Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Back to the grind...
life has resumed its normal course! and I have written my shortest blog today!!
Monday, July 09, 2007
Welcome to Centre Court,british summer has set in...
One of the finest tennis matches in a long time was yesterday's Federer vs Nadal. Games running into 5 sets is a trier of all kinds, to the players especially. What a comeback for the Fedex in the last set, that was. But,the hero undoubtedly was Rafael Nadal. I'm a self-confessed fan of Federer but to be fair to yesterday's match,it belonged to Nadal. Some of his cross-court shots were with great precision which the World No 1. could not match,his physical stamina was stunning. Nadal yesterday could have lifted the Himalayas in his left hand,that was his strength. And above all, he appeared to have a mental disposition that seemed to say, 'Look how I can handle the grass'!
Anyway,the day belonged to the Swiss man,who humbly admitted to have been lucky.However, his intelligence on grass was sprouting off now and then, almost in every set and that's why he was able to see Nadal eye-to-eye till the last. No wonder, they say 'battle of equals'!! phew,my heart was jumping yesterday!
Looking at it in a neutral manner,the game was poised equally,so it is unfair to give Nadal so much advanatage. But what made it special for him was probably the fact that he pushed the match to a five-setter and that was his moment of glory. That was the punishing factor for Federer. What a match!!
Above all,it was a match that audience was seen loving through and through. How I wish I was sitting amidst those people and applauding the victory of human spirit, whoever it may be! Perfect british weather(not counting the rain earlier) and beautful Wimbledon centre court,royal feel,precision and all old-world glory is a beautiful feeling.
The best thing about yesterday was the sight of three greats - Bjorn Borg,Boris Becker and John McEnroe. Men who made a difference to this world sitting there to encourage the men who are going to make a difference to this world!.Awesome feeling,great tennis,excellent weather,mind-boggling aces by Federer(in the last set) all these took me back to old memories of growing up when my cousin Jayanthi akka and I used to discuss tennis ( pretty much all sports) and I used to be in awe of her knowldege of every nitty-gritty thing in tennis,cricket,whatever. My interest in sports was fuelled by her and the first thing I did after the match was to call her and discuss yesterday's match!
Jayanthi akka, am so glad you watched it yesterday amidst all your household duties!! Somethings, don't change isn't it ? One of them is Wimbledon...
Anyway,the day belonged to the Swiss man,who humbly admitted to have been lucky.However, his intelligence on grass was sprouting off now and then, almost in every set and that's why he was able to see Nadal eye-to-eye till the last. No wonder, they say 'battle of equals'!! phew,my heart was jumping yesterday!
Looking at it in a neutral manner,the game was poised equally,so it is unfair to give Nadal so much advanatage. But what made it special for him was probably the fact that he pushed the match to a five-setter and that was his moment of glory. That was the punishing factor for Federer. What a match!!
Above all,it was a match that audience was seen loving through and through. How I wish I was sitting amidst those people and applauding the victory of human spirit, whoever it may be! Perfect british weather(not counting the rain earlier) and beautful Wimbledon centre court,royal feel,precision and all old-world glory is a beautiful feeling.
The best thing about yesterday was the sight of three greats - Bjorn Borg,Boris Becker and John McEnroe. Men who made a difference to this world sitting there to encourage the men who are going to make a difference to this world!.Awesome feeling,great tennis,excellent weather,mind-boggling aces by Federer(in the last set) all these took me back to old memories of growing up when my cousin Jayanthi akka and I used to discuss tennis ( pretty much all sports) and I used to be in awe of her knowldege of every nitty-gritty thing in tennis,cricket,whatever. My interest in sports was fuelled by her and the first thing I did after the match was to call her and discuss yesterday's match!
Jayanthi akka, am so glad you watched it yesterday amidst all your household duties!! Somethings, don't change isn't it ? One of them is Wimbledon...
Friday, June 29, 2007
Sowmya at Cleaveland Music festival..
Sowmya is back in form, heard her today at Cleaveland Tyagaraja Aradhana in Cleaveland,am simply amazed by the presence of Carnatic music in the US,am so glad.. The programme being telecast on Jaya TV daily at 6.30AM, wih the usual RMkv silks and grandeur, it feels nice.
