Happy New Year

As we walk towards dawn of a new year
Let us pledge that we shall Live life to the fullest
Without any fear.

As we step into 2009
Let us all hope for each other
A year that shall be
Prosperous, Happy and Fine.

Wishing everyone a very Happy and Prosperous 2009

Hatred O Hatred!

Hatred O Hatred!
Don't fade away.
I need you, to blow the dirty games
That our enemies play.

By OUR, i mean we Indians.

Friends, it is well known that hatred is a force to reckon with. We cannot ignore it. We have to be realistic. No longer can we preach that Love conquers everything. Hatred is an emotion that sometimes can motivate someone in such a way that all other emotions seem to be dwarfed by it.
Oh yes!! We need to channelise this feeling in proper directions, by proper means.

OUR ENEMIES that I have mentioned include anyone and everyone, who is contributing to the detriment of India, and Indians. Terrorists or Maoists. Babus or netas. Or even the commoner. Anyone who does it, is an enemy to India.

Coming back to channelising hatred correctly, what I mean is that we should not start adopting ruffian ways. But yes, we should put a price on our lives, on our smiles.
It is sheer non sense to advocate cultural, artistic or sporting relations with Pakistan, even in such times. The common Pakistani may not be behind Mumbai attacks, but sometimes distances are necessary. No love for them at this moment. Not at least in my heart.

And look at our netas. They could not get united before. But when public anger was ubiquitous, they cut across party lines, to 'condemn' that. This unanimity can be witnessed among them only when a bill is to be tabled in legislature that concerns increase in their emoluments.

There is a plethora of examples that can convey the meaning of italicized lines above. But I think these two are sufficient.

So, chalta hai attitude is gone. Fake smiles are gone.
This flame should be left burning.
Cutting across all the strata.

I am back :)

Resuming something after a hiatus can be tricky. Be it playing cricket, visiting the gym, going out driving, whatever. With one significant exception, that is meeting some one dear to you, a long break makes us rusty - at least it is the case with me. And blogging is no exception here.
This break was due to The Mains Exams. But it took me another one month to word my thoughts here. Don't know why, but didn't feel like doing so. But i am sure I shall catch up.
World has seen changes in these 3 months. Both good and Bad.
Shall write on those issues later - separately.
But I shall end this post, by paying my Homage to the victims of the ghastly attacks on India's financial capital. And tribute to all the heroes who fought valiantly during the crisis.
Good to see the Indians getting united.

The Power to say NO

Friday, 5 September, 2008. After submitting my forms for the mains, I had almost left the window when a fellow aspirant asked for my punching machine. I was more than happy to do him the favour. But then, another fellow, apparently his colleague asked for the same. Not from me, from Him. Okay. Chalta hai. Why should I frown upon that the first person did not bother to have a look at me, seeking my permissions, as a matter of ettiquettes. But then, a third person took the punch (Hope it is clear what I am referring to), did his job, and passed it to a gal, who won some gratitudes from 5-6 people. Now irritation caught me. It was my property, and I was waiting to get it back. And the moustached aspirant, who borrowed it from me, had gone, to submit his form. Within a matter of seconds, there was a crowd of "borrowers" around my punch. Last time I had been a witness to such a crowd was when I saw a wealthy devotee at Sri Hanuman Temple being surrounded by anxious "beggars" to get some prasad.

No, in no way am I comparing these aspirants (some of whom may eventually turn to be in the top level executive) to those "ever-anxious" beggars of the temple. And anyway, that wealthy devotee was receiving "blessings" from the mouths he was feeding.

Here, the best part of the scene came, when on seeking my device back, I heard , " Arey thehro bhaai!! hum pehle se 'line' mein hain." The shock came. The shock went. This was the limit.

I decided to take it back. And I did. Only to say a firm NO for any request thereafter. After all, I had a class in 15 minutes.

This may seem as an act of selfishness. But I used the power that I have acquired recently. The power to say NO. It's always good to say the word, when you don't feel like doing one a favour. And I have learnt that the sooner we say, the better it is. Not long ago, I was too worried about the sentiments of other person. I am not saying that Now I am Not. Oh yes, I am. And that's why, when don't feel like doing someone a favour, I simply say NO. It is better than saying a reluctant 'why not?' and then disapponting the person, for being unable to do it properly. So much (s)he expected of me. And I? A mortal commoner. Could not do such a simple task. And then goes the round of calls and mails seeking her/his apologies.

