Truth

Nayi Disha, Naya Soch

2011-11-09T14:55:00.002+05:30

Aankhon Me Aakrosh Liye, Dil Me Bhari Ek Aag,

Aaj Chala Hai Ye Bharat, Dhone Apne Daaman Ke Daag.

Aaj Khuli Hain Aankhien Iski, Kyu Lag Gaye Itne Baras,

Ek Ek Sach, Ek Ek Haq Paane ko, Ab Tak Raha Hai Ye Taras.

Angrezo Ne Loota Isko, Par Jana Pada Ek Din Unko Bhi,

Ye Jo Lootere Bache Hain Baaki, Aayegi Baari Ab Inki Bhi.

Jakhm Diye Bahut In Logo Ne, Til Til Kar Sehta Raha Ye Desh,

Khoon ki Holi, Goli - Barood Ki Diwali Me, Na Reh Gaya Dehsat Ka Koi Bhesh.

Bhrastachaar Ne Ghera Isko, Jab Mehangai Ne Kia Unmaad,

Ek Aur Swatantra Sangram Ki Aayi Anna Ko Yaad.

Ek Gandhi Ne Angrezo Ko Jhukaya Tha, Is Doosre Ne Bhi Kia Kamaal,

Uth Aya Desh Saath Is Gandhiwadi Ke, Kendra Sarkar Ke Kar Die Chehre Laal.

Ek Nayi Raah, Ek Naya Soch, Ek Aasha, Ek Viswas,

Bharat Ki Janta ka Yu Saath Aana, Isme Baat Hai Kuch Khaas.

Aisi Aandhi Bas Aaakar Tham Naa Jaaye, To Aao Aakar Le Hum Ek Prun,

Praan Jaye Par Vachan Naa Jaaye, Bhrastachaar Ko Milkar Kare Hum Khatam.

I do not have Idols, I am not worthy of having any !

2011-11-02T23:54:00.004+05:30

One thought of mine on Idolizing.

Idolizing comes very naturally to us Indians, we find someone excelling at something ,we Idolize him/her, but this is just the name that we add in our dictionary where IDOL word is written.
Idol - Steve Jobs, Idol - Anna Hazare, Idol - Sachin Tendulkar, Idol - APJ Abdul Kalam, and if you think deep down inside, there were a thing or two about these people which fascinated us so much when we idolized them. Not the entirety.

And even if in entirety, for people who would not agree to my "a thing or two" notion [read - the ever naysayers], what all did we start practicing from our Idols list? Idolizing for having a list of big heavy names to take in front of someone expecting a 'wow, that's great' kind of response is okay, but Idolizing and walking the same path as the Idol does is tough.

Take for example, I don't want to say Sachin is my Idol, because I cannot follow the great values he preaches, be that of patience, control, being down to earth, - there are N number of things I fail in, when I compare to the good qualities my so called Idol has. Can I match him in even 10% of the qualities he possesses and displays, that is a question that haunts my mind, as I know the answer is NO. So should it haunt everyone's mind, who talks about Idol and Idolizing.

When we start doing things the way it is right, when we start aligning ourselves to the virtues we say we Idolize, to the qualities of person we say we Idolize, then only in true means we are worthy of having an Idol. Until then, the proverbial Idol will always be there in our dictionaries, but will that have any value. Think over it.

Lost in Eternity

2011-09-13T00:13:00.001+05:30

There are times in our lives when we are swept away by uncontrolled emotions, times when we are overwhelmed by sadness, overcome by misery, times when we feel we are loved only for the worth of what others can get from us and not for who we really are. Cursed are those times, is what we feel deep down inside in our heart when we face such ignominy.

But at times it’s natural to feel this way, and it very much makes sense in such situations to kind of be alone, to feel blue and to feel lonely. It’s only then that we ask ourselves, “Why this has to be this way? Why do we have to cry? When love is taken away from us, why it has to hurt? Why we let go off someone we loved?”

In a relationship we have treasured, the hardest thing to do is to say goodbye and set that special someone free for once and all, for in every last embrace a part of us dies, every teardrop that falls washes away our hopes and then we are left with nothing but pain and bitter sweet memories. We have lost love but we still don’t know and most probably will never know why we tried to get away from the only thing that we ever wanted to stay back.

Every move we now make somehow has its way of reminding us of the past lost in eternity.

Me, My God and My Prayers - Connection Realities

2011-07-20T22:05:00.002+05:30

“Ab pehle jaisa kuch bhi nhi raha”

Sometimes some completely un-harming words can bring your deepest emotions to the fore. When I heard these words, going through a very usual channel scan on my TV after a long day at work, it just struck me. It pulled some old bruised heart string and then pain and agony followed making way for the tear drops to adorn my cheeks and then roll on pass the neck wetting my tee shirt collar. I rubbed them off, as soon as I realized though, as I had made a promise to myself, I wouldn’t cry over on the things that are a part of the past now. But rubbing them off doesn’t take away the pain, the wetness that remained in the eyes, reminded me of the old times. It still continues to ache as bad as it did years ago, just like an old wound. When it hurts, it hurts like hell. Still, without contempt I muster all the courage in me to put up a brave face in front of everyone when I know deep down inside me that I am wailing in loss and grief. Sometimes I just have one prayer to the all mighty, “O God, Take away this feeling, Or return to me what you unjustly took away from me”.

