There are times when we tend to think about others, in pretty much the same way as we do. Thus, if i'm a hard-core critic, a friend of mine has to be a critic as well. My guess.
It takes some amount of effort to come out of this mindset. I'd, rather, not think like this. It's something not pleasant. Nor fancy enough.
I've begun to like broad-mindedness. It's nice to be so. We are able to understand our varying environment, much better this way. Than to conform ourselves to some non-rational ideas. This also helps us enjoy every moment. Imagine, if we, time and again, brood on something that is not to our liking, we miss out on the fun that other's are taking part in.
On the other hand, i guess, that this sort of brooding enhances in us clearing knots. Yes, but, i do mean, musing over it. All the time. At the same time, we ought to halt it, in definate terms.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
a new outlook; almost everytime
I've been visiting the Cantonment area since a long time. Bengalooru has a Cantonment area which spanned a large region. Amongst, everything else, i'm familiar with Richmond Road, M.G.Road and the surrounding places. It's not far from home. Moreover i've schooled at Richmond Road for many years, as well.
The entire cantonment has quite changed in the recent past. If i'm dropped at Richmond Road, i simply can't recognize a single building apart from my school. I've realised this. Everytime i visit that particular road, something or the other has changed.
Commercial Street, i assume, follows the same rule. A new showroom appears to have cropped from nowhere. An old one is replaced by a new outlet. It's absurd. Why do they keep changing? If yes, this frequently, why?
In my childhood, i presumed that Commercial Street was so long, that i can't window-shop the entire stretch. Now, i finish the whole process within an hour or so. The world tends to becoe smaller, indeed. I wonder, in astonishment, whether it is the same lane that i used to adore or not.
Bengalooru has varied a lot, in the last five years or so. Beyond my grasp.
I miss, those jazzy lights, that beckon you to a magic world on M.G.Road and Commercial Street. And the headlights which zoom by you, while waiting to cross the road. Those trailing yellow and red lights, that connect each other when captured on a photograph. The high, powerful street lights, shedding dim white light around. A multitude of people waiting for the traffic signal to turn red. Those perfect shades of red, amber and green, mounted on a pillar, guiding vehicles. Especially, after dark.
Splendid!
Photo courtsey: new.bbc.co.uk
The entire cantonment has quite changed in the recent past. If i'm dropped at Richmond Road, i simply can't recognize a single building apart from my school. I've realised this. Everytime i visit that particular road, something or the other has changed.
Commercial Street, i assume, follows the same rule. A new showroom appears to have cropped from nowhere. An old one is replaced by a new outlet. It's absurd. Why do they keep changing? If yes, this frequently, why?
In my childhood, i presumed that Commercial Street was so long, that i can't window-shop the entire stretch. Now, i finish the whole process within an hour or so. The world tends to becoe smaller, indeed. I wonder, in astonishment, whether it is the same lane that i used to adore or not.
Bengalooru has varied a lot, in the last five years or so. Beyond my grasp.
I miss, those jazzy lights, that beckon you to a magic world on M.G.Road and Commercial Street. And the headlights which zoom by you, while waiting to cross the road. Those trailing yellow and red lights, that connect each other when captured on a photograph. The high, powerful street lights, shedding dim white light around. A multitude of people waiting for the traffic signal to turn red. Those perfect shades of red, amber and green, mounted on a pillar, guiding vehicles. Especially, after dark.
Splendid!
Photo courtsey: new.bbc.co.uk
Thursday, January 24, 2008
taking advantage of
We come across people of various kinds. As time passes by, one tends to get acquainted with them, coming to terms as friends. I think, there are moments when one has to take advantage of the other. According to me, it strengthens the relationship. It is also natural for us to hesitate. As one wouldn't know anything about the response. Whether the other person minds it, or wishes that she/he could have made the move.
I've always thought that it is fine to take advantage of another person. In goodwill. Of course, it will be difficult to predict a response. If not, the mind is thrown into a quandary, and we tend to brood over it. There are times when people have done the same, with goodness. And i'm glad that the ice is broken.
At the same time, it's also okay to ask for help from somebody whom we scarcely know. Being reticent, it's not cheerful enough. Than to feel awkward about it for some time to follow, and to hear the other person say 'Oh! i could have helped you, if i had known about it!' There are times when we simply should be straight with our views or questions. It does help sort things out.
