Moments taken in

Buckling steel, sparks flying inches away from your face, countours of the road, maniac screaches of brake on wheels, the snap of muscles, rebounds of helmet off the road, horror on the face of the lady on sidewalk, dazzling circles of traffic lights.
Moments away from death, you feel so alive.

Surreal Moments in Life

A friend answering a buzz on his mobile
F:Hello
Stranger on the other end: Who are you?
F: Whom have you called?
S: My daughter gave me this as her number a week or so ago
F: Well she gave you a wrong number, I've had it for ages.
S: Can you hunt for her in Pune?

Another that happened to me once.
* Phone buzzing *
Me: Hello
S: Sir are you looking for a job change
M:Only if its good.
S: Thank you.
- end of call-

Reasons Reasons

Just heard about this job application where the dude mentions - I wanna search for a girlfriend in ur country as a reason for applying to the job.
Cool. Wonder how many such offbeat reasons can be quoted for applying.
Common ones I can think of it -

1. Commuting to this place is so much easier.
   
2. Ah my favorite eating place is right across the street from you
3. Mmmm the receptionist!

More esoteric ones could be

1. God spoke to me and told me to go forth and make common cause with "your firm"
2. Numerologically my name and yours just match
3. Boy you are an incompetent bunch. My rapid rise to top is assured.
4. My girlfriend is banned from entering your country. Hallelujah
   
5. Doctors have prescribed complete break from work
   

... I'm thinking of more

Office Tea

Office tea ends up being like those girls next door or do I mean failed relationships?
It is
not as hot as u want
not as delicious as u prefer
in short like an unfulfilled promise

Psyche Unraveled

I've often wondered why is India the way it is? Why are authorities often so venal, systems so unfriendly?
I don't know where, but something trigger a thought. It might have been a program on TV or more likely some fragment of a book. The idea expressed was something like that in a democracy people choose the people that they wld have liked to be be. Interesting. That triggers a chain of thought.
So why do we end up choosing mobsters/corrupt guys with such an unfailing regularity? So much so that if any big boss is ever arrested/extradited to India, u can rest assured that he'll be in the fray next election and if not win will probably get decent number of votes.
It strikes me that thousands of years of slavery/despotic kings have so made our psyche that we cannot come to terms with the facts that now we are all equal, all rulers and all subjects as it should be in a democracy. Look at our elections. UP - the state with something like 1/4 of total country's electoral power. and what are the issues. Party ruling in center has a "leader" whose sole aim in life seem to be preaching how his "family" is the only one which can "rule" in India. and mind u his "family" is ruling india. the Current Chief minister has his brother as no 2 in cabinet, son as the future CM. Main center opposition is lead by someone who is in fray and well as his son and daughter in law. A dynastic rule. from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu its the same. and people do vote for the families so it is not an aberration, it is even a demand from a large number of people.
This ingrained thought of still that ruler/serf mentality is what probably comes across as babudom. Look at a normal guy. Dress him in Khaki and he will begin to behave like a ruler. Look at a traffic cop or a normal constable. The guy will behave with normal public like a king. Even with people who should they have chosen too, become IAS/IPS etc, his bosses boss bosses types. He is not a Sarkari Naukar, he is "The Sarkar". The government himself - the sovereign.
Same is for anybody else in power. Heck a few years back a teller in state bank of India used to behave like your master, talking to colleagues, being rude to customers, keeping em in line while he'll do whatever he want to do. and this with people whose money pay his salary. Rules and tax paying serfs. they probably still do just that I stopped going to SBI.
But why do we vote for people who are to be voted. Because inherently we are still rulers and serf. the poor have accepted it as their karma, they are bonded serfs. those who are educated, want to be rulers someday and hence will never challenge
Its all in psyche.

