The tall, dusky lady at the back row in the class was very silent until the last day of our three day workshop organized for rural women.The targeted audience was women who could not continue their studies after matriculation or PUC due to different reasons. We spoke about various options available to pursue higher education even within the comforts of their homes, even without spending thousands for admission fees, tuitions, living expenses etc. Most of them were working in an Auto Manufacturing unit that employed about 500+ women in their factory floors and assembly lines. With ageing parents to support, and kids attending the local primary school, quitting the job to pursue higher education was out of question for all of them. They worked 8hrs a day, six days a week, for a meager 2000 per month.
In the first two days, we were mostly talking about opportunities in pharmacy, nursing, engineering diploma, trade certifications etc. Majority of them were matriculates; and talking about anything beyond this repertoire did not make sense to us. My colleague was winding up the last session on the third day. The lady at the back row stood up, sir "can you also talk about management education? I know it may not make sense for me to even dream about a MBA at this time, but I would really like to know." The rest of the class was silent.
Shira Banu was a school drop out. She worked in the factory floors for two years as a cleaner, sold pan and tea near the bus stop in the evenings and went back to school the following year. With an ageing father, and two siblings still in primary schools, Shira struggled to complete her PUC. Having secured 65% marks in the commerce stream; and standing fourth in the state, she caught media attention. Her life and achievements were featured in most of the city news papers, and TV channels!
Three years down the line, Shira graduated in Commerce by attending evening classes, and continued working on the factory floors during the day. Her absolute commitment and sincerity at the workplace got her multiple accolades, and was promoted as an accountant in the back office. The NGO that we were part of worked through various media to bring her story to the masses. Well wishers came forward with the offers of sponsoring her higher education.
Sipping coffee and skimming through the newspaper on that lazy Sunday morning, it took quite a while for me to recollect the smiling face of Shira. Come next fall, she is heading to one of the world's leading BSchools to pursue the management education that she has been dreaming for years! With exemplary academics, five years of solid work experience, and armed with hard learned lessons from her own life, am sure she had one of the most genuine, straight from the heart Statement of Purpose!
What an incredible journey! Dreams come free of cost; but she also knew their realization doesn't!
Cheers
Roy
Monday, June 13, 2011
Look who is going to BSchool this fall!
The tall, dusky lady at the back row in the class was very silent until the last day of our three day workshop organized for rural women.The targeted audience was women who could not continue their studies after matriculation or PUC due to different reasons. We spoke about various options available to pursue higher education even within the comforts of their homes, even without spending thousands for admission fees, tuitions, living expenses etc. Most of them were working in an Auto Manufacturing unit that employed about 500+ women in their factory floors and assembly lines. With ageing parents to support, and kids attending the local primary school, quitting the job to pursue higher education was out of question for all of them. They worked 8hrs a day, six days a week, for a meager 2000 per month.
In the first two days, we were mostly talking about opportunities in pharmacy, nursing, engineering diploma, trade certifications etc. Majority of them were matriculates; and talking about anything beyond this repertoire did not make sense to us. My colleague was winding up the last session on the third day. The lady at the back row stood up, sir "can you also talk about management education? I know it may not make sense for me to even dream about a MBA at this time, but I would really like to know." The rest of the class was silent.
Shira Banu was a school drop out. She worked in the factory floors for two years as a cleaner, sold pan and tea near the bus stop in the evenings and went back to school the following year. With an ageing father, and two siblings still in primary schools, Shira struggled to complete her PUC. Having secured 65% marks in the commerce stream; and standing fourth in the state, she caught media attention. Her life and achievements were featured in most of the city news papers, and TV channels!
Three years down the line, Shira graduated in Commerce by attending evening classes, and continued working on the factory floors during the day. Her absolute commitment and sincerity at the workplace got her multiple accolades, and was promoted as an accountant in the back office. The NGO that we were part of worked through various media to bring her story to the masses. Well wishers came forward with the offers of sponsoring her higher education.
Sipping coffee and skimming through the newspaper on that lazy Sunday morning, it took quite a while for me to recollect the smiling face of Shira. Come next fall, she is heading to one of the world's leading BSchools to pursue the management education that she has been dreaming for years! With exemplary academics, five years of solid work experience, and armed with hard learned lessons from her own life, am sure she had one of the most genuine, straight from the heart Statement of Purpose!
What an incredible journey! Dreams come free of cost; but she also knew their realization doesn't!
Cheers
Roy
In the first two days, we were mostly talking about opportunities in pharmacy, nursing, engineering diploma, trade certifications etc. Majority of them were matriculates; and talking about anything beyond this repertoire did not make sense to us. My colleague was winding up the last session on the third day. The lady at the back row stood up, sir "can you also talk about management education? I know it may not make sense for me to even dream about a MBA at this time, but I would really like to know." The rest of the class was silent.
Shira Banu was a school drop out. She worked in the factory floors for two years as a cleaner, sold pan and tea near the bus stop in the evenings and went back to school the following year. With an ageing father, and two siblings still in primary schools, Shira struggled to complete her PUC. Having secured 65% marks in the commerce stream; and standing fourth in the state, she caught media attention. Her life and achievements were featured in most of the city news papers, and TV channels!
Three years down the line, Shira graduated in Commerce by attending evening classes, and continued working on the factory floors during the day. Her absolute commitment and sincerity at the workplace got her multiple accolades, and was promoted as an accountant in the back office. The NGO that we were part of worked through various media to bring her story to the masses. Well wishers came forward with the offers of sponsoring her higher education.
Sipping coffee and skimming through the newspaper on that lazy Sunday morning, it took quite a while for me to recollect the smiling face of Shira. Come next fall, she is heading to one of the world's leading BSchools to pursue the management education that she has been dreaming for years! With exemplary academics, five years of solid work experience, and armed with hard learned lessons from her own life, am sure she had one of the most genuine, straight from the heart Statement of Purpose!
What an incredible journey! Dreams come free of cost; but she also knew their realization doesn't!
Cheers
Roy
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Women's Day Run
I am running 10km on Women's Day (13th March) supporting the education of the girl child.
Like to register? Click Here!
Best
Roy
Like to register? Click Here!
Best
Roy
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The little things that matter!
Might feel a little odd, but true.. How come one regret missing a 730PM show of Grand Old Mumbai circus, even after a long 15years?
Reactions vary from ridiculous, to outrageous to simply non-issue:-) But you know what, this turns out to be a little more sensitive issue than you can imagine. Parashuraman a.k.a Pash is my ex-colleague. Having spent years together in a venerable Govt. of India Research Lab in the earlier stages of our career, we parted ways; but were destined to meet again to travel together on yet another roller coaster. Over a lager late last evening, Pash recollected the circus incident.
Grand old Mumbai circus had just landed in Trivandrum.. Posters sprouted all along the Kowdiar stretch, Palayam and Statue area.. Those unblemished Russian teens demonstrating their uncanny abilities in the ring. The jokers sporting the mundane, yet refreshing, costumes. The old yet majestic tuskers, the king of the jungle sans its aggression. Pash was so excited that our bike rides along the Kowdiar stretch to the office in the morning rush hours were unusually longer.
