Random Questions - III

Dodge this edition of chaos...Random Questions III...

• Was 2008 eventful or forgetful?
• Will Obama catch Osama?
• Will there be another Indo-Pak war?
• Isn't terror, the weapon of mass destruction?
• Is the Recessiona beginning of the end or the end of the beginning?
  
• Economy Downturn in India - bad for us and good for the boss?
• Is the economic bailout package plan out only for the big boys like an excuse?
• Are political parties wrapping up their mess for the sake of the next election?
• Will we ever breathe oxygen in the free world?
• Do we still buy water to drink when its a natures free gift?
• Will paper money still rule our minds in the times to come?
• Will going to work every morning ever end?
• Do we work to earn, learn or enjoy in life?
• Will we spend the rest of our lives in front of a PC or a laptop?
• Have we forgotten to write and learned to type?
• Will there be a day the earth will stand still?
  
• Is extinction another word in the dictionary?
• Will music be the same 10 years from now?
• How much more new music can we create?
• Have we ever danced like no one is watching?
• Are we spending more than what we are earning?
• Isn't music the only common religion across the world?
• Are NBA players genetically modified?
• When Bollywood can have Item Numbers, why are people protesting in IPL?
• Is sex an art or a practice?
• Will the sun ever run out of fuel?
  
• Is there another universe beyond our solar system?
• Will we ever get to meet an alien or will it be US's best kept secret?
• Will India ever play in a Football World Cup finals?
• Will our national sport (which is Hockey for those who might not know) ever be revived?
• Will law colleges be a place to make the lawyer or break the law?
• Will technology makes things so small that they may vanish into thin air?
• Will the concept of winning become so boring that losing will become more dramatic?
• Why so serious???
  

Immortal Triumph - II

Continued from Immortal Triumph - I...

The venue - Vidyodaya School, T. Nagar, the date - Saturday, 30th August 2002, time - 7.30am. We assemble at the entrance and only 4 of us arrive after all the hype, tension and promises. Registrations would end at 8pm and most of my team was coming from each corner of the city. The only gear we had was 2 bats and that was it. The other clubs and colleges were already playing their matches as scheduled from as early as 6am. We were obviously late and worried. At close to 7.55 am, the whole team is together amidst the little quarrel we had and made our way in to the ground. We were met with mocks, insults and smiles that wrote...'here come the suckers all over for another shot at glory'. All we did was walk straight and smiled back...brave but stupid in that moment. Luck did play a big role this time around...good and bad...we were the last to confirm our participation and ours was the last match of the day...pitted against one of the toughest teams in the tournament...as the greats once said...fortune favours the prepared mind...hell it did!

Well, we then waited all day long, loitering and observing all the key teams and players. We did manage to strike some good conversations with officials and some of the dames too. All the time, we would come up with hilarious spin offs of on field antics and results that ruptures of laughter would erupt around us...we sure did keep everyone in lighter spirits. But in all the waiting, we kept our strategy secret and spoke nothing of it. It was simple but too powerful to be out in the open for other teams to evesdrop into...so we let out false strategies to those who were kind of mingling unnecessarily...and they did the needful of letting their captains know of what we were going to do...and then at about 3.30pm came our first game of the tournament...agains the supposedly unbeaten team in sometime...club from Vepery. We won the toss and elected to bat...Murali and I opened and what followed was a literally a slaughter...mayhem left, right and center. Many of the audience and the opposition players dropped their jaws at our onslaught and nothing but silence...in our secret demolition plan of anihilation we amassed 60 runs in 6 overs for an opening partnership and the last 2 overs garnering 24 runs...so 84 in 8 overs...record breaking numbers that day...more was to come. The hyped up team came out to chase this like it was a walk in the park...walk it was but not in the park...it was hell. Smart bowling, sharp fielding, quick captaincy proved too much to handle and they collapsed to a shameful 17 All Out in about 6 overs. Ranga our man in the match with 5 wickets and we went into the sunset with a soda in our hands...living to die another day...on our way out...we saw the trophy on display...golden and at least 2 feet tall. Beauty she was...the biggest trophy I was personally playing for...Vatsa was staring at the same and tol me...."I have never yearned for something in life...this is the only time I feel like winning..."...i replied..."Lets win it for you then!"

Day 2 of the tournament and we all were on time and ready to get into action and not letting us take the shed like we were outcasts...well, we ended up getting the first match of the day! This time it was a good opponent from SRM Eashwari...We lost the toss and ended up fielding, some good tight bowling effort from Ranga, Arvind, Jayadev and me, restricted them to about 60 odd runs in 8 overs. Chasing was good as ever and our demolition plan worked but not for too long and we gave our side a run rate of about 8 per over in the first 4 overs. Wickets then began to tumble and our saviour emergred from nowhere...Dhilip's patient partnership and a blitz from Jayadev. Yes...we required 18 runs in the last 3 overs with about 2 wickets left...and enter Jayadev. Nailbiting moments as dot balls came through and our asking rate was shooting up like mercury. Fed up with all the hooligan chants and crazy fielding placements, our hero set his foot down and smashed 3 sixes in one over to seal the match...all in all...so much so for the criticism, it was our road to the Semi-Finals. Shake hands all over and our next match was assigned with an hour's break...this time against another good team - SCVE (Sri Venkateshwara College of Engineering)...another test of wits and nerve by whoever fixed those matches...we were up for it.

The Semi-finals under the scorching sun and the blazing heat...luck made its way as we won the toss and got ourselves to bat first in a hope to set a big total...another 8 over game. SVCE was a good team and bowled tight...our demolition plan failed as the first 3 wickets fell cheaply leaving the middle order and the bowlers to put up a brave total we could bowl to. This time, our captain chipped in with an awesome knock under pressure that defined his character and credibility like never before...he stood for us and we managed a defendable 60 odd runs...not much but enough to put up a fight. SVCE got off to a flyer as their opening pair plundered runs at will and none of our plans worked...but then a flash of brilliance on the field turned the game in no time...2 run outs and both direct hits from our next hero...the wily Murali...the whoe ground for the first time erupted in sheer voilent cheer (I suspect this team did not end up on the friendly side during the tournament) and our support began to grow by now...the opposition and the organizers were stunned by the turnaround and our captain bowled a fabulous spell to choke them under pressure...desperate times had called for desperate measures by the oppoition when they accused Jayadev of chucking arm action...all of sprang like it was a riot and we mobbed the umpire asking for justice...Jayadev was the fastest bowler but totally awry but he could literally break a toe with a yorker...with a little help from my end, the umpire was convinced that all Jayadev had to do was jump before delivering the ball...action cleared, wickets tmble and as expected...we won by 12 runs...but a breakthrough to our reputation in the tournament...we made it to the finals and this was our last hurdle...shake hands all over as the organizers announced the finalists of the tournament...Team Apex vs St. Thomas college of Arts...a first of sorts for both teams...an hours break before the finals and both teams were breathing...

