Ranjan Jha's Blog

Goodbye.

2009-12-15T03:18:00.001+05:30

On gloomy Monday Evening,

Depressing cold and raining,

Lets not make it worse,

by making goodbyes elaborate.

Just a nod, my Friend,

Stay well and we'll meet again.

Emerald or Jasper?

2009-11-28T11:01:00.001+05:30

Its suppose to be an event
Achieving, being someone. I wondered,
From Childhood to Adult,
One day something would happen,
like birth and death, all of a sudden.

Fifty times around the Sun,
Unknow, now to my own Son.
Where did I falter?
Perhaps it was the Astrologer,
Must 'been Emerald or the Jasper!

Writing is not an easy task.

2009-10-29T10:20:00.000+05:30

Writing my dear is not an easy task, especially when its done on computer. Your thought undergo lots of interpretations and typing is yet to become man's natural instinct. I often wonder if we had web where we can draw and paint and write rather than type. You see drawing is natural to human beings, remember you started drawing before you started crawling. Somehow I tend to think better when I write rather than type. I wished the web was read & write rather than read and type. Perhaps then it would have been more original, less copied and more created. More colorful and less textual.

I often loose my thoughts as I sit on the computer but I can start writing even being thoughtless when I have paper and pen. Its been 40 years my dear friend since this web started and I am yet to meet an internet Frost, Wordsworth or Tagore.You need to be in woods and frozen lakes to write about it. You can't become a nature poet by sitting on a laptop. Electronics has made us so mechanical, how do we use to pass our time when we were young? I can't even recall that now. I certainly had more real friends when I was young, now I have more connections less friends.

How do I capture the colors of fall? The mist in the air, the freshness in the wind and the feeling that something is about to happen. Perhaps the best way is to click a picture and paste it here. A moment can be captured, how can I capture a season?
The changing colors of leaves green, yellow, light green, red, orange and what not. Thousands colors every where in this season which other wise would have been so gloomy and depressing.

Writing is a very difficult task. Especially when you are addicted to it .You can't do it on a computer. Those pings. Those urgent mails to respond. The itunes songs. Stocks fluctuations. News feeds. Too many distractions to handle. You need to have a concentration of a Crain to do so. And I wished I could concentrate harder. My mind bounces from place to place like a crazy ball. Form one tab to other. Either the song is not good. Or the wallpaper sucks. Something is always wrong...

I often wonder that electronics and internet were meant to make our lives easier... well it has done that. I can now web conference across oceans, my laptop screen is the window to the world. But I miss the rigor at times. You see, If i have to write a paper, I google for content and almost always the right information is available to me in 0.01 secs. The very essence of research is lost. I remember in school to prepare a chart I used to browse through hundreds of magazines to get the right picture and in process read plenty of not so relevant but great stuff. The fun was in rigor. Browsing through books and getting excited after finding the thing you needed and in process we used to talk to many people who use to provide pointers.
Yes, that rigor is lost. And you know even with more information I feel dumber. Spontaneity is now my lost attribute. Writing my friend...

Excerpts of the conversation I had with a Rutgers Student at Penn station.

Did I see this at Times Square, NYC?

2009-09-18T08:27:00.001+05:30

Seems like we are had a recession in every decade... So what's so special about this one?

I love this one, right on times square where the ball drops(millions of crazy people brave the wind and the winter to see this ball cover some 5 feet distance on 31st Dec!!)
Benjamin Franklin saying " I'll be back" ... perhaps inspired by the terminator series or the speculation of yuan taking dollar's place as global currency... whatever, but a very strong message at a very right place.

US Open '09 - It must be Love!

2009-09-15T08:29:00.005+05:30

Arthur Ashe Stadium- I was there!!

Walk on

2009-08-31T08:53:00.005+05:30

Standing at the cross roads.

the last conversation,

I wished would never end,

finally concluded.

Nothing else to say and nothing else to hold.

Staring at each other,

Who will blink first?

I held my breath, She held her tears.

She winked, blinked away her tears.

And he took her away,

I stood there for a while

Took a deep breath and walked on.

Lovers part, their love remains.

With weight off my shoulder,

but a slight pain in head and heart.

I thought this too shall pass and walked on.