I've always thought that it is fine to take advantage of another person. In goodwill. Of course, it will be difficult to predict a response. If not, the mind is thrown into a quandary, and we tend to brood over it. There are times when people have done the same, with goodness. And i'm glad that the ice is broken.
At the same time, it's also okay to ask for help from somebody whom we scarcely know. Being reticent, it's not cheerful enough. Than to feel awkward about it for some time to follow, and to hear the other person say 'Oh! i could have helped you, if i had known about it!' There are times when we simply should be straight with our views or questions. It does help sort things out.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
again and again
There are some books that require more than one glance. I re-read them, quite a number of times. There's also the pleasure of savouring the contents, in case, it is written by one of my favourite authors.
I tend to read them again and again. When, i think, i need some change in my schedule(especially during test, exams). It's easier to read such stories, as you already know the plot. And you can halt, whenever you want. It provides relief to a tired mind.
I thought that this habit of mine was strange. Apparently, father also practices this. I've seen him reading Yashvant Chittal's Purushottama ample number of times. The same holds good with me with respect to A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, The Secret Garden, Robin Cook's Coma, Ruskin Bond...
I expressed my thoughts to a professor at my department. His take was that i could rather read fresh unread stories than read the same over and over again.
But, i'd rather prefer the satisfaction that i obtain on re-reading, during times of stress, than turning the pages of a new book.
I tend to read them again and again. When, i think, i need some change in my schedule(especially during test, exams). It's easier to read such stories, as you already know the plot. And you can halt, whenever you want. It provides relief to a tired mind.
I thought that this habit of mine was strange. Apparently, father also practices this. I've seen him reading Yashvant Chittal's Purushottama ample number of times. The same holds good with me with respect to A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, The Secret Garden, Robin Cook's Coma, Ruskin Bond...
I expressed my thoughts to a professor at my department. His take was that i could rather read fresh unread stories than read the same over and over again.
But, i'd rather prefer the satisfaction that i obtain on re-reading, during times of stress, than turning the pages of a new book.
Monday, January 21, 2008
constricted cognition
We give a name to everything and anything. I know, what i am to say might sound silly. Well, it did sound absurd to me. At the same time, it made me think.
A particular thing is associated with it's name. Absolute chaos reigns when the names are interchanged. One does not understand what the other is trying to say.
B blurts out the names of colours at any given point of time. In fact, she corrects us to the T. 'Red' to her is the bright shade of red. Orange is the colour of a delicious orange(the fruit). A slight variation in the shade, she immediately disagrees with us.
Kids are taught various things. My opinion that asking them to picture that object for that specific name restricts the mind of the child. The broad channels of different thoughts are narrowed to a single stream. Mind you, this is an everyday phenomenon. Thousands of such processes occur in the mind of the child.
All of us, thus, are allowed imagination, only within the confines of whatever we've learnt. In turn, learning is constricted to quite an extent.
To re-initiate those broad ways of cognition is time-consuming and a tedious process. But, it is hardly done.
What is your take?
A particular thing is associated with it's name. Absolute chaos reigns when the names are interchanged. One does not understand what the other is trying to say.
B blurts out the names of colours at any given point of time. In fact, she corrects us to the T. 'Red' to her is the bright shade of red. Orange is the colour of a delicious orange(the fruit). A slight variation in the shade, she immediately disagrees with us.
Kids are taught various things. My opinion that asking them to picture that object for that specific name restricts the mind of the child. The broad channels of different thoughts are narrowed to a single stream. Mind you, this is an everyday phenomenon. Thousands of such processes occur in the mind of the child.
All of us, thus, are allowed imagination, only within the confines of whatever we've learnt. In turn, learning is constricted to quite an extent.
To re-initiate those broad ways of cognition is time-consuming and a tedious process. But, it is hardly done.
What is your take?
Saturday, January 19, 2008
the climb
The climb was strenuous. She opted to halt, but her friends pushed her forward. Words of encouragement flooded her way. Did she feel glad!!
She questioned her friend, 'How further is it?', every ten minutes. She checked her phone a number of times. There was no signal at all. Of course, she thought. They were in the middle of the jungle. Thankfully, her bag had a bottle of water, and her friend had powdered glucose with him. If not for both, she would have dropped out. Moreover, somebody sang for the batch, made by six-seven heads. To lift their spirits up. To urge them so that they move ahead.