Most of the crowd stayed back to see our downfall...most speaking of our run as a fluke...to me it was like a tale in an old story book...from what we were last year to what we had got ourselves to that year by sheer effort and belief...it was true and it took us time to soak in that we were the finalists...we were seated in a circle and talking of all the positives on what we had achieved and what was ahead of us...some of them even saying...finals is not a big thing...but the journey was to the finals was worth a lifetime. We all shared the same sentiment...whatever happens from now...we go out with our heads held high...victory or defeat. The crowd gathered near both teams and were now buzzing with speculations, predictions and adulations. We then stared at the battlefield for a while and looked to each other...One more time boys...we all felt the same words pass through our ears...and it was true. It was just one last time...I reminded Vatsa of his promise..."We will..."

Captains head to the center of the battlefield and the remaining crowd hooting and cheering...spin of the coin and Heads is the call by our man and we decide to bat without second thoughts...this time it was a 10 over match. Murali and I as usually walked to the center to start off the proceedings...both of our hearts feeling the pressure of the Finals. This time, both of our plans to demolish was halted right at the start and we both fell after what had been an amazing run at the tournament...this as it seemed...was our last shot. Two early wickets and we were trotting at the first half of the match...other key players too perished leaving all hopes to other unlikely saviours. It is believed that in tough times, arise tough characters to weather the storm...to us it came in the form of Vatsa and Amrith...the guys who dint give up till the very end despite not having a good run with the bat in the entire tournament...Vatsa got all his shots right in what seemed a terrible time at practice and all of Amriths energy spent on the moment that mattered. Vatsa was quiet and moved on with his game while Amrith kept running despite our doubts about his stamina...given the toxic condition he was in...all said and done...both emerged heroes and saviours in the first half of the battle...with support from the rest on all fronts. The score stood at 62 in 10 overs...modest but a faint chance. Vatsa and Amrith had the breather they wanted and all of us gave a raucous ovation as they returned for a well deserved sip of glucose!

We speak nothing, we do nothing...all we do is smile and enjoy the moment that we came this far...winning was not on our minds for the first time...it was a fight that was on our mind...one last leap! "Thanks Vatsa...you have given us a chance.." I told him...for the first time he mentioned this..."Namma Jaikarom da" (meaning - we are winning mate!)...and that was our mantra...field set, players ready and then our final chapter began...Arvind and Ranga were bowling their hearts out but there were these relentless players who were negotiating the attack with ease...but then all of a sudden...a quick run out by Murali, stunning catch by Dhilip, sharp keeping by Amrith and a mammoth effort from Vatsa...a quick rush of wickets after a dull start gave us all the hope and chance we wanted...I then picked two in an over...including the guy who got me out...and then it was down to the wire...4 overs to go...21 runs to get...Arvind bowls an amazing over and the equation comes to 3 overs and 17 runs...Ranga then takes over...tight spell...equation comes to 2 overs 12 runs...Arvind bowls....wicket taking over...yells and screams all over...appealing to the umpire...decisions going both ways. Last over left...8 runs required...Ranga bowls...field is set...players praying on their feet, some on their knees...I was scribbling Win on the sand below...just a shade of hope fading away...first ball...dot...second ball...wicket...eruption!!! Mayhem yet again...but the game was far from over...next ball...2 runs...6 to win...3 balls to go...next one was a screamer...dot ball...missing the stumps by a shade...2 balls 6 runs required...next ball...bad one...2 runs off it...1 ball remaining...4 to win...one shot away...one last chance...captains, bowler and keeper discuss last minute strategy...prayers intensify...hooting gets louder...umpire feel the heat as well...im still as a rock...knowing not what to expect next...and then it all happenned...

Bowled him!!! Cracker of a delivery that sneaked passed through the heave and crashes into the stumps...it was at that moment...for a second...my world stood still...it all unfolded in that one moment...smiles became laughter...prayers came true, hops became leaps and a dreams became reality...we had won. The margin was by 3 runs and that moment was scripted by all together in a huddle and in embrace of a feeling that we never planned for...our journey was over and the destination had arrived...we were never able to control our emotions...but then it had to be. The crowd in the background gave a faint applause but that was lost in the noise we were creating as winners. Our captain tried his best to get us under control as the opposition team was waiting for a final handshake of fine sportsmanship...the spirit in which the game was played...and then the presentation ceremony and the man of the match to Ranga...for his fine performance under pressure...no speeches, no photographs but the moments has been etched in my heart and mind.

Victory it was as we lifted the trophy and gave another scream of victory, everyones blood, sweat and tears embracing the golden cup...kisses and hugs galore for that trophy...everyones dream coming true in their very hands...we spent our last moments before we split homeward...we would speak of this moment in our lives to come...remember this victory in every dire situations one was in and in every interview when we were asked about one achievement in life...they can see it in our faces when we narrate this tale...a true story. I call it immortal because it was a bunch of Correspondence guys who beat the best and those who thought we were dispensable...we became truly invincible by body, mind, heart and soul.

After 6 years now, the trophy is somewhere on the loft at my home, gathering the dust of time and tide...the trophy after sometime dint feel important...it was that journey from nowhere to the pinnacle of glory...we did not go to another tournament thereafter...our situations took us in different directions...but it is this one moment in our lives that brings us together no matter where we are and what we do despite any given situation...all of us share a good laugh and talk like we have hung up our boots.

Well, we plan to meet sometime soon with our past binding us into one good conversation...I hope to tell this tale to anyone who is willing to win despite odds...I hope to tell it till I die. What came to me as vengeance as a fuel at the start...ended up being victory by sheer effort, dedication, team effort and the spirit to win...no substitute whatsoever.

Certain triumphs in life are worth remembering beyond ones mortal dreams...those victories will be spoken even beyond, that is why this is an immortal moment...to me, this just happens to be one of them...

.

(The Apex Winning Team From Left to Right: Jayadev, Dhilip, Vatsa (standing), Ranga, Aravind, Me (Vasanth), Amrith and Murali and Subbu who took the snap)

Mt. Everest is Alone

Life takes us to two extremes. One of knowing something too well or the other of knowing nothing at all...and not to forget the grey area which lies between them both. In both these extreme domains there is a bit of lonliness and a bit of company. When you are the best of the best, you are on top of the ladder with no company because there can only be one first place. On the other hand, when you know nothing at all, you are again alone because the whole world accoding to you knows everything or at least something.

This came to my mind in a recent conversation I had with a couple of friends. One was an engineer and highly qualified and ambitious chap and the other being a simple and happy go lucky graduate girl who just wanted to marry and get settled. Despite being friends, I felt a little lost and totally disconnected in that one conversation and it just hit me like a gentle breeze caressing across my face what seemed to me a hard fact.