My my my it’s a beautiful world

2009-08-03T04:19:00.007+05:30

The worst happens when your life hits a steady state. When the boring daily cycles of life try to confine you in its monotonous cacophony. For some it becomes a way living and for other a challenge to get out from. Unfortunately I find myself in similar phase where all seems good, too smooth and easy to do.

I need a dream to chase,a regular cubical job is good till I spend minimum inside it and maximum outside..but then that also becomes boring. I often wonder what makes a person an entrepreneur, is it a lust to earn too much money?Or is the desire to see a dream live in flesh and blood? I think it has to be the combination of both. Money drives many things in this world, Idea or the intellect becomes the engine for the pursuit. Lately, I am feeling that urge and the restlessness... the key reason is my desire to earn more money because I have set some highly ambitious target for myself. Like:

Owning an Island and building a beautiful resort on it. And a stunning motor boat to buy groceries from the mainland. The island will some where in the Arabian Sea...how about one of the dweeps of Lakshadweep? Are they up for Sale?

Next, To be able to take a vacation at any point of time...but as I am writing I realise what does money has to do with it? Oh yes, it does play a role as you should be able to pay for your own vacation but when do I need a break has more to do with my willingness than anything else.

To be able to travel across the world. To visit Iguazu Falls which is on the border of Brazil and Argentina, The Bay of Fundi In Canada, The Dead Sea, Masurian Lake district in Poland, Snorkling near Maldives, A weekend in Sikkim, kailash Mansarovar yatra, A month in Kashmir without fear or force.
My my my it’s a beautiful world
I like swimming in the sea
I like to go out beyond the white breakers
Where a man can still be free (or a woman if you are one)
I like swimming in the sea.
My my my it’s a beautiful world

But look whats happening here the more I write, the more I realise. Perhaps the most cherished dreams have nothing to with money, for instance writing a song with perfect melodies, writing a book (yes! my American golti experience) or getting a six pack(or atleast to be able to run couple of miles without a break), to have French girl friend (this one has more to do with luck).

Or simply, to be able to experience extreme happiness..the kinds you see on a priest's face, or on a grandmother's who has met her grandson after a long time, the singer on Broadway when the group of people stand and applaud his song, when families unite, old friends meet...or to be able to say yes I have done it all and have no regrets only memories to cherish, when at the dusk of life.
What a feeling it would be!!

Perhaps this is as good as it gets
When you’ve given up the drink and those nasty cigarettes
Now I leave the party early at least with no regrets
I watch the sun as it comes up I watch it as it sets
Yeah this is as good as it gets.
My my my it’s a beautiful world
- Beautiful World, Colin Hays

2009-07-21T09:26:00.004+05:30

What can be better than spending an evening, watching the sunset on the horizon, lying on the grass thinking about all the things that are left to do in this world or just nothing?

What can be better than getting up in the morning and walking along the sea shore, bare feet, feeling the cold wet sand, feeling the little pinches of shells under the feet, watching the sun rise, birds fly and lungs full of fresh hair?

When all noise around seems like music,What can me better than a moment with a realization that your mind, body and soul are in sink with nature?

3 Things I learned today

2009-06-23T05:27:00.006+05:30

1. A million rupee on roads lifts an estimated 123 people out of poverty. In other words, a million rupee spent on roads can reduce poverty seven times more effectively than same spent on anti-poverty scheme.

Source: Imagining India by Nanadan Nilekani.

2. If I do not make the sale, I only have myself to blame.

Source: Bridging the Gap, Quoted by Jeffrey Gitomer.

3. Comparison between a Manager and Leader:

Manager (cost center IT): Concerned with process.

Leader (value adding IT): Concerned with results.

Source: Michael Schaffner

Where are you my precious?

2009-06-03T08:41:00.009+05:30

I walked down the road,

Evening around 5 O'clock.

with ipod plugged in my ears,

insulated from the world,

this drizzle, reminded me

of an event which was so magical.

We crossed each other everyday,

exchanging fake smiles,

walking in anticipation,

Looking for moment or an excuse

to engage her in a conversation.

It never happened.

her eyes so black,

a Gold around her neck,

Everyday I saw bit more of her,

with courage not enough to talk to her.