Later one evening, Pash flipped open his wallet and showed off that green Rs.50 first class pass.. He was planning to watch the 730PM show over the week end... Being part of the same team working on a key strategic project of the organization, I was not sure about making it over the week end, especially when the first prototype was up for a scheduled testing. But Pash was confident of sailing it through, and pack off well before 4pm that evening. The visiting officer from the collaborating firm was keen to get the testing done on day one itself. Everything was going pretty well, until we noticed a problem with the power supply. This was causing unsolicited signals in the input gate and the system started malfunctioning. Pash was cool handling it until he noticed the hour needle closing on to 7pm. Shutting down the unit, he put on his watch, packed his bag and started leaving.. The gentle man frowned, and shouted.Pash explained the reason why he should leave. Brazen, to say the least, was my take on it:-) How could you ever think of watching a circus when a priority work in office is still pending? 'Let me speak to your boss, I need to understand the priority of this work'. the gentleman continued to be aggressive on getting the stuff done. Half an hour later, Pash was back at work, flouted his Rs.50 pass and tore it off in the bin. I smiled inside, you need to have your wisdom to choose your priorities mate:-)
But now stepping into Pash's shoe; watching a circus, which has been in your list of to do things for long, was a must do. Life is not all about work, earning and spending.. It is also about the little things that we cherish, that we are so passionate about, that peps us up...Reading through your favorite book, sipping coffee in a cold windy evening, walking along the beach holding hands with your wife and little ones, watching your kids play hide n seek, the early morning workouts that you have been planning so long, drinking wine in the company of your wife and talking through the wee hours, enjoying that fiesta siesta combo on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Watching your little ones on stage on school day, attending their first dance performance, cooking your favorite dish with your wife, gossiping and talking through the day's rigors..
All these matters, and they don't pass onto the trivia list.. But my early twenties were too early to figure this out:-)
But then, I didn't have the luxury of so many gray cells then!
On a side real note: prototypes seldom work:-)
Regards
Roy
Reactions vary from ridiculous, to outrageous to simply non-issue:-) But you know what, this turns out to be a little more sensitive issue than you can imagine. Parashuraman a.k.a Pash is my ex-colleague. Having spent years together in a venerable Govt. of India Research Lab in the earlier stages of our career, we parted ways; but were destined to meet again to travel together on yet another roller coaster. Over a lager late last evening, Pash recollected the circus incident.
Grand old Mumbai circus had just landed in Trivandrum.. Posters sprouted all along the Kowdiar stretch, Palayam and Statue area.. Those unblemished Russian teens demonstrating their uncanny abilities in the ring. The jokers sporting the mundane, yet refreshing, costumes. The old yet majestic tuskers, the king of the jungle sans its aggression. Pash was so excited that our bike rides along the Kowdiar stretch to the office in the morning rush hours were unusually longer.
Later one evening, Pash flipped open his wallet and showed off that green Rs.50 first class pass.. He was planning to watch the 730PM show over the week end... Being part of the same team working on a key strategic project of the organization, I was not sure about making it over the week end, especially when the first prototype was up for a scheduled testing. But Pash was confident of sailing it through, and pack off well before 4pm that evening. The visiting officer from the collaborating firm was keen to get the testing done on day one itself. Everything was going pretty well, until we noticed a problem with the power supply. This was causing unsolicited signals in the input gate and the system started malfunctioning. Pash was cool handling it until he noticed the hour needle closing on to 7pm. Shutting down the unit, he put on his watch, packed his bag and started leaving.. The gentle man frowned, and shouted.Pash explained the reason why he should leave. Brazen, to say the least, was my take on it:-) How could you ever think of watching a circus when a priority work in office is still pending? 'Let me speak to your boss, I need to understand the priority of this work'. the gentleman continued to be aggressive on getting the stuff done. Half an hour later, Pash was back at work, flouted his Rs.50 pass and tore it off in the bin. I smiled inside, you need to have your wisdom to choose your priorities mate:-)
But now stepping into Pash's shoe; watching a circus, which has been in your list of to do things for long, was a must do. Life is not all about work, earning and spending.. It is also about the little things that we cherish, that we are so passionate about, that peps us up...Reading through your favorite book, sipping coffee in a cold windy evening, walking along the beach holding hands with your wife and little ones, watching your kids play hide n seek, the early morning workouts that you have been planning so long, drinking wine in the company of your wife and talking through the wee hours, enjoying that fiesta siesta combo on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Watching your little ones on stage on school day, attending their first dance performance, cooking your favorite dish with your wife, gossiping and talking through the day's rigors..
All these matters, and they don't pass onto the trivia list.. But my early twenties were too early to figure this out:-)
But then, I didn't have the luxury of so many gray cells then!
On a side real note: prototypes seldom work:-)
Regards
Roy
Sunday, December 19, 2010
A wedding in style!
The procession at the busy pavement on NH 71 came to a halt in front of two ragshacks almost crumbling to the floor.. The groom smiled and the bride sported that universal nonchalant yet enthralled within kind of look! The handful of relatives walked beside, a few gentlemen holding hands with the groom. Large drops of jasmine and chrysanthimum dotted the bride's short oily hair.. Her thali dangling from the tiny gold chain, and the pair of ear rings were hardly noticeable. She wore a flashy yellow sari, with jerries all around, the type that you can purchase at a high bargain from those roadside vendors.. The groom held her hands and they sat together on the ricketty wooden bench on the pavement. Hot tea came in small cups from the boy who mixed tea with incredible speed and dexterity.. Toothless 'patties' (old ladies) chewed betal leaves in style! The drummer at the rear end of the procession halted and beat the tracks copying those flaming moves from Sivamani:-) The youth danced to the rhythm and little girls took high energy steps to the tune of macha peru madhurai! Ithu thaneda spirit!
And the laughter and happiness all around the place was spreading cheers to everyone walked by! The little boy who was dancing on the sides had his trousers dangling below the knees, but was still in that ecstatic mood, beating Vijay in his now famous Njan Adichal steps.. His anna getting married is no small event!
While the crowd enjoyed the event, drinking cups and cups of tea and tapping to the tunes of tamil chart busters, the groom held his bride close to him, promising a life full of love, protection and togetherness! My wishes to you folks, and am sure all the passers by did the same! What a fabulous wedding!
Best
Roy
And the laughter and happiness all around the place was spreading cheers to everyone walked by! The little boy who was dancing on the sides had his trousers dangling below the knees, but was still in that ecstatic mood, beating Vijay in his now famous Njan Adichal steps.. His anna getting married is no small event!
While the crowd enjoyed the event, drinking cups and cups of tea and tapping to the tunes of tamil chart busters, the groom held his bride close to him, promising a life full of love, protection and togetherness! My wishes to you folks, and am sure all the passers by did the same! What a fabulous wedding!
Best
Roy
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Say yes to life!!!
I could not help noticing the 70+ old grandma in the Gym today. Standing low on the circular platform, she was practicing bicycle twists; her toothless smile was contagious enough to spread a +ve energy in those early morning hours. Starting slow with my aerobics sessions, I kept watching her in the mirror. She switched sessions with amazing ease, doing flies, kicks and even a few abdominal crunches.
Watching her endless energy, I was determined to catch up with her post work out. The coffee shop in the corner downstairs was deserted in the morning hours, and we met there, sipping caffeine and chatting all through. Jude was a promising athlete, and was the university champion in triathlon, three times in a row, while doing her graduation in history. She excelled in academics as well, winning the Gold medal for the best outgoing student from the graduating class.
The years that followed were painful, for a person who was fighting fit all through. She was diagnosed with intestine cancer, and the reality struck her pretty late..The numerous chemo sessions were not productive, and doctors themselves ruled it off.. Back to her one bedroom studio, Jude was all alone. I am all set to die, so what the heck? It is just a question of today or tomorrow, so why not do what I always liked to do? For the next few months she hit the cubbon park in the morning, touted as the walker's paradise, covering her bald head with a white scarf (peace always!). Completing just 200mtrs of walk seemed to be an eternal journey for her. Over the next few weeks, she completed the distance everyday, taking more than an hour. In the next six months, her body started showing promise, her back was strong enough to support her frame, and her arms were more nimble than before.. She could see a few lines of fresh hair dotting her egg head.. A promising tomorrow was up in the rise. The dreadful disease, apparently, stopped fighting back..