Coming back to Sowmya's kutcheri, I must say, I heard the "Sowmya of the early nineties" today, after a reeeally long time. Of late, for whatever reason,which I dont want to judge, I used to feel she had lost interest. Her singing had reduced from a once-all-powerful husky nature to a boring,sluggish one. It hurt me a lot. Because Sowmya is my all time favourite in the new generations. Her classisicm stands out and her no-compromise way of handling ragas like thodi,bhairavi, kalyani and the other rubber-stamp ragas of Carnatic music makes me feel as if am listening to someone from those days....
Maybe it was voice abuse,fatigue or too many concerts, she just wasnt the same, for about a couple of years now. Today, it seemed changed. A briliant neraval in Dhanyasi followed by a kalyani in the 30 mins of glory that JayaTV brings daily was how my day began...
Sowmya stands out because of her commitment to Carnatic musc, I have heard from music circle friends that she works hard at her music even now. No wonder.. She is also singing at a slightly higher pitch with good clarity too... Is this the effect of voice culture ? Constant akaaara saadhanam ? Humming ? Not talking too much ? What could it be ? Am still struggling.. but am not anyone in Carnatic music.. am just a small fish, a reealy tiny one in this great universe of carnatic musicians... but am blessed to be there...
Whatever it is with Sowmya, am glad she is back in action. Am waiting to hear more of her back home, maybe a brilliant kamboji would do justice to all these years of lacking ??
Back in nineties,Sowmya used to be for me an icon - an IIT gold medallist,a post-graduate in Chemistry from IIT,an all-rounder who sings Carnatic music too.
Today, Sowmya is to me an icon of a different nature - a fighter,a phoenix in the field of CM who has come back to form in style and grandeuer, and she also happens to be an IItian,a gold medalist with a postgraduate in chemistry too..
Sometimes it is worth turning the perspective by 360 degres what ?
Coming back to Sowmya's kutcheri, I must say, I heard the "Sowmya of the early nineties" today, after a reeeally long time. Of late, for whatever reason,which I dont want to judge, I used to feel she had lost interest. Her singing had reduced from a once-all-powerful husky nature to a boring,sluggish one. It hurt me a lot. Because Sowmya is my all time favourite in the new generations. Her classisicm stands out and her no-compromise way of handling ragas like thodi,bhairavi, kalyani and the other rubber-stamp ragas of Carnatic music makes me feel as if am listening to someone from those days....
Maybe it was voice abuse,fatigue or too many concerts, she just wasnt the same, for about a couple of years now. Today, it seemed changed. A briliant neraval in Dhanyasi followed by a kalyani in the 30 mins of glory that JayaTV brings daily was how my day began...
Sowmya stands out because of her commitment to Carnatic musc, I have heard from music circle friends that she works hard at her music even now. No wonder.. She is also singing at a slightly higher pitch with good clarity too... Is this the effect of voice culture ? Constant akaaara saadhanam ? Humming ? Not talking too much ? What could it be ? Am still struggling.. but am not anyone in Carnatic music.. am just a small fish, a reealy tiny one in this great universe of carnatic musicians... but am blessed to be there...
Whatever it is with Sowmya, am glad she is back in action. Am waiting to hear more of her back home, maybe a brilliant kamboji would do justice to all these years of lacking ??
Back in nineties,Sowmya used to be for me an icon - an IIT gold medallist,a post-graduate in Chemistry from IIT,an all-rounder who sings Carnatic music too.
Today, Sowmya is to me an icon of a different nature - a fighter,a phoenix in the field of CM who has come back to form in style and grandeuer, and she also happens to be an IItian,a gold medalist with a postgraduate in chemistry too..
Sometimes it is worth turning the perspective by 360 degres what ?
Thursday, June 28, 2007
The great TMT is no more..
Sir TM Thyagarajan, one of the greatest livng legends of sampradayam karnataka sangeetham passed away yesterday at 84. I have started listening to him only recently and the impact his music has is not explainable. He is a guru of first order - even just listening to his music has given so much.