The conversation was in no way about a common topic but a diverse subject which included each persons respective areas of interests...the guy's topic was about engineering, technology, the girls was about life in general - work and personal and mine was about rock music. Well, as it can be noticed, three of us belonged to the scale which I explained in the beginning. The guy was so engrossed in his dialogue that he dint allow anyone to understand or clarify what on earth he was trying to explain. Then came my turn where I spoke about the roots, bands, styles and various genres of rock music. The same was the case this time with the other two who just had no clue of what I had tried to explain. Amidst these two conversations out of the three so far, the girl got a little hold of what we both we were talking about. And then, she got her turn to speak...the third conversation was a very open and a general discussion where we both could participate and share our thoughts. Both of us found it very easy to open up and share our limited insights or even listen when we had not a clue.

After all three conversations were over, we got our chances to sip our steaming coffee that had just arrived after the three way conversation. That evening, I had derived a learning out of this tete-a tete and from here on I will indeed explain on from where exactly the title comes from and what I intend to convey.

We all know that in this world there are specialists, nothingists (I beg to use a little poetic license here) and generalists. Either we know something too well (specialists), or we know nothing at all (nothingists) or we know just enough about something (generalists). Please note, that specialists are niche area folks and hence the scarcity of specialists around; the nothingists are blissfully ignorant people, who are also less because our social structure does not permit us to do so; and the generalists, the remaining lot who know a little of everything and are able to dwell between the 2 extreme categories because they are just about aware but arent flustered if they do not know the details.

Specialists, Id rather say are those who are in top ranks and have been in the most sought after profiles and seldom have a team because we know them as those who love to work alone. The Nothingists, on the other hand, know nothing blissfully ignorant and people in turn do not like to work with them at any given time. The Generalists, as I can assume, are willing to step into unknown territories, knowing it is dangerous but knowing not how to get out of it. The fact that they dont know how to get out in a dangerous situation, prompts them to know more and hence the ability to converse, learn and find a way out. I cannot discount certain damages that can happen here in this process. The greats have once said - little knowledge is too dangerous...and it is. In which case, the extremes of being a specialist and a nothingist does help...sometimes being a generalist, gets you in a situation which you just did not want to get into...rather was happy to see it go by than get into it.

Now if you had to take real life instances and put people into these categories (also yourself) and then judge on how to take life forward...Im sure it would bring a lot of things to perspective and bring oneself to reality. Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain on planet Earth and has an envious record than any other peak in the world. Does it, in this case, have company? Do you think, being the best and the specialist, brings you more friends? Arent you actually alone being on the top? Hasnt it struck you that you are far and way above ground reality? Arent you on top of the human construct of what they call is the best and first rank? Arent you alone...I mean by people and not by ideas of work or by your intellectual demons. Dont you want to be in the company of the world than be counted amongst the elite? Have you ever ventured back to what you were before becoming a specialist? To those, these are some of my questions you might want to rethink your answers about...i know you might have already formulated an answer by now...think again.

The Mariana Trench...the lowest point on this planet and the deepest abyss ever found...blissfully ignorant of the world above, peacefully slumbering in the depths of the waters, waiting for light to even be touched upon. Dear Nothingists, I am talking to you all. Ever wondered how it is to be even seen? Have you ever witnessed the evolution of this world? Dont you want to be a part of history and an element of the future? Does time come to any essence for you? Does it help to have friends? Do you know that knowing not is not an excuse, rather a grave mistake you know you are making? Isnt there a purpose for your existence or your actions? Wouldnt you want to see the light of day? Do you realize that by resting your brain, you are not resting but killing an intellectual gift unique only to mankind? Have you ever listened, besides hearing? Have you ever watched besides seeing? To those, these are some of my questions you might want to rethink your answers about...I know you might have already ignored all my attempts by now...listen and watch.

The land we live on...level between the highest point on the planet and the deepest abyss, knowing not the extremes of the scale but grounded to reality. Balanced but not willing to go the extremes knowing the outcomes beforehand inaccurately with an uncertain future, a running present and a buried past. Do you know how does it feel to blissfully ignorant? Dont you want to live beyond the edge rather than living on the edge? Does knowing too much hurt? Isnt greatness a part of everyday life? Do you need a permanent vacation? Does learning and progress ever cease? Does human existence fight for money in the name of the country and the economy? Is it worth knowing something so deep and living with it your entire life? Does immortality and legendary mean something to you? Do you know the difference between freedom and being free? To those, these are some of my questions you might want to rethink your philosophy in life...I know you might have already started thinking about the questions by now...nevermind, its a decent beginning if not the end.

Here is a conclusion that is worth a debate and discussion. Neither can one stay at both extremes of Specialist and a Nothingist nor can be stuck inbetween and call oneself a Generalist. The reason we call life a journey and not a destination is that we have to tread from one extreme of the scale to another if the situation demands so from time to time. It is a neverending process and in this crossover journey we will come across so many people who are interchanging their roads with you and who are on their way to the opposite ends of my scale. You will never feel alone if you treat this knowledge as your own...share it. Give as much as you can and take as much as is offered.

Life comes as much as it goes...never think twice to make a nothingist feel like a generalist, always give a chance for a generalist to know a little more and get known and give that specialist a chance to show how much can be given to a nothingist and let the nothingist give a touch of freedom of blissfully ignorant feel whenever they are stuck up in daily chores. It is when this happens that my scale will diminish and the merger of minds and bodies and souls will take place with no boundaries where existence will be all about oneness and mutual respect. The moment we draw the line, we part ourseleves into the hands of madness and chaos. Let us be one and share this feeling of to know, not to know and knowing a little more to as many as we can. Its a big world but the journey can only begin with a small step!

Always remember, Mt. Everest is always lonely, but if it welcomes to be scaled upon, will it have company. The Mariana Trench is always lonely, but if the abyss welcomes the light with open arms, it will see the light of day. The plain earth on which we dwell on will have company but will lose the pleasure of going the extreme and knowing what it is to live beyond the edge rather than on the edge. The extreme scale (of segregating people into Specialists, Nothingists and Generalists) which I created in this article is just a mental construct which we are so used to doing knowingly or unknowingly...lets break this myth as soon as can. If we do so, we will become one and one day the vast world we live in will become so small that it will roll in our palms. It depends if you want to have it to yourself or pass it over to the person next to you...

Immortal Triumph - I

Its been close to six years since this event took place in my life but it still rings fresh in my mind whenever I slack back on my chair and dig memories of some glorious moments where winning wasn't easy and where it took more than a struggle to overcome obstacles which were perceived impossible, to emerge victorious.

