Time..

It is that time of the year (should i say that time of the month... or week..?!) when the travel bug bites me...

This friday me (well there are others too) and my fiesta are off to Neyveli and Pondicherry.. visiting my uncle in the nice cozy township of the lignite mines and catching some sea breeze across the mini state.

Well.. I shall update you on my return.. There are more trips in the offing ;-)
Take care.. Be good!

Bhaskar

KarNatka

What the hell is the problem with these guys.... some stupid rule enacted in 1994 or something.. and then, one idiot wants to close down thousands of schools in Bangalore because their medium of instruction is english.

And then they would go on hunger strike that kannadigas are not given the employment of choice in IT and other MNCs. (hungry? not them... its the MNCs and Corporates that should go hungry for talent)

I mean... do they actually think that they would encourage kannada culturalism and promote karnataka's heritage by making the students study in kannada? With the mannina-magas (sons of the soil) swallowing acres of government land... with kannada politicians supposedly taking 150cr in bribe from the bellary mine-owners... and all that... these idiots think we would be proud to be a kannadiga???

What kind of an example do these people set for the youngsters? Who are the role-models available for this generation?
--------------------------

It was so funny to see some muslim organizations take on violent protests to lodge their complaint against the Pope's remarks and supposedly calling Islam a pro-violence religion.

Who goes on Jehad.. or the holy war? whose teachings are those? Definitely not the Pope's. Atleast christianity doesnt openly declare such things!

Bhaskar

Dell Plant in Chennai!

With the growth prospects in India, Dell has its eyes set on the huge market here.. We are already the No.1 in the large corporates segment. Now, we shall be gunning for the other segments as well!!
http://in.rediff.com/money/2006/sep/14dell.htm
Need I say more?!

Bhaskar

Losing my Identity

From the time I switched to the Google blogger Beta (from the original blogger) I have having quite a few issues in posting my blogs as well as commenting on others..
I cannot login with my original blogger signin, and when i try to enter the google signin details it errors out even though it recognises my account.

But the biggest problem is.. one of losing my IDENTITY! I had created the personal details in my name and the blog details in my blog-pen-name Joey T. Now, the personal details reflect only Joey. Gosh! Can it be worse??
-------------------------------

I am having fun.. but it doesnt seem so significant any more.. Whats the big deal in having fun anyways?! may be its the mid-60 crisis ;)
-------------------------------

I know why I was not born as a prince in a royal family.. I would have been bored to death.. atleast for the last 28 years I have had something to strive for :P

Bhaskar

layla

Been out on a long drive over an extended weekend... was good!
----------------------------------------

"Nee paathuttu ponaalum
paaakkaama ponaalum
naa paathukittae dhaan iruppaen!"

just b'cos people like me give 'bhav' to some of the babes, they start eating more 'bhav'... no more free bhavs...!!
----------------------------------------

Are you in Bangalore? Do you get Bangalore Times.. the Times supplement?
Then, you would have definitely seen couple of ghosts...
These ghosts almost always appear on page 3 parties.... in two different pics..
Quite a pathetic sight they are... One of them has color color 'journo' bags around him... And the other with a silver goatee.. quite some grey hairs... (man, he is so old?? stay at home gran'pa!)

Can you guess these ghosts?

Bhaskar

FUofA

When it is about them, they take all the extremes.. anti-terror strikes, breach borders/LOCs, disregard cease-fires.... well, no secret.. I'm talking abt the 'U's of the world.. US/UK.. Irony - for the 'U's of the world, its always abt 'I'!!

And then, when it comes to POK terror camps, they just say 'Its between the two of you. We support world peace'. World peace..my ass.

-----------------------------------

All the hue and cry about pesticides in Colas... and then people drink by the gallon, one of the most polluted waters in the world.. Mahim Creek.. just bcos it tastes sweet!!!

Now that we touched the subject... how do pesticides get into colas? from the water they use.. how do pesticides enter the water? the pesticides used (over-used) by the farmers seep into the water table

do you think pesticides are found only in colas? it is there in your water... it is there in your MILK... yeah, afterall, the cows feed on the same grass / leaves and drink the same water, if not cola..


Bhaskar

Before Sunset.. Before Sunrise!

Two awesome movies... for the absolute romantics. I would say, one for the teen romantics and another for the frustrated adolescent romantics.

Once a romantic, always a romantic.. just that they get frustrated with the turn of events in their life sooner or later...

Well... I am probably in the second category and so I just loved the second part in the series! And I am going to start my review in the same order.. excuse me!

Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy.. I never knew that such wonderful actors existing before I set my eyes on the "Before Sunset". Especially Julie Delpy, such a wonderful actor.. I can still picturise the way she moves her lips while singing the "Waltz for a night". So lovely.. I'm smitten!!

BTW "Hum Tum" the hindi movie is kinda inspired by this one... among many other movies...

So, Jesse is a celebrated writer.. He has just penned a NYT Bestseller about a night he spent with Celine some 10 yrs back in Vienna (Thats the story of the first part, before sunrise).. And he is on a world tour promoting his book..

He is on the last leg of his tour in France, Paris and he gets to meet Celine again.. Thus he succeeds in tracing her. You know.. its 10 yrs since they met... Now she has a steady boyfriend and Jesse is married too and has a 4yr old son. Thats the backdrop of this part.. "before sunset". And they get to spend another hour or so again.. and they talk about their current lives and the time after their last meeting, the magical night in Vienna.

You know this movie was taken with the same lead characters exactly after 10 yrs in real life!

Wonderful dialogues...
"Well, at least now we don't have to pretend that each new sexual experience is like a life altering event"
"By now you would have stuck it in so many places that it's like about to fall off"!!!!

"Before Sunset" is the dawn of reality.

Now, going (back) to "Before Sunrise".. Celine is a french PYT on her way back to Paris.. Jesse is a confused American going to Vienna on way to board the flight back to US. Jesse is confused partly b'cos after a year of separation, he visits his girlfriend in europe, only to find out that his girlfriend is no longer his girlfriend.

And they meet in the train.

He convinces her to spend the rest of the night with him in Vienna and what a night it is!!

At the end of the time, they dont exchange their phone numbers or addresses 'cos they are afraid that they would end up like the love couples around them.. with love fizzling out... And they plan to meet exactly after 6 mths at the same place.. Vienna...

Absolutely *Must Watch*
Bhaskar

Swiss bits

Guess who my cousin met during her weekend swiss trip?

dont know? Surya and Jyothika.. Tamil movie actors and quite good at that!
They are shooting in Swiss for the movie 'Jillendru Oru Kadhal ...' [Also starring Bhoomika (who took the place of Asin who didnt want to be a second heroine in the movie) and Music by AR Rahman]

And the rumour is that Surya and Jyothika are a "real" couple.

so, she sent these photographs to us.
Surya
Jyothika

The pics caused quite a furore in my office. Work was suspended for some minutes amidst pandemonium and parliamentary(sic!) atmosphere. All the above information was unearthed and discussed in the ensuing minutes with people taking turns to see the pics. A couple of them even staged a walk-out saying "enga gounder jaadi payyan poyum poyum oru hindi kaara ponnoda suththaraana?" [in lighter vein - How can our guy go around with that North Indian girl?]

Thankfully my manager was not around (he's in the US now). But our director (from the US) was and he was giving suspicious looks!!

Bhaskar :)

I Love..

I am realizing and getting to appreciate the pleasures of conversing in my mother tongue, especially flirting with the opposite sex. In tamil, it is called 'kadalai podaradhu'!! (literally, roasting groundnuts :)

This post is dedicated to you, Ms. T!

Let me complete this with an Ode..

Misty, Misty sitting in Philly
declined to speak on Skype 'cos it would sound silly
Ya said 'Never known a flirt like you before'
Ah said "How'd you know 'cos I never flirted more!"

;-)

Bhaskar

Trying to Upload Video...

Oh ho.. I need external hosting for Videos here.

Anyways, here it is
http://www.zippyvideos.com/1397510055665326/clip8/

This is a video I shot on my mobile at Shivanasamudram Falls last saturday.. Awesome place.. Checkout!

Bhaskar

Swell!

I thought it would be bad. But it wasnt half as much...
------------------------------------

I've been seeing more movies lately.. Just finished watching 'The World's Fastest Indian' *ing Anthony Hopkins as Burt Munrou - a kiwi whose dream is to set land speed record in the US.

The story is about how Bert has been working all his life and improvising his 1920 bike, initially designed to touch 50mph, to go a just li'l faster. And then, when he realizes that he doesnt have much of his life left after an heart attack, in the 1960s, he sets for the US of A to be the Fastest Indian. Without much money on himself, he barely manages to reach the Bonneville Salt Flats only to know that he had to register a month earlier to compete then. Watch the movie to see how he actually goes beyond all the odds. It seems his 1967 record for under 1000cc bike still stays!

Quite a performance, Anthony. Its a 1996 movie. Rent and watch.
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Seems like Anthony Hopkins week... Saw him on "Bad Company" with Chris Rock as Michael Turner. This one is about the two of them on a CIA mission to get a nuclear device from falling in the hands of terrorists. They are in negotiation with a former KGB general and the terrorists are behind them to halt the deal. Michael Turner get killed in the process.