May his soul rest in peace.
May his soul rest in peace.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
sun rise in a jealous mind...
today i woke up feeling jealous,of some people, some girls, to be specific. I'm in comparison mode. This emotional surge happens once in a while and when that happens, I loathe myself. But am a human afterall.
Why am I jealous of some girls ? Hundreds of reasons.. from simple 'some girls get it easy' to complex 'Some girls get away with anything' ones.. Not many would understand, but thats not the idea. Idea is to pour out on my dear blog so that the 'not-so-nice' feelings pass.. Writing does that to me..It is highly effective in that sense.
Jealousy is a rotten thought,but it happens. And am not gonna hide it anymore. In a lighter sense, if I jot down some interesting reasons why I could be jealous of any other girl, would it make this blog any better ?
1. She is beautiful,men stare at her..
2. She is still young,my God no wonder these guys go gaga over her..
3. She throws her feminine charm and see how these idiots swoon...
4. She has it all - why is God so unfair ?
5. Coming to think of it... am almost like her, so why do I have to struggle every time ? ( this is a commonly occuring jealousy trait)
6. Why cant I ever act coy and feminine like her ? Men are old-fashioned remember, they still want their woman to be the goody-goody one.
7. She shops like crazy, wonder where she gets those fancy earrings from ? for all that, she must have paid just a few rupees for those while am sitting here wearing these 30K diamonds. ( how wrong I was to think that diamonds are a girl's best friend ? )
8. I hate my hair.. dry and curled up all the time, look at her, such lovely straight, silky ones.. I spend so much on conditioners and yet.. she tells me she just shampoes the damn thing.. God... is there no solution for my bad hair ?
9. what has she done to deserve all this ? I mean her existence is of no use to this society, I do this, I do that and yet, it doesnt mean anything. ( This is a stupid one, only a totally horrible me can think thus :-) )
10. A day will come when her beauty will fade, when she will become fat and bulgy.. these guys will never give a damn then ... wow.. how nice.. i would feel so much better that day...
ah... the list goes on.. Now, the real me is emerging..am glad these stupid thoughts are gone. Honestly it doesnt matter to me how beautiful,capable or young another woman is. I know there is someone out there for me, someone whose life and existence makes sense with me. He may be old,greying,bald,fat whatever, but he would be mine!!
Girls, get away please... I wish you all the best in your charm-filled, youthful endeavours, you could never be me nor could I be you.
Your men could never be mine and mine shall never give you a second look..
Current mood :- passing jealousy, coming to commonsense..
Current song :- 'Mere Khwabon mein jo aaye' from DDLJ..
Why am I jealous of some girls ? Hundreds of reasons.. from simple 'some girls get it easy' to complex 'Some girls get away with anything' ones.. Not many would understand, but thats not the idea. Idea is to pour out on my dear blog so that the 'not-so-nice' feelings pass.. Writing does that to me..It is highly effective in that sense.
Jealousy is a rotten thought,but it happens. And am not gonna hide it anymore. In a lighter sense, if I jot down some interesting reasons why I could be jealous of any other girl, would it make this blog any better ?
1. She is beautiful,men stare at her..
2. She is still young,my God no wonder these guys go gaga over her..
3. She throws her feminine charm and see how these idiots swoon...
4. She has it all - why is God so unfair ?
5. Coming to think of it... am almost like her, so why do I have to struggle every time ? ( this is a commonly occuring jealousy trait)
6. Why cant I ever act coy and feminine like her ? Men are old-fashioned remember, they still want their woman to be the goody-goody one.
7. She shops like crazy, wonder where she gets those fancy earrings from ? for all that, she must have paid just a few rupees for those while am sitting here wearing these 30K diamonds. ( how wrong I was to think that diamonds are a girl's best friend ? )
8. I hate my hair.. dry and curled up all the time, look at her, such lovely straight, silky ones.. I spend so much on conditioners and yet.. she tells me she just shampoes the damn thing.. God... is there no solution for my bad hair ?