But prayers; how many of those are really heard? Is there anyone actually hearing them? I seriously doubt. I have had a numerous unanswered prayers, again to add purposefully, none of which actually turned into reality. Well you can always say I was greedy in my prayers, but come on who isn’t? All the point of praying I make, is because in a situation as mine, I remember God, ask mercy, but on inaction I feel anger take preceding priority to every other emotion that is currently in the mix up of being evoked through all the high drain emotional upheaval I have been part of, just minutes ago. Anger - on God, on myself, on everything that surrounds me. I am like a soul possessed, and my anger isn’t an anger that would break things. My anger is of another kind, the kind that I like to call as the silent treatment. I go mute, I go silent, I stop talking, stop reacting to many things to which I would normally react to. People would feel I am neglecting their presence and their comments, and at such times, I am, though, not may be due to them, but for a completely another reason they are unknown of. Shell is what I make around me, I think. A shell that alienates me from the world that causes pain, attacks on my wounds and the world that cannot see me happy. A shell helps at such times, to analyze the good, the bad and the ugly around you. Once you go in a shell, your contact with the surrounding environment is cut off, and soon you see yourself in a position where the fact becomes crystal clear, where the right and wrong can be distinguished between and differentiated. And this shell helps me come out of that anger mode in a quick time as well. Automatically, as soon as I deduce that anger isn’t the solution, I cool down. That’s how I have taken up prayers, wish fulfillment and the happiness –anger quotient out of all of it. A completely different relationship of myself, the god I believe in, and the prayers that I think connect my wishes to him are connected in this unique relationship that I define or shall I say confuse with.

I often end up with a very calm feeling after this inner conflict of sorts with my prayers to the God. The calmness that defines that there exist something that help me out even while not literally helping me where I wish him to. And sometimes I just feel this is all so very similar to the curious ways in which this whole world works – Taking small steps towards agreeing to something which you completely despised off earlier. May be that what the human tendency is. May be that how we all were born to be. Destiny, as they say, is in everything we chose to do and chose not to. Here’s mine being defined in some small way.

Vijeta

2011-05-03T20:04:00.003+05:30

Ek Manch aur Ye Pratiyogi Anek
Ek Hai Shaam, Par Ye Vijeta Anek
Ek Hi Hai Lakshya Sabka,
Par Haasil Karne Ke Hain Raaste Anek.

Chal Chale Jo Raah Pe Karmath, Bina Ruke, Bina Thake,
Hota Unhi Ka Hai Raah Safal,
Jo Ladte Hain Mushkilon Se, Jo Kabhi Naa Darien,
Uparwala Bhi Hai Karta Usi ki Madad Pal Pal.

Raah Kathin Thi Par Wo Ghabraaya Nahi,
Ye Kaante, Ye Patthar, Inko Dekh Katraaya Nahi,
Yu Jo Badhe Kadam Viswas Se Uss Lakshya Ki Oor,
Hazaaroon Mushkilien Aayi Par Use Koi Rok Paya Nahi.

Aaj Parcham Lehra Ke Apne Kie Hue Karmo Ka,
Chaa Gaya Duniya Pe Wo Iss Kadar,
Seekh Lenge Kayi Log Iss Vijeta Se,
Kathin Nahi Bas Lamba Hai Ye Safar.

Aur Bas Ek Kamyaabi Se Santust Nahi Wo Iss Pal Me,
Nikal Pada Hai Ek Naye Lakshay Ko Paane ki Hatth Me,
Adbhut Pratibhaoon Ko Jo Mila Ye Maan Aur Ye Samman,
Kar Utha Hai Mera Rom Rom Un Vijetaaon Ko Koti Koti Pranam…
Koti Koti Pranam…

Selfish Me

2011-04-11T15:17:00.003+05:30

If I were to be born again,

I wish it could be true,

If I do come to earth again,

I wish it could be with you.

For you are my source of inspiration,

My friend, my philosopher, my guide,

For you I am what I am today,

And I cherish the love and luck by my side.

The days when I was sad and feeling low,

The days of pain and sorrow,

The days when I remembered my past,

You were the one who made me see tomorrow.

Your words of wisdom and your support,

The untimely calls and messages to you,

I kept you awake all night and day,

When problem came, I kept looking up to you.

It paid off, my trust in you,

For all my pain and sorrows were gone for sure,

You just kept guiding me like an angel,

For all that you gave me, I kept asking for more.

Sharing Experiences of Life

2011-03-14T16:41:00.002+05:30

People come to you with a problem, expect support and advice, they listen to you, go back seemingly satisfied, then they do what they originally wanted to at the first place, they forget all the advices and concerns you put forth and move on. You tell them that their decision was not smart to go against your suggestions. Sometime down the line they come back to you to tell that they didn't take your advice in a good way and now they are suffering.

Now this generally looks like an example of people doing most of the thing wrong and suffering because of that. The problem is it isn't. We are the one who is wrong. How, I will share in my comments below.

Now the ‘HOW ARE WE WRONG’ Part I – Change of Roles:

Re-analyze what all happened from the start, just make a small change, put yourself in the place of that person who had a problem and was seeking help.
Things change so rapidly now. I have a problem, I need help, I do. Why do I need help? Because I am unable to cope with the challenges that problem has put forth to me, because my methods of tackling the problem have failed or fell flat. I am afraid of the problem, I am afraid because I am aware of the consequences of not answering the questions raised by the problem.

I lack confidence to decide among the possible solutions that I have been pondering over. I am kind in kind of two minds. I seek help to decide what path I should choose. All's well now that I have thought who can help me. It’s my friend. Let’s call him Mr. Friend.