Enter Michael's twin brother, Jake Hayes. Anthony has to train this guy to fill Michael Turner's place and complete the negotiation. Quite funny, watchable (if shown on Star Movies)
--------------------------------------

And then I saw "Office Space" *ing Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston. She is lovely. Its a 1999 movie, it seems - no wonder she looks so young!

Peter works for Initech, a software company and his life is so damn boring as one can expect a software engineer's life to be ;) And he finds that every day at work is worse than all previous days.. so, in fact, every day in office is his worst day ever!!

And then he gets into a trance. And starts living the life of his dreams.. doing nothing.. yeh, just doing nothing.

Must steal and watch!
Milton's "Excuse me? Excuse me, senor?" is so funny!
--------------------------------

My weekends are going to be booked... planning some trips!

chalte..chalte

Hi, My name is Sheila. This is my story. The story of my turmoil and irony.

Long back, I was born in a small village in Andhra. My parents did not have a child for long and so, when I was born, I was God's gift to their years of prayers. Unlike other people in my village of that time, it didnt matter to them that the child was a girl. And I think it is more to do with their nature than the fact that I was born after the extended wait.

My parents were quite well-educated for their times. I am sure they must have been a lovely couple. But I do not have any live memory of my father. I lost him when I was only 5 years young. His picture still stands majestically in my living room. Him in his police uniform. yes, he was a sub-inspector of police. He was an upright man. And he was murdered for his uprightness.

It was his 4th transfer in his early career. Just 2 days back, we had moved into the place.. a town in Andhra again. It seems he went on a raid on bootleggers. He went on a tip-off and didnt have the time to wait for the reinforcements. He went ahead and he did not return. After three days, his body was found in a well.. with a huge stone tied to his legs. It was a nightmare for my mum. Though I dont remember a wee bit, I can tell.

On hindsight we think somebody within the police department was involved too. They covered up the entire case as one of a suicide. We did not get any compensation or grievance redressal. And my mum or my uncles/relatives could not do much about it. First of all, they must have been too shocked to do anything. And then, those days there was no much forums to protest or voice one's grievance.

I grew up with my uncles. One of my uncles paid for our food and the other uncle paid for my studies.

[to be continued..]

what time is it?

oh yeah... its time to go crazy. Guess life has set into too much of a routine. I need to a break. Break from what? Break into what? Break out of where? Break when? Break who? Break how? ... ah! too many questions.. just gimme a break!
========================

Rahul Mahajan..
when asked why he thinks Shweta Singh is the one..
said..
"well, for one, she is bold and beautiful.
And then she has been with me during the adversities...."

poor girl... But she is asking for it.
=========================

Did you know..
A girl's footwear talks a lot about the kind of person she is!

Man...is a meaning-making machine!!
We will come up with another shastra.. jootha-shastra!! May be its there already...

Bhaskar

Just in case..

Just in case you had not noticed...

I have updated the *perfect* story(ies) post below :)

PS: This *New* tag.. does anybody know when that actually updates for a new post??
I mean.. I myself post once in a blue moon and then, it is bloddy frustrating when the blogrolling or whatever just doesnt recognise that i had posted.

see, what i mean?

Bhaskar

Perfect Weapon vs Perfect Love

I was armed. The other guy was not, but then that was hardly any consolation or room for any sympathy.

I have experienced love, but never experienced anything like this before..
-----------------------

It was not easy at all. For one, he was like Carlos, the Jackal - invisible for most of the time and he could scurry to any corner of the world. For another, folklore had it that he was equipped to survive even nuclear explosions.

It was just me and her and nothing in between.
-----------------------

To face somebody like him, I had to hide myself and shadow the guy. And I had to possess the perfect weapon.

To enhance the pleasure, I had carefully selected the venue..the time..the specifics. But then, I realized that it would hardly have mattered. One look at her and those eyes filled with desire and every concern went out of the window.
------------------------

Tonight is the night of the rendezvous. I knew he would have company. And the slightest hint would get them all alert. So, I had to settle on a harmless-looking spray. No..Not the pepper spray..but a poison spray, the kind that could disarm somebody in seconds and would kill in minute.

Tonight, under the starry moon-lit sky, underneath the small shed, we met. We just stood there for sometime. Then, I slowly moved closer and ran my hands along her body..the curves..
------------------------
continued..
************************

Cold. I could see him and his fellas in the hazy night a li'l far away.

Delirium. Skin on skin and she reacted like an electric current passed through her.
------------------------

One look and whatever traces of doubt I had, just vanished. It was just a matter of seconds now. I had my finger on the switch. *Click*. They were dazed by the sudden light. And I jumped into the air brandishing my weapon. They twitched in reflex, but it was a bit too late.

Pulse racing, I held her tight. I could feel the throbbing. And her heart beating wild. Well.. it could as well have been mine since I had lost the sense of myself and dissolved in the union.
------------------------

It was perfect indeed. The poison swung into action immediately. And they were on the ground, their legs up in the air. The cockroaches looking at the heaven, but losing themselves into hell!

Just perfect.. I went ahead and started massaging her. The Dupont Teflon Car Wax made her metallic body even more captivating!!

@2006 Copyrighted.
Bhaskar ;)

Soccoro

That Argentina should not have lost their goalee and that they should have got a penalty kick... that I can digest

That Rooney and the other guy must have converted the superb pass.. that Christina Ronaldo got lucky... that also I can digest

But...
that Brazil displayed no passion in their game with France.. that is hard to digest

--------------------------------

I would say that England vs Portugal was the best match so far in the World Cup 2006. Absolutely pulsating!!

Bhaskar

Puzzle time!

Use somebody, everybody, nobody, anybody, body and gym-body in a single sentence. (Apart from this one!)

The New Beginning

Just a few hours ago, I realized that today is the 19th of June.. Its the day of a new beginning!
--------------------------

For one, I am in the second phase of my blogging life cycle.. Hope it is a li'l better than the first ;)
----------------------------

I was updating my computer with some device drivers.. cos my mouse was being a jumping jack... jumping all over the screen for no rhyme or reason..
And then I had to create a system restore point..

Guess I dont need explain what that is.. if you can read this, you shall be knowing some bit about computers and the hardware... Anyways, it a way to make an iventory of everything (important device specifications/settings/registry/keys) as is, before you undertake to modify some of them. And then, if things dont work and you want to restore to the old ways, you can.

How nice would it be if one do the same with our brain?!? Create brain restore points before we embark on a relationship.. and if that relationship does not work, one can just go back to the brain state as before.

Thats kinda the idea behind "The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". Amazing movie.. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in a totally different light.. serious and thought-provoking in a way that you would not realize the change! **MUST WATCH**
----------------------------

Tere dil mein meri saanson ko panah mil jaaye,
Tere ishq mein meri jaan fanaa ho jaaye

yeah.. I saw 'Fanaa'. First half was good, second half barely watchable..
But then, any day, one can watch it for Aamir and Kajol..
----------------------------

Love is grossly over-rated
But then, I am madly in love
...I am madly in love
with the process of falling in love!!

(wah wah! wah wah!!) ;)
Bhaskar

Live from Chennai..

Hey there!

This is Joey Tribbiani reporting from Chennai. The weather is hot man. (And you know there are only 2 of them here.. hot and hotter [I need to get that off my head first fast, ok now I am off it :) ] And some of the babes.. hotter!

The place looks the same (vs. 3 yrs ago) just that it looks much more crowded.. lots and lots of apartments.. roads are congested as usual.. I wouldnt get a chance to check the beach-sides as I am here for just a day and that too to attend a schoolmate's wedding.

The people dont seem to have changed much either.. may be just a bit more techno-savvy and some a bit more greenback-savvy. Yeh, there seem to be some more influx of northies and westerns, but da people.. da conservative tam-brams.. just the same :)

Anyways its nice to be back here..

so long!
Joey

Kya Life Hai..

Anna Nicole Smith: 'Yes, I Am Pregnant'
Jun 1, 11:13 AM EST

The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Anna Nicole Smith has confirmed that she's pregnant, in a video clip posted on her Web site.

"Let me stop all the rumors. Yes, I am pregnant. I'm happy, I'm very very happy about it. Everything's goin' really, really good and I'll be checking in and out periodically on the Web and I'll let you see me as I'm growing," the 38-year-old former reality TV star and Playboy playmate says.

Smith, who is floating on an inflatable raft in a swimming pool as a small white dog barks in the background, did not provide any details.

Her lawyer and spokesman, Howard K. Stern, could not be reached by The Associated Press on Thursday for comment.

Early last month, there were reports that Smith was expecting a baby. Stern issued a written statement saying, "If Anna Nicole is pregnant, she obviously doesn't want anybody to know yet.

"If she's not pregnant, she's not denying the rumor because she thinks it's funny how much of a stir it's causing. She'll leave it up to you to guess which one it is."

Smith has a 20-year-old son, Daniel, from her first marriage.

She married Texas oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall II in 1994, when she was 26 and he was 89. He died the following year. Since then, she has feuded with Marshall's son, Pierce Marshall, over her entitlement to the tycoon's estate.

