RED @ Wall St.

In my numerous walks around the streets of New York, I have been dutifully capturing the Big Apple's charm. Not for a moment, I thought that this picture would tell a story one day i.e. Today - One of the worst days witnessed by Wall St. Its Red all over and its still not over.

Gordon said Greed is Good. And the guys at the Wall St. swore by it. So, now we have a Mr. Lehman falling down with many more to follow.

Author of one of my favorite comic strip Calvin Hobbes,Bill Watterson, said “To make a business decision, you don't need much philosophy; all you need is greed, and maybe a little knowledge of how the game works.” Am sure that this sarcasm was taken a bit too seriously by these folks.

Isn't it easy to understand the immortal words of the great Gandhi - “There is enough in the world for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed.”

Seeing Red,
Neo.

Old Songs

I generally have fancy for new songs. I am all ears (pun intended) to new music and always in look out for new songs. Songs which enthrall me. Songs which catch my attention. Songs which move me. Songs which convey much more than what's written. Songs which I like to stay with. Probably forever..... only if could stop new songs from releasing.

But the beauty of music is that it is eternal. No matter how speedily I cling to new songs, I never seem to forget old ones. They are not on top of my mind, but its there stacked in some gray cell of mine. And with that song, is stacked a memory. Memory of the times when I stayed with that song. The phase of my life which got stamped with that song. Probably that's why they build an iPod with enough space to carry your music and an interesting play mode called shuffle. So now when the random play mode picks up a song ,which got buried in my mental music treasure, lost faint memories are flashed back. Memories are dusted off and a vivid picture of old times is painted across. Is it what they call Nostalgia? I think so.....

Sometimes you stay with songs. Most of the times, songs stay with you.

listening,
Neo

Weirdo!!!!!

I am tagged. It's not the first time. But it's the first time am replying to it. Weird, isn't it? Yes and so is this post about. Letting the weirdo in you out of the bag. (And a better way to break my blogging hiatus.)

So what's the tag about -

• Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
• Let each person know that they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

So, here are Seven Wonders Weirds of Me -

1. I tend to read newspapers and magazines from the last page (unless it’s a one pager).

2. If I fancy a particular song, I will listen to it non stop until it wears off my mind (or any another song catches my attention).

3. Though I am a left-hander, I bat and bowl right ( but play it all wrong).

4.I have a habit of giving pet names to my friends (or rather spoiling their names).

5. I ask too many questions (and expect answers to them!!!).

6. My famous weirdo, I abhor curd without even tasting it ever (Infact, how about a ban on it).

7.I cant even think of seven weird facts about me!!!!!!!!!!!! (Ya this qualifies to be a weirdo ).

 

Now it's your turn to let it go :

Kunal
Nirav
Hem
Namitoj
Hiren
Atul
Deep

weird,
Neo.

P A R T I N G

Parting is painful, to say the least.
Words, its seems, are getting paralyzed by this emotion.

Meanwhile, I will just borrow these and get solace from them:
The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again.

separating,
Neo

The Man who moved a Mountain.....Literally!!!

No! It’s not an idiom for someone who toiled through the day and slogged in the night to achieve success. But about a man who actually moved a mountain!!!!!!

Outlook covers the story of Dasrath Manjhi, who single handedly cut a road through the huge mass of rock - massive 360 feet long, 25 feet high and 30 feet wide rock.

Every morning, for 22 long years, a frail, diminutive man, barefoot and clad in a loin cloth, would trudge two kilometres to a hillock of solid rock and chip away at it with a hammer and chisel.

Of course, the first question to hit our minds is why does he have to do that?

Dasrath eked out a living as a farm hand, toiling in the fields of local landlords on bare subsistence wages. One day, in the early '60s, his wife Phaguni fell ill and Dasrath set off with her to the nearest hospital. She died on the way. If only there was no hill blocking the road to the town, Dasrath would have made it to the hospital in time, and perhaps his wife's life would have been saved.

The villagers of Gelau, where Dasrath lived, had to take a circuitous route and travel 19 km to Wazirganj, the nearest district town with a hospital.

Dasarth - challenged by Nature and given his humble background – could have resigned to his fate. But the irony fate is; Dasrath decided to create history by changing the geography of his land. Armed with a mere chisel and hammer, Dasarth decided to cut a road through the huge mass of rock.

After 22 years - from 1962 to 1984 - of toil, Dasrath paved the way. The once long route of 19 KMs was now reduced to bare minimum of 6 Kms. The road stands as a memorial for her wife and an example of grit, determination and a will to make the world a bit better.