Weather blues

Finally the winter hits home. I've been here in North Carolina enjoying the sunny winters. While i did have to scrap the ice off the ole 4 wheeler once, the weather by and large has been benign. Nice sun, temperature typically around 10C.
Here am I on a bright Sunday talking to a friend in sunny California, the guy grumpy about the cold there and me happily inviting him to enjoy the salubrious winter here. Did I hear someone say God is nice chum to us monkish souls? Lemme tell you God sure does have this mean streak of being jealous.
So I wake up next morning to a very sunny but cold day temperature arnd -6C. From someone who has spent quite a few summers near Equator and in deserts, this is a very ouch situation. The one time I was happy abt this sudden chill was when there was a winter storm warning and work place indicating that it may be closed in case the storm hits, the dude up there decides to stay easy! Gaaah!
They say that tomorrow there may be sleet, icerains or maybe snow with a high of 0C. I doubt if the office will close - if there were possibilities I'll happily trudge to the old church there and light candles- so I'll keep a lookout for weathermen's word. It its aye to the storm, time to get the sun tan out, else I'll hunt up the muffins and jumpers.
To all the folks up north in Canada - enjoy the sun, those in Cali - stock up on wood, the unbelievers - tuck up with nice reading material

Update Feb 1: There is something to what I felt earlier. Its snowing outside - okie only freezing rain at the moment, snow stopped a while ago- and I'm home. Wooo Hooo!. Thank You Thank You. I do not have candles so I guess I'll use the gas burner instead. Sacrifices to the tea God may be in order.

View from the front door
view from window.
Well it doesnt snow much here. Still my first time so Wooo Hooo!

Midnight Musings revisited

Been streaming music from the old crummy laptop onto the new phone where the fairly decent headphones are doing a good job. Discovered a few songs by Abhijit Pohankar (check out this dude, especially Piya Bawari if you haven't yet listened to it) which brought back memories of those classical music fests of SPIC MACAY and Pune days.
Recent years has seen some revival with many masters coming up with catchy modern numbers sung classical style. I remember all songs of Sardari Begum ( Aarti Ankalikar- another amazing singer) which became quite popular. Then there have been other musicians and singers who have been coming up with hit creations.
While I can't say I've enjoyed most classical concerts as much as I'd have preferred to. For one, for someone not trained in classical music, its not easy to always follow the skills. Then the masters themselves are not always endearing. There are exceptions. Count yourself lucky if you find yourself listening to some combination of Us. Zakir Hussain, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Pt. Shiv Kumar Sharma. Folks who enjoy playing their art as much as audience loves to hear it. I've had the pleasure of compeering on of Pt. Chaurasia's concert. Apart from that I've heard him many times in live concerts. He believes if the audience is appreciative, he doesn't mind playing all night, its as much fun for him as for him. Its on occasions like these when the night is 'just right' that I've found some of the greatest music being played. I remember an evening of a few years ago in Pune when Us. Zakir Hussain, Us. Sultan Khan and Shiv Mani playing next to Shaniwar Wada. Another awesome evening and I was especially enthralled by the tabla Maestro. Never thought that a tabla can be played like that!
I've found Shubha Mudgal again another enjoyable practitioner. Someone who chooses the songs as per the audience, mixing easy to listen with hard to render and explaining the progression.
Among dancers again I had the pleasure of sitting with Sonal Mansingh for a hour or so. This was many many years ago in Allahabad on the banks of the Ganges. I sauntered in her camp while she was getting ready for a performance and I was delighted by a hot cup of tea and talk to her for almost an hour. Somehow its hard to come across star performers like that now, who would not shoo away a young boy but will rather happily chat about tough and good times of life. And that is part of the charm of a live show.
Talking of shows, been planning to visit the Jaisalmer desert festival for many years now. Alas this year too will be wasted since the place will be half a world away in Feb, but will definitely try next year.

Another Toy

Got home to find a gorgeous new Nokia N80ie waiting for me at the porch! After a gloriously isolated month, Be prepared to be ignored by a always connected me.

The territorial Animal

BBC recently had this news item on how a herd of goats managed to master a cattle grid laid to prevent them from coming into human settlement eating plants and flowers laid in a cemetery. Goes on to prove how Man is the biggest territorial animal of them all.
We have carved out large portions of Earth, destroyed animals and trees we could and built our own forests of concrete. We got in a few cosmetic animals just to remind of our ancient past, popular choice being pack animals that look up to the masters as the pack leader. And we have built our own structures to draw boundaries of personal space.
t.
Makes me wonder if man has the right to decide to 'cull' animals just because they come and eat flowers we put on our dear one's graves, people already no more living? Here probably the goats are no threat to life and liberty, just a cosmetic nuisance. I can understand the urge to kill for food but does nuisance deserves death?(In case of mosquitoes, yes I think it does, see my earlier post on this but we digress).
The thing is that nearly all other territorial animals defend their territories typically either during feeding or mating times. Most often these territories are those that give great food advantage and where having a crowd with compromise food security. But with humans its often a case of power/wealth projection. I wonder how sustainable would this be over years. What happens when the human population reaches like 8 billion?