This story begins right from early 2001 where we had a first shot to a city wide Cricket tournament called the J. K. Samyukhta Rolling Trophy organized by the Rotaract Club of District 3230, under whom we were one of the clubs. We were a part of an institute called Apex that supported the education of Madras University Correspondence students. To be honest, we weren't a very prominent cadre or a desired bunch in the vicinity but it was promising when we became a part of the Rotaract Club District 3230. The word Correspondence and our entity as Correspondence Students was always at a derogatory disposal. We surely werent the smartest or politically savvy of all the clubs, but were surely the most hard working and sincere bunch of guys one would have come across...such was our background going into our first tournament...

I was doing my first year in B.Com and I was a part of the squad with my seniors that went for the tournament with 2 teams - A and B. Well, we did not get off to a good start and that meant we depended on each other team to lose to make way for us which I practically felt was a very desperate wishful thinking we were heading towards. We werent focusing and delivering as planned. We were sighting the girls as we saw our teams go down in defeat. As expected, predicted and planned...we were knocked out of the tournament in 2001...thanks to some one-sided umpiring and ruthless behaviour in a gentleman's game...I personally went back with a bitter taste and promised...no, swore to come back some day soon...with vengeance...

A year passed by and the memory of the ugly past had been buried under my willingness to look ahead and indeed...time was the best healer...no one else dared to talk to me about it. In late 2002 and we had been invited to participate in the tournament again. Memories began to unravel skeletons from the cupboard and we decided to exorcise our demons the only way we knew - by winning. We somehow knew this was our final time for redemption - this was it...this was our last chance. This time we had decided to go in with only one team and that in itself was a bold move where with more teams comes the probability to stay alive in the knockout rounds in the tournament. We practiced like our lives depended on it, we played practice matches under the scorching sun and in the soaring Chennai heat and pouring rains to get ourselves to stop complaining about the weather. In the battlefield, whether it is hot or cold, the enemy will strike at you in any moment with full force...we were readying our minds to see those mind battles through. On the lighter side of all of this, we gathered every penny we had to register for the tournament ourselves in the last minute and made it to the tournament paper as Team Apex.

After all the paper work was done, it was time for some action...but before I get to the action, here is a snapshot of my team that made history:

• Murali, the wily and quick chap with a sharp eyesight and a sense of humour - Opening batsman and a lightning quick fielder...tried his hand at bowling a few off-spinners...got an ugly treatment by an unassuming batsman once upon a time.
• Jayadev, the aggressive, passionate, brutal muscleman in our team...fastest bowler and the most unpredictable batsman. His only drawback was his emotions...taunt him and you could get him out...tough controlling him when the chips are down but pleasure to unleash to the opposition when we have to get things up and rolling.
• Dhilip, the ice cool customer with an ISO smile and one who can speak calmly even in the face of a disaster. Well...getting him serious for a big match was the only challenge but nevertheless, he was an amazingly committed fielder whom you couldnt judge by his physique...could pull a stunner any given moment.
• Vatsa, the pan and tobaccco chewing, cigeratte smokin, abusive throwin, lock, stock and barrell dude with a don type outlook. A giant by no means and the strategist of the team. The issue with him was that the moment you piss him off, the first word he utters will end up in a literal riot that would bring mayhem...he nevertheless was the hero on any given sunday...and it was a sunday when it all happenned.
• Amrith, a beer drinking, chain smoker with dont-give-a-damn attitude who had the looks of a model and was indeed a distraction for opponents...he wouldnt run as the amount of smoking nearly cut out his stamina...the only role we could give and the best he was at - wicket keeping. The most underestimated player who gave his blood and sweat for the team and went the last mile.
• Subbu, our club president and the negotiator for the team in any given crisis. Probably the only guy who gave the umpires the run for their money as he had a constant eye on their decisions and comments. He is like the Hulk...extreme anger and rage can improve his performance on the field...probably what got him in the team!
• Ranga, the religious and the tallest in the gang...the smartest medium pace bowler who added a little thinking into his repetoire. His breakthroughs in the toughest moments was what helped see the light of day in the darkest moments. Nervous chap who can talk fast and still produce some stunning wickets! His spiritual aura truly was reflected in the finals where he got us to hope and pray.
• Aravind, the all rounder who could bowl fast and produce a peach of an innings when needed most. The only player who had played in the District Level tournaments and had a lot of experience in tapping our potential and abilities on the field. He was our captain and had a big role to play in all we scripted in this real life fairy tale...
• and then Me...I was an opening batsman and a medium pace bowler...I was basically the demolition guy with the sole purpose of anihilating the opening attack of the opponents and set us a good rate to set a good score. I could bowl a good pace and chipped in with a few wickets here and there...

My only belief and goal was to win...and this is what I told others too...Lets Win! (...to be concluded)

Random Questions II

• Will our country ever rid of itself the disease of terror?
• Will politics ever be a matter of nation or personal vested interests?
• Will Black ever turn to White?
• Will floods that go to the sea return sometime later?
• Does one have the right to anothers life?
• Does it take more than skill to prove a better team?
• Are marriages made in heaven or in websites?
• Are sanskrit priests and pundits paid better than programmers?
• Will the inflation lead to deflation ore reflation?
• Why do we gather so much when we are going to return empty handed?
• Does anger help prove ones point?
• Why is money immortal when paper is mortal?
• Why doesnt time wait for anyone?
• Why do the worthy good die young and the unworthy evil last forever?
• How much wood has been used to publish books in this century alone?
• Do we know the amount of electronic waste we will have in another 10 years?
• Are movie villain motives for real?
• Why do we cry after a good laugh and laugh after a bad cry?
• Will poverty ever be put on hold?
• Will old age homes see more enrolments?
• Will we have kids of our own (the tough way) or with donor sperms (the easy way)?
• Why is love a mortal feeling with immortal stories?
• How many gods and religions do we have?
• How old is this universe?
• Will we ever see aliens on this planet?
• How many more songs can we compose?
• What if life went backwards?
• What if we communicated in numbers than language?
• Will there be another Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath record in the near future?
• Has metal ever pierced the human spirit in trying times?

Enough of chaos and back to sanity...more randomness to come soon...

Mind Your Math

The one prolonged fear we have experienced from the cradle to the grave and the only thing that keeps us alive and well...the subject of much debate to the essence of innovation...this has been in our blood and in the air we breathe...in our pockets and the world around...yes I am talking about...Mathematics!!!


To me personally, this has come across as a boon and a bane....nothing less, nothing more. According to me, what is taught in school is the most scariest because of the positioning of the subject and the importance of marks and scoring a centum in your finals. But in reality this subject has something that seems like it was in me all the time. Everything in Maths is basically got to do with logic, formulae and theorems and a set of equations. Where did all of this evolve from? Man did not discover Math from thin air...he invented it right from the days of evolution. Debatable quote but worth the argument...in fact it might work both ways...let me not be controversial - man discovered math...did not invent it. I will leave it to the readers to poll around this and bang their heads to come to a conclusion.