After having asked the question repeatedly, they reached the peak. 'Ah!' she celebrated. She instantly, called home. Screaming in to the phone, she voiced her jubilation. She was beaming with happiness. In fact, everybody was. Afterall, it was quite an achievement, 'wasn't it?' she thought aloud. All the goading and famish finally resulted in something very pleasant. She assembled everybody at one place. Wanting to capture the smiles on different faces, she clicked photographs.
There was a faint orange glow around the peak. Seen between strands of dry grass, the setting sun looked beautiful. A low hubble-bubble rang about the place. As per directions pointed out, a friend and she walked to a tap. A mountain rivulet was fashioned into a ever-flowing tap. Fresh, clear water was flowing from it. She splashed some onto her tired face. Refreshing, it was!
Perhaps, that is the magic of fresh water form the hills, she thought. She declined the snack that was offered to her. A bottle of juice was shared between a friend and her. A voice called out her name. The others' were preparing to climb down the hill. The sun had already set.
They had to pass a cliff. A path lay on the edge of cliff. She glanced down the cliff while on her way up. It was steep. On the way down everybody was ordered not to look down the valley. Tasking, it was. The climb up had made her tired. Scratching herself against brambles which blocked her way, she stepped down. The rest of the group also sported scratches. Each one, thus realised.
The crowd kept themselves company by chatting. She was requested not to talk loudly, in case some wild beast was roaming in the nearby forest. The requests turned into orders, when the latter were not found to be useful.
On reaching level ground, they group halted for some time. A song was sung for us, a popular beautiful track. She checked her watch, it showed seven. They resumed their trek. Her feet started killing her. A story was told in order to divert minds. The forest was pitch-dark. A slight sound, would startle anybody. People talked in whispers, not to arouse the forest. Pin-drop silence ruled the surroundings.
They reached the starting point at about nine. Somebody could be heard at a distance. Our friends had arrived ahead of us, to find the place empty. Where was our bus?! Phones were taken out of their hiding places. They walked about the clearing in order to find signal, in phones whose screens were lit up. Dratted! In vain.
As time passed, more faces could be seen as light was shone into the path. A few dropped down, a few sighed; suddenly a babble was heard in the otherwise quiet forest. It was fun. A crowd of youngsters, stranded in a pitch-dark forest in the middle of nowhere. A lime was peeled. Ten hands shot up. The lucky ones got a sliver each, while the unlucky ones grumbled.
Nobody knew where the bus was. A professor had gone to the nearest town to get them food, they were told. Headlights came their way. A shout of joy rang through the clearing. The bus finally turned up, assumed everybody. A jeep came by. The driver stopped. He was shocked to see quite a large bunch, there. He informed that the last bus had gone. They'd missed it, and that they'd to spend the rest of the night in the forest. After a few audible gasps, the situation was explained to that guy. The guy shrugged, and drone off. Into the bright darkness.
The watch clicked away. The same four-wheeler was noticed by them a couple of times. The excitement reached a low.
A dim hum was audible form the distance. A larger automobile was observed this time. A hurrah! went up. The bus finally could be discerned, with bright headlights. Climbing into the bus, she was given a plate of flavoured rice. Tired that she was, she shoved morsels of food into her hungry mouth. Deciding that she was too worn out to eat anything, she passed her plate to a friend.
As the bus snailed it's way through sharp bends and curves inbetween mountains, a strange feeling of gay, satisfaction filled her. Turning towards her neighbour, she found the latter smiling.
It was a memorable day. A memory for an entire lifetime. 'How wonderful!!' mused she. Despite all the odds that they encountered, the battered body, toes which were burning.... and everything else.
She questioned her friend, 'How further is it?', every ten minutes. She checked her phone a number of times. There was no signal at all. Of course, she thought. They were in the middle of the jungle. Thankfully, her bag had a bottle of water, and her friend had powdered glucose with him. If not for both, she would have dropped out. Moreover, somebody sang for the batch, made by six-seven heads. To lift their spirits up. To urge them so that they move ahead.
