Friday, March 11, 2011

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Something that put me to think...The impending Singularity in our future is increasingly transforming every institution & aspect of human life, from sexuality to spirituality

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Irritability is immaturity of character. If U R subject 2 being cross & unpleasant with others 4 no apparent reason, U need 2 come face-2-face with the fact that U R thinking too much of Urself. After all, Ur feelings R not the most important things in this world
Something tht I read - I am neither bitter nor cynical but I do wish there was less immaturity in political thinking.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Monday, March 07, 2011

Friendship isn’t a big thing – it’s a million little things...




It was a weekend evening when we got invited by our friends for a Christmas eve get together.
Meeting with friends on weekends is always a bonus as you not only get to meet friends but also get to eat good food!
We reached our friends place and one by one each family started joining the party.
Along with the food, wine and other drinks were also served. I was introduced to one of the friend who was visiting US on a project.
My friend said, meet Shanti she is my schoolmate and she is here on a project. Me and Shanti we had never met before and after we were introduced we just started our conversation and it was a never ending one. From one topic to the other it went on and the best part was that we both got so connected that I was not able to talk to other friends with whom I usually mingle with.
That night when we were parting we exchanged our emails and phone numbers. We were in touch as long she was here and one day she said that she is going back to India as her task is finished here.



She moved to Bangalore and after couple of emails there were no communication. Once in a blue moon she will wake up and send me a mail asking how are things and whenever I am sending greetings to my friends on different occasions she is also included in the emails and so we still connect once in a while.
We are not in touch and we don’t email each other very often however whenever we connect it’s the same feeling and depth of knowing each other so well – now that’s what I call friendship, that’s what is called connection and in real sense that is the true friend who doesn’t interpret my actions as not interested but rather she understands we all are busy in our life in many different ways and hence we care for each other and it remains inside our heart.
Recently I get to hear that she is getting married and I cannot express my happiness as how happy I am to hear this.

May this day you share
be filled with love and laughter
May all the days ahead
be happy ever after!

I dedicate this post for a friend who is getting married to start a new life. I would like to give all my best wishes and prayers to this friend for joining this part of life which includes the path of change yet the path of happiness and togetherness.

"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart." ~ Elisabeth Foley


Friday, March 04, 2011

Is Love Really Blind?

Today being weekend eve, I would like to share a very touching story of a friend who could never think of anything else besides numbers. Yes, when I say numbers it means the marks at school.
She was a bubbly, fun loving yet good in studies, sports, story writing – you name it. Such a talented and focused girl was pretty boring when it came to boys.
Everything was good about her except that she never gave attention to any boys. She has made her reputation herself.
After finishing school, she joined college and took degree and did her masters and got a good job.
By now she was a beautiful well groomed girl with a nice paying job and status in the society. Her job was of a big responsibility and hence she was sent for training to one city to other.
During her training session she meets lot of people there as colleagues and it so happened that one of them really impressed her. Her nature was good and so was her heart and when cupid worked no one knows. On the valentine’s day she got a rose from this person and there was no end to their love.
When you are in love, you don’t see how one looks or even what place he belongs to. This is so truly depicted here when she discusses this with her parents so that she can proceed with her marriage with everyone’s blessings.
Her dad who always wanted her to live on his principles didn’t accept this decision coming from there.
When she showed the picture of her love, he denied and said think this was a mistake and you will forget him. We will find a nice guy and marry you off.
The girl and the boy both were matured and were individually capable to support themselves decided to go ahead and marry.
The couple married and even before they could seek blessings of their parents the girl’s parents disowned her.
This made her very sad as lifelong she followed her dad’s instruction, when it came to her happiness how come no one even gave a chance to think?
Today she and her husband living in US with the expectation that her parents will change their mind and will accept them.
The husband doesn’t see any hope as he walks with his stick trying to catch the flight for his business trip.
I wondered who say’s love is blind or even beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder – it all resides inside one’s heart.
This couple are the living examples and I feel so proud about them.

“True love stories never have endings” ~ Richard Bach

Thursday, March 03, 2011

How corrupt you are to follow corruption?