9. what has she done to deserve all this ? I mean her existence is of no use to this society, I do this, I do that and yet, it doesnt mean anything. ( This is a stupid one, only a totally horrible me can think thus :-) )
10. A day will come when her beauty will fade, when she will become fat and bulgy.. these guys will never give a damn then ... wow.. how nice.. i would feel so much better that day...
ah... the list goes on.. Now, the real me is emerging..am glad these stupid thoughts are gone. Honestly it doesnt matter to me how beautiful,capable or young another woman is. I know there is someone out there for me, someone whose life and existence makes sense with me. He may be old,greying,bald,fat whatever, but he would be mine!!
Girls, get away please... I wish you all the best in your charm-filled, youthful endeavours, you could never be me nor could I be you.
Your men could never be mine and mine shall never give you a second look..
Current mood :- passing jealousy, coming to commonsense..
Current song :- 'Mere Khwabon mein jo aaye' from DDLJ..
Monday, June 25, 2007
What is true freedom ?
I'm asking this question of myself after engaging in a debate with some friends. The debate was on political ideologies - democracy, capitalism ,communism and all the variations we have today. I, for one, is a strong supporter of democracy and more so capitalism. Capitalism does to a society something similar to what mom used to do to us when we were kids - 'Look at how well behaved that girl next door is... ' and lo, I started behaving well too..
I presume you know what I mean.
Capitalism brings in competition. It puts in challenges, it churns the best from the huge melting pot, so to speak. And we all know, how these handful change our lives.
Some say, democracy doesnt work for a country like ours. Because we dont deserve it. Partially right. At 60 years, our country is still like a bunch of unruly kids who have to be whipped to be disciplined. But wait,thats not what democracy is, in the first place. It defines freedom to choose in a nutshell, however it does not impose!
It just lays rules and rules for breaking those rules, but it doesnt enforce. Atleast not in the strictest sense. Because of its true definition, it still gives a criminal, a defaulter, a chance. A chance to plead! A chance to get away ! (this is the saddest part of democracy) But to blame an ideology that stands on freedom for this very reason is not fair. This is my opinion. Because, I live in a society that has given me the freedom to live life on my terms so long as those terms dont affect another's existence.I love this freedom because it lets me work,be intellectual,creative, entertaining ,empathatic and more. And to blame democracy just because a few misuse it is wrong.
What if I were to lose all this tomorrow and be asked to follow certain principles that I dont subscribe to ? Some of those that appear socially just but unfair to the hard working,skilled population like mine ? What if I were asked to donate half of my salary to someone who is unemployed just because that person does not want to work ? What if my salary was never increased simply because some lawyer somewhere was making only so much ? What if my creative talents were not paid off simply because 90% of the society was not creative ? What if educational standards were reduced to keep eveyone at bay ? What if I had to pay 60% income tax while someone else paid only 30% ? What if I had to donate 5% of my income to a youth who was begging simply because he is too lazy to work ? What if entertainment was regulated ? What if we were asked to stop playing sports because we need that money to be invested elsewhere ? What if defence was not so important ?
Did I lose my freedom here ? My friend would say no because he thinks so long as I have enough to eat and survive, it is OK! So long as my money is going to make everyone well-fed and well-clothed, such rules are fine, he would say!
What happens to me ? What happens to this society ? Would there be motivation ? Would anyone think beyond eating and living well ? Would we explore ? Would we take the unchartered ? Would we try to create wealth ? Would we invest ? Would we think ahead ? Would we secure ourselves ? Eventually, would we think at all ? Would there be change ? evolution ?
Might be, might be not! Because it all depends on one guy whose vision of the world would have to become my vison of the world. And that my friends is by itself, RESTRICTING and against WORLD ORDER. This world needs chaos, variety and differences. There have to be rich and poor, the hard working and the hardly working, the common and the intellectual, we have no choice. This is world order. By trying to make things uniform,someone out there is only acting God! Any human acting GOD is called a DICTATOR! Because, we have no right to! There was one guy about half a century ago due to whose whims and fancies, an entire population of innocent, free-spirited people were put to pain and death. Do we need moral policemen for our leaders ?
Think my friends!
I presume you know what I mean.