I prepare myself everyday

For the next evening,

again we pass, staring

then smiling later frowning,

Ohh, what a beauty, that glow

She is the one, I know.

That day I decided,

No matter what, today,

I will pour out my heart,

I strolled down, rehearshing

the speech so well prepared.

She came, fresh like a flower

soaked in the evening drizzel,

We crossed, with our eyes locked

and stood staring at each other,

Talked about weather and things

which now I can't remember.

My universe stood still,

I watched as she talked mischievously,

with a rhythm in her body.

Till the Diamond in her finger

caught my attention.

"That must precious" I said

"more than my life" she replied.

Damn!! she is married,

heavens fell, she felt my grief,

"One day, we all find our precious"

She said with a charm so vivacious.

We walked away.

Taking a breath, I pondered

Pearl in Oyster lost in deep waters,

waiting to be discovered

Where are you my precious?

Randoms

2009-04-26T09:50:00.004+05:30

With most of the action happening at work , I am thoughtless and have absolutely nothing to write:-

I take my daily train from Metropark station in NJ to Rahway, every day I see hundreds of desi's and after spending almost 3 months now most of the faces are familiar. The majority of population here are south Indian and I love to follow the conversation that happen between NRIs.

NRI 1 : "Hi, Whats Up?"

NRI 2 Just nodding, I guess it means he is fine

NRI 1: "So you live here ..nearby.. only??"

Every sentence must end with 'Only'. The train is never on time ...only. You can't install this component ..only. And it get better when Women talk- I called my in laws this morning...only.

And for others specially with North Indians... every sentence must start with a big "No" even if it means 'yes'.

No..no...you know...you are right..we should do it this way .. only

I see a lot of stories at this station, so many people who have came from the other side of the globe to live an American dream. They live a very temporary life here hoping that one day they will pack there bags and will go home. But, things gets complicated as they stay, the market is not good, the mortgage must be paid, kids education. I find it so unusual when I see a kid with quintessential Indian upbringing having an American accent. The dreams that their parents have...which is Indian so far from reality.

I love staring at people , yes, let me admit over here. I often get inquisitive when i see a stranger and start imaging there story. So when people must have Ipods and Iphones to spend time while waiting for train or bus ...for me the time flies by staring at them and thinking whats going on in their mind.

After procrastinating and perendinating for months I finally started jogging last week. The weather has improved and the cricket season in new jersey has started and I really want to be fit so that I can enjoy these games ... well its fun and I will surely learn some Tamil this time.

I am still reading Nandan Nilekani's Imagining India. Apart from the ideas he had put across the one that impacted me most is his story where he tells that if he had not joined Infosys and took that risk in his life he would still be a regular Indian taking a daily train to NYC, that's my fear. I am scared of being 'regular'.

Why working 4 days a week is good for economy?

2009-03-22T20:38:00.007+05:30

One a fine Thursday morning, I finally got up at 6 AM after snoozing my cell phone alarm for an hour and while staring at my own face in the bathroom mirror, a thought sparked in my sleepy mind:

Won't it be good if we had to work for only 4 days a week? Every week we had Friday, Saturday and Sundays off. A four day work week and a long weekend every week.

Personally I am exhausted by EOD Thursday, I do go to office on Fridays and work but I see that all major decisions are often postponed for Monday and mostly the productivity is equivalent to zero after lunch. But this might sound like an excuse coming from a sloth who never wants to work(Oh BTW I love my work). So, I started thinking more about it here are some of the arguments I came up with:-

1. The economy is bad, money is not flowing in the market and people are not willing to spend. I hardly spend on weekdays and all the expenditures are postponed till weekend and this is true for most of the people who have a job and work from 8AM to 5PM. If we give another day off people will spend more. What will they do when they have 3 days a week off? plan more trips with family, eat out more, spend more... credit will start flowing again and economy will finally start moving north.

2. The productivity will increase. Yes it will . Regardless of how many hours we work in a week most tasks are going to get accomplished each week just as they did before, we just need to be more efficient in working and reduce the times we spend in coffee, cellphone, Internet browsing, personal mails and gossiping. And a long weekend is surely a motivation to work more.

3. Working parents get more time to spend with kids, they will be able to read to them, play with them... it means more happy kids and more happy parent and happier employees >> more productivity and better office environment. Goes very well with Obama's Idea of Education reforms.