Dasrath Manjhi was building a memorial to his wife Phaguni Devi—one that won't ever find a place in hallowed global must-visit lists, but can well be passed down from this generation to the next as a monument of love. A poor man's Taj, literally. Not for its aesthetics, but for the way it symbolises the human spirit's capacity to endure, its indomitability.

So true, that these stories, probably will, never find a place in history. This post is a tribute to the man - Dasrath Manjhi (1934-2007) – who stood against all odds rocks.

Invigorated,
Neo

Happy Birthday

My friend, today as you turn over one more chapter in your life; I have some hopes, instead of wishes, for you.

Today, put all your pessimism, complexes out of the window. For a change, look yourself in to the mirror and admire the way you are and not what you or others aspire you to be. Today, accept yourself and be proud of the fact that you are different. Love yourself today like you would love your sweetheart. Today, let your mind think you are the best given the capabilities and conditions. We all amount to something; however great it is, but none of us are everything. And who knows better than you that “The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself.”

I know, my hope for you, is a tall order but I am sure you will be able to do justice to yourself - today and in the years to come.Enjoy your day today - it’s your day after all. Have a blast.

May the future be worthy of your dreams.

Wishing by hoping,
Neo

New Beauty in my Life

I have been longing for her for quite some time. And finally, after a long wait, she is mine. We got engaged on 23rd of Dec,2006 and finally got married on 25th Jan,2007.

Here's a pic of both of us together..............





But as she is more good looking than I am, it would be worthwhile to view her alone.


vrooming,
Neo

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You might have guessed it.
After it happen there and there and many more places. Its happening here.
You can term it Bloggers’ block or just say Gon blanc! but the fact is "I just cannot write!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

waiting to come back,
Neo

Happy Birthday Mom !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's Mom's Birthday today!

You have been the best Mum in the world. You gave up your life's desires and ambitions to see us grow up,loved us no matter how we fought,taught and guided us through our lives.

I thank you for being there for me whenever I need you.
Here's wishing you all the very best in life.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

loving,
Neo

pic courtesy : Brad

The difficulty of being good

I always wanted to blog about the infamous header by a magician called Zidane. But, due to lack of time i couldnot write.

But as i was surfing and reading articles written by some of my fav authors. I landed on Gurcharan Das weekly article on the act of Zidane as well as talking about the macro picture of being good in this world. His anology with Mahabharata is also quite apt.

"It is one of life's cruelties that the best must also fail. " - TRUE

Go ahead.Enlighten yourself
Neo.

Four Stages of Life in a Bottle!!!!!!!

Got this pic thru email. A message very succinctly told !!!!

Neo.

Nayi Dagar..Naya Safar Mera

Want to share the good news with ull, Infact "relieving" news.

I have put in my papers (" I always wanted to quit on Monday Morning").
And finally after lot of hardships, tomorrow is my last day at RI.

Now about by new journey.............
I am finally getting in to an IT firm. ITs into e-learning products.
Please Visit www.learningmate.com for more info....
I am joining their Pre sales and Marketing Group.

Hope ull to be my "Humsafar" in "Nayi Dagar..Naya Safar Mera"

relieved,
Neo
PS : This blog will be no more an another Dead Blog. Will Update it regularly.

The Spirit of Mumbaikars

Tuesday, 26th July 2005 will now be remembered as “Terrible Tuesday”. It was the day when skies opened up. The day when it rained more than it rains in cherapunji in a single day. To be precise it rained 94 cms. Actually no metropolis in the whole world has received so much rain in a given single day. Mumbai witnessed the unthinkable and mumbaikars, history.

To add to the woes, Arabian Sea was on high. Immense rainwater and high tide assured that the city was flooded like never before. Water levels rising as high as 8feet!! The rail lines were the first to get flooded and the so-called lifeline of Mumbai came to a grinding halt. Then the roads started getting clogged due to excessive water. Traffic came to a standstill and the situation got worst. People got stranded at nowhere. And with so much water around the power supply was cut off due to the fear of short circuit. Darkness fell on the city and people got hold of any thing, which can bail them out. Many of us like me, wiser souls, stayed back in their offices and spent the night.

The rains stopped the next day, but the suffering didn’t. The trains didn’t start for more than half the day. Roads were littered with cars and buses abandoned by the commuters. Many owners left their costly cars and walked their way home. Truly, Life is a great leveler. I have met guys who have walked for more than 5-7 hours to reach their homes. As I was making my own treacherous way back home, I saw some ghastly scenes. Cattle carcass floating in water, garbage strewn over and destruction all over the place. But amidst death, I saw life struggling and helping each other out. On every nook and corner of the city, people where helping out each other. Residents of that area distributing free drinking water, hot tea, and biscuits to eat. They also guided the weary motorist, on which way to take so as to reach home.