Hiatus unhitched

Life of late has been hectic, interesting and depressing at the same time. Lots of things happening on my end and still hardly much happens. Ah lets chuck the life stories and talk of something interesting.
I have been blogging a while now. Most of it is mere recap of mundane or erratic wanderings of the mind, along with an occasional interesting idea. Today I just recount something that is supposed to be serious but came across as funny to us comic techies.
The company did a fire drill today, yippy. Last time this happened I remember I was good enough to grab a mug of tea before strolling out to the assembly area and watches the water games over glass buildings with interest while sipping tea and enjoying the winter sun.
This time however the timing caught me. Just before 12, a time when one starts thinking of lunch is not the best time to grab tea. So I had to venture out with no prop in sight. One thing I never did understand is that why with a wide road 30 ft from my building do I have to not take it and in fact traverse a 100m or so, going on the sides of potentially blazing buildings and go to a "high" area. Ne ways, whats to be done is to be done and there we were all out in a cramped lawn under a hot December sun (sun IS hot this December). Then the fun started.
The guy with the mike - yup there was one, i believe some security firm guy wielding it with the enthusiasm of a new poll fray entrant. The guy told us how God almighty is on our sides because we take precautions and how well trained the volunteers and he will now burn *sound drop* after sprinkling petrol and have it doused. Yeah we all wait to see him attempt some fire jumping stunt.
Did I tell earlier that the place was crowded. Yup checked, I did. So all i can see from my safe distance is a huge flame, sorry no one it it, maybe except few newspapers (i tell you TOI should improve its article quality). And then a huge column of fire retardant being sent up in space. Now why should the fire retardant be sent up when the flame is on the ground beats me, but then I am a mere software guy no security expert. Ah as it turns out nothing much there but then the mike comes alive.
There is a lot of commotion but a very emotional voice exhorting the crowd in the name of God almighty thanking God and invoking oaths in HIS name to fight oppression, tyranny and fire all over the world or something like it. Why God should come into it is again a bit thick to atheists like me but I did see some very enthusiastic crowd cheering God and clapping for the speaker. Then came the hose guys. I merely mean the fire hose wielding guys. Last time they washed my building clean but this time it was just a very confused 'why rains in the sun' tree. More clapping, disappointment at no one attempting a rain dance and more invocations to the God.
I have a hunch that it must be a going to poll in a God fearing town, VP of a firm, egged on my hoping for a raise subordinations who was wielding the mike. It was almost fun but for the sound drop outs. Imagine some serious guy hearing "put your finger in the socket, get electrocuted" where the beginning "don't" and the somewhere in the middle "and you might" were inaudible, taking this to be God's prophet's command went ahead and did it?. On the bright side I can do with Thursday off.
Anyways, it was getting too hot outside so at this point I troop back to the old seat.
I do think that 3:00 pm is the ideal time for such drills. Just the time of the day when one looks for excitement in life. Wonder what if there is an actual fire. Will people still troop so casually. Should we test our stampede preparedness by throwing in a few smoke cans next time we drill. That should come across as real fun.