4. Fours days week is also a Green concept. We spent less on travelling, consume less fuel, save a lot on oil cost to the country. Low emission of green house gases. Less traffic on roads. Just imagine how much fossil fuel will be saved if the entire world travel one day less to work. Not only this, we will save electricity, paper(less paper cups consumed for coffee and tea), parking...

5. Will boost tourism, most of the tourist are locals in any country .

Well, these are just the few reason that came to my mind. Excited by the idea, I started sharing it with people, my room partner ridiculed it saying it means a lost in productive hours every week and eventually people will start treating Thursdays as Fridays. The project manager laughed at it and said its a good Idea and advice to post it on the blog and I am doing it . Few appreciated it.

I started browsing the net and came across this very interesting article by Prof.Goose who shares my view and came with Sixteen Reasons why this might be an Idea whose time has come. Read it and you have more reason to believe why you should be working 4 days a week .

Green Applications

2009-03-05T21:30:00.007+05:30

I am very fond of WordWeb and have been using it very frequently since Somya introduced it to me sometime back . As not all the good things in world are free, my trial version expired yesterday and before I could continue using it, WordWeb asked me to answer the following:

How frequently do you fly In a commercial Airline in a year?

Zero
1 return flight
more than 1 return flight

Well, Courtesy my profile and my company I have to take more than one return flight in a year and I honestly chose the 3rd option only to get a shocker from wordweb

Wordweb is only available for free to the people who fly very little because two medium-distance flight is equivalent to more than one tonne CO2 emission, more than sustainable fper-person limit for an year. The licensing model is designed to allow relatively non-wealthy people to use the program free of charge, and to provide a small incentive for other people who fly a lot to cut down.

I get the message the WordWeb is trying to convey though its Green application and may be that's the way to go ahead,but as an end user what should I do if every application on the web turns 'Green'?

Quit my job and stop travelling?
Pay money to wordweb because my company makes me fly more often?
Advise my company to make me sail through a boat across seven Seas... 4 times a year!!?

Uninstall the application and reinstall being cognizant of the Licensing policies and the off course the intent of the message.

I think I got the answer.

A take on current Crisis.

2009-02-28T22:52:00.007+05:30

If the economy continues this way, Obama keeps trying his best to delay the inevitable. Offshoring trends are taxed, the pioneers of globalization decides to step back. Americans do not rise up the value chain, instead they start putting the blame on Indians, Koreans and Chinese for there misery ...How should we respond?

In his recent article The Open-Door Bailout, the award winning Author and Journalist of NY Times, Thomas Friedman points out that one of the bright ways of stimulate the economy is to leave it to the 'brainy Indians'. This is what he says-

“All you need to do is grant visas to two million Indians, Chinese and Koreans, they will buy up all the subprime homes, work 18 hours a day to pay for them, immediately improve your savings rate — no Indian bank today has more than 2 percent nonperforming loans because not paying your mortgage is considered shameful here. And They will start new companies to create our own jobs and jobs for more Americans"

He was highly criticized for pro-immigration views and very soon after that Obama imposed tax cuts for companies offshoring jobs. But will it impact the offshoring trends?

The entire financial sector is in mess, the last thing they want is a rise in there operating cost. The Pharma sector is already competing over low cost drugs and the lack of blockbusters in recent years have forced them to optimize operations. No wonder some of the recent big IT offshoring deals are from Pharma sector.

If changing the IT vendor was so easy, How many customers dumped Satyam after the recent scandal? None. Zero. Zilch .Zip. The cost of transition is too high for these companies. And some how there is a faith that Satyam will come up from its mess. One thing that all India IT companies are good at is transforming and continuously changing there business model. We have came a long way from Y2K to Complete Service offering. From BPO to Business transformation. But offshoring will be affected. All we need to do is a have a solid plan B:-

Diversify, the companies will have to seriously think outside Cost arbitrage. No matter how much we claim, we are still not there.
Go Global, Hire more local workers make them work with there offshore counter parts 24*7.
Innovate at home. Look Within. The reverse in trend is good news for India. For us its always been easier to work for US companies than to work for Indian state. Things will change now as we will be forced to Innovate.