What comes across is the spirit of mumbaikars, and the collective spirit of Mumbai. The spirit, which refuses to die. The spirit, which floats in the flooded murky waters of Mumbai. The spirit, which has survived the deadly bomb blasts and the riots. The spirit, which has survived various scams and scheming politicians.

The Spirit, which can never be broken.

Goregaon To Churchgate

A piece written by my colleague. Captures the ride wholesomely
Neo

It’s a beautiful day when you leave your cozy house in the morning for your day’s work. After you are done with your daily chores and your breakfast, you are all set to go to office.

But my dear friend let me remind you, you are located in a city known as Mumbai. It’s really easy to say that you are satisfied with the work you do. But alas, you can’t say the same about the way in which you reach the place, where you do your satisfying work. Ironically, it’s commuting that takes more out of you than your work itself. And work gets paid, commuting doesn’t.

So, you leave your house fresh as a spring flower, in firmly pressed clothes, hair intact, and with all the potency to face your day’s work. You normally take a cab or rickshaw to reach the nearby station from where the train starts for the ultimate destination, i.e. Churchgate.


On the Platform
You stand all alone in the world of many, gazing the people standing on the same platform as if you have never seen any (You are actually evaluating who are your competitors and how beatable are they). Slowly, the crowd starts multiplying with an ever-increasing rate. And you start sweating by the mere view of it (Not that the Sun is out). You now know, it’s not going to be easy to get a place in the train bogie for which you have shelled out your hard-earned dough.

And slowly, you start devising a strategy that will help you earn a seat in the train bogie. You set your priorities (Maybe, first a window seat, then a right hand seat, standing near the door, etc). After that, you plan your optimal movement in the train while boarding, the total duration of which is not going to be more than a fraction of a second. Amidst all these thoughts, suddenly you hear voices and witness some chaos. Hey, there it is, standing a kilometer away, the medium that will help you reach your destination Churchgate (You already forgot that by now), the TRAIN.

But there’s no time. Remember, it’s no less than an India-Pakistan war. Indeed, all the valiant soldiers are gearing up for the fight of their life, the battlefield is slowly approaching, get in or you are out of the race. And will have to see yours Senior’s angry face. And then lands the battlefield on the platform. But hey, even before you gave the slightest thought of getting in, people are actually jumping and hopping into the train. I can tell you, it’s an unbelievable sight. And you are actually thrown here and there, and you say to yourself, damn the strategy and the seat, will I even be able to get into the train.


In the Transit
Yes, you made it. You started the war on a good note. At least, you somehow managed to hang on to the train. Although, you didn’t secure yourself a seat (I am quite sure about that), you are at least being displaced towards the destination Churchgate. The sight of people hanging on the train can be compared with the sight of red ants dangling on a piece of bread (Although the red ants take some minutes to cover a bread, the train gets covered in a matter of some nano seconds).

Inside the train, you are having the most pleasant time of the day. Reciting all the prayers you can and wishing god that the train completes its journey as soon as possible. It’s only here that you get the chance to determine how your sweat tastes, because anyways you cannot wipe it off (Your hands are entwined in the crowd). Slowly, more and more people start to get into the train and that doesn’t make your life any easier (Now you know the disadvantages of a 1.2 billion population). The moving crowd literally brushes you and converts your well-pressed Branded shirt into a tattered piece of cloth. Some hands above your head brush your intact hair into a muddled bunch of grass (In all the crowd, You feel that you are a wise man that you left your umbrella back home). And your sweat has already decided to give you another bath.

In the midst of your journey you start wondering, why the hell I am in this train. When will I be rich enough to travel to-and-fro in a car? On one end exasperation is building up and someone starts arguing with you on your inappropriate posture. And although you wish to bash him up, you subtly settle the matter (i.e. After gauging the opponent’s size).

Just when you are on the end of journey, literally cursing someone who spoiled the state of your shirt, someone in the rush of getting down stamps his foot on your polished and shining shoe. Before you shout, he’s even left the platform leaving you in despair. Finally at Marine lines, you start gathering your luggage and become ready for alighting the train. You actually start thinking that; I have already lost half my day’s energy (And I require the remaining half while I am on my way back). The train has left you in misery, with a half drenched and messy shirt, muddled hair, dirty shoe, and an exasperated mood.