Mr. Friend is my go-to man. My Friend who I think understands me well enough for me to trust him with my problem and expect a solution. When I approach Mr. Friend, I want him to listen. I start telling the problem and as soon as my problems are heard, Mr. Friend starts telling where I did wrong, where I faltered, where I took a wrong decision... but wait... Hey, Hey Mr. Friend... I am not done with my problem yet... Are you listening...? Come on, I want you to listen to me and understand my problem as well as I do. I want you to feel every part of it. You are already running fast on to conclusions. How will you help me this way...? Some faith over Mr. Friend goes.

Problem discussion ends, Mr. Friend comes up with possible solutions list, Try A, B, C, D, E. This works, this can, this may, this probably not.... and so forth. Excuse me, I say, I had concerns on which path I should chose - 1 or 2, and now you have given me 5 more issues with 5 more paths to choose from. My problems have increased. Mr. Friend is speechless.

I go back. I always had a decision in my mind. I favored that decision more compared to the other one I had thought of. Mr. Friend didn't hear my problem, couldn't understand me completely, and can’t help me. I am dismissive of Mr. Friend's helping capabilities now. I will go ahead with my original discussion. I only wanted Mr. Friend to listen to me, I realize. I never wanted an advice from Mr. Friend. I just wanted support, perhaps someone to listen, not to help; just listen. And just that would have been fine.

Now somewhere down the line I realize again that my decision wasn’t so good after all, as it was fueled by heart and not brain. I remember the 4-5 options put forth by Mr. Friend; I go back and say, I made a wrong decision. But I don’t say that choosing his options would have been good. Who knows? I took a wrong decision, but it was completely mine. No one else's. I never needed an opinion in the first place. Not to be rude after realization of this fact, I acknowledge the help Mr. Friend came up with during that time. So I am sorry.

‘HOW ~~ARE~~ WERE WE WRONG’ Part II – Roles Reversed:

Roles reversed, I am Mr. Friend now, the problem solver, and the Problem seeker is the one who came to me at the very start, say Mr. X. Now I know where I was wrong. I was more focused on solving a problem than listening to my friend. I was more focused on trying to prove that I am the one who can help my friend out from this situation and that I am the correct choice for her to come ask help from. I realize, I was wrong, not in my solutions offered, but in my way of going about the whole situation. I failed to understand the underlying pain my friend wanted to share with me. Mr. X comes over and says sorry to me, I feel speechless, yet again.

I’ll lose never again

2011-01-13T21:47:00.001+05:30

There you come again in my dream and I wake up to find myself in darkness, perspiring and an inimitable feeling inside. I try to reconcile what you said. “I am done. I am going; I am not coming back again. Have a good life.”

How could you? How could you possibly be at so much ease while leaving all that you and me ever had? How could you go away so easily? Ah, why do I ask, when I know you aren’t here anymore to answer any of my questions. You were never the one who’d answer the questions put to you, Were you? You’d just ignore and start on something else. At times that was the best thing about you and at times I hated you so much when you’d just react as if nothing happened. That was truly remarkable of you, you’d know, how on earth you managed to pull it off each and every time and come out as the winner?

Loser, I was, wasn’t I, according to you? But as soon as you left me, that all changed. You lost, for the very first time in several years. You lost ‘Me’, and you lost my trust. Yes, I am equally at loss, but this time, I am not the only one with the LOSER tag. You gave good company to me, finally. I hope you’d have had a difficult time coping up with the feeling of loss. You for all people had never tasted the bitterness that a loss leaves behind. Now you must have had a real taste of it, one that you’d love to forget but will remember forever. And therein lies my revenge, straight and sweet. You brought it all upon yourself, you deserved it, every penny worth of it. Now cherish it forever.

I have the last laugh. I win. Period.

A celebration of Hard Work and its Reaping

2010-12-17T14:42:00.002+05:30

Nielsen Day Out

With Success; cometh joy immense, feeling of completeness and a welcome relief… A relief that tells you that all the hard work has paid off well in the end and you’ve a reason to uncork the champagne, raise a toast and say cheers to the ‘Work Hard, Party Harder’ way of life.

Such was the Nielsen Day Out at a plush farmhouse away from the honking horns and buzzing roads of the Nagpur city, almost 10 kms beyond the lesser known Saoner, into the confines of Telkamthi. Hosting a group of 70 odd at a small notice isn’t usual but then we do love challenges and tight deadlines, working with a client like Nielsen. Don’t we? The learning reaped. With lots of enthusiasm and joie-de-vivre, with smiles and a picnic mood, the 40 seater bus was full before expectations. Boy, we needed an outing for sure! Soon en-route the destination, the happiness was inimitable to miss, with Dumb Charades and Antakshari taking over the moods of one and all.

When we reached the farmhouse, we were greeted with a huge open area and a lavish green surrounding that reminded highly of the ‘feel good’ villages we all have visited sometime or other. The trees and the farming all over, and a picturesque swimming pool right in middle of everything, this wasn’t what everyone had expecting. Soon many took up cricket and others just busy posing for the shutterbugs. Soon crisp pakodas and bhajiyas were up on the starter menu and the crowd was seen delving, finding the gourmet in themselves. The team building activities followed soon which just set the tone of the whole day. Well thought, nicely implemented and executed ideas came to the fore when the tug of war, sack race and crab race unfolded; putting all groups competing into surprises and smiles. Whilst the competition got more interesting, people were seen to grow more competitive and better adjusted to the surprises put in by the efficient game hosts.