A year down the line, she came back to normal life, healthy and smart, her tress touching her shoulders. She partied, and attended her cousin's wedding in style. She met the doctor who had ruled her off in a shopping mall. He was surprised beyond words, and was too thrilled by the incredible fighting spirit and self belief of this ex-athlete.. She never married, but followed a very active life style, teaching in a local school for underprivileged children, writing a few books and giving motivational talks (of her own incredible story) to cancer patients all over the world!! Hats off to you Jude.. Good to know you, and that sure is an incredible story to pass on.. The story that says over and again, never give up your spirits!
And I met Jude again last month in a 'bicycle for a cause' event in the city, and we cycled to the finish line together!!
Regards
Roy
Watching her endless energy, I was determined to catch up with her post work out. The coffee shop in the corner downstairs was deserted in the morning hours, and we met there, sipping caffeine and chatting all through. Jude was a promising athlete, and was the university champion in triathlon, three times in a row, while doing her graduation in history. She excelled in academics as well, winning the Gold medal for the best outgoing student from the graduating class.
The years that followed were painful, for a person who was fighting fit all through. She was diagnosed with intestine cancer, and the reality struck her pretty late..The numerous chemo sessions were not productive, and doctors themselves ruled it off.. Back to her one bedroom studio, Jude was all alone. I am all set to die, so what the heck? It is just a question of today or tomorrow, so why not do what I always liked to do? For the next few months she hit the cubbon park in the morning, touted as the walker's paradise, covering her bald head with a white scarf (peace always!). Completing just 200mtrs of walk seemed to be an eternal journey for her. Over the next few weeks, she completed the distance everyday, taking more than an hour. In the next six months, her body started showing promise, her back was strong enough to support her frame, and her arms were more nimble than before.. She could see a few lines of fresh hair dotting her egg head.. A promising tomorrow was up in the rise. The dreadful disease, apparently, stopped fighting back..
A year down the line, she came back to normal life, healthy and smart, her tress touching her shoulders. She partied, and attended her cousin's wedding in style. She met the doctor who had ruled her off in a shopping mall. He was surprised beyond words, and was too thrilled by the incredible fighting spirit and self belief of this ex-athlete.. She never married, but followed a very active life style, teaching in a local school for underprivileged children, writing a few books and giving motivational talks (of her own incredible story) to cancer patients all over the world!! Hats off to you Jude.. Good to know you, and that sure is an incredible story to pass on.. The story that says over and again, never give up your spirits!
And I met Jude again last month in a 'bicycle for a cause' event in the city, and we cycled to the finish line together!!
Regards
Roy
Friday, May 28, 2010
Sorry, my cell phone is switched off.. I am off to play with my kids in the park!
Holding his grandma’s fragile and flimsy hands, the little boy was walking around the park. Just back from my morning walk, I was relaxing by one of the corner stones, contemplating future and thinking about my own little ones. My girl is completing ten years in another six months, and is an exhilarating thought. She is growing up quick, and in a few years will be leaving home for college/university. Well, am not ready to think about the empty nest syndrome yet:-)
Looking back, she spent the years growing up with us. Her obdurate demands on the stuff that she needs, her bent towards art and craft, the numerous paintings she did, and the ones that she presented to both of us on our birthdays, the long letters that she wrote to both of us signing off with loads of love, the recipes that she hunted down on the Net, the sweet and sour soup and the mushroom shallow fry that she cooked, her first piano performances on stage, her days at school, her grades, her costumes for special days, the numerous story books that she reveled in, the pictures that she took during our holiday travels. Well, we have been there all through beaming with pride, savoring the moments of sweet love. She wants to study art in the University and be a professional artist, and we are dreaming of being there on her gradation day:-) God is love, and our little girl has given us so much to cherish:-)
The younger one is no exception either, his passion for toys, especially the high power ones, his craze for the umpteen cartoon channels, his numerous books on oceans and marine life, his first time stage on the piano, his spider man costumes for the school day, his kara-te and swimming lessons, the occasional fights with his sister, and the cute little painting he did for our wedding anniversary. The list is endless, and the happiness that our little ones have provided us all through is beyond words:-) Again, God is true love!
Back to the story line; the little boy stopped in the corner and was about to ask me something. My younger one was pushing me down on the lawns to play with him, and my little girl was focusing on building a bird’s nest on the lawn with small figs and leaves. The boy smiled again, and came toward us. Uncle, do you think I can play with you? I looked at him for a moment, and could not respond for a few seconds. Nandu got him along quickly and off they went; playing running and catching, one of their favorite games!
If you are a working dad or mom, please take a few minutes to walk your little ones in the park. Play with them on the lawns, ride bicycle with them, or just sit down and read out their favorite stories. You do not know what you give them through those priceless moments, but trust me, they will throw you their sweetest kisses back at you always!
Start doing it today since your little one is soon going to grow up to be a less playful adult tomorrow, and they would hate playing in the park with you:-) And the Grandmas are too old to play in the park!
Warm Regards,
Roy Padmanabhan
Looking back, she spent the years growing up with us. Her obdurate demands on the stuff that she needs, her bent towards art and craft, the numerous paintings she did, and the ones that she presented to both of us on our birthdays, the long letters that she wrote to both of us signing off with loads of love, the recipes that she hunted down on the Net, the sweet and sour soup and the mushroom shallow fry that she cooked, her first piano performances on stage, her days at school, her grades, her costumes for special days, the numerous story books that she reveled in, the pictures that she took during our holiday travels. Well, we have been there all through beaming with pride, savoring the moments of sweet love. She wants to study art in the University and be a professional artist, and we are dreaming of being there on her gradation day:-) God is love, and our little girl has given us so much to cherish:-)
The younger one is no exception either, his passion for toys, especially the high power ones, his craze for the umpteen cartoon channels, his numerous books on oceans and marine life, his first time stage on the piano, his spider man costumes for the school day, his kara-te and swimming lessons, the occasional fights with his sister, and the cute little painting he did for our wedding anniversary. The list is endless, and the happiness that our little ones have provided us all through is beyond words:-) Again, God is true love!
Back to the story line; the little boy stopped in the corner and was about to ask me something. My younger one was pushing me down on the lawns to play with him, and my little girl was focusing on building a bird’s nest on the lawn with small figs and leaves. The boy smiled again, and came toward us. Uncle, do you think I can play with you? I looked at him for a moment, and could not respond for a few seconds. Nandu got him along quickly and off they went; playing running and catching, one of their favorite games!
If you are a working dad or mom, please take a few minutes to walk your little ones in the park. Play with them on the lawns, ride bicycle with them, or just sit down and read out their favorite stories. You do not know what you give them through those priceless moments, but trust me, they will throw you their sweetest kisses back at you always!
Start doing it today since your little one is soon going to grow up to be a less playful adult tomorrow, and they would hate playing in the park with you:-) And the Grandmas are too old to play in the park!
Warm Regards,
Roy Padmanabhan
Monday, October 26, 2009
Life is like that!
Mrs. Foura, a vivacious, outspoken lady in her late forties, is my colleague. I have never seen her without a cheerful smile on her face, and her morning wishes and laughter have always been contagious:- The day had been gloomy with the onset of winter, cold and windy, with the continual rains adding to the sublime beauty of nature's blessing, if I want to put it in a more positive way!