Smith won a judgment from the Supreme Court last month that allows her to continue to seek part of Marshall's fortune.

A Senile Joker Called Arjun Singh...

Karan Thapar: Hello and welcome to the Devil's Advocate. As the debate over the reservations for the OBCs divides the country, we ask - What are the government's real intentions? That is the critical questions that I shall put today in an exclusive interview to the Minister for Human Resource Development Arjun Singh.

Most of the people would accept that steps are necessary to help the OBCs gain greater access to higher education. The real question is - Why do you believe that reservations is the best way of doing this?

Arjun Singh: I wouldn't like to say much more on this because these are decisions that are taken not by individuals alone. And in this case, the entire Parliament of this country - almost with rare anonymity - has decided to take this decision.

Karan Thapar: Except that Parliament is not infallible. In the Emergency, when it amended the Constitution, it was clearly wrong, it had to reverse its own amendments. So, the question arises - Why does Parliament believe that the reservation is the right way of helping the OBCs?

Arjun Singh: Nobody is infallible. But Parliament is Supreme and atleast I, as a Member of Parliament, cannot but accept the supremacy of Parliament.

Karan Thapar: No doubt Parliament is supreme, but the constitutional amendment that gives you your authorities actually unenabling amendment, it is not a compulsory requirement.
Secondly, the language of the amendment does not talk about reservations, the
language talks about any provision by law for advancement of socially and
educationally backward classes. So, you could have chosen anything other than reservations, why reservations?

Arjun Singh: Because as I said, that was the 'will and desire of the Parliament'.

Karan Thapar: Do you personally also, as Minister of Human Resource Development , believe that reservations is the right and proper way to help the OBCs?

Arjun Singh: Certainly, that is one of the most important ways to do it.

Karan Thapar: The right way?

Arjun Singh: Also the right way.

Karan Thapar: In which case, lets ask a few basic questions; we are talking about the reservations for the OBCs in particular. Do you know what percentage of the Indian population is OBC?
Mandal puts it at 52 per cent, the National Sample Survey Organisation at 32 per cent, the National Family and Health Survey at 29.8 per cent, which is the
correct figure?

Arjun Singh: I think that should be decided by people who are more knowledgeable. But the point is that the OBCs form a fairly sizeable percentage of our population.

Karan Thapar: No doubt, but the reason why it is important to know 'what percentage' they form is that if you are going to have reservations for them, then you must know what percentage of the population they are, otherwise you don't know whether
they are already adequately catered in higher educational institutions or not.

Arjun Singh: That is obvious - they are not.

Karan Thapar: Why is it obvious?

Arjun Singh: Obvious because it is something which we all see.

Karan Thapar: Except for the fact that the NSSO, which is a government appointed body, has actually in its research in 1999 - which is the most latest research shown - that 23.5 per cent of all university seats are already with the OBCs. And that is just 8.5 per cent less than what the NSSO believes is the OBC share of the
population. So, for a difference of 8 per cent, would reservations be the right way of making up the difference?

Arjun Singh: I wouldn't like to go behind all this because, as I said, Parliament has taken a view and it has taken a decision, I am a servant of Parliament and I will only implement.

Karan Thapar: Absolutely, Parliament has taken a view, I grant it. But what people question is the simple fact - Is there a need for reservations? If you don't know what percentage of the country is OBC, and if furthermore, the NSSO is correct in pointing out that already 23.5 per cent of the college seats are with the OBC,
then you don't have a case in terms of need.

Arjun Singh: College seats, I don't know.

Karan Thapar: According to the NSSO - which is a government appointed body - 23.5 per cent of the college seats are already with the OBCs.

Arjun Singh: What do you mean by college seats?

Karan Thapar: University seats, seats of higher education.

Arjun Singh: Well, I don't know I have not come across that far.

Karan Thapar: So, when critics say to you that you don't have a case for reservation in terms of need, what do you say to them?

Arjun Singh: I have said what I had to say and the point is that that is not an issue for us to now debate.

Karan Thapar: You mean the chapter is now closed?

Arjun Singh: The decision has been taken.

Karan Thapar: Regardless of whether there is a need or not, the decision is taken and it is a closed chapter.

Arjun Singh: So far as I can see, it is a closed chapter and that is why I have to implement what all Parliament has said.

Karan Thapar: Minister, it is not just in terms of 'need' that your critics question the decision to have reservation for OBCs in higher education. More importantly, they question whether reservations themselves are efficacious and can work.

For example, a study done by the IITs themselves shows that 50 per cent of the IIT seats for the SCs and STs remain vacant and for the remaining 50 per cent, 25 per cent are the candidates, who even after six years fail to get their degrees. So, clearly, in their case, reservations are not working.

Arjun Singh: I would only say that on this issue, it would not be correct to go by all these figures that have been paraded.

Karan Thapar: You mean the IIT figures themselves could be dubious?

Arjun Singh: Not dubious, but I think that is not the last word.

Karan Thapar: All right, maybe the IIT may not be the last word, let me then quote to you the report of the Parliamentary Committee on the welfare for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes - that is a Parliamentary body.

It says that looking at the Delhi University, between 1995 and 2000, just half the seats for under-graduates at the Scheduled Castes level and just one-third of the seats for under-graduates at the Scheduled Tribes level were filled. All the others went empty, unfilled. So, again, even in Delhi University, reservations are not
working.

Arjun Singh: If they are not working, it does not mean that for that reason we don't need them. There must be some other reason why they are not working and that can be certainly probed and examined. But to say that for this reason, 'no reservations need to be done' is not correct.

Karan Thapar: Fifty years after the reservations were made, statistics show, according to The Hindustan Times, that overall in India, only 16 per cent of the places in higher education are occupied by SCs and STs. The quota is 22.5 per cent, which means that only two-thirds of the quota is occupied. One third is going waste, it is being denied to other people.

Arjun Singh: As I said, the kind of figures that have been brought out, in my perception, do not reflect the realities. Realities are something much more and of course, there is an element of prejudice also.

Karan Thapar: But these are figures that come from a Parliamentary Committee. It can't be prejudiced; they are your own colleagues.

Arjun Singh: Parliamentary Committee has given the figures, but as to why this has not happened, that is a different matter.

Karan Thapar: I put it to you that you don't have a case for reservations in terms of need, you don't have a case for reservations in terms of their efficacy, why then, are you insisting on extending them to the OBCs?

Arjun Singh: I don't want to use that word, but I think that your argument is basically fallicious.

Karan Thapar: But it is based on all the facts available in the public domain.

Arjun Singh: Those are facts that need to be gone into with more care. What lies behind those facts, why this has not happened, that is also a fact.

Karan Thapar: Let's approach the issue of reservations differently in that case. Reservations mean that a lesser-qualified candidate gets preference over a more qualified candidate, solely because in this case, he or she happens to be an OBC. In other words, the upper castes are being penalised for being upper caste.

Arjun Singh: Nobody is being penalised and that is a factor that we are trying to address. I think that the prime Minister will be talking to all the political parties and will be putting forward a formula, which will see that nobody is being penalised.

Karan Thapar: I want very much to talk about that formula, but before we come to talk about how you are going to address concerns, let me point one other corollary - Reservations also gives preference and favour to caste over merit. Is that acceptable in a modern society?

Arjun Singh: I don't think the perceptions of modern society fit India entirely.

Karan Thapar: You mean India is not a modern society and therefore can't claim to be treated as one?

Arjun Singh: It is emerging as a modern society, but the parameters of a modern society do not apply to large sections of the people in this country.

Karan Thapar: Let me quote to you Jawaharlal Nehru, a man whom you personally admire enormously. On the 27th of June 1961 wrote to the Chief Ministers of the day as follows: I dislike any kind of reservations. If we go in for any kind of reservations
on communal and caste basis, we will swamp the bright and able people and remain
second rate or third rate. The moment we encourage the second rate, we are lost. And then he adds pointedly: This way lies not only folly, but also disaster. What do you say to Jawaharlal Nehru today?

Arjun Singh: Jawaharlal Nehru was a great man in his own right and not only me, but everyone in India accept his view.

Karan Thapar: But you are just about to ignore his advice.

Arjun Singh: No. Are you aware that it was Jawaharlal Nehru who introduced the first ammendment regarding OBCs?

Karan Thapar: Yes, and I am talking about Jawaharlal Nehru in 1961, when clearly he had changed his position, he said - I dislike any kind of reservations.

Arjun Singh: I don't think one could take Panditji's position at any point of time and then overlook what he had himself initiated.

Karan Thapar: Am I then to understand that regardless of the case that is made against reservations in terms of need, regardless of the case that has been made against reservations in terms of efficacy, regardless of the case that has been made against reservations in terms of Jawaharlal Nehru, you remain committed to extending
reservations to the OBCs.

Arjun Singh: I said because that is the will of Parliament. And I think that common decisions that are taken by Parliament have to be honoured.

Karan Thapar: Let me ask you a few basic questions - If reservations are going to happen for the OBCs in higher education, what percentage of reservations are we talking about?

Arjun Singh: No, that I can't say because that has yet to be decided.

Karan Thapar: Could it be less than 27 per cent?