We all hit the lunch which presented to us; the well cooked delicacies which were actually homegrown in the farmhouse. A plethora of sweet dishes caused dilemmas a many in the minds of the diet conscious, but the sweet tooth went ahead with tasting all of them. A sumptuous lunch was followed with Shashank’s foreword on the achievement in the last year with Nielsen, and what we look forward to in the coming year. More experiences were shared as Chandra, Preeti, Nandita and Varun had their words to add. There was a general feeling of accomplishment, be it REEFS or CVM or QC Migration – Every Nielsen project had its unique set of challenges which were dealt with and the end quality product was delivered – to the expectations, fulfilling the deadlines. Soon fun and frolic took over with Koutsubh and Anupam taking over the compeering when they unlocked their witty and uncanny ways of putting forth the titles and the fish ponds. Soon people burst into laughter and applause, in unison, for each of the comments and titles coming one after another.

The evening saw the last of the team building games being played and the participants matching high fives as stiff competition had led to eventual win by one of the groups. The winners were felicitated by Gopal and Kaleem – two pillars of InfoCepts’ engagement with Nielsen, the gifts were distributed to all of them. The night was imminent, but the enthusiasm hadn’t died as the DJ started belting out the popular numbers, forcing the tired to get up and join the party mood. Some 50 songs later, we packed up.

Into the bus, tired, sucked off of all vital energy, with contempt visible on their faces that they have had a wonderful day out celebrating the InfoCepts success story with Nielsen. But then would the young blood have allowed people to somber down in reflecting mood while coming back, No, they got into mood and the singing started again… Item numbers to Classical Hits to Sad songs and to Disco Dancing… and, oh, how could I forget it, some baritone, tuneless, loud shouting of song’s lyrics too – Some might call it singing, I prefer the word – Croak!!! (pun very intended).

And we never stopped until we reached back to InfoCepts. A day had come to an end - a day filled with joy, happiness, feeling of success and enjoyment. But everyone knew at the end of the day, that they were in some way responsible for the success and growth of InfoCepts’ healthy relationship with Nielsen and they all knew they will continue to work to achieve nothing but a better result each time. Nielsen day out was fun and rewarding for all the efforts put in by us; it was appreciation and celebration of the reaping of good work. We bask in remembrances as we start yet again a new journey, a new year with Nielsen.

Niraash

2010-10-14T19:46:00.001+05:30

Niraash

We keep hearing about the wins, the good times, the times of celebration and the motivation they provide. Today I am not going to talk about any of those happy moments. I delve dark, look into the other side of the coin. There is loss, de-motivation, sense of grief and lack of self belief.

My poem is about two inner sanctums of a man, who tries to fight out from his two different personal – the grief stricken and the happy face.

[Note – All lines of the poem which are tabbed right are words of the frief stricken persona, while other usual lines are from the happy face, looking out for positives]

Narration (Part 1): Ye kavita do bhago me hai…. Ek nirashawadi vyakti ki kahani…

Pehli kuch panktiyaan us drishya ko rubu karaatu hain jahan uska ateet kya tha aur uske vartaman me kitna kuch badal gaya hai, isko darshaya gaya hai….

Wo dhoop tha jo in khidkiyo se aakar in aankhon ko chubhta tha,

Wo maa ki aawaz aur ujiyaare se wo neend se uth-ta tha,

Raat bhar dekhe hue sapno ka sailab lie un aankhon me,

Wo garm lahu tha jo rago me daud ke thandhe paani ka ehsas bhulata tha,

Wo jashn ka andaaz aur ek pehchaani si tashan,

Wo ek saaya tha jisse har kisi me bhagwan nazar aata tha.

Aaj Wo Bas Ek Yaad Hai !!!

Toot gaya wo manav aaj in zanziroon me,

Bikhar gaye wo armaan ummedoon ko sajaane me.

Aise kia waqt ne atyaachaar,
Zindagi ki ye ladaai gaya wo haar.

Narration (Part 2) : Aur aaj uske shabd aasha ki kiran ko bhi nirasha se dekhte hain… Sunte hain ki uss manav ko kya kehna hai….

Ye dekho naya aasmaan hai aaya,

Ye dekho indhradhanus naya rang hai laaya,

Ye dekho phir se baaris se bhigi hai ye darti,

Ye dekho aankhon me fir se paani bhar aya

Wo baarish hi thi jo mere aasuon ko chupati thi,

Hum paani me yu hi bhigte rahe,

Aur har aansu yu hi dhulte chale gaye.

Wo baadal bhi aaj kale kale se hain,

Darawne, bade bade, chaaro oor ghir aaye se hain,

Aaj naa jaane kyu lagta hai khauf unka,

Ban gaye ye mere afsaane se jo hain.

Zara niklo to apni bandish se,

Zara khuli hawa me saans to lo,

Pankh faila ke udd jao aasmaan me,

Zara apni aazadi ha ehsas to lo.

Meri oor mat dekho in aasha bhari nazroon se,

Main nahi kaam aaunga tumhaare,

Kate hue hain paankh sare mere,

Main nahi udd paunga sang tumhaare.

Ye mausam niraala hai,

In yaadon ne use aur bhi rangeen kar daala hai,

Par yaadien meri lal khoon se lathpath jo hain,

Iski lalima ne mera rang bhang kar daala hai.

Naa dekhoon ab ye aasmaa,

Naa dehoon ab ye Zamin,

Zindagi ab aati nahi raas,

Maut pe kar loon ab main yakeen

Maut pe kar loon ab main yakeen.

Written in two parts across a timeline of almost four years. The second part was written sometime in my 3^rd Year at college and the first part, along with all the narration was written hours before Talent Show (InfoCepts Retreat, Zuri, Goa) commenced on 10/10/10.