After having asked the question repeatedly, they reached the peak. 'Ah!' she celebrated. She instantly, called home. Screaming in to the phone, she voiced her jubilation. She was beaming with happiness. In fact, everybody was. Afterall, it was quite an achievement, 'wasn't it?' she thought aloud. All the goading and famish finally resulted in something very pleasant. She assembled everybody at one place. Wanting to capture the smiles on different faces, she clicked photographs.
There was a faint orange glow around the peak. Seen between strands of dry grass, the setting sun looked beautiful. A low hubble-bubble rang about the place. As per directions pointed out, a friend and she walked to a tap. A mountain rivulet was fashioned into a ever-flowing tap. Fresh, clear water was flowing from it. She splashed some onto her tired face. Refreshing, it was!
Perhaps, that is the magic of fresh water form the hills, she thought. She declined the snack that was offered to her. A bottle of juice was shared between a friend and her. A voice called out her name. The others' were preparing to climb down the hill. The sun had already set.
They had to pass a cliff. A path lay on the edge of cliff. She glanced down the cliff while on her way up. It was steep. On the way down everybody was ordered not to look down the valley. Tasking, it was. The climb up had made her tired. Scratching herself against brambles which blocked her way, she stepped down. The rest of the group also sported scratches. Each one, thus realised.
The crowd kept themselves company by chatting. She was requested not to talk loudly, in case some wild beast was roaming in the nearby forest. The requests turned into orders, when the latter were not found to be useful.
On reaching level ground, they group halted for some time. A song was sung for us, a popular beautiful track. She checked her watch, it showed seven. They resumed their trek. Her feet started killing her. A story was told in order to divert minds. The forest was pitch-dark. A slight sound, would startle anybody. People talked in whispers, not to arouse the forest. Pin-drop silence ruled the surroundings.
They reached the starting point at about nine. Somebody could be heard at a distance. Our friends had arrived ahead of us, to find the place empty. Where was our bus?! Phones were taken out of their hiding places. They walked about the clearing in order to find signal, in phones whose screens were lit up. Dratted! In vain.
As time passed, more faces could be seen as light was shone into the path. A few dropped down, a few sighed; suddenly a babble was heard in the otherwise quiet forest. It was fun. A crowd of youngsters, stranded in a pitch-dark forest in the middle of nowhere. A lime was peeled. Ten hands shot up. The lucky ones got a sliver each, while the unlucky ones grumbled.
Nobody knew where the bus was. A professor had gone to the nearest town to get them food, they were told. Headlights came their way. A shout of joy rang through the clearing. The bus finally turned up, assumed everybody. A jeep came by. The driver stopped. He was shocked to see quite a large bunch, there. He informed that the last bus had gone. They'd missed it, and that they'd to spend the rest of the night in the forest. After a few audible gasps, the situation was explained to that guy. The guy shrugged, and drone off. Into the bright darkness.
The watch clicked away. The same four-wheeler was noticed by them a couple of times. The excitement reached a low.
A dim hum was audible form the distance. A larger automobile was observed this time. A hurrah! went up. The bus finally could be discerned, with bright headlights. Climbing into the bus, she was given a plate of flavoured rice. Tired that she was, she shoved morsels of food into her hungry mouth. Deciding that she was too worn out to eat anything, she passed her plate to a friend.
As the bus snailed it's way through sharp bends and curves inbetween mountains, a strange feeling of gay, satisfaction filled her. Turning towards her neighbour, she found the latter smiling.
It was a memorable day. A memory for an entire lifetime. 'How wonderful!!' mused she. Despite all the odds that they encountered, the battered body, toes which were burning.... and everything else.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
me: an idiosyncratic
People at my department, looked at me in a strange way, during those initial days. I wondered why. I presumed this, even before i started attending classes. Mother too supported my thoughts. I shrugged such ideas. Why would anybody treat me in a different manner?
They would, because i'm from Bengalooru. I never thought that this particular noun had weight attached to it.
My classmates, hardly spoke to me, during those initial days. The reason, i assume, is that i would throw airs, you know, having studied at MCC, and being a Banglorean(for want of the revised term) and all that. So what?!
Do i sport a pair of fancy horns, because of these two factors. It makes one feel out-of-place.
This turned to be more evident as time passed. Whenever i hummed a kannada track, my classmates looked askance at me. The same thing happened when i started using kannada in my everyday speech. Like i've descended from some alien planet.