Arjun Singh: I can't say anything on that, I have told you in the very beginning that at this point of time it is not possible for me to.

Karan Thapar: Quite right. If you can't say, then that also means that the figure has not been decided.

Arjun Singh: The figure will be decided, it has not been decided yet.

Karan Thapar: The figure has not been decided. So, therefore the figure could be 27, but it could be less than 27 too?

Arjun Singh: I don't want to speculate on that because as I said, that is decision, which will be taken by Parliament.

Karan Thapar: Whatever the figure, one thing is certain that when the reservations for OBCs happen, the total quantum of reservations will go up in percentage terms. Will you compensate by increasing the total number of seats in colleges, universities, IITs and IIMs, so that the other students don't feel deprived.

Arjun Singh: That is one of the suggestions that has been made and is being seriously considered.

Karan Thapar: Does it find favour with you as a Minister for Human Resource Development?

Arjun Singh: Whatever suggestion comes, we are committed to examine it.

Karan Thapar: You may be committed to examine it, but do you as minister believe that that is the right way forward?

Arjun Singh: That could be one of the ways, but not the only way.

Karan Thapar: What are the other ways?

Arjun Singh: I don't know. That is for the Prime Minister and the other ministers to decide.

Karan Thapar: One way forward would be to increase the total number of seats.

Arjun Singh: Yes, definitely.

Karan Thapar: But the problem is that as the Times of India points out, we are talking of an increase of perhaps as much as 53 per cent. Given the constraints you have in terms of faculty and infrastructure, won't that order of increase dilute the quality of education?

Arjun Singh: I would only make one humble request, don't go by The Times of India and The Hindustan Times about faculty and infrastructure, because they are trying to focus on an argument which they have made.

Karan Thapar: All right, I will not go by The Times of India, let me instead go by Sukhdev Thorat, the Chairman of the UGC. He points out that today, at higher education levels - that is all universities, IITs and IIMs - there is already a 1.2 lakh vacancy number. 40 per cent of these are in teaching staff, which the IIT
faculty themselves point out that they have shortages of up to 30 per cent. Given those two constraint, can you increase the number of seats?

Arjun Singh: That can be addressed and that shortage can be taken care of.

Karan Thapar: But it can't be taken care of in one swoop, it will take several years to do it.

Arjun Singh: I don't know whether it can be taken care of straightway or in stages, that is a subject to be decided.

Karan Thapar: Let me ask you bluntly, if you were to agree to compensate for reservations for OBCs by increasing the number of seats, would that increase happen at one go, or would it be staggered over a period of two-three or four year old process.

Arjun Singh: As I told you, it is an issue that I cannot comment upon at this moment because that is under examination.

Karan Thapar: So, it may happen in one go and it may happen in a series of several years.

Arjun Singh: I can't speculate on that because that is not something on which I am free to speak on today.

Karan Thapar: Will the reservation for OBCs, whatever figure your Committee decides on, will it happen in one go, or will it slowly be introduced in stages?

Arjun Singh: That also I cannot say because as I told you, all these issues are under consideration.

Karan Thapar: Which means that everything that is of germane interest to the people concerned is at the moment 'under consideration' and the government is not able to give any satisfaction to the students who are deeply concerned.

Arjun Singh: That is not the point. The government knows what to do and it will do what is needed.

Karan Thapar: But if the government knows what to do, why won't you tell me what the government wants to do?

Arjun Singh: Because unless the decision is taken, I cannot tell you.

Karan Thapar: But you can share with me as the Minister what you are thinking.

Arjun Singh: No.

Karan Thapar: So, in other words, we are manitaining a veil of secrecy and the very people who are concerned...

Arjun Singh: I am not maintaining a veil of secrecy. I am only telling you what propriety allows me to tell you.

Karan Thapar: Propriety does not allow you to share with the people who are protesting on the streets what you are thinking?

Arjun Singh: I don't think that that can happen all the time.

Karan Thapar: But there are people who feel that their lives and their futures are at stake and they are undertaking fasts until death.

Arjun Singh: It is being hyped up, I don't want to go into that.

Karan Thapar: Do you have no sympathy for them?

Arjun Singh: I have every sympathy.

Karan Thapar: But you say it is being hyped up.

Arjun Singh: Yes, it is hyped up.

Karan Thapar: So, then, what sympathy are you showing?

Arjun Singh: I am showing sympathy to them and not to those who are hyping it up.

Karan Thapar: The CPM says that if the reservations for the OBCs are to happen, then what is called the creamy layer should be excluded. How do you react to that?

Arjun Singh: The creamy layer issue has already been taken care of by the Supreme Court.

Karan Thapar: That was vis -a-vis jobs in employment, what about at the university level, should they be excluded there as well because you are suggesting that the answer is yes?

Arjun Singh: That could be possible.

Karan Thapar: It could be possible that the creamy layer is excluded from reservations for OBCs in higher education?

Arjun Singh: It could be, but I don't know whether it would happen actually.

Karan Thapar: Many people say that if reservations for OBCs in higher education happen, then the children of beneficiaries should not be entitled to claim the same benefit.

Arjun Singh: Why?

Karan Thapar: So that there is always a shrinking base and the rate doesn't proliferate.

Arjun Singh: I don't think that that is a very logical way of looking at it.

Karan Thapar: Is that not acceptable to you?

Arjun Singh: No, it is not the logical way of looking at it.

Karan Thapar: So, with the possible exception of the creamy layer exclusion, reservation for OBCs in higher education will be almost identical to the existing reservations for SC/STs?

Arjun Singh: Except for the percentage.

Karan Thapar: Except for the percentage.

Arjun Singh: Yes.

Karan Thapar: So, in every other way, they will be
identical.

Arjun Singh: Yes, in every other way.

Karan Thapar: Mr Arjun Singh, on the 5th of April when you first indicated that the Government was considering reservation for OBCs in higher education, was the Prime Minister in agreement that this was the right thing to do?

Arjun Singh: I think, there is a very motivated propaganda is on this issue. Providing reservation to OBCs was in the public domain right from December 2005, when Parliament passed the enabling resolution.

Karan Thapar: Quite true. But had the Prime Minister specifically agreed on or before 5th of April to the idea?

Arjun Singh: Well, I am telling you it was already there. A whole Act was made, the Constitution was amended and the Prime Minister was fully aware of what this is going to mean. Actually, he had a meeting in which OBC leaders were called to convince them that this would give them the desired advantage. And they should,
therefore, support this resolution. And at that meeting, he himself talked to them. Now, how do you say that he was unaware?

Karan Thapar: But were you at all aware that the Prime Minister might be in agreement with what was about to happen but might not wish it disclosed publicly at that point of time? Were you aware of that?

Arjun Singh: It was already there in public domain, that's what I am trying to tell you.

Karan Thapar: Then answer this to me. Why are members of the PMO telling journalists that Prime Minister was not consulted and that you jumped the gun?

Arjun Singh: Well, I don't know which member of the PMO you are talking about unless you name him.

Karan Thapar: Is there a conspiracy to make you the fall guy?

Arjun Singh: Well, I don't know whether there is one or there is not. But fall guys are not made in this way. And I am only doing what was manifestly clear to every one, was cleared by the party and the Prime Minister. There is no question of any personal agenda.

Karan Thapar: They say that, in fact, you brought up this issue to embarrass the Prime Minister.

Arjun Singh: Why should I embarrass the Prime Minister? I am with him. I am part of his team.

Karan Thapar: They say that you have a lingering, forgive the word, jealousy because Sonia Gandhi chose Manmohan Singh and not you as Prime Minister.

Arjun Singh: Well, that is canard which is below contempt. Only that person can say this who doesn't know what kind of respect and regard I hold for Sonia Gandhi. She is the leader. Whatever she decides is acceptable to me.

Karan Thapar: They also say that you brought this issue up because you felt that the Prime Minister had been eating into your portfolio. Part of it had gone to Renuka Chaudhury and, in fact, your new deputy minister Purandar Sridevi had taken over certain parts. This was your way of getting back.

Arjun Singh: No one was taking over any part. This is a decision which the Prime Minister makes as to who has to have what portfolio. And he asked Mrs Renuka Devi to take it and he cleared it with me first.

Karan Thapar: So there is no animus on your part?

Arjun Singh: Absolutely not.

Karan Thapar: They say that you did this because you resented the Prime Minister's popular image in the country, that this was your way of embroiling him in a dispute that will make him look not like a modern reformer but like an old-fashioned, family-hold politician instead.

Arjun Singh: Well, the Tammany Hall political stage is over> He is our Prime Minister and every decision he has taken is in the full consent with his Cabinet and I don't think there can be any blame on him.

Karan Thapar: One, then, last quick question. Do you think this is an issue, which is a sensitive issue, where everyone knew there would have been passions and emotions that would have aroused has been handled as effectively as it should have been?

Arjun Singh: Well, I have not done anything on it. I have not sort of what you call jumped the gun. If this is an issue, which is sensitive, everyone has to treat it that way.

Karan Thapar: But your conscience as HRD Minister is clear?

Arjun Singh: Absolutely clear.

Karan Thapar: There is nothing that you could have done to make it easier for the young students?