And for the H1Bs who thought that America is the only place "to be", time to go home may soon arrive and may be that is the best thing to happen as India is the place where all the action is taking place.

In Transit –Yet again

2009-02-02T17:52:00.001+05:30

Sometimes it is so difficult to capture moments, moments which make remarkable impact in life.

Why is it so? I think the answer is otherwise, perhaps only artists and Poets have this gift. Capturing moments in words weaved beautifully or painted vividly. I don't have this gift, no wonder the most impactful events went undocumented.

So, where I am right now? At London Heathrow international airport waiting for my connecting flight for Newark, USA. Yet again on another engaging assignment for much longer duration.

How do I feel this time? More clam, unlike other trips, where nervousness and anxiety took over.

How do I feel about my stay? I think I am prepared to stay long this time. A solid reason is that I am going to a familiar place and living with a good friend and looking forward to the super bawl party at his place!

Anything new you learnt about yourself in between trips? Yes, whenever my neck hurts it means I am tensed and stressed!

Best thing about this trip? Managed to befriend a really pretty airhostess in British Airways, an Indian with an amazing British Accent first time I was awed by the voice more than the aesthetics!

Hello 2009, With a Smile

2009-01-01T20:52:00.003+05:30

2008 ended, few Hours back,

I find myself without inspiration.

Trying hard to summarize the years gone by,

Was it a loss or was it a sensation?

Learned the similarity between projects and Pregnancy

During my stay in New Jersey, In January.

The useless tension of an ending relation,

In Feb, I screwed up unnecessarily.

March, I came back

realised home is perhaps the best place.

April, May there was so much time to rest,

at home and its best when at Office.

June, on a project back to Jersey ,

which ought to be completed

perhaps only on God's Mercy.

July, August found new Friends,

and we said this will gone on

till the silver river ends.

September, on a flight back home

realised even with Friends,

away I have never felt so alone.

October, with a broken a little finger

bought a house on which Mom said

without a Wife, She will not allow me enter.

November, Lost my Dearest Granddad

And things remain never same again,

How fortunate we were to be brought up by him

and how unfortunate I was to be not there with him.

I was aspiring high,

New Role and New challenges at work,

Made me work hard and Struggle

and December, I found myself in deep trouble.

So Much was my misery that my Dear Friend

Scribbles

2008-12-21T12:26:00.004+05:30

Let me walk through the thoughts that pour in mind as I woke up late this Sunday morning:

It was so foggy late last night, so much that I could hardly see my neighbourhood building. There is nothing like walking on a road on winter night under yellow sodium Street light. I think that's the beauty of Delhi and the entire NCR region. The often crowded Atta market becomes beautiful, mostly attributed by the beautiful in colorful cloths. I like Delhi winters a lot, the temperaments of the people are under control, the coffee tastes better, the bazaars are bright and look fresh.

Why does time flies by so fast? 2008 is ending, the memories of new year is still fresh and can't believe its year end. There used to be days in school when weekends used to be so far and every day used to be painful, Maths homework was never up to date. Hindi classes were pathetic. English teacher was like monster. Every day used to be a challenge. So much that my memories of final years of school are fresh and scary. And I often dream of flunking in my 11th and 12th standards. Even the three years of grads were quite long . But these two and half years of work has been super fast. I wonder if the pace of time remains same the day when I will be retiring is not so far away. God things are so scary. May be because when we were studying we had time for every thing ..studies..sports and what not. Our time was managed by school time table and parents, But when we took control of our lives, we messed up everything and found time for nothing!

I learned something special this week. This thing was casually said to me by a Senior at work. The situation is ..I am going through another profile change, something totally different from what I am doing now and I am having difficulty keeping up with the change. Discussing my current scenario and whether I should take the new role or not and How will I be able to handle the pressure, expectation and I am not at all prepared to move completely to a new geography... he remarked "Ranjan, you think too much about the future, as In what you will be doing when you will be 50 or 60 year old, why don't you take one day at time and see how it goes?"

And it worked... I was screwed up thinking too much about how its going to happen, which converted into stress... I started taking one thing time.. one by one..each day .. and I feel better... and slightly more confident than yesterday. I realise I have really messed up many thing in life by over thinking. And the best thing happened on the spur of the moment... examples are plenty.