A Dream so Vague, A dream so very Meaningful

2010-03-12T11:48:00.001+05:30

I was walking down the memory lane, thinking on what all phases of life I have been through, what all decisions I have taken and how good have I been in judging people. And then i realized life is not what i always thought it to be - a challenge, a battle, a quest. I realized its different, its more over a new opportunity, a new beginning every day, every minute, asking you to come up, bring your inside to the fore. And then i suddenly woke up from my dream !!!!

And when i woke up from my dream, I saw that I was in front of you and some of my good friends, actually all my best friends were sitting in front of me and every one was very happy, happy to see me woken up, from my sleep.
But i was confused, i was confused that why have they all come to my room? Why are they so happy just to see me woken up? Why in the earth these all suddenly came so far to Nagpur just to be with me when i wake up ?
And then suddenly i realized, I am covered in white drapes, and everyone else is in whites, as if mourning over a death. A shock wave hits me as I realize it has been me, who had died and now I am back, back to life....

I died... no way, I say to myself, what in world are you all talking about? Then slowly the truth starts sinking in as my smile disappears somewhere in midst of all the new revelation I am confronted with.

I say, I was just sleeping, how possibly could I have died in my sleep? How could I?
But everyone is so much startled and happy and exited to see me talking, feels like no one cares to listen to me, still they all are happy to see me speaking. Way too much happy, over the top it seems to me, Is it some new prank? I think of numerous possibilities in fraction of a second.
And meanwhile everyone else is celebrating :|
Then I finally give up to their say and believe. Then what was the dream I was hiving? Wasn't that a dream as i felt? Was it something else? Then i force myself to realize that the dream i had was a rendezvous with the one himself, a tete-a tete with the God...
THE GOD!!! Phew... What a thought.

"Pinch me!", i cry, one of my friend seriously does that. "Ouch!! What the hell..." i retaliate. I am alive, yes, I am. then what is this all about? Was the god was telling me not to bog down but to fight, not to surrender but to win? Was he was showing me the way to a new beginning?

Realizing all I face the new reality. Is this my new birth? Am i reborn? This very day, this very moment, I am born again, Is this my truth?
Reincarnated...as myself... cool stuff, fills me with thrill, a sudden chill also goes down my spine.

I wake up, all sweating, in the morning, when it's particularly cool and one is not expected to be sweating at the time. I look at the clock, its 5:23 AM, too early for a rise, I shook my head, may be in way to shrug off the dream I just had, and go to bed again. Visions are lost in some time but on waking up again, I still remember the dream. It was a different sort of experience today, very different. Totally and fully.

The God walks on this Earth and I have seen him

2010-02-25T18:07:00.002+05:30

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the God. And Cricket - my religion.

This small excerpt is just a hint of what he truly is:

Ajay was the ultimate CRICKET fan. He had all the videos and went to all the
matches. Unfortunately, he passed away and went up to heaven. When he arrived
at the gates of heaven he came across YAMARAJ.

"Greetings Ajay, we have been expecting you” YAMARAJ said. Ajay
asked YAMARAJ... “What is heaven like then?” YAMARAJ replied “All the
greats are here, Bradman, Marshall, Wesley Hall, Larwood and
they all play CRICKET here on the replicas of the great Stadiums.”

“Bradman bating against Larwood ??? This is my idea of heaven!” Ajay exclaimed.

“Exactly!” YAMARAJ replied.

Ajay settled into heaven very quickly. He loved watching the matches.

Cricket was all he might have hoped for until he found something that disturbed him.

One day saw a net session in which a batsman was practicing his batting skills.

He could not believe what he saw! It looked as if the batsman was wearing
helmet,pads just like Sachin Tendulkar’s. And the batting style was exactly the
same as his hero's. Ajay was confused.

After some nights of troubled sleep he went to see YAMARAJ about what he
had seen that day. He described the scene he had seen and protested.. “But
Sachin Tendulkar is not dead! How can he be here?”

YAMARAJ looked around to make sure nobody was listening and whispered to
Ajay. “Keep this quiet as I could get into trouble with the Big man for
telling you this..”

YAMA glanced around some more...

“You saw that batsman... that was God... he thinks he is Sachin Tendulkar! “

InfoCepts does it again, in style. - League Match 2 Update

2010-02-08T13:19:00.007+05:30

It was almost an year ago when the InfoCeptians walked on the cricket ground into the finals of IT Cup, with heads held high, undefeated to the grand finale, unperturbed and confident. The result didn't justify the quality of cricket we had played across a time period of two and a half months under the hot Nagpur sun. The Runners Up trophy looked like a consolation for all the effort put in, for all the gelling and bonding in difficult times faced after Sahara Cup and for all the hopes of InfoCeptians that were on us, to bring the Cup to its deserved home. Much was lost but not all, the pride and the spirit that InfoCepts team set an example of was there to remain forever and for others to follow. An exemplary display meant higher aspirations for the next time, bigger goals and better application.

The day came after all, the day that marked the start of redemption of what was lost last time, the day when InfoCeptians began with the quest of the coveted Cup once again. Ans it started so well for us, in the first match, defeating MicroPro by 6 wickets in a tight finish. The heads were high and the confidence soaring when the team entered into the second league match on February 6th.