Arjun Singh: Well, I am prepared to do anything that can be done. And it is being attempted.

Karan Thapar: For seven weeks, they have been protesting in the hot sun. No minister has gone there to appease them, to alley their concerns, to express sympathy for them. Have politicians let the young people of India down?

Arjun Singh: Well, I myself called them. They all came in this very room.

Karan Thapar: But you are the only one.

Arjun Singh: You are accusing me only. No one else is being accused.

Karan Thapar: What about the Government of India? Has the Government of India failed to respond adequately?

Arjun Singh: From the Government of India also, the Defence Minister met them.

Karan Thapar: Only recently.

Arjun Singh: That is something because everyone was busy with the elections.

Karan Thapar: For seven weeks no one met them.

Arjun Singh: No, but we are very concerned. Certainly, all of us resent the kind of force that was used. I condemned it the very first day it happened.

Karan Thapar: All right, Mr Arjun Singh. We have reached the end of this interview. Thank you very much for speaking on the subject.

------

If I had been Karan, I would have given Arjun a couple of left jabs and right upper-cuts. Budda Saala....

what would you have done?

Reserving...

Agreed... This issue of reservations is quite emotional to everyone. And when emotions are at play it is difficult to think rationally. But then, this nonsense has been going on far too long....

Doctors seem to be in the forefront of the agitation... why?

Every year, we the tax payers spend thousands of crores to get these people (doctors and engineers alike) the top class education. And all they give in return is this? staying away from hospitals and emergency medical facilities (leave alone the non-critical functions.. is there one? what is non-critical in medicine? a leg injury?let him suffer? ) in the name of strike and fight for meritocracy?

Is this the only way to fight for justice? these educated medicos?? are they so hopeless in the system that they need to resort to such measure?




That said... I am not pro reservations in the current form.

Ok. you free a man who had been chained for years. You cannot leave him at the start line and expect him to race equally with the others. (somebody said this.. I forget the American) So, how much head-start would be sufficient for him and for how many races?

Have time-bound reservations.

Are you going to give this special head-start to everybody who claims to have been chained? How many of the SCs/STs/OBCs are actually deserving a reservation?

It is a know fact that the 'creamy' layer gets to enjoy most of these benefits, if not all. Weed out this 'creamy' layer. Decide a cut-off income group for each region/state. Anybody having family (parental) income of above 4lacs per annum will not be eligible for these reservations.

"Have time-bound reservations and weed out the creamy layer from these reservations"





And yes.. provide seats to deserving students from the general category whose family income is less than 3lacs per annum.





I quote a dear friend of mine... "The only effective way to reach any solution.. the only way much of human civilizations reached a solution to conflicts is by 'negotiating'"


Bhaskar

Things

Yet another time when ...............

When I got the car, i didnt have much practise driving one. Though I had got the license (not to kill!) way back in 1999, I would have hardly driven some 20kms since. So I had asked my cousin to accompany me and take delivery of the car. But he had some work and needed to be back at his office for an hour. So, after taking the car, we went to his office. While he was at work, i was driving the car around in the vicinity. Being a relatively less-crowded locality, I could get comfortable enough that I drove the car back home. Its like that.. I have been gaining confidence, experience, had my first scratch, first bump from the humps, first autorickshaw-induced shave... still, alive and kicking!

And now some snapshots from the story of my friend...
She was relocating to Malaysia. She had lots of things to handle including her car, a Honda City that she had taken on office lease. Excellent car, just that the terms were quite harsh (on the pocket) if somebody had to foreclose the lease. After trying for quite a bit, she settled to sell it off to a second-hand car dealer at a considerable loss. When I heard that, I told her that I will take the car. That was the time when I was having issues with the Ford making me wait forever. And since it was a great car and I knew that I was willing to pay more than the dealer any day, I told her the same. Then, we found that there was another colleague of ours who was also interested in the car. Finally, that person took one drive on the car and immediately took it (on company lease himself).

so, to complete the blanks yet another time when life does seem to always work out in the end. The going may be tough, would seem that things are difficult and may not work out. But in the end, all's well that ends well. (though I am not sure how much you can feel what I am feeling of the whole stuff... its quite complex. life is!)

Meet My Wife!

Here she is! Aint she gorgeous??!!

Bhaskar

Save Brand India

I dont endorse these views of Venkat & Subodh entirely.. yes, I have changed my views. I say "once we build our credibility, lets start negotiating with the OBCs and dalits and everyone concerned"

Bhaskar

-------------------

Hi Friends,

We are a group of people concerned about the current proposal of the
Government of India to increase reservations to about 50% at IIT/IIM,
NLSU, AIIMS , other central universities and also to introduce
reservations in Private Sector. We belong to varied backgrounds that
include alumni of IIT/IIM, Central Universities, IT professionals and
others but have come together to oppose the current reservation
proposal of the government. Through this mail I would like to
communicate to NLSU students the broad objectives of our group and seek
your support.

Though there have been so many voices against reservation, there is
absolutely NO organized forum to express it and make an impact. Only
recently there have been a few organizations formed– "United Students"
and "Youth for Equality" in Delhi which comprise mainly of the students
in Delhi. They are mobilizing the students and have already organized
about 5 protest marches in Delhi. They are also trying to meet the
President and HRD minister to express their protest. The other is
formed under the banner "Savebrandindia" (website
www.savebrandindia.org ) in Bangalore and I am writing this mail as a
member of this group. This group has so far organized two meetings- one
in Delhi and the other in Bangalore. We are also trying to get in
touch with "United Students" and"Youth for Equality" .

In the short term, we want to prevent the reservation in the Private
Sector, IIT/IIM, NLSU, AIIMS and other central universities. We are
trying to accomplish it by following ways

o Bring about a decent mobilization of people who are opposing
the reservation. We have started an e-group to bring the sympathizers
under one umbrella.

o Once we build a quorum, we want to take up several activities
in the next few weeks. These activities include organizing regular
meetings, panel discussions and organizing peaceful protest marches.
The next few weeks are very important because the current assembly
election is going to end by May 2 nd week and the reservation issue is
going to crop up immediately after that. So we need to be prepared for
that.

o Explore the possibility of going to courts. We are already
onto this and would file a PIL in the supreme court if the reservation
is introduced.

In the long term :

We should realize that reservation problem cannot be solved in a
few weeks. Opposing reservation is considered to be politically
suicidal by all the political parties. We are aware that we are
questioning the unquestionable idea of the day. Hence we want to make
this as a permanent organization, irrespective of whether the current
reservation proposal get implemented or not.
A few things we have realized are:
Many are not aware fully about reservations
Since they are not aware they do not realize how serious the
problem is
Few people who are aware do not know how to go about it.

We want this forum can become an umbrella organization to build
awareness on reservations.

We want to expand this in different cities and create a critical
mass against reservation policy
We should also seriously consider how we can bring pressure
politically. Thought there are several ideas floating around, we have
to give shape to that.


We need all of you to join us and help us to build this organization.
Firstly, I request you to join our yahoo-group,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/save_brand_india/ to facilitate
communication and exchange of information

Through this communication, we solicit your wholehearted support.We
would appreciate any kind of help that you can offer us. We request
you to help us in taking this organization forward.

You contact me, Venkat (9845957881, venkatr74@gmail.com ) or Subodh
(9342104597, subodh.kgp@gmail.com). Subodh is an alumnus of
IIT-Karaghpur and I am alumnus of IIM-Calcutta.

Looking forward to hear from you.

Regards

Venkat

Ado..

Was my cousin's wedding over the weekend. It was great! Cousins' weddings are always so.. but this, more so :) ..like the first of my-gang-of-cousins to get married. Life is gonna be that much more different now.

-------------------------------------------

Was my first visit to the 'Metro'. IT does look like one of the US shopping malls.. Target/Walmart !! you have some minor formalities like you need to be a merchant/have a VAT a/c or something to get an entry card. But then, thats ok. Two of my people have that card made without actually being one ;)

And any day ( literally, I need to take a day off to check out all they have to offer), the products here are just what you would find all around you, and just a bit more economical.

Now, when are the Walmarts coming??

-------------------------------------------


Vandalism/Crumbling Infra/Bangaloreons vs Non-Bangaloreons
These seems to be the hot topics on Blog Bang. But one point stands out.. "It seems like everyone is just waiting to extract more money out of you... be it the autowala/house owner/..."

--------------------------------------------

Dear Ford India,

Thank you for your offer and the product, Ford Fiesta. But, you don’t seem to know much about customer service.

For one, don’t deal with us customers as if we can never be contented and that our wants can never be satisfied. (though it may be quite true, we want everything available for the best price). Have some empathy for us. Listen to us and then you will know what we really want.

And for another, just deliver my car!!!!!!!
regards,
Bhaskar

--------------------------------------------

Its turning to be a weekend affair.. this post thing. Let me break it by not posting next weekend ;)

Nonchalance and Agony :(

The Times of India (bangi ed.) says 'City Bounces Back'.
I say.. it is plain apathy & nonchalance!