Capitalism brings in competition. It puts in challenges, it churns the best from the huge melting pot, so to speak. And we all know, how these handful change our lives.
Some say, democracy doesnt work for a country like ours. Because we dont deserve it. Partially right. At 60 years, our country is still like a bunch of unruly kids who have to be whipped to be disciplined. But wait,thats not what democracy is, in the first place. It defines freedom to choose in a nutshell, however it does not impose!
It just lays rules and rules for breaking those rules, but it doesnt enforce. Atleast not in the strictest sense. Because of its true definition, it still gives a criminal, a defaulter, a chance. A chance to plead! A chance to get away ! (this is the saddest part of democracy) But to blame an ideology that stands on freedom for this very reason is not fair. This is my opinion. Because, I live in a society that has given me the freedom to live life on my terms so long as those terms dont affect another's existence.I love this freedom because it lets me work,be intellectual,creative, entertaining ,empathatic and more. And to blame democracy just because a few misuse it is wrong.
What if I were to lose all this tomorrow and be asked to follow certain principles that I dont subscribe to ? Some of those that appear socially just but unfair to the hard working,skilled population like mine ? What if I were asked to donate half of my salary to someone who is unemployed just because that person does not want to work ? What if my salary was never increased simply because some lawyer somewhere was making only so much ? What if my creative talents were not paid off simply because 90% of the society was not creative ? What if educational standards were reduced to keep eveyone at bay ? What if I had to pay 60% income tax while someone else paid only 30% ? What if I had to donate 5% of my income to a youth who was begging simply because he is too lazy to work ? What if entertainment was regulated ? What if we were asked to stop playing sports because we need that money to be invested elsewhere ? What if defence was not so important ?
Did I lose my freedom here ? My friend would say no because he thinks so long as I have enough to eat and survive, it is OK! So long as my money is going to make everyone well-fed and well-clothed, such rules are fine, he would say!
What happens to me ? What happens to this society ? Would there be motivation ? Would anyone think beyond eating and living well ? Would we explore ? Would we take the unchartered ? Would we try to create wealth ? Would we invest ? Would we think ahead ? Would we secure ourselves ? Eventually, would we think at all ? Would there be change ? evolution ?
Might be, might be not! Because it all depends on one guy whose vision of the world would have to become my vison of the world. And that my friends is by itself, RESTRICTING and against WORLD ORDER. This world needs chaos, variety and differences. There have to be rich and poor, the hard working and the hardly working, the common and the intellectual, we have no choice. This is world order. By trying to make things uniform,someone out there is only acting God! Any human acting GOD is called a DICTATOR! Because, we have no right to! There was one guy about half a century ago due to whose whims and fancies, an entire population of innocent, free-spirited people were put to pain and death. Do we need moral policemen for our leaders ?
Think my friends!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Fools - who are they ?
I would like to compare some of my thoughts now with those ones I used to have say about 5-10 years ago in given similar contexts and life situations. What shall I call this ? Words-from-experience ? Stupid thoughts ? Whatever...
1. Then :- It is possible for me to be in anyone's thoughts if I try hard enough..
Now :- No matter what I do, I simply don't exist for some people. don't even nned to try...
2. Then :- When I talk, everyone shall listen if am convincing..
Now :- People switch off their minds the moment they see me open my mouth...
3. Then :- How can a stranger be close ? I mean.. he is a stranger, what does he know of me ?
Now :- A stranger can understand me better than most people you know. Most people I know can behave more strangely than strangers.
4. Then :- I think am your close friend and you will be there for me at all times of need.
Now :- I thought am your close friend but you dint think so and rest of the stuff doesnt matter anyway...
5. Then :- I want to make new friends wherever i go..
Now :- Let me call some of my old buddies from school and college...
6. Then :- My mom is old fashioned and boring. She advises me all the time on relationships at work, does she mean I should not trust anyone ? She belongs to some goddamn generation that never let people talk at work...
Now :- Let me ask Mom on how to handle this small matter at work. She would definitely know best..
7. Then :- What, watching a movie alone ? Are you mad ? You dont know how to be happy at all... I tell you just catch some friends and go have fun... u are so boring...