The objective of my article is to explore maths without material. Lot of us fear numbers and literally go to the doctors to scan this unique fear which we overcome every moment in life. According to me, all the formulae, theorems and equations have been ingrained somewhere in our minds and hearts. We just put them to use when it matters the most without the knowledge of its existence or its purpose. It has been with us all these years and will be till our last breath, helping us to survive what we call 'life'. Here is my take on this...what we call Logic is actually Maths...not on all counts...but on some which I will try to explain as I go on.

Right from the days of learning the nuances of language, to our first steps and recognizing people to our sense of direction and reactions to actions, we have been doing our maths at every step of life. We knew the faster we crawled the happier others would be to give what we wanted. We knew the effort for each crawl and the effort to each first step we took in our first walk. Our parents would count the 10 steps to walk and we grew up taking those 10 steps at a time...there you go...our first number. In school, it then came to the games where it was all about the numbers (including the trump cards or the game of Uno). We grew up counting our wins with numbers, yet we feared what was on paper than what was on our mind!

Moving on, to a scene where we would know how the clock would show where we would then calculate mentally however soon or late we left, the time we would approximately reach...thereby change our calculations based on the mode of transport and the pace of the traffic. To those who thought they were weak in numbers, if you can seriously find your way to ur destination by approximity of time and derivative calculation based on the situation...I think we have achieved more than what we had imagined in school or in college. Pacing our ways while driving or crossing on dangerous roads and judging the speed by sheer agility and reflex requires (according to me) sheer mathematical brilliance. Here is my take - those who end up in minor or major accidents on roads might have been those who had been great in their papers but unable to cope up with the numbers pressure on the actual scene. I am not here to defame or deface mathematical geniuses (in their own right) on this but think about this...people who end up calculating on paper acutally lose time acting on the scene. To me, those who survive the mathematical madness of the roads are the rightful masters of mind maths - no paper, no pen.

Music is another field that has captivated my mind - the sheer rhythmic and tonal brilliance captured by artists on and off stage. What does it take to keep the music we play sane? What does it take to move our adrenalin while listenin to music? Its all about the beats and what we call - Thaalam or Taal. These are counts or taps to keep the momentum and the counts so that the music is precision oriented and not lost in the chaos of unorganized notes. Our mind has been listenin to so many beats and tunes based on mathematical calculations - ones that did not require calculations or formulaes but just the knowledge of the tempo counts. Most musicians are school or college drop outs...wondering where did all those calculations come from? Paper and pen somebody...no! Its all in the mind. Look around and you will find musical brilliance walking this planet without having achieved much in school.

Sometimes, I wonder...it is also in Love where we calculate our moves to woo the person we like in many ways possible. There have been times where there have been bad calculations and some of us have terribly gone wrong and have misfired and also got badly hit. Proposals gone wrong with replies at the rate of knots and some replies at the rate of miles per hour smashing our cheekbones with unexpected mental and physical trauma. Ah! Love...to those who get the calculations right...its smooth sailing but need to keep validating their equations. Those are people who know the X in algebra which others fail to fathom and discover. There you go...cupids indeed a professor. I am yet to solve my equation.

There are many fields that we can analyse in detail and I will leave that space to the researchers. I am here just to stimulate and provoke a thought in those minds that have denied the existence of maths (including me). I have been grown up with an utmost hate and had maximum agony with Maths and when it struck me in life later....I told myself...I have been doing it all along and I was pretty good at it! I think that is a kind of mantra that I penned for myself and which I have been following (calculating I'd say) every moment i have seen the possibility of numbers around me - at home, at work, on the roads, while walking, while talking, while listening, while thinking, while playing, while in silence.

We were been born with it, lived with it and have feared it, not realizing that it was the only saviour that brought us till today and will take us to where we want to go. This has been hiding or sleeping in us and has been pulled out at the right time to save our skins and our souls. Think about all the moments that you have been through and you will realize that 'Ifs and the buts' would have been sorted out if it were a matter of right estimations and corrective actions. Well, you might be wondering how...its actually very simple. Its got nothing to do with pen or paper or with theory or with books its just got to do with the mind...its invisible but tangible!

Saturday In Sanity

Just back after watching an amazing movie called Body of Lies...shot completely in the Middle East on the theme of terrorism and the CIA et all...and when I walk out of the Sathyam Theatre...it pours like a flapping drape of water... from a thriller of a movie where the desert was a common sight, to see Chennai draped in this heveanly pearls was quite a sight...better was the ride back home. It was the caressing rain which softened the mood on a monsterous and manic traffic busted road...not the one that drives you mad and cuts like a knife. I must say...the battery must have gone bonkers with the rate at which I honked my way back home. People have just stopped responding or reacting!!! Ignorance in this case was bliss to them...

Back home for a hot cup of tea and a bowl of mixture and savourites amidst the growing rains and I set a playlist to get in the best of mood and it goes on till a long lost song starts to play... November Rain by Guns n Roses...and here was the best part (without sounding cliched or corny), the curtain of rain dropped down to a thunderous applause as if it was opening the stage to a symphonic and epic conerto of the elements...the intensified dramatics showered and the power packed performance was a sight to see...and it was indeed November...what a moment! The song brings back a lot of memories and a feeling of peace and comfort and its lead solo was doubtlessly lifting and pacifying after a stormy interlude.

What followed this magical moment was a nostalgic journey to the past when an old friend replied to an old mail...perfect! Lot of promise and a lot of memories...best days...doesn't take long to sink in the glory of ones past and into the promises of the future...with great weather comes great friends and brings back a lot memories...and then the door bell to break the bubble...back to reality.

Grandmaaaaa or paatii in Tamil...her turn to visit home made the day even better. As she slowly paces her way to our hall, her smile lights up the gloomy weather and brings back the light which the skies had conquered a while back, which cannot be invaded at home...happiness and smiles all the way. What an entry...which no movie can capture.

With the perfect playlist and a perfect day...I lay to rest after the light of day to the black of the night. It takes a minute to rewind and look back and realize that if this happenned everyday...it would be just too boring...no wonder such good days come after a spell of bad or moderate days. No wonder this came after a week of tough work and a well valued and well timed weekend off to experience this momentary happiness. Imagine such good days happenning at work! Might be a matter of time...lets take it as it comes for a start. As I lay on my bed...Guns n Roses sing their version of Bob Dylan's song away...Knockin on Heaven's Doors. Time to sleep and time to dream!

Chennai Law Fiasco

The day - Wednesday, 12th November, 2008...the place - Dr. Ambedkar Law College, Chennai...the people - the law makers and the law keepers...

It was a shameful event (I hate to use the word event) that the people of Chennai witnessed in the evening news on TV (some saw it live too). Two parties who are connected to the law and order system of the city, brought themselves to rock bottom in the eyes of those who looked upon the law for protection.