Nobody (except the opposition political parties - only in their own interest - playing the blame game).. just nobody seemed to have staged any sort of protest against the mindless and utterly condemnable violence and arson in the name of mourning for Dr. Rajkumar. Instead, the paper carries justifications and reasons from psychologists about 'why mourners take to violence'.

What has Bangalore come to??? I am ashamed of being a Bangalorean.

---------------------------

My lappie crashed taking with it all my data/reports/work/mails/documents :(
looks like a hard disk failure.. GOSH!! :( !! :( !!
*SOS*

Bhaskar

Confusions!

Life mae... tere life mae confusion ka kuch kami hain kya? (Is there a dearth of confusions in your life?!)

Here... take this easy one...

Which Car to buy????
Chevy Aveo 1.4 or Ford Fiesta 1.4

Some pointers..

Aveo looks rock... Fiesta is not bad either.
Aveo suspension is great.. Fiesta is just ok.
Aveo has less legroom.. Fiesta is so very comfortable.
Aveo has lesser bootspace than Fiesta.. doubt if two medium suitcases would fit easily on the floor.
Aveo (181cms) has better ground clearance than Fiesta (168cms)
Aveo seems to have greater powerloss with full AC while changing gears than Fiesta (this could be a hindrance in overtaking on highways, wouldnt it?)
Aveo again seems to have a li'l less fuel efficiency than the other..
And I cant really decide on the accessories and spare parts...

Your analysis would be very helpful if it reaches me in the next 24 hrs!

Thanks,
Bhaskar

SOP

At a time of life when people just start living their SOP or Statement of Purpose (Its usually the admission process into an US univ that triggers our common Indian's search into thyself... the essence of his life), I have already achieved my purpose in life!!

yes... I have finished watching F.R.I.E.N.D.S. !!!!

Its been an hour since I finished watching the grand finale... Haaaaaah! Words fail me, guys.... :D


So, here...

To The Best Days of our Lives


So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job's a joke, you're broke, your lovelife's D.O.A.
It's like you're always stuck in second gear
When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year

But I'll be there for you (when the rain starts to pour)
I'll be there for you (like I've been there before)


Cheers!!
(Hear it is The Rembrandts)



BTW, Thanks to Matter Mahadevan..

ha haa haaa!!!! Here is to the best blonde joke of the millenium!!

http://bardsbabe.blogspot.com/2006/01/it-was-only-matter-of-time.html

Ensoi!
Bhaskar

Duh!

Been a long time.. and then I caught up with quite a few of my friends today. In the middle of all the frenzy, taking some time out and getting in touch feels good! And the best part is.. with these people, it never feels like we were out of touch.. we get back right on from the place we left!

... that includes some fellow bloggers too.. met Sujatha, Surjo & Varun at Barista. Great chatting you guys.

On the same note, I am looking forward to meeting quite a few guys that I graduated with. One of them is in India now on vacation..

Bhaskar

Assortie No. 2

I saw Pride and Prejudice..

who hasnt ?

What do you mean?

Ha! It is so common a virtue these days..!!

Virtue?!?!

----------------------------------------

Keira is fabulous.. And PnP is a classic!! ....Well taken.

I guess that was the first novel I read.. Got it as a prize in my 2nd standard.. the abridged version though :)

----------------------------------------

What could be comparable to the following...

A sweet-tooth locked up in a bengali sweets shop..
A car enthusiast gifted a Rolls Royce convertible...
A beach lover left rollickin' on the sands of Andamans..
A woman given a 1 million franc gift voucher on the Champs Elysee..

me on house arrest with Friends season 8, 9 & 10.....jsut out of the world!!!! (Thanks Jam :)
----------------------------------------

Watching Fardeen Khan perform at the Femina Miss India 2006 contest on Sony TV now...

My guess is its gonna be another Neha this time!! Lets see...

Assortment No. 1

Did you watch today's (sunday's) Aus vs SA cricket match?? Just AWESOME!!!!! Alas, I could catch only a few glimpses of it... Have you recorded or TiVo'd it?

------------------------------------------

Watched a Tamil comedy drama by Y G Mahendran at a Malleswaram Hall.. It was quite a laugh riot.. Had good fun!

Also got to see some of the Tam community (read young ladies ;) living in blore.. In fact, one of them was recently crowned Ms. Chennai it seems. As luck would have it, I saw her just a couple of hours earlier at 18th cross Cafe Coffee Day. Is the universe sending me (and her) some message ?!?! :P ;)

------------------------------------------

Hmm... it seems to be that time of the year when almost everybody of my generation in my family is going out of the country!!

Just a month back, my sister went to NJ, USA on work and a cousin sister went to Hamburg, Germany. My cousin joined her hubby there after about 2 - 3 months wait. Yesterday, another cousin's hubby left for the US and that cousin is leaving for Germany next week. Today, yet another cousin's hubby left for Belgium!!

Well.. I started it all with my trip to the US last year :)

------------------------------------------

What are your thoughts about speed dating? Did anybody check it in bangalore? There was one scheduled about a month back... just about the time one of my cousins was getting married in chennai and I had made my plans for that already. Otherwise, I probably would have checked that out.

After that, there has been no news on it.. even the website seems to be off now!

No Sex Tonight?

Awesome!! got this joke via email from Vivek Neb.

-------------------------------------------------------
One evening last week, my wife and I were getting into bed. Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says "I don't feel like it, I just want you to hold me."

I said "WHAT????!!! What was that?!" So she says the words that every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear..."You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man."

She responded to my puzzled look by saying, "Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?"

Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep.

The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big, big unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits.

She couldn't decide which one to take so I told her we'll just buy them all.

She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said lets get a pair for each outfit. We went onto the jewellery department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings.

Let me tell you...she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck. I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn't even know how to play tennis.

I think I threw her for a loop when I said, "That's fine, honey."

She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement.

Smiling with excited anticipation she finally said, "I think this is all dear, let's go to the cashier." I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No honey, I don't feel like it."

Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled,

"WHAT???!!!" I then said, "Really honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You're just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman." And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, "Why can't you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?"

Apparently I'm not having sex tonight either.

Good news.. Great news!!

If good news are to be shared.. Great news ought to be!

First, both the guys from I got the Striker @ Dell award. yeah, my senior from '02 batch is also here and he shared the podium with me :) Of the other guys who were coveted, one is from A, another from B and the rest 3 are non-IIM grads.. two lawyers/associates, another in admin capacity. 2 on 4 and among the pool of IIM MBAs here... Way to go, I!!


Now, coming to the scintillating piece...

8 International Placements
4 additional international postings
Macquarie Bank, OLAM International Ltd., Astro Malaysia, and Irevna

Vital Stats

Rs. 8.5 lakhs average salary
Rs. 32 lakhs highest salary
295 offers to 113 students ie. 2.6 offers per person


That is I's placement record this year!!!!!



I ROCKS yet again!!!!!!

read the link for the full report.


Seems we have already moved into the big league.. no more the comfort of being underdogs.

Wherever we go, whatever level we reach, whatever level the others reach - guess we will still stand tall. And 'we' shall cherish 'I' !!!

Bhaskar

Striker @

Monday we had our all-hands at Le Meredien.. it is a li'l more than a year since our Analytics group started. It was the time for another quarterly review of our performance as a group and also to clarify and focus our energies in the coming quarters. (We live by quarters, you see :)

Its been a wonderful journey.. Growing from a team of 5 people to 65... from one business domain to 5-6 business domains... from 3 cubicles to almost one-fourth of the floor... But what had not changed (till now... should i touch wood?!) is the excellent leadership and the sheer high expectations they have on us.

As I had said earlier, the omnipresent energy and enthusiasm of our worldwide VP... just amazing!!

Anyways... at the end of it, was the time to recognize people for their performance last quarter. And lo! I got this Striker @ Dell award for my 'outstanding functional excellence'!!



And today, the 7th, I complete one year of post-MBA work-ex! It definitely feels nice....

Bhaskar

Yada Yada Yudharmasya..

Have been one crazily hectic week at work, what with my colleague on a long vacation, one US counterpart on a short vacation and another ready to go on her maternity leave! Cutting down on all my food and stretch breaks and yet staying up until 5am on all the days and back at work by 2pm. On top of that, some people think that managers/MBAs dont do any work... And my manager says 'Ha! Good stuff man.. you are finally doing some work ?!' @%#$%#$^&*!!!

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Its party time.. I have another set of mock-interviews lined up at CF tomorrow!!

Ha Ha! I can never get enough of them..!! [grinding the palms..] [Obelix on hearing that a Roman battalion is camping nearby!!!]

Bhaskar !

AshAbhi or AbhiAsh?

Here is my 2 cents on this current hot topic...

Whatever said and done (by any swami) ... whatever matched and done (horoscopes)..

whatever arranged and done (by the parents).. whatever L'affaired and done...

I think these two wouldnt last long as a couple.

Bhaskar

Why I dont celebrate V Day?

a. What is that?
b. Oh, is it today?
c. I am busy..
d. I am at work..
e. I dont have a girlfriend/boyfriend
f. I dont have a girlfriend/boyfriend - I am married!!
g. I cant do justice to all my girlfriends/boyfriends.. :P
h. I am a true blood Indian and V Day is not. :D
i. I dont wait till V Day to celebrate true love!!!
j. My girlfriend/boyfriend is busy..
k. My girlfriend/boyfriend doesnt believe in these stuff...
l. My girlfriend/boyfriend has other plans.. (?!)
m. Others _______________________(pls specify!!)