‘Dandi March’ which our Father of Nation MK Gandhi initiated for ‘Salt Satyagraha’ – an important part of Indian independence movement that was taught to us in History took place around 1930. Recently I read an article where in some NRI’s are initiating this ‘Dandi March II’ on March 12th from MLK’s memorial park in San Diego through LA and it will end on March 26th at Gandhi Statue in San Francisco. I also hear that this date coincides with the dates when actually MK Gandhi did this in 1930. This is against the corruption in India.
When I read this article, I remembered my days when I was working with Marico Industries – a food manufacturing company where I alone participated against corruption only to bring hope within my team that if we decide ‘We Can’ then we will definitely be successful in eradicating corruption from our system, it’s up to us .
I had completed my education in Employee Relations and Labor Laws & Labor Welfare where along the way while fulfilling my duties towards the company I used to also help the workers know about their rights.
Every year we have to get the factory records signed by the Labor Welfare Officer who will check if we are maintaining the law and order for the factory requirements as per the State Act – this is a special and empowered rights to the state of Maharashtra workers.
After joining the company this was my first off-site job where I had to take all the files and registers to the government office to get their approval signature which allows us to be a true citizen in the field of Factory law and also proving justice towards our employees/workers. I was asked by my Factory manager to meet the Finance manager before leaving to meet the Labor Welfare Officer.
I had made sure we have all reasons under the law for things to have and not to have. I was very confident that my report and register will be signed and hence we don’t have to bribe anyone, as my Finance manager asked me to get cash from the accountant for my visit. I took an envelope that was handed over to me saying this is Rs. 5000.
I went to the government office in my Company car to meet the official and get the signature approval. I had to wait even though I was in there on time. The peon kept telling me, ‘our sir will go home and I kept telling him he can’t go without meeting me as I have taken an appointment.
He said by using his hand for money, ‘If you would want me to place your file ahead let me know’!
I hated that gesture and keeping my cool, I said, ‘I will give it straight to him so if he wants he will share it with you.’
My turn came and I went to the office and introduced myself to him and handed over the register for him to look through. The government official started looking through the register and he started asking about some Mr. Joshi who used to come with these files. I said he was an acting HR during that time though his role is to be a QA manager and now I am permanently placed at this position so you will have to deal with me and not Mr. Joshi.
He didn’t like that.
He looked through the documents and he said you guys do not have a CRESH for women and I see you have some 450 women employees as laborers. I said if you look through the list of names – we only have 22 permanent women employees for which we do not have to provide CRESH facility inside the factory and the rest of them are contract labors and medically certified that they are not able to produce any kids due to age and/or other medical operations that individuals have adopted with.
He had nothing to point out and hence he signed the documents and I thanked him.
Next day I reported first thing in the morning to my Finance department and made sure accountant adds back the Rs 5000 in the company account.
Our morning coffee conversation was – What happened that the money is submitted back into company accounts? All I gave them was a big smile!!!

This was a proud moment for me as I changed the history in the Marico Industry at Pune, where everyone advised me to give bribe as there is no other way to get away with it. We will be in serious trouble and I kept telling them it’s we who promote such things and hence this will never end from our system. To get this bacteria out of our system we have to take that initiative and that too without fear of any consequences.
I did it! You can too!!!
I support the cause of eradicating corruption from our system do you and how are you doing it?


Wednesday, March 02, 2011

A Warm Human Hand-Clasp - Mail

I remember how I used to write diary as a kid and then it later got into blogging.
Today I have decided to publish some of the letters that I received and as things go further many letters may come out here as a memory.
This is a tribute to all those who fall in love and write mails to their loved ones to propose or even express love…. The names will not be mentioned here for privacy reasons.
Hi xxxx
Sending you this mail at the early hours of Sunday. Though for me Saturday has passed to Sunday uninformed. I want to tell you how good I felt talking to you today. My story today was piece of what I am and in honest ways how I have visualized myself. I hope you feel comfortable with what you heard.
From what we have spoken I can tell you that I want you to be part of my life.
I can tell you that I want to look at you as my ‘reason for life’. My meaning to what I make of myself. I am not much used to the romantic words of saying I love you, but I know that you could make me complete as a person and I will live to be worthy to show you how much I love you.
That’s the best I can present myself romantically.
Can call me xxxx and send a mail if you feel you could share similar feelings with me.
You are the best that could happen to me.
If you feel I am being too fast in getting into conclusions, please do bear with me.
I have always said what my mind feels. And I feel I need to tell you this now.
May be its best said by mail, But if you agree, I would like to say the same by phone as well.