On the Churchgate Platform - Eureka
Ah! What a relief. You are on the seventh heaven, when you have alighted the Train. It feels the same as when a war gets over. Peace is the word. But as soon as you start thanking your god, he replies you with the blessings of water, i.e. Rain. Enjoy your way to the office!!!

My First Three Days at the Corporate World!!!!!

1st June 2005

Its 3 o'clock in the night and I wake up sweating profusely. With eyes wide open I look at the clock trying to comprehend what the time is. A thought struck my mind and suddenly I realize that it is just an other nightmare. These kinds have become a regular in my life whenever there is an important impending event. Today is 1st June, the day when I will put forth a small step in the corporate (this word is magical) arena. And no prizes for guessing that the nightmare was about reaching late to the office on the first day and having a bad start.

I start off my day by catching the 8:14 train with the blessings of dad & mom. I land up at church gate completely drenched by the humid climate. I reach the office and wait for my colleague who also joins with me. Well as always there’s always some thing weird or amazing happening with me as I go on with my life. The colleague who has done his MBA from dalmiya is also named Viral!!!!!!!!! So the confusion starts from day one. We are taken to our seats and were given some mags and journals to go through. Times goes on and we are then ushered to the cabin of one of our heads. He talks to us very casually and asks us to join him for lunch in about half and hour. So now I am off to my first business lunch (if u may call it). The food is very “international” in flavour (no pun intended).

The lunch goes heavy on my stomach and so I have this lazy afternoon to fight with, as there is no work to be done. Just sit on a chair and read through papers and documents. After 5 pm I get impatient to leave, as I am bored to death.

5:15, 5:30, 5:45, 6:00, 6:15,6:20, 6:25, 6:26, 6:27…. It’s getting difficult to pass the time. At last one of our senior comes across and tells us that few days will be without work and you all can leave. To my much-awaited relief we left the office by 7.

Reached home by 8 and thus come to the end of my first office trip …..Or the start of a journey.

Patience is how u act while you are waiting……………………………

2nd June 2005

So I am back to the office to start the 2nd day of my pro life. The day is not started and I get the feel of “The Routine”. The feel is very discouraging but at the same time encouraging. Discouraging in the sense that it doesn’t motivate me to do the chore but at the same time motivates me to quit and start my own at a point in time.

Today is no different from day 1. We were briefed for about an hour or so and then were given some documents to read. Sitting on my chair I just think infact laugh on myself on having grandiose plans for my job. The job in which I will be launching brands right and left, doing heavy marketing and formulating strategies to checkmate the competition. But I don’t blame my self for the thought, as this is what comes across to any B school rookie.

Afternoon is what seems very difficult to pass. The fleeting mind disrespects the 4 walls of the office and wanders in the world full of imagination and dreams. And why not, we only dream when the reality is not better than the dreams. I get hold of my mind and put it back where it must be. Try to create work for myself but soon the eyes roll to the right bottom corner of my desktop to see the time and do it repeatedly. Doing it so often makes you think that the pc clock is not working and the being so dumb, I really checked it twice.

I have got a corporate (oh man I love this word so much) email id now and was trying to check the way it works and suddenly I get a mail. It’s by someone called chetan. He is resigning and hence wants to bid goodbye to all. In his mail he thanks a lot for understanding and supporting him. I feel good as for the first time I am being thanked for all this without even seeing/talking/meeting/knowing the guy. And I doubt how many from my team know him. So is the corporate (again...I simply love this) world, like a forest in which you can get lost and dead.

3rd June 2005

It’s again a lazy afternoon and I my mind goes on a philosophical drive. I was just wondering the kind of life I want. The kind of life, which will make me happy, or at least satisfy me. I dip in to my mind and the heart for an answer and as always I return empty handed. Just joining the organization, I was thinking if I had made a right decision. Just wondering what my career would be down 3/4/5 yrs.Infact to be honest I was actually worrying.

But then I have realized that what is that I need to worry about at this stage. I have not yet started my job and am actually thinking of switching it!!!!. Thinking about my next break infact the next BIG break. This is what happens to us when we live in the future and not in the present. And I think worrying is the function of how much you stay in your future. The more you stay the more you worry. As I move along this philosophical drive I tend to remember Saunak (mafat). He and I are different as poles but we do meet at ends. I think that we both have this very bad habit of cribbing (although I do it very subconsciously) . We always feel that the grass is greener on the other side and always wish to be “there” and in the process; crib for our present i.e. “here”. I need to get ‘there’. ‘THERE’ is an important place. There is there and here. But then there are so many instances when I have got to “there” just to realize that the “there“, which is my “here“ now, is not so worth it and I readily search for another “there”. The pursuit goes on and suddenly I realise that the voyage between “here” and “there” is nothing but a round circle and on completing the circle what I get in the end is a BIG DAMN ZERO. I have realized with failing over time and again that “There” is here. There is no ‘here and there’, there is only ‘here’. We should enjoy our “here” and the “there” will be automatically taken care off. And that is what I am going to do with my job, enjoy the “here”.