The coffee area in our office was deserted in the morning, and being an early bird, I was enjoying an espresso from the bar.. Savoring this energy drink in the morning, I was lost in thoughts, contemplating future, thinking about my journey back home and the stuff that I still need to buy for my dear ones, and the like.. When I last spoke to the little one, he wanted a helicopter that can actually fly, with a three sixty degree remote control.. Apparently, he has seen someone flying it in a cartoon channel.. I was thinking about the possible malls where I could pick up one of those.
A light cough had woken me up, breaking my reverie and random thoughts. Out in the corner, Mrs. Foura was making her morning cup of coffee, and surprisingly I noticed tears in her eyes, and a couple rolling down her cheeks. Trust me, it was a little embarrassing for me to disrupt her and ask the reason, or just to speak up something that could probably help.. A lady crying in front of you and talking to her in a deserted coffee area in the morning may not sound that good, even in this I mind my own business kind of place, where people are not that privy at all.. I hesitated for a moment, but what if she needed some help, and I could do something? I did not break the silence, and continued to sip my coffee, paying no attention (not sure why I did that, another basic instinct:-).
She came over and pulled out a chair opposite mine.. "Roy, you know what? I got a chance to talk to my son after a long ten years!" Well, to me it was not a news, and thats quite common in many cultures, where children fend for themselves the moment they are out of school.. She continued..."He had left home at 15 as a school drop out, and I never knew where he was..He never left a note, never called me, never called any of his three sisters.. All these long 10 years.. I have been looking for him, visiting every restaurants and bars that I can think of in this country thinking that he would be bartending in one of those.. Every shops and malls that I could possibly shop hoping to find my little boy's face, at least once, in the trams, rail stations, airports, the journey never ended.. And just yesterday, I got a call from one of my friends saying that she met my son in a little country bar, as a bartender.. I called the hotel, managed to get his cell number, and we spoke. The moment he heard my feeble voice, he said he did not know me, he said his last name and family name and father's name, but he said he doesn't remember me..The little boy who wanted a red toy car from Manor, the one who wanted a black super man dress for his school day, the one who wanted to play out in the rains with me, the one who wanted to walk with me holding my hands all along the beach, the one who liked mama's beef steaks and plum puddings, and the one who grew up with me.. He doesn't know me any more.. She stopped, and I could see another couple of tears streaming down her cheeks. I was speechless for a moment, and was thinking about my own little ones, longing for their sweet kisses, and to cuddle with them to sleep, reading through their favorite bed-time stories....
Cheers
Roy
The coffee area in our office was deserted in the morning, and being an early bird, I was enjoying an espresso from the bar.. Savoring this energy drink in the morning, I was lost in thoughts, contemplating future, thinking about my journey back home and the stuff that I still need to buy for my dear ones, and the like.. When I last spoke to the little one, he wanted a helicopter that can actually fly, with a three sixty degree remote control.. Apparently, he has seen someone flying it in a cartoon channel.. I was thinking about the possible malls where I could pick up one of those.
A light cough had woken me up, breaking my reverie and random thoughts. Out in the corner, Mrs. Foura was making her morning cup of coffee, and surprisingly I noticed tears in her eyes, and a couple rolling down her cheeks. Trust me, it was a little embarrassing for me to disrupt her and ask the reason, or just to speak up something that could probably help.. A lady crying in front of you and talking to her in a deserted coffee area in the morning may not sound that good, even in this I mind my own business kind of place, where people are not that privy at all.. I hesitated for a moment, but what if she needed some help, and I could do something? I did not break the silence, and continued to sip my coffee, paying no attention (not sure why I did that, another basic instinct:-).
She came over and pulled out a chair opposite mine.. "Roy, you know what? I got a chance to talk to my son after a long ten years!" Well, to me it was not a news, and thats quite common in many cultures, where children fend for themselves the moment they are out of school.. She continued..."He had left home at 15 as a school drop out, and I never knew where he was..He never left a note, never called me, never called any of his three sisters.. All these long 10 years.. I have been looking for him, visiting every restaurants and bars that I can think of in this country thinking that he would be bartending in one of those.. Every shops and malls that I could possibly shop hoping to find my little boy's face, at least once, in the trams, rail stations, airports, the journey never ended.. And just yesterday, I got a call from one of my friends saying that she met my son in a little country bar, as a bartender.. I called the hotel, managed to get his cell number, and we spoke. The moment he heard my feeble voice, he said he did not know me, he said his last name and family name and father's name, but he said he doesn't remember me..The little boy who wanted a red toy car from Manor, the one who wanted a black super man dress for his school day, the one who wanted to play out in the rains with me, the one who wanted to walk with me holding my hands all along the beach, the one who liked mama's beef steaks and plum puddings, and the one who grew up with me.. He doesn't know me any more.. She stopped, and I could see another couple of tears streaming down her cheeks. I was speechless for a moment, and was thinking about my own little ones, longing for their sweet kisses, and to cuddle with them to sleep, reading through their favorite bed-time stories....
Cheers
Roy
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Clebrations of life!!
Dears,
I was just thinking what brought me up on this beautiful Sunday afternoon to pen down the 'celebrations of life'.. Well, please allow me to unfold the stroy on a slow note:-). Been busy as usual with work, and the holidays were just appearing on calendars.. Namesake, thats is..But then, the brighter sides of life bring folks up to speed; thanks to this beautiful summer in Basel, where the day ends just a couple hours before mid-night:-)
I have never seen such a vibrant life and society than this unruffled town in summer. Just step out to the banks of river Rhein on a Friday evening, and you would see the real celebrations of life.. Families come packed up with light evening snacks to giant sandwiches for dinner.. Cans of beers (and hot for those who would prefer to be a little pepped up), and an endless array of mineral water bottles.. The adults settle on the beautifully carved pavements on the banks, while the kids play around.. Filmy like romantic scenes unfold everywhere, couples, lovers:-)
The adventure seekers prefer to wind surf, or hire a cannoe and explore the much deeper waters far off the banks.. Fishing rods are on rent and you could lay your hands on them anytime.. A number of small time eateries on either side of the banks sell baby hot dogs to giant grilled sandwiches.. Fitness freaks jog, and the runners preparing for the upcoming Basel half marathon keep their nerves up for yet another rigour.. The straight tracks on the banks take you to the much visited Three Countries Corner, where Germany, Switzerland and France borders meet..
And this completes the celebrations of life; eat, drink, and have fun, as if the day is never gonna come back, and even if it does, it is not going to be the same..What a wonderul philosophy! Take each day as it comes, and enjoy life! Sorrows and miseries are bound to be there, but then this is life and we gotta face them!
On a sign off note, the beautfiul summers would not wait for anyone, they just pass by, parting way for the monster winter:-)
Love
Roy
Life in BASEL Part? Sorry I forgot to count:-)
Life is on a fast pace, I didnt myself realize that my very first
month in BASEL is coming to an end.. Landed here on Sept 05 and on
this Sunday am going to celebrate that moment:-)
On a side note, I would believe that the best way to understand the
society and culture in a new country would be to explore as much as
you can, with a little one's open mindset and that never ending
curiosity.. Having set this ground rule, I am now free to explore, and
of course to write about those experiences..
The weather has drastically changed; the mornings and evenings are
chilly and the day brings in that cool, soothing sunlight and
brightness everywhere.. It rains too, but they are so mild and gentle,
just to reassure the fact they do exist in this part of the world as
well.. You can easily survive without an umbrella here, with a heel
touching rain coat and a hat.. Believe me, umbrellas here are pretty
expensive.. I had to buy one, and it came with a price tag of close to
20CHF:-) Yeah, but that didnt kill the beauty that I enjoy in any
way..