I am an Indian

2008-11-30T21:35:00.004+05:30

I am an Indian.

A country with great contradictions,

Captured differently in our heart,

with different reality on the ground.

A Land where which prides in its culture

Where it was OK to build temple of Kamadeva

Hundreds of Years ago

But it’s not OK to canvasize your Imagination now

As it doesn’t satisfy a Sena’s ego.

A land of brave people,

and weak leaders elected by brave people.

A nation where politician seems to come

from the most deprived class of the society.

Uneducated, Ignorant, Senseless, Irrelavent and Useless.

Where Modis and Mayawatis move with layers of Security,

Insecure of people who they are suppose to serve

And Crib about national security.

A Land where President Holidays in South East,

And a party plans to hold Bandh,

As Mumbai Burns.

A Land where politicians can’t be criminals,

Where a Godfather kill South Indians to become a Neta,

And his Godson kills North Indians to become a bigger Neta.

Where people will not recognize you as fellow Indians,

But as Biharis, Marathi and Tamilians.

The pride in the leadership is long gone.

Pride in my religion is gone,

Hindu or Muslim – I am scared to tell anyone.

Pride in my state is gone,

I wish the pride in India remains,

I am an Indian and I wish to remain one.

How to write a good blog!

2008-11-26T12:41:00.002+05:30

I found this very interesting article circulated by the Knowledge Management Team of My Company with an intention of promoting corporate blogging. Very relevant to all the fellow bloggers and can be kept as a check list for every blog post we make:

So copying straight from the mail circulated, here are some of the best blogging practices:

How can you make sure that people read your blog? Here are a few tips on writing a good blog, and making sure that your readers stay interested.

Make your opinion known: Be Personal - People like blogs because they are written by people and not corporations. When writing your blog, make sure that you write the way you talk. You can even ask your reader questions. This will encourage your readers to leave comments on your blog, and come back to read more. If you write as if you are writing a formal letter or a business report, readers will get bored and will switch over!
More the links, more informative it is! - Support your post with links to other web pages that are contextual to your post.
Write Less - Give the maximum amount of information with the least amount of words. Time is finite and people are infinitely busy. Blast your knowledge into the reader at the speed of sound.
250 is enough! - A long post is easier to forget and harder to get into. A short post is the opposite.
Make Headlines snappy - Contain your whole argument in your headline. Check out National newspapers to see how they do it.
Include bullet point lists - We all love lists, it structures the information in an easily digestible format.
Make your posts easy to scan - Every few paragraphs insert a sub heading. Make sentences and headlines short and to the point.
Be consistent with your style - People like to know what to expect. Once you have settled on a style for your audience, stick to it.
Keywords are the key! - Think about what keywords people would use to search for your post and include them in the body text and headers. Make sure, the keyword placement is natural and does not seem out of place.
Edit your post - Good writing is in the editing. Before you hit the submit button, re-read your post and cut out the extra portions that you don't need.

Whats Happening?

2008-11-05T22:29:00.004+05:30

Well so many things-

The bad one first:

Broke my little finger in an accident couple of weeks back. The moment I realised that i had broken my finger, I was more angry than in pain, why do people drive on the wrong side that also on the red. So furious I was that I got up, checked whether my Friend is fine or not, marched towards the 15 year old kid and slapped him tight on his face with the other hand, came back and rode my bike to the hospital which was on the other side of the road. Later only to regret that I should have not slapped the kid, the poor chap was only delivering tiffins and must be in a hurry. I remember how we use to shout at Bahadur when he use to be late for dinner during the final years at DU.

The next couple of day passed in guilt, wondering how will this metal rod be removed from the finger and writing a business case with one hand(it wasn't tough as I realised that I do more of copy paste).

As I am still recovering from the broken finger, caught this really bad cold which will just not go away, I must have wasted thousands of tissue paper in 3 weeks in spite of severe instruction by our admin dept. not waste tissue paper and user your own handkerchief...cost cutting...you know!!

The worse was that I was aligned to a manager who is expects stars in no time...he kept selling me every junk of work by saying "Ranjan, this requires a bit of thought leadership" and I kept buying it. But when you are in misery sometimes you get the best of the advices.