Sometimes writing does the magic which a person cannot do it in person :-)
The person had no patience after sending this so he sends another mail checking if I received this mail or not…when the person didn’t get a response to both the mails he decides to make a phone call :-)
Patience is what we lose when Love is in the air…


You always put your family first…How true is it?


I was just going through my postal mail when I saw a mail coming from Canada.
I opened it and it had these lines “You always put your family first… and we want to help.”
It was about the government program for the Canadian citizens for the Universal Child Care Benefit, for Children’s Fitness Tax Credit, for Post-Secondary education and much more…!

Such a nice thought isn’t it that a country thinks so much about your kids and family and I am thinking what we do to make this family happy, healthy and flourishing?

The other day at lunch time one of my friend said, ‘we all say hello – hi by sitting in different rooms of one single house to each other – i.e. kids and parents’ and she said remember when we were kids how we used to have our family sitting together whether it’s near the dinner table or near the fire place, it used to have so much meaning and bonding that even when my parents are not there I still miss them and value their teaching and try to induce those in my kids. But what can I do…they are growing up here and it’s all about computers and internet.

It took me to my childhood days. Growing up in NDA always induced certain discipline element in us and hence there was no question as why we have to come to dining table to eat our dinner or snacks. It was understandable if you don’t reach to the breakfast table at 8.30 a.m. then no one has time to wait for you and everyone will finish their breakfast and move on with their daily routine. The person who used to come late will always feel that guilt as he or she has to sit alone on the dining table and eat the breakfast without having anyone to talk to. Those days it used to hurt but the best things that I remember even today is from those moments.
We used to have our evening tea time when my mom and dad used to come from work and I used to make tea for them and some snacks – either I make it by following the recipe from the magazine or the cookies that my mom used to bring from Canteen – either way it was a refreshing moment for my parents who come all the way from work tired driving and having a sip of tea along with those snacks they would look at us and ask what happened today at school? What made us happy and what was not so good according to us.
I was known to be a story teller as I have a way to describe each and every detail of that single day. I will even describe what our teacher was wearing and how my friend and myself were discussing about a topic on dad’s after reading a story from Reader’s digest – all this used to be shared there and in between I will see my brother fighting to get in his point and so forth. When we both kids are satisfied with our stories and we are done with our tea, I will see my mom sharing her office issues and concerns and dad as always giving solutions to it. I have always seen such sessions as family time which I see in today’s time we lack. Our kids are growing without knowing what family value is, they are thrown into stuff where parents think we are keeping them busy with all kinds of programs and extracurricular activities. The child though keeps hearing about family and family values through books or movies…but if we don’t implement them ourselves how are they going to even get to see a glimpse of it?
I have never seen my parents fighting though there will be instances where my mom may not agree with my dad on certain topics but they both had their justification to it and no one’s ego was crushed. That’s called understanding.

Today kids eat in their room or they may end up eating by watching TV or reading books…we are becoming more social on the internet though face book and twitter but in reality we are so far in same house but sitting in different rooms.

There was a time when families in India used to live in one room with 2-3 siblings and yet they all were able to live and have their privacy – today we have rooms for each member in the house and what’s the use we go in those rooms and sit and socialize and make visual friends. You add your friends up to 500 on face book and you feel good about it. In reality physically how many friends do you go to with whom you can chat and discuss things where in your friend can straight tell you on your face what you are doing is right or wrong or even consider thinking about certain things which is for your own goodness? If you ever happen to have such friends also people will break the friendship with such because they don’t like anyone to show them the mirror. But then how are we going to bring this change into our life, when we talk about the continuous change and collaboration and family concept?
MK Gandhi, said to see a change that you would like to bring in implement in you first…(not exactly in those words) but you need to change yourself first to see that change around you.
Sadly, social networks are making money and adding more and more applications to keep everyone busy only to see each individual is kept busy with activities whether it is on the net or on the programs such as swimming, soccer etc.

Companies will grow and mint money but the families won’t be there to live together. The mere concept of it is eradicating from our society and yet when someone tries to bring the change – how well this change is faced? How much are we thinking what’s good for our kids? Again, the note from the Canadian mail reminds me the words ‘You Always Put Your Family First…” Do we?
Can we help ourselves first and then seek help later if needed?

“Family faces are magic mirrors.  Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future” ~ Gail Lumet Buckley


Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Love is like dew that falls on both nettles and lillies...