My apartment's french window is full open now, and I could see this
Sunday morning lean traffic..
I had a whole set of experiences last evening, running through the
Swiss country side.. Badisher Bahnoff (The German Railway Station) is
just about five minutes walk from my apartment, and the track 2 there
takes you straight off to Germany.. Running along this side of the
tracks, I could cross the road and enter the relatively narrow stretch
that leads to the runners' paradise..Long, straight stretch of running
tack on the bank of a river, with thick country woods on the other
side.. It is just breath taking beauty... The serene waters of the
river, the hitherto unseen water brids floating along, the
meticulously pruned lawns on either sides, and of course couple of
small time Swiss Cafes off the banks.. A world of its own, and you
just pause for a moment and wonder.. Why am I here for work? Why not
just wander around these wilderness to relish this unblemished beauty
of nature? Well, life is weird, and it provides you with enough wisdom
to choose the priorities in life..And wandering penniless doesnt seem
to be fun either:-)
Well, the philosophy apart; hats off to Swiss Local government, who
maintains these country sides with utmost care and commitment.. They
love their country, and would also want to make sure that anyone who
drops in would share the same feeling.. I stopped mid-way and had a
large Swiss beer from a small cafe run by a swiss couple.. We talked a
lot, they in German, and I in a mix of English, Sign Language, a
little bit of writing, sketches etc.. The old lady kissed me on my
forehead when I called the day off and stepped out.. Come next week
end, and here I come..
BASEL is a small city, pretty laid out, and calm.. The night life here
is not so boisterous, people prefer to be in a resaturant and have a
traditional dinner, with lots of small talks.. For the young (and old
too:-) and adventurous, there is a dance bar nearby, just
couple of crosses from my apartment.. Retaining my audience is a tricky
business, and I need to play all my cards:-)
Looking forward to one of those lazy week-ends to explore yet another
whole bunch of new experiences.. Will be right back!
So long!
Roy
month in BASEL is coming to an end.. Landed here on Sept 05 and on
this Sunday am going to celebrate that moment:-)
On a side note, I would believe that the best way to understand the
society and culture in a new country would be to explore as much as
you can, with a little one's open mindset and that never ending
curiosity.. Having set this ground rule, I am now free to explore, and
of course to write about those experiences..
The weather has drastically changed; the mornings and evenings are
chilly and the day brings in that cool, soothing sunlight and
brightness everywhere.. It rains too, but they are so mild and gentle,
just to reassure the fact they do exist in this part of the world as
well.. You can easily survive without an umbrella here, with a heel
touching rain coat and a hat.. Believe me, umbrellas here are pretty
expensive.. I had to buy one, and it came with a price tag of close to
20CHF:-) Yeah, but that didnt kill the beauty that I enjoy in any
way..
My apartment's french window is full open now, and I could see this
Sunday morning lean traffic..
I had a whole set of experiences last evening, running through the
Swiss country side.. Badisher Bahnoff (The German Railway Station) is
just about five minutes walk from my apartment, and the track 2 there
takes you straight off to Germany.. Running along this side of the
tracks, I could cross the road and enter the relatively narrow stretch
that leads to the runners' paradise..Long, straight stretch of running
tack on the bank of a river, with thick country woods on the other
side.. It is just breath taking beauty... The serene waters of the
river, the hitherto unseen water brids floating along, the
meticulously pruned lawns on either sides, and of course couple of
small time Swiss Cafes off the banks.. A world of its own, and you
just pause for a moment and wonder.. Why am I here for work? Why not
just wander around these wilderness to relish this unblemished beauty
of nature? Well, life is weird, and it provides you with enough wisdom
to choose the priorities in life..And wandering penniless doesnt seem
to be fun either:-)
Well, the philosophy apart; hats off to Swiss Local government, who
maintains these country sides with utmost care and commitment.. They
love their country, and would also want to make sure that anyone who
drops in would share the same feeling.. I stopped mid-way and had a
large Swiss beer from a small cafe run by a swiss couple.. We talked a
lot, they in German, and I in a mix of English, Sign Language, a
little bit of writing, sketches etc.. The old lady kissed me on my
forehead when I called the day off and stepped out.. Come next week
end, and here I come..
BASEL is a small city, pretty laid out, and calm.. The night life here
is not so boisterous, people prefer to be in a resaturant and have a
traditional dinner, with lots of small talks.. For the young (and old
too:-) and adventurous, there is a dance bar nearby, just
couple of crosses from my apartment.. Retaining my audience is a tricky
business, and I need to play all my cards:-)
Looking forward to one of those lazy week-ends to explore yet another
whole bunch of new experiences.. Will be right back!
So long!
Roy
Life in BASEL Part 3
Going back to life in BASEL... The third week is eventless, by any score.. One of the best entertaining ones was the party we had at Pickwicks. This is a traditional British pub in BASEL, and the majority of the crowd is British. Wines, plethora of drinks in array, endless servings of snacks jolted our spirits up right through the wee hours the next day.. It was a fabulous experience!
Staying alone is tough, and I bear the pains everyday.. I do whatever it takes to kill that bordom, and monotony. Read books, browse the Net, talk to family and friends, listen to music whatever.. I miss everything about home:-)
The best change in life is that I started running, running along the banks of river Rhein that is, with cool breeze kissing your forehead.. I would like to believe that the winds convey the immense love of my family and friends back home, with their gentle kisses, and warmer touches!
So long and you take care.
Cheers
Roy
Staying alone is tough, and I bear the pains everyday.. I do whatever it takes to kill that bordom, and monotony. Read books, browse the Net, talk to family and friends, listen to music whatever.. I miss everything about home:-)
The best change in life is that I started running, running along the banks of river Rhein that is, with cool breeze kissing your forehead.. I would like to believe that the winds convey the immense love of my family and friends back home, with their gentle kisses, and warmer touches!
So long and you take care.
Cheers
Roy
Life in BASEL Part 2
Life has changed so much since day1 here, mostly because am getting used to this place, the folks around, my work, the weather, the shopping malls, travel by
trams, buses, and the cosy week ends. I was terribly homesick in the
first few days, and the feeling has come down a little:-) Life is a
great teacher, it teaches you to adjust, compromise, bear pains and
sorrows, express happiness, and communicate love more clearly when you
are away. So, I talk with my family with a a sense of passion,
commitment and lots of love:-) And of course, they reciprocate the
same.
I found a new house here, and moved in this morning. A small one
bedroom apartment in a tranquil streat. It is furnished, so I didnt
have to run around setting it up from the ground up. Still, had to do
a little bit of shopping to get stuff that were lacking. There is a
wonderful shop called AIKEA in the countryside; a one stop
place for all your home needs. It sells napkins to refrigerators, from
diapers to televisions, from toilet soaps to 16 seater dining
tables:-) Their range is awesome... And the train and tram ride to
that place was like a trip to the wilderness, on a quite sunny day.
There are streams, forests, small hills, bridges, traditional swiss
wooden houses dotting the hilltops etc... A pleasure to watch, and a
feast for the eyes!!
So long... and will write more in the sequel, would be titled Part 3.
Cheers
Roy
trams, buses, and the cosy week ends. I was terribly homesick in the
first few days, and the feeling has come down a little:-) Life is a
great teacher, it teaches you to adjust, compromise, bear pains and
sorrows, express happiness, and communicate love more clearly when you
are away. So, I talk with my family with a a sense of passion,
commitment and lots of love:-) And of course, they reciprocate the
same.