And some good News-

Visited my village. an awesome awesome awesome experience. Saw some of the most wonderful places..like the place where prospective grooms with their resume use to assemble to be chosen by the girl.

Decided not travel till Feb and explore more areas in business other than business analysis.

And my fav.

Bought an 1769 sq.ft three bedroom flat near Noida. Might be moving in by Jan end.

Such a memorable Journey

2008-10-12T22:14:00.002+05:30

My Grandfather was ill and its been more than 15 years since I have been to my village in Northern Bihar.

It was such an emotional journey, some things just don't change.
Some times they just become better, as they grow old.
Some eyes will alway recognize you, no matter how long you have been away.
Few memories will never fade, and few people you will always remember,
and they will tell stories about you that you never knew,
How you were chased away from a sugarcane field when you were 5 year old,
and you broke your leg and promised God never to go out with telling your granny.
Few legs will never get tired, they will be always young to show you around,
as they alway did when ever you visited.

There eyes were wet when you came and were wet when you left.
But they have a hope that you will come again.
A hope that you will keep the family close and one like always.
A hope that you will never forget the place you were born and keep visiting.
A hope that you will be there to give a shoulder,
when they start there last journey.

A walk to remember.

2008-08-27T08:59:00.003+05:30

Have never felt the breeze hitting my face so softly
Moist and cold in the midnight.
Aware of every breath I took,
Oblivious of the crowd, In the company of Friends
Away from every one else.

We Strolled down the Brooklyn bridge,
admiring the midnight beauty of the New York City.
The factitious lighting glorifying the beauty of tall buildings,
Artificial waterfall , synchronized to extreme.

I noticed a yellow line dividing the bridge in two lanes,
One for cyclist and other for pedestrians .
No wonder the traffic was high our side,
While the other was empty.

Lost in my thoughts, contained in my being,
I dint realise when I crossed the yellow line,
Till I was knocked by metal rod and the next moment,
found myself lying on the ground crying with pain ,
In a moment I was ware that I was hit by a bike.

Saw a women in her late thirties,
struggling to gather her breath, helmet and bike.
Her head has crashed into the rusted iron barriers.
Friends rushed, few towards me and most towards her,
Every wants to help a woman.

Her eyes were wet, I felt terrible
She got up and said :
"I was looking down and biking and didn't see you"
I was staring at her holding my bleeding arm,
her pain was less physical unlike mine.

She continued:
"My Husband left me today for someone younger,
it would have been best If I would have died.
Some times people cross the line without realising the damage
a tiny mistake can do to others...
I hope you are fine."

I nodded.
Just a drop from her eyes fell,
She gathered herself and biked away,
Like a wounded Doe.

Engraving a thought in my Mind,
I just kept walking, holding my arm.
Unaware of the breeze,
Unaware of the crowd, unaware of myself.

Snitched.

2008-08-04T06:37:00.005+05:30

Stolen from Amitabh Bachchan's blog.
I was reading his blog on Friday and ever since then these two lines are running in my mind again and again..couldn't take it anymore so decided to post it here.

As I try my best ...

2008-07-21T06:22:00.003+05:30

As I try my best to remain ahead of my work, I realise there are so many things that I have to do and have almost forgotten to do everyday. Things like writing a blog post regularly, I tried hard to increase frequency of posts but have been out of ideas lately... or may be not...they are about half dozen post waiting to be published..half heartedly...half written. Perfect example of lack of commitment.
Blogging is a good way to organise thoughts and I think that's the reason why blog. Because I realise that thinking has not helped me much in resolving issues of my life, as engaging a crazy mind which keeps hoping places every nano second for one situation for a significant amount of time is impossible. And I have lately realized that Issues that are resolved and decisions I have taken used little amount of brain power, intuition and gut feeling are used more. So using this space again to engage my mind for a while...here are thoughts that are crossing as I write:

1. The 'Teach India' campaign by times of India is something I really look forward to catchup with . I followed the 'Lead India' campaign last year and was very happy when my school senior and friend Satyam Darmora was among the Delhi finalists.

2. I have came across some really nice blogs recently which I have bookmarked and have to read. The Business Analysis Blog Started by Tarun is very impressive. I have read most of his post but want to engage in conversation with him regarding some of his ideas. Also I found Ankesh's blog very interesting and ...have to graze through his posts.