Now :- Ok, so...she is married and so is she, he is travelling, he doesn't like my company, they don't watch the movies I do, oh they prefer late night shows , okie let me watch this movie alone...
8. Then :- These thirty odds are unbearable...
Now :- These twenty-somethings so immature...
9. Then :- A man who is smart,handsome,educated with a good sense of humor,social, romantic, etc etc etc..
Now :- A person who accepts me as am...
10. Then :- Friendship has no expectations, thats why it is so beautiful but love has expectations, so friendship is nobler ( someone told me this actually..)
Now :- Love grows with time because those very expectations bind people together and make them discover the best in one another.
11. Then :- am single and ready to mingle..
Now :- am single and happy with myself..
12. Then :- In the next 5 years, I shall be heading this team, I shall be earning fifty lakhs p.a, I will have travelled all over the world and bought a penthouse...
Now :- In the next 5 years, I shall probably be packing my child to school and driving to work early to complete this assignment before I take this much awaited week-long vacation to Chennai with my parents....
13. Then :- My destiny is in my hands...I can change it if I want to.. it has nothing to do with my past deeds nor with any Creator...
Now :- oh Lord, give me strength to handle my troubles, whatever may come, do not let go of me....
:-) I liked the last one particularly.. it adds a dramatic effect to this this blog...
Agatha Christie says in her famous Marple case 'Murder at the Vicarage' thus :-
quote.... " The young people THINK the old are fools but the old people KNOW the young are fools.." unquote..
1. Then :- It is possible for me to be in anyone's thoughts if I try hard enough..
Now :- No matter what I do, I simply don't exist for some people. don't even nned to try...
2. Then :- When I talk, everyone shall listen if am convincing..
Now :- People switch off their minds the moment they see me open my mouth...
3. Then :- How can a stranger be close ? I mean.. he is a stranger, what does he know of me ?
Now :- A stranger can understand me better than most people you know. Most people I know can behave more strangely than strangers.
4. Then :- I think am your close friend and you will be there for me at all times of need.
Now :- I thought am your close friend but you dint think so and rest of the stuff doesnt matter anyway...
5. Then :- I want to make new friends wherever i go..
Now :- Let me call some of my old buddies from school and college...
6. Then :- My mom is old fashioned and boring. She advises me all the time on relationships at work, does she mean I should not trust anyone ? She belongs to some goddamn generation that never let people talk at work...
Now :- Let me ask Mom on how to handle this small matter at work. She would definitely know best..
7. Then :- What, watching a movie alone ? Are you mad ? You dont know how to be happy at all... I tell you just catch some friends and go have fun... u are so boring...
Now :- Ok, so...she is married and so is she, he is travelling, he doesn't like my company, they don't watch the movies I do, oh they prefer late night shows , okie let me watch this movie alone...
8. Then :- These thirty odds are unbearable...
Now :- These twenty-somethings so immature...
9. Then :- A man who is smart,handsome,educated with a good sense of humor,social, romantic, etc etc etc..
Now :- A person who accepts me as am...
10. Then :- Friendship has no expectations, thats why it is so beautiful but love has expectations, so friendship is nobler ( someone told me this actually..)
Now :- Love grows with time because those very expectations bind people together and make them discover the best in one another.
11. Then :- am single and ready to mingle..
Now :- am single and happy with myself..
12. Then :- In the next 5 years, I shall be heading this team, I shall be earning fifty lakhs p.a, I will have travelled all over the world and bought a penthouse...
Now :- In the next 5 years, I shall probably be packing my child to school and driving to work early to complete this assignment before I take this much awaited week-long vacation to Chennai with my parents....
13. Then :- My destiny is in my hands...I can change it if I want to.. it has nothing to do with my past deeds nor with any Creator...
Now :- oh Lord, give me strength to handle my troubles, whatever may come, do not let go of me....
:-) I liked the last one particularly.. it adds a dramatic effect to this this blog...
Agatha Christie says in her famous Marple case 'Murder at the Vicarage' thus :-
quote.... " The young people THINK the old are fools but the old people KNOW the young are fools.." unquote..
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