The next match was on Saturday, February the 6th against Umundu, earlier known as MBlazon whom we had routed last year in the Quarters. and the biggest worry for InfoCepts Team was who would play. Due to personal commitments, the squad was reduced to just 12 people, and there was a quandary that if someone backs out at last moment, the matter could go worse. InfoCeptains took field after winning the toss without the big names of Devang and Alok. Also Rohit bhagwat and Chandra who played in the tournament opener were missing. Thankfully the bowling strength wasn't affected as Rahul Chawhan and Rohit Shah were back in team. InfoCepts started on a roll taking two early wickets and keeping the run rate low in the first 5 overs. But playing on a fast pitch where ball came on to the bat nicely, the opposition retaliated with some good mid innings bating and some lusty blows to amass 93 in 11 overs. with a power play over left in the 3 remaining, a big score was in picture but Milind had different plans for the opposition. Bowling two of the last 3 overs magnificently and taking total control of his bowling he just put the brakes on the scoring. In result, Umundu could finish with just 107 after 14 overs.

In the chase, Ravindra partnered Milind, at the top and got going from the start. Milind couldn't capitalize and was out pulling one. Rohit Shah also departed cheaply cutting straight to the point fielder. Then Nikhil came to the crease and along with Ravindra they batted very sensibly. Picking up cheeky fours, intentionally playing in the third man and fine leg areas, they frustrated the bowling and piled on some quick runs to keep the asking rate down at all times. When Ravindra departed late after compiling a good 45 against his name, the target wasn't that far, and soon enough Nikhil who remained unbeaten on 31 along with Vijay ensured that InfoCepts had romped home by 6 wickets. Also, by scoring at a great run rate of 8.9, InfoCeptains also took a bonus point in the victory ensuring a place in the Quarter finals.

Ravindra was the man of the match for his 45 valuable runs. A notable mention must fittingly go for Rahul Ganguly who showed niche of sportsman spirit, went out of his way to set an example for teams to learn and follow by shaking hand and apologizing for a good banter off field. Seldom, you see, such bigheartedness on a cricket field these days, which has no longer remained a gentleman's game. We are proud to play the game in the spirit as it was meant to be in the first place. We, the InfoCeptians, carry the flame of sporting spirit, glowing bright and high. Cheers for Team InfoCepts.

Jai Ho !

IT Cup begins and so do We, with a Bang

2010-02-05T12:14:00.003+05:30

The match coverage for InfoCepts IT Cup - 2010 Quest, for the company newsletter - PULSE

Memories, sweet and sour memories, which come to your mind, engross you and perk you up, sometimes sadden you by reminding of missed opportunities and sometimes fill you with joy in abundance. Memories are the perfect foil to pictures and videos captured in a digital medium. Aren’t they? Digital mediums don’t bring the same aura about all that was there. Memories do.

Similar memories were witnessed as InfoCeptians marched into the Old Subhedar Cricket Ground last Saturday, Jan the 30^th, 2010 to play their first league match of the IT Cup. The one who had played before knew what was in store for them, another start for the quest of the Cup, another display of coming together, grittiness and the sporting spirit. Those who were new had their own share of butterflies in their stomach. Some were thinking of making into the playing eleven and some of making one chance count. MicroPro, a comparatively lesser known teams against us from the group, first match jitters, nerves and a hidden confident self – all weird combinations of feelings building up at the same time. The toss was lost but the decision to bat first by the opposition captain went well in sync with our ideology to chase.

The match started well to our likes with the opposition losing 3 wickets in fewer than 6 overs, to a good opening spell of fine fast bowling by Suvratanu who accounted for both the openers. Then some middle order resistance from MicroPro prevented a collapse and slowly they built on a platform. Having wickets in hand the batsmen tried the long handle and hoics on the leg side to good use in the ending over to give a momentum push which saw the batting team ending up with a very competitive total of 86 after 14 overs. The pitch wasn’t that great to bat on, with ball stopping a bit after pitching and making shot play difficult for batsmen. The chase was very tricky and good application on the pitch was the ask for the day.

The InfoCepts innings started slowly with singles and doubles taken by Chandra and Milind, but both missed out to score on loose balls and got out cheaply trying to go over the top. Anupam and Vijay G joined in at the centre but for the first few over even they were unable to accelerate. The result was asking rate climbed upto 8.5 from the original 6.2. The seriousness had even made the vociferous supporters in the pavilion go silent for sometime. Then suddenly the scenes changed in just an over when Vijay decided enough is enough and went boom-boom in typical Afridi style clubbing the bowler to a huge six on long off and then a boundary in the next ball. Anupam, one not be pulled back of any competition, responded with finely played cuts and heaves and collected two boundaries in the next over to make life easier in the middle. Then on it was just a matter of time that the game comes to a finish. On individual scores of 25 and 19 Anupam and Vijay departed in quick succession to give the opposition some hope but Alok and Ravindra kept their cool and easily scored off the remaining runs. When a run was needed of 4 balls, Ravindra crashed a ferocious square cut to seal the win for InfoCepts in style. The chief contributors Suvratanu with figures of 4-0-22-4 was man of the match by good measure.

The serious faces were smiling once again, cheering and hugging the batsmen, a good start to IT Cup was registered and as people say, “A good start is half the task done” InfoCepts has started the quest in the right direction.

More updates soon, the other two league matches on Feb 6th and feb 13th.

I am human, I emote, I understand

2009-11-04T18:08:00.006+05:30

Often when i comment on something, I am looked upon as a critic, a reviewer, one who looks into whats wrong with it, one who finds out the shortcomings rather than appreciating the content. Obviously no one likes his point of view to be countered, but then I have been accused of such incidences quite a time. Yes, I cannot hold back when I think that there is something I can add to make the output more creative, more sensible and more connecting.