3. My neck is hurting really badly, have to clear my mind on lot of things which I have been thinking over and over again.

4. Iphone: To buy or not to buy? that is the question.

5. No matter what I am not extending my trip beyond 16th August...

6. How to utilize the free coupons provided by Continental Airlines? The coupons will expire by the end of this year and I am still thinking of the places that I can see in US. Vegas Is too hot right now... is there any other place I can go?

7. I am seriously planning for sabbatical once I return back home, 2 weeks of nothingness... planning to visit my home in Bihar and meet my grand parents. Me and Vineet have been planning a trip to places around Bhopal, also Dhiraj is shifting to Jaipur and may be trip to Jaisalmer is something we can plan. But first place will be my home in Mumbai.

8. How to improve my bowling run-up, though I am able to generate good amount of pace but still my speed decreases as I reach the wickets. I really look forward towards our weekly cricket matches on Sat morning, NJ Red Vs NJ Blues at JFK High School Base ball ground in Edison. And its fun.. to watch 34 year old south Indian techies running after the cricket ball, controlling body bweight ...aiyo..amma...anna daa...wanga... and then the cricket ball. Catches are rare and every six is celebrated as astonished Americans watch matches from there garden ... figuring out why are we not playing baseball??

9. Had one of the best exp. recently when we went to see the mighty Niagara falls.... the 'Maid Of Mist' tour is awesome.... the boat stops right in the middle of the falls...the view of water thundering...falling...white as milk...among mist is thrilling. Another highly recommended trips is speed boating around statue of liberty-- with music and speed and Ocean and the New York skyline... you feel royal.
10. Have realized the importance of hair on a man's head. My roomies is a 30 year old, fitness freak , Wall street Software engg. earning a very handsome salary. Since 2 years he has been looking for a bride ...but nothing has materialized as apparently south Indian girls consider marrying bald guys as sin. A gem of a person that he is ... this exp. has left him no option but to go for expensive hair implant. And they say Guys are particular about looks!!

Untagged!

2008-06-09T08:38:00.002+05:30

Here are the answers Somya

1) LAST MOVIE U SAW IN A THEATRE? Iron Man and Indiana Jones . Back to back

2) WHAT BOOK ARE U READING?? Who Says that the elephant Can't Dance?

3) FAVOURITE BOARD GAME? none

4) FAVOURITE MAGAZINE? Business today, India Today

5) FAVOURITE SMELLS? Aha.. the smell of winter arriving in mid october. Pollen grains mixed in mist ...early morning or late evening.

6) WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD? Feeling of being 'Abandoned'

7) WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN U WAKE: Let me check my mails...

9) FAVOURITE FASTFOOD PLACE? McDonalds

10) FUTURE CHILDS NAME? no Idea...but I would like to have twins..a boy and a girl

11) FINISH THIS STATEMENT---'IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I'D': I would by a huge farm house in some hill sation..start a company and for the rest of my life work from home

12) DO U DRIVE FAST? nO.

13)DO U SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? No

14)STORMS--COOL OR SCARY?cool

15)WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? fiat padmini

16) FAVOURITE DRINK? orange juice

17)FINISH THIS STATEMENT-IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD: I always find time for things...Infact I always have time

18)DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?no

19)IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY OTHER COLOUR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE? blue..shining blue.hehe

20)NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS U HAVE LIVED IN? too many: dehradun, delhi, kota, mumbai, pune, banglore in India. US: Irvine, LA, New Brunswick, NYC, Madison, Rahway, Metropark, Boston.

21) FAVOURITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Cricket, football, tennis, hockey

22)ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? She is an elegant dumb idiot, with a nice heart, excellent sense of humour and funny teeth.

23)WHATS UNDER YOUR BED? Nothing

24)WOULD U LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN?? naa... that will be too boring

25)MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL? Used to be night owl...now a morning person

26)OVER EASY OR SUNNY SIDE UP?Sunny Side up

27) FAVOURITE PLACE TO RELAX? My Home in mumbai

28)FAVOURITE PIE? Apple

29)FAVOURITE ICECREAM FLAVOUR?Vanilla