One of our colleague is getting married and so the team decided to honor his moment in a special way by cutting cake and sharing some gifts as token of love and good wishes.
It was called 'Man Shower' ~ what a weird name - I thought in fact some other members too thought of the same…but anyway the purpose was to have little fun and more of to give him the good wishes.

It was a surprise event….our manager really did a good job in keeping that serious face and calling it out a quick meeting on some of the work that our colleague was doing. We all were already in the room and hence screamed out to him as he entered ~ 'Surprise!!! and the smile was worth watching on his face.

Everyone troubled him by asking different kinds of question and saying you still have time to pull out of it…and what not. Few gave him advices as what to do and what not to do…and there was one of the colleague who is married for 22 years and I thought that is so awesome but then I went in deep thought when he said as you grow you learn no one is perfect and then you will see you are also not the same who you were before marriage which made me kind of think ~ no! that's not what I want to be!?!

"Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end."

I want to be what I am! What I was as a kid and the change shouldn't be part of accommodating or sacrificing…that would be painful isn't it?

If experience brings the wisdom in us then marriage anniversaries should bring more freedom and more comfort in relationships - isn't it?

Well, I think any relationship no matter how long or how short it is been, fights or not so big fights it all evaporates if love exists there.

Love is the only element that lets you forget and forgive and brings you back to your friend no matter how big issue you have between each other.

So friends, don't give up on love. It's worth sharing if you have love. It's worth caring for someone if you feel so for someone, It's worth loving if you love someone - don't worry what will happen and if the other person loves you or not…love is such a fragrance that it will always spread the beautiful odor all around and will keep you happy and motivated.
 Love is beyond any institution, religion and discrimination - it's that pure…

"Love has no desire but to fulfill itself. To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving". ~ Khalil Gibran

Monday, February 07, 2011

Personality is born out of pain. It is the fire shut up in the flint...

As a first year science student in Ferguson, we used to rush from one class to the other and to cover it all practicals and completing journals would used to take away the remaining peace of mind.
Central School product and secondly coming from National Defense Academy, it kept us in discipline even in college days where actually one is supposed to enjoy the freedom of getting out of school life.
I remember I was told not to sit in the class if all the students are doing mass-bunk. This sounded very weird to me but then I thought to take it with a pinch of salt at that time.
I still remember after a heavy duty practical session – standing in the lab all evening had squeezed out all the energy and after 5 rushing to catch the Pune Municipal Transportation bus number 83/84/85 – to reach home was killing.
Our bus timings were one hours frequency and that day we girls were so tired and fed-up of this routine run around to catch the 5:00 p.m. bus that we as a mass decided to go to Vaishali restaurant and get rid of our hunger and tiredness.
We entered the Vaishali restaurant and sat on the right hand side of the table where two each of us were sitting with a hungry face yet a worried expression on our faces. Lingoo the server came and looked at us and gave a smile.
 Lingoo, who has a salt and pepper hair, his teeth colored with beetle leaves yet that smile has so much warmth that anyone in that restaurant comes in feels so welcoming and more over one will forget all their worries and would look forward to hear what they have to offer.
Lingoo came to me and said what are you worrying about…do you want to know what’s good here? because I think you girls are new here…first year student?

and I smiled nodding my head as yes, and with a wondering expression as how he know all this.
We four girls ordered and then Lingoo brought us tea – saying this will relieve all your worries…indeed Vaishali tea…I still have that taste in my mouth – and still remember the wide white cup – it really had that magic which took all our worries away. We were concentrating on our food in between when I looked around there was another server called Vasu…who used to give a cunning smile and look and walk away when Lingoo came and said …that guy is a crazy guy – don’t indulge with him.
“Hospitality is making your guests feel at home, even if you wish they were”
As soon we see Lingoo disappeared in the kitchen Vasu comes and says that guy Lingoo he is a bit crazy so you girls better be careful and don’t smile too much with him…
All this was so funny and entertaining that how we spent our three years there and later on also the experience never changed and it was all because of people like Lingoo and Vasu who kept entertaining the guests – They treated us like their own kids…they used to come and help everyone whether you’re after some girl or boy – Lingoo and Vasu will give you proper and right advice and information.
My last meet with Lingoo was in 2005…when I went with Milind for a coffee…one after the other coffees came  in and as we left the place Lingoo came in and blessed saying be happy where ever you are …those words are still lingering in my ears …that smiling face where his eyes used to almost close – Vaishali won’t be the same again…We will miss you Lingoo….
May your soul rest in peace and give your family the strength to bear this loss. The person who was so senior to all of us Lingappa was always known to students as Lingoo…he had no other name and I think love has only one name…You will be missed yet your stories will remain alive as generation after generation people will recite…

“Attractiveness and magnetism of man’s personality is the result of his inner radiance”

Monday, January 24, 2011

I shall not die of a cold. I shall die of having lived…


Life sometimes really teaches you so many things in so many different ways.
I have realized this as I was growing up.