I am not a reviewer; I am just someone who looks into the more human sides of all things.

Why are we human? This is because we emote and understand each others' emotions. Had not we been like this, what would have been the very crux of life, selfish, self centered and just so aimless?

I am just a human being, seeking one and all to recognize that they have a soft side in them, so why keep it under wraps forever? Why not let the true self rule the body instead of the morphed ego that usually takes over us in the time we grow from innocent children to curious teens and so called matured adults.

But who would listen, I can say it to some, some would, but will others? Hope someday, they too will listen.

The real me is lost somewhere

2009-05-27T14:28:00.011+05:30

"Who?", asks my inner self.
I answer, "The real me."

Its a thought, a thought that most of us stumble upon while getting into terms with Life and its nuisances. I feel the real me is lost somewhere along the way I was traveling upon.

The real me is lost, or is it? I seemed to have forgotten the old ways of being happy with small things, the smiles that rain drops brought, the paper planes and the colorful marbles. I seemed to have locked those memoirs in a closet of mine, whose key I may have misplaced somewhere down the time lane. It does get back to me, distant blurred visions, of the better times, but then the key is missing.

The losses keep coming back and forth, don't they? but at the end, it's about what have you gained in mean time you were dealing with those losses. I lost on a few important key points, but I was never just a loser, I gained too. But after 24 years I realized that somewhere in this race to gain more and lose less, I am becoming someone who is not me, not even close to who the real me was, it was then that this truth hit me.

I then, opened the long awaited discussion. I then, asked myself the big question. Who am I, a reminiscence of my own past, a mirror image of the man I wanted to be, or something utterly different? The answer was mixed. One me, Two replies. Two replies that make me think, that tumble up my world, that looks so settled in these new quasi-environments that are all around me.

I am on a path to find the real me all over again. The path which originates from me and culminates into me, the untrodden path. But as my idol Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam has to say, "Who, if not the youth, to walk on the paths untrodden, and lead the way for others to follow", I am on my way, rather making my way amidst all these fears and insecurities.

Someday the light at the other end will shine brightly, someday the past will be forsaken and the future will be cherished. That day isn't far. It's just around the corner.

I Q

2009-04-27T16:51:00.000+05:30

Free-IQTest.net - IQ Tests

Ayegaa aisa bhi ek din

2009-04-02T00:29:00.003+05:30

Aashaaien..
Khwaab..
Khawahishien..
Chahat..
Muskuruhat..

Sab honge tere, Ye vaada hai mera,
Fir naa hogi udaasi koi, Fir naa aansu tere girenge,
Fir naa hogi neend se bojhil aankhoon me ek haar ka rosh,
Fir naa tere hotho se vo dard ke nagme bahenge,

Vo suhana din jo aayega,
Tere man ko bhaayega,

Har shakti hogi tere pass, Bas kar lena fir khud ko taiyaar,
Fir hoga bas tumhara hi naam, Fir hogi bas tumhari jai jaikar.

Where is the Indian in you?

2009-03-30T20:34:00.002+05:30

This is something i wrote just after the Mumbai attack, a mail to all my friends, colleagues and acquaintances: a call to open our eyes. The Mumbai attack hues and cries are being forgotten like all other such events that took place in the past. But when will the Indian rise up? When will the eyes open?

~~

Hi All,

We all know how hell broke loose on Mumbai on late Nov26. Disturbed, as I am, & concerned too, I delve into a digressed thinking that says, “Why us?” rather than saying, “Again us?”

Things are up for everyone to see, interpret and form theories of their own, but will all these cries, pain & agony will come back again to haunt us, as it has in the past, or this time, hopefully some eyes will see the truth, that has kept itself hiding all these years of terror & massacre.

The excerpts from the thoughts of a friend who was at each of the attacked place (Nariman Point, The Taj and CST) just a day before the attacks:-

“What started two nights before is not history yet. It can never be history. As I watch the TV screen with reporters trying their best to get the viewers the latest... I am forced to see beyond present. No am not talking about the natural fall out of the terror attack- no trading on Dalal Street, adverse effect on tourism and FIIs, loop holes in intelligence etc. This time I am looking at a more drastic fall out.

I am scared. Terror has set in. I am scared to walk into a mall, I want to leave the station and crowed places as soon as I can, I think twice before entering a movie hall. I am broken. I have no spirit left in me. I am a common man. Let me lead a common life. Let me meet a common death. Don't reduce my life to a mere statistic in the overall death toll.

A friend called up to enquire if everything was ok. I didn't know the answer. If I can be mean and say none of my family and friend's hurt.

But someone is hurt...
Someone is dead...
Someone is sitting at gun point...
Someone will die...
It's not ok...
Nothing is OK.

I am angry... but I am scared to express my anger any more. I have given up. I kneel, I bow, I break, I loose, I beg... let me lead a normal life... a common life. I just want peace... at any cost. Now I don't care how. I want a safer tomorrow. Please.”

Are you in?
Join the movement, Act now, or Repent all your lives.

Truth Revealed

2009-03-30T20:26:00.000+05:30

“Every night in my dreams, I see you, I feel you, That is how I know you, go on”

-lines from the original theme song of the movie 'Titanic'

When I say “I see you, I feel you”; I mean the Truth. I see the Truth. I feel the Truth. The Truth of the world that is filled with lies. The Truth of the people who have long forgotten what honesty means, and the Truth about the heroes who stand no more to keep that very ethos of Truth alive.

What is Truth?

I say the only Truth is Life. Yes, Life, not Death, is the only and ultimate Truth. Life and Death are binary oppositions juxtaposed together which brings out the essence of human existence.