I am not here to discuss the roots of the event, though I know it was a community based clash which was reported in the newspaper. But I am here to question and trigger a thought in people as to how on earth can we feel secure on the streets of the city when the makers and the keepers are at such a disgusting point of ignorance? In the name of humanity, what in hell's name were the police doing? Watching a uncensored action flick or fearing for their life if they got caught in the eye of the storm?

All hell broke loose and all the policemen did was witness the brutality shown by the angered youth who went berserk when they saw a scapegoat to display their violent intent. Rampant they were and merciless on that youth who was slaughtered in front of the policemen. Imagine the mother's plea and the father's anguish...the agony they must have been through...their son might have taken the wrong step but would have a couple of blows sufficed...couldn’t the policemen stop the angry mob...were they told to stay put...were they scared...did they take orders from someone else...

I am angered by the fact that why was no action taken…who stopped the policemen from taking strict measures...a delayed and reactive approach of just arresting when all the damage has been done! The logic may remain that the youth who got hit might have said something or done something which might have irked and hurt the opposition, but couldn’t this have been settled by a quick action...why the mob, why the riots? What were the college officials doing ...sleeping on their easy chairs I guess...like what they do in the courts...the lessons they teach to those who pass out to maintain law and order...

I have a mixed feeling to all of this. Sometimes I feel the guy deserved it because no one reacts so violently if there isn’t a valid reason or being provoked...but on the other hand, i feel this wasn’t the only way to solve it...and it could have been amicably settled and needless to take up arms and beat the living daylights out of that guy who might have needlessly got himself into trouble...

But one question remains unanswered...where are we today? Rapes, Murders, Kidnaps, Riots and Mobs are all running wild...and the policemen are the puppets in the hands of a master and do as they are told to do...this is the state of the current government is...this is how they get things done and this is how they operate with power. Does anyone around listen to their conscience and act accordingly...does this city need a fictional based Dark Knight to get rid of the evil around...will this city remain as contaminated and unsafe to live in? This now becomes a good plot for DC Comics…guess justice is served only in fiction and not in reality.

Now I have many questions unanswered and I can go on and on and on and this will surely take more than a lifetime to see the light of day. It is far better to be by ourselves and stay as far away from this rusted and rotten system. Love your close ones and be good to each other and stay out of trouble. If we do so...peace is in our hands...the moment we are deep in the system, peace becomes another man's property...

Monsoon Mayhem

Well...what a start to the monsoon in Chennai!!! Its been an ocean so far and all hell has broken loose as usual whenever it rains in this city. Water water everywhere...and not a drop to drink. Im not here to talk about the worst shower or the best monsoon spell...im just here to tell you about how it feels to be in Chennai at such times...

Firstly, a rain drop in chennai is like a start to a major celebration and covers the Headlines of the newspapers and the top stories in news channels. People hit the streets and venture to experience the monsoon breeze and smell the wet sand that evokes a lot of sentiments. Its basically a festival short of Diwali for a celebration even if it drizzles in Chennai...you can imagine the festivities when the monsoon sets in. Its such a relief and makes life just lighter and a gives us a little something to celebrate about. For people in Bangalore, its like a daily ritual...boring...hahaha (okay okay no backlashes)

Secondly, Chennai is one of the most toughest places to be when it rains (I am not competing or comparing to Mumbai). To be honest, walking around or even driving around is a nightmare...but again, the show goes on. Ranganathan Street is a good example. The best place to be in such times is in office or at home. The perfect moment being sipping a hot cup of tea and a bowl of pakoda...what can I say...just perfect. If youre in office, unwind, daydream of duets or walk around to enjoy the weather...the boss can wait for a while according to me...try this out, youll not get fired. Thinking about crushes, love, friends, hits and misses blah blah...wherever your mind and heart can take you. Sales guys can have a break at the nearest Nair Tea kadai! Others can go to the Vending Machine.

Next, the best way to travel in Chennai at these times is by our very own PTC or MTC - the bus. The monster vehicle that makes its way in all the sea of water and vehicles to reach its destination with ease and elan...Never in chennai should you take out your two wheelers...the moment you do so...youre doomed. The abuses we give and take are in the air and no ones listening. You cant see your vehicle's tyres and you dont know where the next pothole is. The buses are the best, but wait, theres a twist here too. I am not the only person thinking of doing this...its the whole city. I must admit, we are quite united in what we think as the best way to get out of a mess. We do it as a team. The whole city rides on the bus and makes it virtually impossible to even hold on to a railing of the bus (leave alone getting in). The bus is at a mighty tilt and rides brave through the storm and comes out victorious (how inspiring to see such a beast beat the people's misery to pulp). Few days back, the ride that usually takes 30 mins, on that rainy day took me 2 1/2 hours ( i had to change buses too and take a different route).

The drainage system in the city is so bad that what is supposed to lie beneath is up on the surface, ending up with all the water that comes from the left, right, centre and above. I wouldnt want to accuse the government of doing nothing but of the contractors who failed to secure the city from such disasters...wonder who ate the money...something to think about. The incomplete constructions and destructions also add up to the agony of the city and makes life even worse in the eyes of the senior citizens. Yelling cops with knee boots dumping some sense into pedestrians to walk safe...the point is that the footpath is as distrought as the roads. Too many corrupt compromises have resulted in a literally hollow city with too many loopholes. Enough of my ramblings of a fed up citizen...

Finally, some fond memories. I still remember our PT Class getting cancelled due to the rains, the government declaring a holiday fearing rains on a day when theres sunshine, swimming our ways to school on a working day when it poured, hoping some of our teachers would be absent, playing cricket on those wet roads, catching a cold, jumping on the pool of water near our walls, paper boat competition, playing trump cards etc. The monsoon does bring back a lot of memories. There are surely many more than what I have listed.

Make sure you enjoy this monsoon, because it will take another year till we see another. With the change in the climate, we dont even know when it might arrive and with what it might come. Be aware of your surroundings and stay safe. Beware of cut wires, bad roads and dug corners. Take precautions and enjoy the weather. Smile people, this is Chennai's moment of glory...

Jam Packed

Imagine you are on a corporation playground on a festive weekend where there are about 20 - 25 cricket matches being played where there are energetic little boys from 10 years onwards to the huffing and puffing 40 year olds...this is as close to getting slammed smack in the middle of a T.Nagar traffic jam. I'd doubt if you can make through this mess, finding your ways out to a peaceful exit. Welcome to Chennai's own cricket mania on a weekend - worse than a traffic jam or a festive shopping season (debatable though). I do not aim to defy any city's passion for the game especially competing on the number of matches per ground - this is just to give a perspective on Chennai's craze for the game...

Firstly, the craze in Chennai is about the street cricket scene where we play with the tennis ball...to be honest...this is more tough and competitive than the professionals can handle...(that was a little blatant...) and since we all cannot afford the gear, we take up to this weapon of choice on which theres even a movie made as a tribute to those who have donned the streets of Chennai. Now, each corporation ground has a lot of other sports facilities in place, but this doesnt stop some of us from assuming every post and pole as the wicket and any straight patch of land which is barren enough to be called a pitch...now you can imagine...masters of economy in space...