Long Time...

" Hey! Dude.. (Was)Sup??! "
I watched Friends Season 6 again. Especially the one in which Joey tries to act like a 19 yr old... Man.... Joey rocks!! Have reaffirmed my faith in F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and looking forward to Mandar and my college junior, Jam to be here next month with their CD collections. tell you... I am going to be damn tied up March April guys...

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Had a great time last weekend.. Taking interviews is fun and that too CAT mock interviews...baat hi kuch aur hai!!

My friend at Career Forum had invited me over. They had lined up some dozen interviews for the day. Apart from myself, there was one IIMB guy and another B FPM guy on the panel. and the whole setup was being video-taped.

And guess who was the first guy to arrive.. somebody from my previous organization, Philips Software (Medical Systems).. bechara.. he bluffed about his work and got badly bruised... ;)

Thats how it went... was a laugh riot with most of them.. goofups/tight-cornering..
But then, I know... just about 3 years back, I was on the other side of the table. In fact, this FPM guy was one of the guys who interviewed me then!!

Time flies... past... fast...!!!
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Saw the movie "fun with dick and jane" today. Jim Carrey is good. Though we are quite used to his antics now, still it is fun and a decent watch.
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How good can a 'Tea' get?

Visit Infinitea on Cunningham road and you would know!!

I have never been too fond of iced tea. But a hot cuppa chai... thats amazing... you should definitely try 'Masala T' with Cinnamon flavor. And then, it would definitely help to have good company... shared joy multiplies!!
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Sizzlers at 20 ft high on Church street... Thats great too... try that..
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I have been getting numerous requests from my fans the worldover.. to change my page design... ;)

Love you!!
Bhaskar

Roo Baa Rooo!!

Aamir Khan & his friends die for the cause!! Thats the sane end to the sane movie 'Rang De Basanti'. Sorry guys if I had unceremoniously broken the climax. But then, that was intentional ;)

I say, it is another classy movie, a *must-watch*. And I love AR Rahman!!

What ails India today? For one, this movie doesnt promote any fake heroisms. For another, it does stimulate one's thought process, mildly yet enduring.

Aamir & his band of friends are the beer-guzzling moto-racing fighter-plane-chasing 'bindaas' pseudo-heros, who refuse to graduate out of college. Though Aamir is idolized within the campus, he has no rosy notions about what awaits him/them in the corporate world. A chance encounter with a documentary director (phoren maal) takes them back in time, to the Indian Freedom Movement. In fact, they are re-enacting the roles of Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, ... for the documentary.

But the death of one of their friends, a dear pilot in the Indian Air Force, shifts their focus onto the MIGs that have been turning into death machines. They intend to fight against the MIGs and the corruption that sustains them, but with no success. Their fight turns into a rebellion a'la Bhagat Singh and they kill the defence minister. They also stake responsibility for the killing and in the process, churning the thoughts/emotions across the country.

What ails India today? the lack of super heros / role models? But then, let's face it... you cannot give up on your life just because there isn't any call-to-arm, can you?

Bhaskar

Doosra!

Its gonna be another 'chill maadi' weekend. With my sis & BIL coming over, we (me n cousins) are going to let loose the party (and the purse strings) :)

Tomorrow night would be dedicated to 'Rang de Basanti'. Though I have heard quite good reviews from the folks that have watched the movie, I am keeping my expectations low after watching Mangal Pandey. I will post mine later..

Talking of movies, I watched 'Green Mile' and 'There's something about Mary' the last 2 night-outs, both for the second time, in between my waiting for results and trial and error method of addressing some issues at work. Excellent movies to soothe the side-effects of sleep-deprivation. I also watched 'The Sound of Music' - a classic - beautiful movie. It is a musical - has songs in-between like our very own hindi movies. Though I am not too fond of musicals, the songs here are very nice, smooth and gelling perfectly with the story. A *must watch* for the feel-gooders. ( I am sure this has been copied in Hindi, but I dont know its name.)

I also am supposed to be meeting a couple of my friends who are supposed to be here for the weekend from Chennai. But then, they are lazy-bums-chums and I dont expect to hear anything from them, not even a purr, when they are here with their loved ones. Though they would be very prompt in sending a 'sorry' note as soon as they are back in chennai!!

Bhaskar

The Sound of Music

The hills are alive with the sound of music
With songs they have sung for a thousand years
The hills fill my heart with the sound of music
My heart wants to sing every song it hears

My heart wants to beat like the wings of the birds
that rise from the lake to the trees
My heart wants to sigh like a chime that flies
from a church on a breeze
To laugh like a brook when it trips and falls over
stones on its way
To sing through the night like a lark who is learning to pray

I go to the hills when my heart is lonely
I know I will hear what I've heard before
My heart will be blessed with the sound of music
And I'll sing once more
....




Climb ev'ry mountain
Ford ev'ry stream
Follow ev'ry rainbow
'Till you find your dream

A dream that will need
All the love you can give
Everyday of your life
For as long as you live...



Courtesy: lyricsondemand.com

Bangalore Bloggers & Akshara!!

It was great fun meeting you guys saturday evening at Barista!

But, here, plz let me talk about Akshara specifically.

Akshara, after the successful implementation of their pilot project "Accelerated Learning Program" for primary school kids in 2 blocks of bangalore, has now taken up implementing the project throughout Bangalore (on war footing!)

Plz Check http://blogpourri.blogspot.com/2005/12/akshara-first-steps-in-read-bangalore.html for more details.

For the new-comers, Varun has also posted an excellent introduction to Akshara on his blog. http://vasingh.blogspot.com/2006/01/bangalore-bloggers-meet-akshara.html



If your question is:
How can I support Akshara in this endeavour?
or
If you had volunteered your time for Akshara,

"Now Is That Time".

Simple.. just tell me the exact dates when you can support Akshara (for a minimum of 2 hours).

Leave your Name, Email & the Dates in the next one month.

And I would mail you back the details in the next couple of days.

Regards,
Bhaskar

Map the World!

create your own visited country map

where is Jamnagar?

Just heard the news that one of my friends is getting married... On Mar 20th at Jam Nagar. Now where in the heaven is that? (marriages are made in heaven, you see...)

He is quite a cool and funny guy. I got to know him during our 4 years at a godforsaken jail.. ! The first year was the best. It was quite an experience together... eating 'rubber' parathas... running on the connector away from the warden and the senior inmates after giving gaalis to them from the roof top on a moonless night... bunking marchpast practices... watching any and every movie shown at the audi... yearning for the one or two birds around...

We met again at Hyderabad, about 5 years back, when I was there for a day.. courtesy Microsoft... And then he went to the US. It seems he met the girl of his dreams there at Goldman Sachs. And he stayed.

We met again when I took a stopover in New York. And he was going strong with the girl-O-H-D. I havent seen her yet but it seems they make a cute pair. She is a gujju and hence, Jam nagar....

Now I need to find out the Jam and if there is an airport and a flight to that place... Do you have any ideas?

Bhaskar

Jamboree

It was funnny... to see the Media crying!

It seems they werent let anywhere close to the venues of Aamir - Kiran marriage & receptions (Panchgani/Bangalore). Especially after the Panchgani episode.. they were crying that they couldn't even get a closer look at the entrance to the place. All they wanted was to take a look at the venue, it seems. Absolutely ridiculous..

And then, they went about claiming that the events were 'shrouded in mystery'.. Do they know some such thing as privacy? let alone respect for privacy..

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How to lose a loyal customer..

I have a Standard Chartered Credit Card that I had been using for the past 5 years. was pretty happy with the card and the service.. and have spent atleast 4 - 5 lacs through the card.. i remember having gotten more than 4000 reward points (you get 1 reward point for the qualifying 100 bucks of spend with this card)

Last year.. they said that I need to pay just 500 bucks and I would get the cards (had some add-on cards too) free for my lifetime. But, when I saw the statement some couple of months back, I found that they had again charged me the annual fees (1500 overall).

When I called them up, they said that they can't give to me for free.. But if I pay another 500 bucks per card I will definitely get it lifetime free, this time. I said NO and asked them to cancel the cards.

During the verification call (before cancellation), they offered to reverse all my fees and charges.. for just 250 bucks (overall). I waited till the next statement.. and lo! I found 250 bucks plus the late fees (900 bucks) on the non-existant annual fees.

I blasted them and they promised that they will send me a clean statement if I could just retain my cards.

And today, I see a statement for 75 bucks....!!

What do you think?

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Calling all tamil enthusiasts....

what do you mean by "yaer yeduththu paartha dhilla" ??!

Bhaskar

Snapshots.. Kumaara Parvatha

Here are the peaks enticing and enthralling you!


The Sign board near the entrance of the hills in Kukke Subramanya.


Starting the climb through the forest..


And continuing through the grasses (bordering the forest)..