I remember it was spring time when I used to see this dark skinny guy wearing white shirt and white lungi (a traditional outfit for men in Southern part of India) with a black framed specs. The first thing I noticed was his smile where in I could see few twisted or broken teeth.
He used to come to our neighbor’s house where he used to make the ladies stitch the clothes. In a way he was making living for himself but at the same time he was giving a way of living to the ladies who were our neighbor’s sisters.

My dad used to come from office whether during lunch time or even after office hours this guy used to come and chit chat with him. They used to exchange cigarettes, at times my dad would prepare tea and invite him and things started moving on in this way.
I was a little girl watching him all the time as to me he was still a stranger…though people used to address him as Tailor Master. He used to give sweets to me and during summer vacation time he used to play with us carom board just like kids…he was an expert and I always had this in mind that I want to defeat him at least in one game.

He used to coach me at times, he used to get mad at me at times when I am making mistakes while hitting the coins. He used to challenge me and many times I have accepted it and won as well and as a reward he used to give me money.
Important thing to note was not how much but whatever he could figure out the amount that is rolled into his shirt’s sleeves he will remove it and give it to me.

Taking money from anyone is not considered a good habit and I was very scared to do so. The first time he gave me the reward that was in front of my parents and when parents said that’s okay…he said, ‘No, but I gave her the word so in my case you should let your daughter to take it and since then taking money from Tailor Master as a reward or bet became common. I felt proud one time when I defeated him in the game in fact Tailor Master was surprised and he was amazed too.

“As we struggle to make sense of things, life looks on in repose”






Tailor Master was a guy who had no relatives, no family members. He was a single guy – working as a Tailor in Goal Market in National Defense Academy (NDA) – Goyal Clothing Store. He used to decide whether he will go to work or not. At times his absence from work will lead to no money and at that time my granny who was visiting us that summer used to invite him for lunch and dinner.

That’s the time I actually came to know he was alone and has no one to be called as his own. I used to ask lot of questions to my granny on this…as how can one be without anyone – isn’t it sad?
I used to be nice with Tailor Master, my granny went back and I took her place when it came to lunch, dinner or tea for Tailor Master. He used to tell my parents that I am very kind heart and it could be a problem for me as people can take advantage of my this nature.

There were times when I used to get angry with Tailor Master as he used to tease me and play pranks on me – even though his age was more than my dad – his childish attitude gave me freedom to play pranks on him, or tease him etc.
My mom always used to tell me call him uncle and not Tailor Master but I never could change as everyone else used to call him that way.

I remember my school uniforms were all stitched by him. I tell you he was an expert in that and hence no wonder his leave of absence never lead him to be jobless. In school when other girls used to see my uniform they used to ask their tailors to stitch that way and when they couldn’t get it exactly then they came to me asking for my tailor. His work was amazing – he used to always remind me of a traveler whether sunny, rain or winter he used to be in the same outfit.
I remember one time he came to my mom and said I don’t know by the time your daughter gets married will I be still alive so let me contribute some money as and when I can so that later you can buy a gift for her from my side.

I still feel that was such a touching thought…I used to collect the coins and bills in the powder tin and bought a golden locket for my necklace.
He used to speak his heart for which some liked him and some didn’t. I always liked him for what he said, what he shared and always enjoyed the part where I used to fight with him – but it was very sad to hear yesterday when my dad said he is no more…!
He was supposed to meet my dad this month. It’s true one can’t say anything about humans.
I pay my tribute by remembering him since my childhood till date. May his soul rest in peace. I am sure he is watching me and giving his blessings too. Even though he came to this world all alone ..he lived all alone as per his will and he made friends and family along the way as he crossed through places in life and I am pretty sure he has touched many lives who will be thankful to him and will be praying for him.

”A man does not die of love or his liver or even of old age; he dies of being a man”

We are all different. Don’t judge, understand instead!!!

This year, right from its inception, has unfolded with a profound sense of intrigue. My surroundings are bustling with noteworthy events – t...