Who has seen what comes after Death? And the ones, who have gone through the ordeal, are no longer here to give their testimony. Everywhere, all around us, what we see, what we hear, what we feel, what we touch is Life, is Truth.

Then, what is Death?

Like there is no Darkness, Darkness is just absence of Light, like there is nothing such as Cold, Cold is just absence of Heat, similarly, there is no Death, Death is just absence of Life, absence of Truth. Death is ignorance. Death is exactly how the Truth in one form gets dissolved into the ultimate Truth, how a body dissolves into the Life forces, into the five elements it is made up of.

To discover the Truth in oneself, to see it and to feel it, only commitment is required. Just by being honest with ourselves we can see the Truth before our eyes: clear and pure.

Truth doesn't hide from us, we hide from the Truth. It is the basic essence of our Life and we just need to discover its presence in ourselves.

Memories

2008-12-08T12:01:00.000+05:30

And then there were memories,
Some of which were mine,
Some were very much yours
And sometimes it was hard to find;

The memories of you and me together,
The memories of time that we spent,
Sometimes I wonder if it was worth it,
The memories that left me an irrevocable dent;

Sometimes the eyes moisten up all of a sudden,
Sometimes the face of yours appears,
There you are, still smiling, standing a foot apart,
And the moment I wanna touch you, the figure dissapears;

Now I have changed, I live for myself,
Today is what i know, just today,
And just today is all that i need,
To tell the world all i ever wanted to say;

Life's got a new meaning now,
Sometimes that makes me wonder how was I before,
There are rules and there are laws to abide,
But the sadness and pain has been washed off the shore.

She is the One

2008-09-30T13:12:00.000+05:30

The more i see her,
More i feel she's the one,
The more i think about her,
More i fall in love with her.

She's simple, She's quiet,
She wears a smile very petite,
She's mature,
She has that very evident self respect,
She refuses to accept any unwanted recognition,
She believes in god's every aspect.

So good she is, So smart she is,

Seeing her makes my day,
She makes into my dreams too,
She's there when i close my eyes,
When i open them, She's there too,

She's the love i always wanted,
Selfless and pure,
She's like my eternal wish granted,
She's the love of my life for sure.

Triumph

2008-09-30T13:06:00.000+05:30

Day's up & so am I,
Morning has come & gone,
But noon's mine,
Have work to do,
Have milestones to cross,
I am on my way,
To take myself beyond & across,
Those silken dreams that reside in me,
I am going to win,
Let the world notice & see,
Here I come to win again,
Here I come to rule again,
Spread out the red carpet,
Bring out the bottle of champagne,
Make way for the celebration perfect,
On the triumph of mine over negativity & pain.

Alexander

2008-09-26T10:52:00.000+05:30

It was a day to be believed,

I came, I saw, I conquered,

I rammed through the door and left it open,

For the people to see what I had stolen.

Left behind were the ruins of civilization,

I had done it all, I need not mention,

But now I feel guilt of all this in me,

I was cruel to the limit, or was it really me?

Now I have an answer, but I starve for more,

For those are the moments that haunt me in my times of yore,

I was wrong so I needed to get punished,

And I am going to take it till I am not finished.

There was blood all around me, brute brutality,

I raise my hand, I am guilty, and now that’s reality,

So, I gave it up all and joined hands with forces of nature,

To serve for peace and happiness of each and every creature.

I feel the soothe in the lap of god now,

And I need to spread this message, you tell me how?

For there are still people reigning all over,

For there are still people ruining all over.

Oh God, will you forget this sin of mine,

Or my only pals now are tears and wine?

God gestured,”Ask the people, Why me?

They will decide your fate, not me”.

People were wise as for the decision they took,

They gave me a place in the history book,

The man that I was, an epitome of Fear and Threat,

Now they call me ‘Alexander, the Great’.

Aaj kahin Udd jaun

2008-09-26T10:27:00.000+05:30

Aaj kahin udd jaun main, neele gagan par chaa jaun main,

Pankh pasar ke jhoomu main, sabke upar, sabse upar ho jaun main.

Man ye hathila aaj kehta hai sun, chal kahin chalte hain,
Door kahin jannat hai suna hai, jahan saari khushiyaan milti hain.

Chal aaj main nadiyo ko jodu, chal ya fir parvat ko todu,
Aaj nahi maane hai ye man, chor gulami pinzardo ko todu.

Jis din se hai ye aag lagi, us din se hai ye aas jagi,
Us din hua ek naya janam, us din hui hai jeet hamari.

Aaj chota laage hai ye ghar, aaj chota laage ye gagan,
Dharti, ambar, saare jag pe chaaun, aaj kahin main udd jaun.

Kal tak to tha tu sang mere, aaj dekh koi aur hi hai,
Kal naa jaane hoga kaun, anjaana sa ye shor bhi hai.

Chal chor de iss shor ko piche, chal ek naya jahan banaye,
Satrangi khushiyaan ho jisme, aisa ek aashiyaan banaye.

Naa ho wahan is duniya ke gham, naa ho ranjish, naa ho takraar,
Dil se dil milke bane ghar sabka, aur har dil me base sirf pyar.

Dekha hai ek sapna aaj, aaj hua naya saa abhaas,
Aaj jana hai zindagi me kya chahiye, ab jeet kar hi lunga main saans.

Chalo karle sapna ye saakar, aur fir khushi me jhoomu main,
Dil se dil, har dil se rista jodu main,
Aaj kahin udd jaun main, Aaj kahin udd jaun main.