The funny part come right in the morning where we have to literally invade in order to book the pitch and scout for your rivals around. Next would be set the boundaries which invariably keeps getting moved around because most of them are moving objects...including huge block of stones which invariably get used as wickets for a lot of the deprived...after everything is set and all ready to start...we have multiple matches running into their starts and ends...all of this is as early as 5.30am to 6am...

Match begins in all the frenzy and all the hue and cry...foul umpire calls, crazy ass fielding, big hits, flying wickets, fast bowling, cracking jokes, master local sledging, field setting, drop catches, wandering cattle and the stray dogs, one off audience and last minute inclusions. At this moment...there are at least 300 people packed in this ground and it is impossible to spot your game ball and the respective fielders...this is now the act of camouflage and its guerilla warfare time. Being a fielder is funny now...distractions in plenty...you have no clue who might be appealing and going for the run...at times...watching other matches are just as nail biting and worth watchin than fielding for a match thats almost a goner...here is where the ball slips past our sight and heads towards a boundary...incoming abusive moments follow as well...bumping into many of the players in the field and then theres something that hits us...the game ball...both doubt where it belongs or where it comes from...sometimes we get hold of the wrong game ball which might be heading towards the boundary and throw it to our boys...one good reason to start a fight...as we know...the Chennai crowd is educated and a quite a sport...but when its fight-time...theres no mercy...

Win or lose...at the end of the day, in all the mayhem, having fun is the ultimate objective. The ultimate moment in such a field is the organized chaos that surround us and in that whirl, makes us forget our woes and worries...no wonder even married men and boys with arrears tread these grounds...this part of the planet for many of us, is the holy ground where every moment is festive where the spirit of the game is alive and roaming in all the madness...this is life...

Ever wondered how this is more chaotic than the traffic zones in Chennai but still destined to generate more fun...pay a visit to these abodes and youll know for sure...if you can survive without being bumped by another or bumping into another...youve certainly won your ground and gained your way to peace and well being...on and off the roads.

Silence is Loud

It was a bustling junction at Luz, entering my haven at Mylapore today. I was pounding Megadeth in my MP3 player because i felt it was better to listen to some metal than hear the mindless and merciless motorists who keep honking for every inch they move. Amidst all this noise and haste, I was struck by the sight of 3 young people just before they were to cross the road at my signal stop. They were engaged in a very animated conversation and were trying to explain to each other about some issue that was bothering them. I was wondering what they were signalling to opposite the road until I turned my head to see a local party hoarding depicting a dhoti clad politician with his hands folded. What amused me was that the party president's picture was an inset on the hoarding as if he was overseeing what the situation was like.

After observing all this, I turned back to see the three boys getting even more animated and getting even more fenzy. It was then I observed that the lanes opposite the junction were blocked due to the party meeting and seemed they were discussing the results if they crossed the line without permission. One of them was depicting that the party people would chop their limbs off if they did and the other was trying to explain that they would hold us and beat us to numbness if we did so...and the last one said that none of them would hear or understand us. The three fell still for a while and guess they got the message. Something amazed me after that...it dint stop them from discussing them further. It was then the signal was about hit Green for us and one of them told the other that we've waited enough so lets get going and cross the junction. After all of this, it then struck me that all 3 of them were bound by silence and gagged by sound. Their eyes and hands was all that did the talking.

All of this happenned in a span of about 3 minutes. I was simply stunned by what I could observe and understand in such silence amidst all the noise and haste in that limited time. Their action, hand and eye movements and gestures were like poetry in motion, like they were dancing to their own music. In all the silence and still observation, there was so much that was spoken, heard and understood. Their smile, stares and grins were quite a sight in all the maddenning traffic zone that drove me insane. It doesnt take an MP3 player to give you the feeling of listening to music, it doesnt need words to convey what you desire to communicate. All it needs is a little understanding, observation and a little consideration.

Sometimes it hits you when you realise certain truths that come in the form of small real life skits like these where actions speak louder than words and silence is louder than speech...look around to find tales and feathers like these to enjoy the simple joys of life. Its as simple as that and it takes less than 3 minutes like it took me today. The last 5 minutes of my ride back home were filled with a light feeling that comforted me. I was breathing...

Are we heading this way?

I have been flipping news channels and newspapers and all I see this so called secular country in total disgrace. Just looking at the fanatics running amuck and committing atrocities by will and all our government can do is just shoot statements and create quotes that are worth penning in books and not the impression in the life of those who are in the eye of the storm. I mean, where in the hell are we heading with all of this? Innocent people amidst the most wanted people are targetted with utmost dismay, disrespect and disgrace. Why are we playing god when we are just mortals? Sad acts like these will only be treated like forgettable tales but remembered as a friction strike for future reference. Where do in the pages of any scriptures has it been written that we should take lives in the name of god and for the sake of the purity of this land? I mean, arent we a congregation of races and religions since existence? Hasnt this been hailed as one of the most unique cultures in this world? Why are we then burning this legacy?

There certainly seems to be a deeper past and a much intense issue to all of this happenning...but a lot of fanatics are mistaking this to a propaganda and taking this to the streets and burning bridges to ashes. We might need to go back a thousand years to understand this angst and agony to which people fall prey to. Mankind has itself taken so many decisions to which the current generation is unable to fathom. Guess this is just a carry over from all those fossil remains. When are we going to turn a new page? Are we settling an old score? So much vengeance and hatred...

"Ignorance is Bliss" - an inexplicable and diabolical anonymous quote - are we being fooled by just being ignorant? Avoiding the truth gets us nowhere and will not bring us peace because it will be multiplied when we realize for real that it was too late to even heed what happenned in the past. What was just the strike of a match, might be the rage of the wild fire. We never know when an angry mob can walk down our streets and question our beliefs and our identity and by their will...weild their weapon of choice upon us. Its time to look up and see whats happenning around us and and not just read the papers to keep ourselves updated.

I can take a lot of recent and past incidents into account on what has been happenning in India for the last several decades (especially in the current decade) but I do not want to look into the past anymore - it would be like beating the dead rat - needless to say I am indeed aware. What was done has been done and nobody can change that. It has now been etched in the books of mankind's history - be it for fame or shame. I am thinking of living today and dreaming of a tomorrow. A world where we are about to see and are building with our own hands, blood, sweat and tears. Billy Joel once sang the memorable lines - "We dint start the fire, it was always burning since the world was turning..." - he was looking at the past and how we are victims of the past. But, according to me, if this fire continues, mankind will be razed to the ground. We will be on the brink of self destruction if this wild fire continues.