Chronical of a weekend

There is never a dull moment in life when a bull is let loose! As it happens my Thunderbird is back with me and to celebrate the occasion LeChat and I decided to hit the roads. My knowledge of places around Pune is sketchy at best so the intrepid hiker LeChat is the navigator. Soon we find ourselves some small hamlet near Nilkantheshwar.
There is this nice little river murmuring by with rocks and all strategically placed for sitting with feet in water and hot day needed no better breaks.
after half an hour of nice talks and generally hunting for fishes in water we come back and the fun started. Apparently some kids (just a guess) thought that its fun to deflate both tires of a bullet in a God forsaken place with no hint of civilization nearby and promptly acted on the thought.
I know those Industrial age barons had the right idea in corralling those blighters in schools. It beats me why are they let out during day at all? So here we are no road on one side, a hill to climb on other and both tires flat.
Well I did hear a bike coming and the gentleman tells us, nope no repair shop nearby, best you can do is to get to Panshet which is the wrong side of the hill. LeChat true to form is clapping her hands in childlike glee - "Yippyy! We have an adventure ahead. Drag this beast on the hill my boy and we shall have the walk of our life!" I tell you sometimes I wish I had listened to what mom used to say about riding in woods with adventurous hikers for company!
So here we are, a shiny big bike next to us, walking up a hill for a couple of km and dragging the beast along. But we made it, only to realize that the shop which never closes is in fact closed today. Luckily someplace downhill has another shop. Wise to truant seeking shop keepers we decide to walk down first leaving the beast behind and check out on the repair shop's status. Ah luck has not completely deserted us, it is in fact open. Walk back, drag the bike along and finally we are there.
With all the dragging on dirt roads, the front tube valve body broke, the rear tyre did escape injury. I did tell you the kids couldn't really take all the air out there was just a hint of it left, otherwise dragging the bike would have been impossible. Well there is just one shop and too many pesky kids around, clearing the queue takes long. Sometime around 6, the gentleman does start working on the tyre. Took 1/2 hour to mend, shifting the valve and then adventure part duex starts. The gentleman has never worked on tyres with disc brakes before and reassembling ain't that straight forward. somewhere around 7:30 the tyre gets back, break is working and tyre seems to be doing its job. The intrepid explorers are back on track this time taking the road more explored back to Pune.
its a good hard drive for a long time and its nearly 8 when we hit Warje bang in the middle of a traffic jam and the gears start acting funny. But its a short drive and finally huffing and puffing we reach LeChat's abode. after the usual tootsie and cheerios with the family, the two of us decide to wrap up with some dinner nearby to celebrate our return on same day, hop back on bike. kick, start and the clutch wire breaks! So here we are, nearly at 10, all shops closed and no clutch. Well an old bike was commandeered and I am dropped off the nearest auto, packing food for self on the way. So an auto from Warje to Aundh.
Reach home uneventfully, just that the food could have done a lead role in Asian paints ad for sheer exuberance of colors. after picking up whatever looked edible I hit the sack.
Next morning I have to reach Hadapser to meet someone. So an auto ride from Aundh to Hadapsar. Okie met the gentleman and took an auto back to Warje from Hadapsar. Reached the bike and called the mechanic.
The overalls clad takes his sweet time and gets in around 7pm and starts dissembling the parts to replace the wire. A screw starts slipping. Okie dude now if you want my bike in your workshop - You drag it there. The dude does that and I hop into Lechat's limo and drive there. another 1/2 hr and now the dude tells me he needs to weld the screw and then take it out, no driver shall accomplish it on its own. The hitch? Guess? the welder has gone home! No option so I leave the bike and take an auto.
So an auto ride from Warje to Aundh. I get near Bremen Circle and the phone buzzes. LeChat giggling wildly! hello, I know I've been having an interesting weekend still some words would help. Ah it turns out once the shop closes, the mechanic decides to try again and the screw comes out clean! Still I am happy at least its gonna make morning commute better. So I return to Warje on the same auto, take the bike and finally home at 11 Pm.
So in total the weekend gist
1. 2Km drag of Bull mostly uphill
2. Auto from Warje to Aundh
3. Auto from Aundh to Hadapsar
4. Auto from Hadapsar to Warje
5. Auto from Warje to Aundh
6. Auto from Aundh to Warje.

And they all complaint that I do nothing on weekends!

ahem

The adventure sport

"Writing can be a dangerous activity" thus spake a headline in The Hindu. Well our dear lady- Ms Kiran Desai has the Man Booker and all is well with the world. I had read speculations that she will win it one day after her first novel came out and she has done it in very good time.
To those who scoff at this profound truth- of writing being an adventure sport, I merely say "Ha!". They apparently have never attended one of my impromptu poetry sessions I sometimes subject my worst enemies to. There is an almost divine sense of happiness on watching someone face contort with literary anguish when that someone is your arch non friend.
The latest Monkism is- You are either with me or you Will listen to me(Period) And there are plenty of masters around. Many of my top bosses are very fond of cracking humorous things in their often made speeches. Nothing quite as interesting as to see someone on stage mike in hand, crack a joke, look around with a telling pause while the audience decides the most appropriate response to the as yet unclear -is it a joke or something else- statement. Then some start crying, some laughing, some sombre; each as per own interpretation of the intent. When all dies down, I start laughing at the whole thing. Whack! come the immediate boss's feedback restoring peace.
And they say writing is an arm chair hobby *rubbing head*!