
stare.

An Autobiography of Yogi

Last week I came across an article titled An Autobiography of Yogi in the newly started The Speaking Tree issue of the Times of India... The article was nothing but first chapter from the book, describing childhood days of Paramhansa Yoganandaji and his parents.

Though I have read quite a few book on spirituality, this one keeps lingering on mind always... I have read the book almost thrice by now.. and still feeling I should read it again :) ...

Jaane kya chahe mann bawara...

Today is one of those days when I have suddenly started feeling low for no reason at all......Making all efforts to cheer myself..... so that I can be back to my own self.......

Remembered this song...

Jaane kya chaahe mann baanwra
aankhiyan mere saawan chalaa

saghan aanchal sada hor hove
sajan ansuvan mein kya jor hove
kya jor hove, apne jiya pe
mann to mara ye manchala

jaane kya chaahe mann baanwra
aankhiyan mere saawan chalaa

pawan purva mein yun udta jaave
badra chanda se mann judta jaave
aave hawa ka, jhonka phir aisa
toote patang ki dor sa

jaane kya chaahe mann baanwra
aankhiyan mere saawan chalaa

Newtons Law

Newton's 4th law for exams:
Every book will continue to be at rest, or covered with dust,
until some external or internal exam moves it....

Who, Me?

One day, a little orphan girl stood
at the street corner begging for
food, money or anything she
could get. Her clothes were in
tatters and she looked dishevelled.
 A well-to-do man passed that
 corner without giving the girl a
second look. But, when he returned
to his plush home to his happy
 family and a well-laden dinner
table, his thoughts returned to
the orphan. he was angry with
God for allowing such
conditions to exist.
 He reproached God, saying
"How can you let this happen?
Why don't you do something
to help this girl?"
He heard God in the depths of
his being say:
   "I did, I created you."

(This has been taken from the Speaking Tree supplement of the Times of India)

umm hmmm

Its the first thought in the morning.
Its the last thought at night.
Its the sudden smile in the middle of busy hours.
Its what makes mind wander a million miles away.
Its the bright spot in an already sunny day.
Flutter of heart in the crowded street.
Its the blanket of comfort in the empty room.
Its the difference between living and feeling alive.

Got these wordings in the Times of India.. Liked them and hence posted it here...

A peaceful day

Today I felt good and happy from within after a long time.

Feeling peaceful and sooo happy...

My day at a Veterinary hospital

Last two days have been pretty tough for me. My little cat wasnt keeping well. She had to be hospitalized.

Early morning we rushed to the hospital to check on her. She was sitting at the very far corner of the cage they had kept her in. Also her eyes were moist and I could see she had cried all night
But yes I was glad she was recuperating.

That was my first visit to the veterinary hospital. Well I must say the hospital was good and clean. Moreover the office staff and the doctors were helpful too. The campus of the hospital was huge and there was ample space to accommodate different animals.

They had separate wards for different animals dogs, cats, cows, horses, birds etc. They had separate rooms for ICU s, X ray etc.All the animals were being checked on a daily basis. The hospital staff ensured they were properly fed and given medications on time.

Soon after the doctors had checked my cat, we left the place, my heart filling with gratitude for the people who are doing so much for animals, also to the person who donated land for such a noble cause.

Hats off to you all...

School Days

Did we ever notice that though the days seem long, years pass by quickly?

Just a few days back, looking at the school children playing, I remembered my school days.Those were the best years of my life. The time we enjoyed, studied, made friends.

Those were the days when

• we used to prepare the bags, finish off the homework with great efforts the day before
• summer vacations, diwali holidays were a reality and regular part of our lives
• the homework during diwali was always started at the last moment and completed somehow just the day before school reopens
• summer vacation meant a trip to my native place with my cousins.
• by-hearting tables was a big time activity
• we had a time table to follow the subjects to be studied during the day. Maths and Science were my favorites :)
  
• we always had a welcome song in the annual gathering. I remember participating a number of times. Also I vividly remember my sis all dressed in yellow and was a mango in another song... those were the early school days
• waking up early morning on a Saturday and having a PT session at the school was no big deal
• we had a school bus to pick and drop home
• we all played Holi on the way back home in the school bus during the festival.
• Antakshari and Name Place Animal Thing were the most popular games
• there was a ban on having cable TV and we used to watch DD1 and DD Metro. I remember waking up early to watch Rangoli on sunday mornings
• there was always a class monitor
• school picnic meant a visit to National park, Chotta Kashmir, the then Goldspot company, Vihar lake etc
• we were asked to write an essay after almost every school picnic.

Life has moved on and so have we. But still I miss those days when life was so simple.