Can we not educate our children and the younger generation about the existence of Mankind as a single identity. Can we not explain to them that religion is a way to a belief which is unique to each believer? Telling them that violence is not the way to victory but it is in unity and acknowledging the fact that taking lives is not in our hands. I think its high time that the smarter generation across the globe, put aside those differences and past tales of shame and shambles and reconstruct the world for them for a better tomorrow.

As they say that "Charity begins at home". If each of us can take this simple yet deep message to the ones we know and to those who matter the most, I think this would be a starting step to seeing the past through and demonstrate the true meaning of peace. Let us spread the message and be more aware of our country's actions as it certainly has a promising future.

I wouldnt be surprised if this small effort can turn into a giant leap...

DarkKnight...

A decade of poetry - I

This has been an unfathomable journey and it has taken a decade to realize how far I have come in this chosen path. A journey that has taken me to places never imagined before and meeting people I had never met before and getting to know people better than I knew them before. This path has put me on situations and has tested my wit, wisdom and my will and has put me from an unidentifiable soul to at least the one whose word is at least read and heard.

For the last ten years, there has been a life that I have never dreamt of. I began with a self motivated push and it came in the form of an exercise post a lesson in my English Class way back in the year 1998. I still remember it was Ogden Nash's poem on a patients ordeal with his bad tooth at the Dentist's place. It was titled "This Is Going To Hurt Just A Little Bit". There was something about the dark humour in the poem that tempted me to give it a try and it was then that I gave it my first shot at my first poem. In all the cliché to it...there was no more looking back.

It was the likes of Robert Frost, Rudyard Kipling, Samuel Taylor Coleridge that further motivated me to take this direction and pursue the craft of poetry which is seemingly becoming a dead art like the language of Sanskrit. I am not telling that it is dead...just that it has taken a lot of derivative forms that the purity has been almost wiped out. Of all the people I have met, I havent yet met the right publisher. Even if i met one, all they said was - "Sorry, Poetry doesnt sell, so we cant take your material" . And this was what prompted me to write for the art and for my writing pleasure.

Writing was one of the biggest revelations in my life. It helped me cross the trivial pressures and the confused state of mind of a teenager. The art was my saviour and put me on a course that was charted to some destined destination. When I was in Delhi for my schooling, I surely was the most recognizable, but for all the wrong reasons. I was called Madrasi and was treated like a guy from Africa because of my complexion. Well, this did build a lot of internal pressure and stress and by discovering the art of poetry, I saved myself from the violent arms of the disturbed mind. The writing did the trick and I soon found my way out. In the last 4 years of my schooling, the first 2 years were hell...after that it was a comeback of sorts - my knowledge of weilding the power of the pen than that of the sword, paved my way to some recognition and saw the same guys who took me down, see me in the eye and just wishing me well. That was my first ever victory...I knew it was just the beginning...

Writing was a very enjoyable experience at this stage because it was all about the discovery the art and it was a very innocent stage where even the silliest rhyme would sound like the chime of the bells. Without a proper guide or a person to keep pushing me to be good at it, I took it as a mission to do what was necessary. I would take up words as titles...just plain words...and write about them - for e.g. Books, Winter, Time, Music, Love etc. and endlessly tear down the drafts till they sounded right to enter my first ever collection of my poems. This wasn’t however very easy to do, as it involved a lot of patience, persistence and a lot of practice. But it finally paid off as it took at least the first 3 years to bring about 75 of my first poems into one solid collection.

This would go on to become the first of many ventures and thematic expeditions I had set upon. I had finally found my muse. The identity I had taken was what I called the DarkKnight which defined my struggle and the battle I waged to overcome my barriers and defy what was impossible with my only weapon of choice – and hence the reference of the Warrior Poet as a model of my existence and purpose and hence the deep and dark sides of the Knight in me who rose in the darkest of moments.

Please Note – the pseudonym might be a direct parallel to The Batman's tale of emergence but is not derivative of the name. It was just mere coincidence, like it was all meant to be, like it all fell in the right place.

More to come on Part II

Random Questions...

Some random questions to ponder over...

• Do we need to create robots when we are ourselves turning into one?
• When the wildlife is on the brink of extinction...have we gone into wiping out mankind?
• Why are the innocent targetted in the bomb blasts?
• Do we break traffic rules which are meant for our safety?
• Why are the front pages of the newspaper all about murders, rapes and extortions?
• How is India's 80% of the wealth with the top 20% of the population?
• Are we waging a war in the name of god?
• Is outsourcing like filtering the low end jobs to an intellectual country like India?
• Will Nano increase the existing traffic problems and create more parking issues?
• Will the worlds garbage be dumped in outer space?
• Will the Tiger don the museum for our next generation?
• Will we ever have a proactive Government in our lifetime?
• Are we losing our clothes in the name of fashion?
• Will humanity be wiped out with the emergence of Homosexuals?
• Will we ever land on the moon again?
• Will the villages ever get water and electricity throughout the day?
• Will the machines take over in the future?
• Will music ever be original?
• Is the west moving to the east and is the east moving to the west?
• Are men becoming women and women becoming men?
• Have we forgotten to write when we know only to type?
• Will the Board Exams still continue to build the pressure on young and innocent lives?
• Are cross cultural marriages diluting the root of our culture?
• Do we vouch for love or arranged marriage?
• Will corruption ever end?
• Is it all for the money?
• Why are kids being raped nowadays?
• When are we going to host the olympics?
• Will the Indian Hockey scene ever regain its lost glory?
• Will this planet explode with the growing population?
• Will we ever breathe oxygen?
• Will we boil or drown in the increasing phenomenon of Global Warming?
• Has the mistakes of our past determined our Karma?
• Will there be one religion or will there be none or many?
• Will there be peace or will there be war?
• Will the UN ever be more powerful?
• Will we be able to walk our streets without being able to worry?
• Will there be life after death?
• Will the aliens ever visit or invade the earth?
• How many of us stay with our parents?
• Will we be able to sleep in peace?
• Why do youngsters get heart attacks?
• Will there be a cure to AIDS?
• Will there be another Big Bang?

Thats as much randomness I can present at this moment...will be back with more next time...

Cheers

DarkKnight

Here I am...

Ladies and gentlemen...

It has been a while and I can easily say that this is the second comeback to blogging...the last time I ventured to blog...I was carried away and simply excited where I tread everywhere aimlessly and tried to cover every topic on this planet. It was then I realised...it wasnt about the topical importance...it was about meaning and purpose.

Lot of things have happenned, are happenning and will happen to me and all of us around. Its all about capturing those right and wrong moments. It is boring to read the daily chores because we have become so robotic that we want to break away from these shackles and move into the extraordinary. So here is my attempt to bring to you something ordinary with a little extra spice to it...just to make it readable.

I would certainly love to see some honest comments (for and against) which makes it a two-way highway instead of a journey on a one way ticket. Looking forward to some great blogging moments from here on...

Cheers

DarkKnight...