It's not pleasant, mind you. I've had people asking me weird questions when i went forward to help around in the department. It's very strange.
When fresh faces join in as juniors in the forthcoming academic year, i don't want the same treatment meted to them. It does make one feel queer. It, definately is not likeable.
They would, because i'm from Bengalooru. I never thought that this particular noun had weight attached to it.
My classmates, hardly spoke to me, during those initial days. The reason, i assume, is that i would throw airs, you know, having studied at MCC, and being a Banglorean(for want of the revised term) and all that. So what?!
Do i sport a pair of fancy horns, because of these two factors. It makes one feel out-of-place.
This turned to be more evident as time passed. Whenever i hummed a kannada track, my classmates looked askance at me. The same thing happened when i started using kannada in my everyday speech. Like i've descended from some alien planet.
It's not pleasant, mind you. I've had people asking me weird questions when i went forward to help around in the department. It's very strange.
When fresh faces join in as juniors in the forthcoming academic year, i don't want the same treatment meted to them. It does make one feel queer. It, definately is not likeable.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
illusive voids
This is the rule in life. Everybody, is invariably effected by this.
Something is always missing from our lives. Something that completes a circle; that which makes life a bed of roses, as per the adage.
I was wondering on the same thing. There is always a void that cannot be filled. This is my conclusion after my interaction with the small number of people that i come across. Though, some people seem gay all the time, there is hidden incompleteness within them(my opinion).
Perhaps, that makes us treasure those few gifts that are bestowed upon us by Providence. We try to seek happiness with whatever is given to us. We are supposed to think in that manner, in the least.
As for the those things that are always illusive. The more we think about it, the longer the list gets.
Happy Sankranti!!
Something is always missing from our lives. Something that completes a circle; that which makes life a bed of roses, as per the adage.
I was wondering on the same thing. There is always a void that cannot be filled. This is my conclusion after my interaction with the small number of people that i come across. Though, some people seem gay all the time, there is hidden incompleteness within them(my opinion).
Perhaps, that makes us treasure those few gifts that are bestowed upon us by Providence. We try to seek happiness with whatever is given to us. We are supposed to think in that manner, in the least.
As for the those things that are always illusive. The more we think about it, the longer the list gets.
Happy Sankranti!!
Monday, January 14, 2008
a bland TTF
I've been accused of not updating my blog everytime i'm home. I actually wonder, if people do glance through whatever i write(i think not). Considering that most of my time is spent in another city.
I'd been to the Travel and Tourism Fair(TTF) which was held at the Kanteerava Indoor Stadium. I was impressed when they gave a pack of cards along with each ticket. Each card had the photo of a tourist destination. It was really a good effort.
Karnataka playing host, the Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation had put up a pretty good stall. With pillars and short sculptures hewn out of granite, it looked ethnic.
Not many state tourism development boards had stalls of their own, and i was disappointed and annoyed at the same time. Except for Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Bihar, Sikkim, i didn't see any other states showcasing their land. Most of the players were private, you know. Hotels, resorts, travel agents, the business lot, promoting their goods.
incredibleindia.org also had a stall. They were better than the rest, i should say. The posters were colourful and bright. My room shall adorn atleast one of them.
It could have been organized in a better way. I would like to be informed more about a state and it's tourist attractions, than a particular hotel and it's tarrifs.
Bah! Bah!
I'd been to the Travel and Tourism Fair(TTF) which was held at the Kanteerava Indoor Stadium. I was impressed when they gave a pack of cards along with each ticket. Each card had the photo of a tourist destination. It was really a good effort.
Karnataka playing host, the Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation had put up a pretty good stall. With pillars and short sculptures hewn out of granite, it looked ethnic.
Not many state tourism development boards had stalls of their own, and i was disappointed and annoyed at the same time. Except for Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Bihar, Sikkim, i didn't see any other states showcasing their land. Most of the players were private, you know. Hotels, resorts, travel agents, the business lot, promoting their goods.
incredibleindia.org also had a stall. They were better than the rest, i should say. The posters were colourful and bright. My room shall adorn atleast one of them.
It could have been organized in a better way. I would like to be informed more about a state and it's tourist attractions, than a particular hotel and it's tarrifs.
Bah! Bah!
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