I found a new house here, and moved in this morning. A small one
bedroom apartment in a tranquil streat. It is furnished, so I didnt
have to run around setting it up from the ground up. Still, had to do
a little bit of shopping to get stuff that were lacking. There is a
wonderful shop called AIKEA in the countryside; a one stop
place for all your home needs. It sells napkins to refrigerators, from
diapers to televisions, from toilet soaps to 16 seater dining
tables:-) Their range is awesome... And the train and tram ride to
that place was like a trip to the wilderness, on a quite sunny day.
There are streams, forests, small hills, bridges, traditional swiss
wooden houses dotting the hilltops etc... A pleasure to watch, and a
feast for the eyes!!
So long... and will write more in the sequel, would be titled Part 3.
Cheers
Roy
Life in BASEL Part 1
Finally, I am kind of settled down, and am ready to write to you
folks.. Here you go..
Into the second week, and I am in love with this beautiful place. Now I
really understand why people say this is the heaven on earth.. The
city and the outskirts are stunningly marvellous.. The only bother is
the exorbitant prices everywhere:-) Sans this, life looks pretty cool.
I am put up in a small cosy apartment, on the main street.. Right now,
I am sitting on the window, facing the tram station.. TRAMS pass by
every few minutes, and you could see aimless, casual travellers,
flocking around. The best part is that you dont need a car to live
here.. TRAMS are pretty efficient and they ply almost all central
points in the city. The place I live is called Haltingerstrasse, a
small street with a bunh of apartment complexes and shopping malls...
Beer is comparatively cheaper here, and I do have a good stock in the
kitchen now.. Beers, and a bath immersed in the tub rejuvenates the
whole body:-)
And last week, I went for an ONAM Sadya arranged by the malayalee
association here.. It was in the outskirts of the city, and the train
ride itself was a life time enjoyment... The filmy like scenes and the
small, tiled, houses dotting the hilly areas on both sides of the tram
rails were just captivating:-)
On the other, not so rosy side, work is real hectic..The only solace
is that the office is around the corner, and I dont have to struggle
to reach office every day..
More later... in Part 2.
Cheers
Roy
folks.. Here you go..
Into the second week, and I am in love with this beautiful place. Now I
really understand why people say this is the heaven on earth.. The
city and the outskirts are stunningly marvellous.. The only bother is
the exorbitant prices everywhere:-) Sans this, life looks pretty cool.
I am put up in a small cosy apartment, on the main street.. Right now,
I am sitting on the window, facing the tram station.. TRAMS pass by
every few minutes, and you could see aimless, casual travellers,
flocking around. The best part is that you dont need a car to live
here.. TRAMS are pretty efficient and they ply almost all central
points in the city. The place I live is called Haltingerstrasse, a
small street with a bunh of apartment complexes and shopping malls...
Beer is comparatively cheaper here, and I do have a good stock in the
kitchen now.. Beers, and a bath immersed in the tub rejuvenates the
whole body:-)
And last week, I went for an ONAM Sadya arranged by the malayalee
association here.. It was in the outskirts of the city, and the train
ride itself was a life time enjoyment... The filmy like scenes and the
small, tiled, houses dotting the hilly areas on both sides of the tram
rails were just captivating:-)
On the other, not so rosy side, work is real hectic..The only solace
is that the office is around the corner, and I dont have to struggle
to reach office every day..
More later... in Part 2.
Cheers
Roy
Sunday, May 03, 2009
The Xstal that taught us a lesson!
This is something that I wanted to write about, but occupational hazards have been taking their due toll to do anything that I would love to..
Forum Mall in Koramangala was bustling with a holiday crowd on that Saturday evening.. Easter was just around the corner.. Huge Easter eggs were on display, and the same in varied colors and sizes were on sale at the cookie shops.. The multiplexes were showing super hits from Hollywood to Kollywood, including Sagar Alias re-loaded:-)
We were in a popular outlet to pick up a gift for my cousin who was getting married. When it comes to selecting gifts for loved ones, I must admit, I am pretty bad. The first thing that comes to me are items for display in show cases, or new titles that have hit the the stands. This time, my daughter suggested to pick a Xstal piece, looking at the gamut of pieces on display.
From multi hued small paper weights to huge (regal, that is!) dinner spreads.. Finally, we decided to pick something that was simple, yet elegant. She started searching the stands to pick one.. The kids usually were given multiple sermons before entering any expensive shop displaying fragile/breakable stuff, not to play around and end up owning the broken pieces:-) Well, the elder one usually sticks to this piece, bu the younger one is really not. I was looking at an original Italian piece, enjoying the immaculate carvings, and the flawless design.. Something fell on the ground, and the loud noise of breaking glass roared on the floor..Pin drop silence followed for a while. Getting back to my senses, I turned around. The elder one was holding her shopping bag, her face grimaced.. The younger one was standing in a corner, dreaded, almost shivering.. Little pieces of xstal were scattered all over the floor. My pay cheque for the whole month would go for a toss; I thought!
The sales girl came rushing in, picked up the price tag and handed it over to me. A few ten thousands! I nodded yes, and handed my card to her.. I just looked at the younger one; with tears streaming down the cheeks, he uttered a week sorry.. I knew he was really meaning it.. I held him closer, and said it was okay, adding that he could have been a little more careful..
The girl came back with my card, followed by the floor manager. A tall, handsome gentleman, with a warm, engaging smile. He shook hands with me and thanked me for my understanding. Then he reached out to the racks and picked up a small Xstal and handed it over to my scary cat! A gift in return for a broken piece:-) Turning back to me, he returned my card, without taxing me for the incident!
My son keeps that little piece in his study, and every time he looks at it, he says with pride.. This is the gift that I got from Landmark for doing a big mistake. And you know what, I am not going to do that again.. Never!
Thanks a ton to the gentleman who taught us a lesson, in the most kindest manner!
Regards
Roy
Forum Mall in Koramangala was bustling with a holiday crowd on that Saturday evening.. Easter was just around the corner.. Huge Easter eggs were on display, and the same in varied colors and sizes were on sale at the cookie shops.. The multiplexes were showing super hits from Hollywood to Kollywood, including Sagar Alias re-loaded:-)
We were in a popular outlet to pick up a gift for my cousin who was getting married. When it comes to selecting gifts for loved ones, I must admit, I am pretty bad. The first thing that comes to me are items for display in show cases, or new titles that have hit the the stands. This time, my daughter suggested to pick a Xstal piece, looking at the gamut of pieces on display.
From multi hued small paper weights to huge (regal, that is!) dinner spreads.. Finally, we decided to pick something that was simple, yet elegant. She started searching the stands to pick one.. The kids usually were given multiple sermons before entering any expensive shop displaying fragile/breakable stuff, not to play around and end up owning the broken pieces:-) Well, the elder one usually sticks to this piece, bu the younger one is really not. I was looking at an original Italian piece, enjoying the immaculate carvings, and the flawless design.. Something fell on the ground, and the loud noise of breaking glass roared on the floor..Pin drop silence followed for a while. Getting back to my senses, I turned around. The elder one was holding her shopping bag, her face grimaced.. The younger one was standing in a corner, dreaded, almost shivering.. Little pieces of xstal were scattered all over the floor. My pay cheque for the whole month would go for a toss; I thought!
The sales girl came rushing in, picked up the price tag and handed it over to me. A few ten thousands! I nodded yes, and handed my card to her.. I just looked at the younger one; with tears streaming down the cheeks, he uttered a week sorry.. I knew he was really meaning it.. I held him closer, and said it was okay, adding that he could have been a little more careful..