A Forest Watch Tower! ;)


To the Pit Stop (Bhattre's place)


The next morning from Giri Gadde


To breakfast at the Mantapam (you see that?)


see that now?!


and the trail beyond..?


On the penultimate peak.. Kshesh Giri


The trail covered so far..


And the other side at Kshesh..


The (hidden) trail to Pushpa Giri through the forest


...And the waterfall face


The Cliffhanger pose :P


Pushpa Giri conquered!



top shot!!


back at Giri Gadde saying bye (and thanks) to Mahalingeshwara Bhatta ( you may also need his mobile number: 9448647947)

Happy New Year!

Wishing you a Great Grand Gamboling New Year 2006.

Bhaskar

pretty much...

this is pretty much my last post of the year... pretty much the last moor... the last sigh....
-----------------------------

We did have an awesome trek. 5000 ft of wild(ly) imposing raw terrain. (Wow!! That is just the phrase!) For the whole of the 10km trek (one way), there would been hardly a flat stretch of 300m-400m. And much of it was an inclination of 45 degrees or more which ensured that climbing down was as tough as the onward journey.

After a full 32 hours, my thighs and calf muscles are still aching for the grind! ;)

There were quite a few technicalities/fundaas involved. For example, people sometimes mistake the Kshesh Giri as the final accessible point and return. But there is a way through the forest and a dry waterfall (if it is not dry, you gotta take another circuitous route round the rocks) to take you to Pushpa Giri, the highest point of Kumara Parvatha, the second highest peak in Karnataka ?)

And another, the forest officials had banned trekking beyond the checkpost due to one researcher/scientist getting lost (and found after a week or so) during the August rains and the subsequent negative publicity. We were the first guys to get the permission after the ban, thanks to our efforts and my cousin's friend whose mother is with the Wildlife Dept, Aranya Bhavan. (After us, some 4 groups sneaked on to the top!)

If not for Mr. Bhattre at Giri Gadde, providing food and shelter midway, I think it would been impossible a trek to the top.

BTW, that dry waterfall wall fulfilled my dreams of rock climbing! :)

I would post the pics, Bhattre's phone number and some more sometime next year. For now, I gotta get ready for my HYD-CNAI flight..
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I saw her.. in the (very same exact) white embroidered baba (or bebe or babe or beba brand) salwar. And my mind skipped a beat.. heart beat a retreat..
-----------------------------


as another year draws to a close..
my dreams are yet unfulfilled..
are they turning sour?
or is it just my wants.. ?

Bhaskar
(May the Force and the Peace be with you in the New Year!)

Surreal World

Received by email from my cousin here.. Kalps, (Honeywell) Bangalore

--------------------------

Toys, in their different forms of engineering, colors and designs are the source of my interest of late!

From hot wheels to squeaky dolls, from game boys to Barbie girls, from flying UFOs to the down-to-earth spinning tops, the mechanisms and their creativity do not cease to amaze me.

So, this time when I had been to visit my cousin who had come from Australia, I was all geared up to relate to her little girl. A cute little one, who talks only in English, yet can understand every word of my Tamil.

She was not that interested in talking to me this time as she had another little girl for company. And there was something else too, with which she was very busy with. From time to time, she checked on a little dial that was tied along a colorful wire. I was getting curious as to what it could be and mentally guessed that it could be a small video game.

But when the other girl was checking on it too, my curiosity started eating me up. What could be on the dial that the girls checked often, without spending more than a minute every time they visited that contraption that lay placidly on the hall sofa? Logic started reasoning with my guess, that if it were a video game, then the kids would be holding it in their palms and not part away from it, till the time they win or lose the game. So what could it be?!

"What is that?” popped out my question to the little girls. “TamaGotchi" was something they seem to convey to me. It sounded Greek and Latin to me and I started wondering if Australia was moving towards their native language just like the numerous Indian city names are being renamed in their native tongues.

"It’s a virtual pet" answered my cousin's husband to my confused and querying brows.
"What’s that!!!" repeated a shocked me. "A virutal pet? How could it be?”
The kid answered to that now, "She is sleeping" and showed me the "she", who was a little "zzz" in the middle of oval shaped dial.

What is sleeping and where? asked me, who could not fathom where the kid is pointing to. Mustn’t the pet have a body? eyes? ears? a tongue to wag? or a pretty whisker that can tickle? or a fin to shake? or a pretty beak that can poke and nibble?

No! It needn’t! was what I understood from my cousin. This is a virtual pet that is being programmed along with the oval contraption. It would be born, it would cry for milk, (you should press a button to feed it milk), it would want to pee (another button to change the nappy), it would sleep (make it cozy - a button again, but I could see only a max of 3 buttons on the dial!). So all you need is to name the pet, feed it, change its dirty underwear and rock it to sleep. If you dare to ignore its hunger pangs, your pet would shrivel and die. And beware of the pet's early demise, as your kid might go into a depression as what is happening with the kids in many of the developed countries who are addicted to this toy. The last feature was a punch on my senses! If you are sure of your pet's sex, you can connect across a network and satisfy the sexual urges of your pet by finding it a suitable groom or a bride!
Gosh! It was becoming too virtual (weird?) to the human in me!

How could you have a pet only on a dial? How could you feed with the press of the buttons? How can you change nappies without the traditional wipes and Johnson’s powder? How can you mate without the traditional touch? How can you cry without a running nose?

Maybe I am getting old? Maybe I am not able to replace the old with the new? Maybe I am unable to free myself from the known?

But I know that no virtual touch can replace the traditional cozy cuddles and hugs to your cute poodle, no simulated feeling can replace the love that you feel towards a wiggling fish in your pond, no programmed behavior can replace the unpredictability of your cute little cat!

Mess is what makes life a wonderful art... to live, cuddle, love, play and cry. Real tears, real teeth, real touch, real growls and real hungry howls... reality bites but I do have a problem with the virtual highs!…

A virtually true!,
Kalps

Tirupati et al

It was a good trip.. quite different from my usual experience. The last couple of times I had been there with my cousins and relatives.. This time it was just the three of us, me and my parents. The last few times we had climbed up the hill/stairs.. This time we went on a package tour (AP Tourism). The last...we could see the sun. This time.. it was cold, drizzling and foggy (hardly any visibility.. 20m or so.. and the driver still managed to drive decently fast and safe downhill)

-----------------------------------

Disclaimer: A collage of my imagination/observation....

I didnt notice her when she boarded the coach. I had drowned myself in AR Rahman on my iPod. It was only after a couple of minutes of her staring at me did i notice.. quite a pleasant face, sharp eyes, neck-length hair. And there was nothing awkward about her stare... or her mother's. yes, they were 5 of them.. in fact, 6... she, her parents, her sister, bro-in-law and their small cute a-few-months-old baby.

I gave them a faint smile.. and got back to my music. It was only when the bus stopped for our dinner that I got to see them more. They seemed a loving family.. warm and friendly. Everyone was showering their attention on the newly born. And the baby was enjoying it all through! Once in a while, she would turn my side and give me a known-you-long kinda look.

I found out her name.. And then I noticed that her sister walked with a slight limp. Even she did. (I was wondering.. whats that? some kinda hereditary disorder or what.. but their parents seemed fine..) In a way, my respect for the guy (bro-in-law) increased. He has married someone with a walking disability (though quite slight a limp). It is quite rare to find somebody like that.. someone who values the person rather than their physical structure.. someone who didnt let the others' feelings of 'looking good or bad' cloud his own judgement..

And thus, we continued the journey up the hill and into the night.

Early morning, we reached our destination and were allotted our cottages at the resort on top. We met again at breakfast at the restaurant and thats when I noticed the thick, long, curved scar on the bro-in-law's face.

And I saw her crying.. rather sobbing.. Her family was trying to console her. Thats when I noticed her legs' finger rings..'metti'.. the like Hindus wear after marriage.

It seems.. she lost her husband a few months back in an accident at the same place.. when they and her sister's family were traveling downhill in their car.. and it took a tumble....

Travel Bug..

no updates for sometime... a bit busy at work and otherwise.. its time to chill..

The travel bug has bit me again... soon (over the weekend), I will be going to Tirupati with my parents. And then, the weekend next, me cousins & friends are trekking at Kumara Parvatha (near Kukke Subramanya)...it is an 18km trekk up to the mountain peak. read this!

Followed by travel to Hyderabad and Chennai. You asking why? just that my onsite customers would be off during christmas eve and then, Go Air gave me free tickets... so here I go!!

(try and catch me enroute :)
Bhaskar

in US? you can help this kid

My college friend Seena's 2.5 year old son, Viraj is suffering from Leukemia. And Viraj needs a bone marrow transplant. They live in Phoenix, Arizona. There are a number of bone marrow match drives arranged in Phoenix, Tempe and other cities in Arizona to help Viraj find a bone marrow match.

Details of the drives can be found in the following link. http://virajpillai.org/

Kindly forward this message to your friends, relatives etc. Your help is really appreciated.
Thanks.
AK.
( Ananthakrishnan Ananthanarayanan
hydroqual.com )

Sweet Revenge!

The best revenge on the person who wronged you is to forgive and forget that person...

Thats just what I am trying to do... it is pretty exciting and i might even succeed at it!!

Bhaskar