Coming back to the UPSC Bhawan episode, I came out and headed off for my class. As for those people whom I had opted not to 'help', whom I was no less than an 'axis of evil' at that time, they must have got something else to tie the copies of their certificates to their respective forms. And I made it to the class - in time. Just because I was able to say a firm NO.
:-)

[May be I require some lessons on humanity. But then, I am gradually becoming like others. :-)]

First hurdle cleared :-)

Congratulations! Your Roll Number : 012464 figures in the list of successful candidates

As I mentioned earlier, last year and a half has been taxing for me. I quit my job to pursue my childhood dream of being a civil servant.
And today, when I saw the words given here in red, all that agony, all that sweat appeared to be sweet.

Yes My friends, I have cleared the first hurdle.
And the mains exam for civil services start from October the 17th.

I shall be on cloud nine, if I do succeed in being an IAS officer.
But this result is very special to me. It has brought the grin back on my face. I feel relieved. And, we all know that confidence is a vehicle that runs on success.

I was not able to sleep properly for the past fifteen days or so. Was not able to concentrate on anything. But now, I can.

In this effort, my family has been a rock to me. Supporting me always. No prizes for guessing, I thank my parents and my brother.
My friends are no less, who are equally happy with this result as I am.
One called from Singapore, to share this moment.
One cheered for I, the wierdo on Gmail.
Then there is one who called me in spite of excruciating pain.
And how can I forget the one who called just aise hi from B'lore, but was at loss of words.
Thank you my friends, for being there.


Won't be able to write more.
I need this feeling to get settled in me.
Waise bhi, I have to spare some words for the real occasion, too :-)

The only thing that I have to bear in mind is, "Success is never a destination. It is, always, a milestone."

And ya, to improve upon myself, I would remember George Bernard Shaw, who said, "Satisfaction is Death."

Nothing like a Gold

Let me not write too much about our country's supreme inability to produce olympic medals, from about one and a quarter billion strong human resources.
Let me cherish the moment we have been waiting since ages. No my dear friends, it is not a dream.

ABHINAV BINDRA has done it. The glitter of the olympic gold is reflecting on Indian faces after a traumatising gap of 28 years. And the fact that it is the first ever individual gold for India at the mecca of world sports, speaks volumes for the efforts of the bespectacled shooter. What appeared amazing to me was the calm that Bindra showed, at the podium.

But was it not on the cards, after Rajyavardhan's silver at Athens? May be. They say that the shooting federation has put in efforts for its athletes. If that is the case, then other sporting bodies should get inspired.

The golden question being put today is, whether we can have more moments of success in these olympic games? Only time can tell.

Till then, let's hope for the best and enjoy the moment.

CHEERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back to my own ways

More than a month since I wrote last.
Have been through various phases in this period of little over 30 days.
Trip to Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar-Konark ---- awesome.

On the other hand, there were some other things, that are too personal to mention, took my smile away.
But thankfully, all the phases are over and I am back to my old insane ways. Shall tell you how, a little later. :-)

Wanted to write earlier, especially after my week long outing. But then, I am what I am.
First, the thought that snaps of the places i had been to, should grace the writing. Good thought. But you know what, I still haven't bought the data cable required to upload them in my PC.
Sometimes I feel like being a little more judicious in spending money. Three thousand for speakers are cool to me, but a few hundred for the data cable seem too much. Then I was not in a mood to write anything.

Okay, now a few words on my sanity. The continuous darkening of the clouds in the evening were indicative of a heavy downpour. And the child in me woke up after a long sleep.
I set off on my cycle. Water all over me, took the longest route in the last month or so.
Still Feeling great.

You know, they say that trivial things keep you happy. True. But a slightly different version goes for me. When I AM happy, i do such stupid things, (biking in 44 degrees), just to increase that degree of happiness, a little bit.

Now I no longer get angry on anything and everything. No longer do I feel like killing the person who jumps the traffic signal, when It is my turn to go. And no longer do I spend more time in introspection than any other thing.
I wanna keep this sense of joy for long. And shall do that, God Willing.