The girl came back with my card, followed by the floor manager. A tall, handsome gentleman, with a warm, engaging smile. He shook hands with me and thanked me for my understanding. Then he reached out to the racks and picked up a small Xstal and handed it over to my scary cat! A gift in return for a broken piece:-) Turning back to me, he returned my card, without taxing me for the incident!
My son keeps that little piece in his study, and every time he looks at it, he says with pride.. This is the gift that I got from Landmark for doing a big mistake. And you know what, I am not going to do that again.. Never!
Thanks a ton to the gentleman who taught us a lesson, in the most kindest manner!
Regards
Roy
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Stay Hungry.. Stay Foolish!
Just been through with this wonderful book by Rashmi Bansal, Stay Hungry.. Stay Foolish!
Incredible, to say the least.. The book showcases 25 personalities who made it big, by starting on their own, throwing away fat pay cheques, setting their own agenda and destiny. All of them were graduates from the hallowed portals of the venerable IIM Ahmedabad. Rashmi herself is an IIM A alumnus; no doubt why she easily connects with each of these brilliant role models for those who cherish a dream of this kind..
The book features Sanjeev Bikchhandani at number 1 slot, the founder CEO of Naukri, India’s largest job portal that has become close to the hearts of millions of job seekers and movers.. Refusing to work for MNCs and big time deshi companies, he chose to start on his own. The servant’s room in his father’s house made way to a makeshift office. The initial years were tough, business was not coming in as easily as he thought, Internet era was just about to unfold, people had so much of skepticism on small time entrepreneurs, and there was a family to support! Cash flow was so meager that month ends became regular nightmares for him.
Surabhi, his IIM A classmate, and now wife, stayed along all through the tough times. Her high paying job at Nestle somehow kept his business going and the family scraped through the hardships. I was touched by the understanding the lovers had as a pre-condition for marriage.. Sanjeev would not work for anybody, and Surabhi should be ready to support him at least for 5years till he make it big in life.. Both stuck to their commitments to each other. She supported the family for five years without cribbing, and he made it big, chasing his passion. Today, Naukri stands at 600crore revenue! The man behind is a big time success, and a role model for those who want to chase their dreams..
My favorite from Sanjeev… Start on your own only if you are looking for something beyond money.. If money is your whole focus, you would not stay through the tough times.. On the other hand, if you are driven by an insatiable passion to start on your own and set your own agenda, go all out, and am sure you will survive the monster waves.
BTW, the title is adapted from Steve Jobs’ speech to the graduating class of 2005 at Stanford Business school
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/grad-061505.html
And.. the book comes at an incredibly wallet friendly price tag.. But as always, I am more than glad to lend you a copy:-)
So long
Roy
Incredible, to say the least.. The book showcases 25 personalities who made it big, by starting on their own, throwing away fat pay cheques, setting their own agenda and destiny. All of them were graduates from the hallowed portals of the venerable IIM Ahmedabad. Rashmi herself is an IIM A alumnus; no doubt why she easily connects with each of these brilliant role models for those who cherish a dream of this kind..
The book features Sanjeev Bikchhandani at number 1 slot, the founder CEO of Naukri, India’s largest job portal that has become close to the hearts of millions of job seekers and movers.. Refusing to work for MNCs and big time deshi companies, he chose to start on his own. The servant’s room in his father’s house made way to a makeshift office. The initial years were tough, business was not coming in as easily as he thought, Internet era was just about to unfold, people had so much of skepticism on small time entrepreneurs, and there was a family to support! Cash flow was so meager that month ends became regular nightmares for him.
Surabhi, his IIM A classmate, and now wife, stayed along all through the tough times. Her high paying job at Nestle somehow kept his business going and the family scraped through the hardships. I was touched by the understanding the lovers had as a pre-condition for marriage.. Sanjeev would not work for anybody, and Surabhi should be ready to support him at least for 5years till he make it big in life.. Both stuck to their commitments to each other. She supported the family for five years without cribbing, and he made it big, chasing his passion. Today, Naukri stands at 600crore revenue! The man behind is a big time success, and a role model for those who want to chase their dreams..
My favorite from Sanjeev… Start on your own only if you are looking for something beyond money.. If money is your whole focus, you would not stay through the tough times.. On the other hand, if you are driven by an insatiable passion to start on your own and set your own agenda, go all out, and am sure you will survive the monster waves.
BTW, the title is adapted from Steve Jobs’ speech to the graduating class of 2005 at Stanford Business school
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/grad-061505.html
And.. the book comes at an incredibly wallet friendly price tag.. But as always, I am more than glad to lend you a copy:-)
So long
Roy
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Madagaskar II - Escape to Africa
Watching children's movies has always been one of my favorite past times.. After the Bee Movie, we were back again to PVR Cinema to watch Madagaskar II. The kids were really excited, enjoying their Xmas vacation.. And me too, chilling out after months of hectic schedules in the mundane world of deliverables, deadlines etc..
The crowd included a grand old lady (close to 60...), among the cheerful little ones.. My younger one was sure that she would have come with her grand children, and was looking around to prove his prediction right.. Half way through the movie, I was really happy to see yet another 'elder' enjoying a kids' stuff:-)
Well, I am not going to narrate the entire story line here, like I did for the Bee Movie.. But would really like to recollect one of the most sensitive dialogues I have ever watched of late.. Norman, a giraffe and one of the key characters in the movie, was secretly in love with Gloria (a Hippo:-).. The love got un-noticed by the fairer sex, until that heartbreaking moment of Norman losing Gloria for ever.. The twist in the story unfolded, and Gloria would eventually recognize Norman's love for her.. My favourite from Gloria: Why did I ever look for love half way across the world when it was right here, untold and unseen? Hats off Gloria:-)... Quite often, we tend to ignore (fail to notice..) the love, untold and unseen, around us.. But would prefer to look around half way across the world in search of a mirage..
Go ahead and watch Madagaskar 2.. Worth the time invested:-)
Regards
Roy
The crowd included a grand old lady (close to 60...), among the cheerful little ones.. My younger one was sure that she would have come with her grand children, and was looking around to prove his prediction right.. Half way through the movie, I was really happy to see yet another 'elder' enjoying a kids' stuff:-)
Well, I am not going to narrate the entire story line here, like I did for the Bee Movie.. But would really like to recollect one of the most sensitive dialogues I have ever watched of late.. Norman, a giraffe and one of the key characters in the movie, was secretly in love with Gloria (a Hippo:-).. The love got un-noticed by the fairer sex, until that heartbreaking moment of Norman losing Gloria for ever.. The twist in the story unfolded, and Gloria would eventually recognize Norman's love for her.. My favourite from Gloria: Why did I ever look for love half way across the world when it was right here, untold and unseen? Hats off Gloria:-)... Quite often, we tend to ignore (fail to notice..) the love, untold and unseen, around us.. But would prefer to look around half way across the world in search of a mirage..
Go ahead and watch Madagaskar 2.. Worth the time invested:-)
Regards
Roy
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
It's Admission Time again for the little ones!!
I always wanted to write a post on this topic.. somehow it took a while for me to gather my thoughts/experiences and lessons learned (yes, am an IT Proj. Manager).. My daughter just turned 7yrs and we were trying to put her throuh yet another school for the next academic year and henceforth:-).. And changing school for a fourth time in such a short span, especially for the little one, is gonna be tough.. She needs to part with her close-knit group of friends, adorable teachers, the favourite play grounds, and everything so dear about the present school. On a postive note, she is always excited about moving out to a new place, where there are hitherto unknown extra curriculars! Her all time favorites are Swimming Pools & Tennis... Well, a few hits and a few misses, these are life's mandates, and we really gotta live with it... And the route cause for the move this time? We are going to setup our new home in an apartment near JP Nagar.. Dream comes true!
I didn't even care to talk about the younger one's feelings on this change.. The main reason why he is so indifferent is mostly attributed to his age.. too young to build a rapport with people, and sorts.. His comfort zone seems open ended..!! The common thread that binds their excitement would be the swimming pool in the new school:-)
Love this life!!
Regards
Roy
I didn't even care to talk about the younger one's feelings on this change.. The main reason why he is so indifferent is mostly attributed to his age.. too young to build a rapport with people, and sorts.. His comfort zone seems open ended..!! The common thread that binds their excitement would be the swimming pool in the new school:-)
Love this life!!
Regards
Roy
Friday, December 28, 2007
Bee Movie!!
I always enjoy watching children's movies, of course in the company of my little ones. And the latest one in the lot is the Bee Movie.. Thought provoking, to say the least!
Young, energetic, just-outa-college, Barry wages a war against the entire human community for exploiting the Bees.. It all started accidentally.. the way he met his human girl friend, the way he discovered honey processing plants, the vast honey farms, and the hectres of garden ensuring adequate nectar for the Bees to go ahead with their routine etc..
Did I say that Barry could speak like humans do? When his girl friend asks how he could do that, Barry's answers are worth watching a thousand times; the cool innocent mannerisms were remarkable on screen.. Barry wins the litigation, and the court orders all honey farms, and related industries to shut down... Well, the aftermath?? Plants, Trees and Flowers perished.. Florists went out of business.. Millions of other multi-billion dollar Bunits got closed out.... Millions were jobless...The reality struck Barry harder and he realises the role that their community plays in keeping this balance in nature.. And how the small tasks handled by each bee in a hive contributes to the balance of this echo-system..
To cut it short, Barry succeeds in pollinating from the last surviving bunch of flowers, and slowly life takes off. The accompanying scenes on screen were marvellous.. I got a real high watching those:-)
Kids really enjoyed the movie; empty cans of pop corns under their chairs validated this fact:-)
Barry's youthful misconception - failed to see the thin line that divides exploitation and collaboration!!
The movie is worth watching.. Check it out @PVR Europa.. Happy viewing:-)
Regards
Roy
Young, energetic, just-outa-college, Barry wages a war against the entire human community for exploiting the Bees.. It all started accidentally.. the way he met his human girl friend, the way he discovered honey processing plants, the vast honey farms, and the hectres of garden ensuring adequate nectar for the Bees to go ahead with their routine etc..
Did I say that Barry could speak like humans do? When his girl friend asks how he could do that, Barry's answers are worth watching a thousand times; the cool innocent mannerisms were remarkable on screen.. Barry wins the litigation, and the court orders all honey farms, and related industries to shut down... Well, the aftermath?? Plants, Trees and Flowers perished.. Florists went out of business.. Millions of other multi-billion dollar Bunits got closed out.... Millions were jobless...The reality struck Barry harder and he realises the role that their community plays in keeping this balance in nature.. And how the small tasks handled by each bee in a hive contributes to the balance of this echo-system..
To cut it short, Barry succeeds in pollinating from the last surviving bunch of flowers, and slowly life takes off. The accompanying scenes on screen were marvellous.. I got a real high watching those:-)
Kids really enjoyed the movie; empty cans of pop corns under their chairs validated this fact:-)
Barry's youthful misconception - failed to see the thin line that divides exploitation and collaboration!!
The movie is worth watching.. Check it out @PVR Europa.. Happy viewing:-)
Regards
Roy
Friday, December 21, 2007
Sayanora.. and yet another journey!!
I know it doesnt make sense to switch your job in a relatively low span of less than a couple years, especially when you have been in the industry for close to 12!! well.. I dont really want to do an introspection, and bring it to light as to what prompted me to switch my job...
What matters most to me at the moment, is the beginnig of this new race against time.. The agenda ahead, is pretty crisp and clear.. Set goals, explore opportunities, and unleash the unutilized potential:-) Being a little empathetic to my friends out there contemplating a move/already moved, these are in essence what we all seem to look out for... Being a little more philosophical, all IT pros, at one point would indeed look out and search for the true meaning of life!! If you are one, and opt to differ, seriously you gotta revisit your career aspirations, dreams and passions..
Well, enough of gyan for today... And just to recap, I started my new life in this new company, just couple days back... Looking forward to the days ahead:-)
My new year resolution seems to be: more frequent, creative blogging... I dont want my readers to get disappointed due to lack of/cliched content!
Regards
Roy
What matters most to me at the moment, is the beginnig of this new race against time.. The agenda ahead, is pretty crisp and clear.. Set goals, explore opportunities, and unleash the unutilized potential:-) Being a little empathetic to my friends out there contemplating a move/already moved, these are in essence what we all seem to look out for... Being a little more philosophical, all IT pros, at one point would indeed look out and search for the true meaning of life!! If you are one, and opt to differ, seriously you gotta revisit your career aspirations, dreams and passions..
Well, enough of gyan for today... And just to recap, I started my new life in this new company, just couple days back... Looking forward to the days ahead:-)
My new year resolution seems to be: more frequent, creative blogging... I dont want my readers to get disappointed due to lack of/cliched content!
Regards
Roy
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
We are well past that childhood.. But cherish those memories!!
Long time indeed.. and hope everything go well with all of you there..
Being a story teller I am, let me narrate yet another, real one indeed, as usual!
My daughter comes back from School every day at about 1:30PM in the afternoon.. She makes it a point to buzz me soon after lunch at around 3PM (she takes more than an hr to finish that ordeal, watching CN non-stop!)..
Well, it was a mundane Thursday evening.. Worried that I didn’t get a call from her till 4 in the evening, I decided to call home.. To my surprise, she herself picked up the phone.. I asked her why she didn’t make it up as usual and how worried I had been till that moment.. My sermons didn’t make sense to her in any way.. and she sounded damn serious.. and made a shhhhhh sound to shut myself up… Well, I was out (a bit tensed too!!) and asked her the reason why..
She said.. shhhh.. they are there.. don’t make noise, please.. daaad, speak in a low volume…Unable to contain my anxiety (I was nervous by this time..), I couldn’t help asking.. Tell me dear, who is there? Is there a stranger in? Where is Grandma?
Silence at the other end…I could feel my heartbeat going up by a notch… Daaad.. I told you to keep your voice low.. Grandma is talking to them.. I can hear their concerned voices there.. Well.. I was about to run down to the ground floor, still talking to her on my mobile.. Hey… what are you talking about? Who are they? Have you ever seen them before? Male or female? How many of them? Are they inside the house? Do they look neat and clean? And can you figure out what Grandma is telling them?..
Long silence again… Boy, I lost out.. Thought of calling my wife and rushing home.. Daaad… now the search team has come.. They are right here.. I can see the leader shouting out at Grandma.. They are a bit upset.. And they all seem to be worried… and Nandu has started crying…
My God… I was at the parking bay this time… Ready to jump in and drive home… Daaad.. you still there?? Yeah.. telll me girl..? What’s up now… Daaad… the search team finally managed to find me hiding under the desk… Aunt and Nandu have found me and they are all excited.. Grandma is relieved now….. I am going to get out.. There is no point hiding anymore.. By the way, what time you are expected home tonight…?
I just hung my mobile… Sigh… Long Sigh… But I scored that sweet incident in my memory for ever… When she grows into a lady, I am going to narrate this to her again… I can imagine her face blush…J
So long
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