Time passes by and its time to go, with the news that tomorrow is an off being a Saturday. I catch a 8:55 train and with Gods grace I get a seat. I take out a book titled “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” by Richard Bach. Just as I begin reading it, a gentlemen well in his early sixties sitting besides me and asks me what I am reading. He asks me what is the book about and I tell me the same. It’s about overcoming your limitations and excelling in life. He seemed to be a wise fellow and picked up the discussion from the point. He went on talking explaining me the various kinds of limitations we have and the process of overcoming them. He talked non stop for 30 minutes. He explained me the power of being positive and not cynical in life. He goes on touching each and every topic of life in those insightful 30 minutes. He told me how to tackle pressures at your workplace and how to keep your professional life different from your personal life. It seemed to me that God had indeed sent him to have a chat with me and steer me the right direction. He got down at bandra and that was the end of our discussion but he sparked off a new thought in my mind

Back to the Past

HI guys,

I am back from my trip to gujarat. And what a great trip it was. Let me first begin with the daily doings on the trip

Sun : I started off in afternoon on sayaji express. I didnt had a reservation so traveled general coach. Man, it was so crowded and full of noise and top of it sweltering heat. but I really enjoyed the travel. The train was late and I reached Baroda at around 11 pm. Greeted every one and had dinner.

Mon: Actually we had plans to go to mt. abu . so talks were on for that. After noon was chit chatting wid paragi and chintan as he came home late afternoon. Evening time was food time, I and chintan went to the famous "Lala Kakas" bhajia outlet . He dishes out some really good bhajiyas . and of course the ubiquitous "Dabeli".

Tues : Talks were on for Mt. abu.I and chintan decided that we would go on our own. But then we decided that the nest day we will head off to pavaghad. On tues night we went for " Kathiawadi " food on the highway. It was really good the taste and the menu was amazingly delicious and simple. We ate rotla,orra, potato sbji with garlic ,kichdi and more. It was jus amazing.

Wed: We went to pavaghad on scooter. Its a one to one and half hour drive from our place. We started early moring and so enjoyed the trip. on reaching there we climbed the hill for the temple and went then sat on a ridge with cool breeze flowing through our hair. Evening was chilling out with mantra Kumar and paragi.

Thur : The surprise element of the trip for ull. We cancelled the mount abe trip and decided we would go to petlad and nadiad to have alook at the houses which our parents spent their childhood days. I wanted to visit these places long time and then I tought that mt abu for 2 days is not sounding good. So I asked chintan if we can go to these places and he readily agreed. So we started at 11 in the morin ..travellin true ST style. Believe me if u want to have the essence of India,u should travel second class,unreserved and by ST buses. I could feel the pulse of India. There's so much to do and ya much have been done. we reached petlad and there we saw our dadas shop and then moved to our ancestral home. Its in ruins but still reminds you of the days we spent there. We clicked lotsa snaps and spent around 1.5 hrs there. From there we moved on to nadiad. We visited the santram mandir and then went to see moms house. Her house is now completely new and actually I dont recall visiting that place so didnt relate much. We then went to gadbaddas shop to buy chavana and headed off to Baroda. We reached home at 9 pm. It was a good nostalsic trip.

Fri : I and paragi with mantra boarded a bus to a'bad. We reached a'bad at 7 . Greeted every one...met our new bhabhi: hetal. She is a fine and loving bhabhi. At nite we went to sudha fois place.

Sat : At around 4 we went to pinkis place.( I always wanted to visist her ) and in the eve we went to jus roam around .

Sun : We went to maudi where there is a jain temple and then went to akshardham. but we started late and thus had less time for akshardham and so didnt saw it completely . we boarded a 7 o clock bus to Baroda as I had a ticket from Baroda to bombay on monday 9.

Mon: Reached home sweet home.

smiles
Neo

A New Begining

Hi,
I am on the verge of starting my blog. Though I created the blog long back but never started. What am i going to post on this blog? Basically my thoughts,xps and above all pearls of wisdom which I will gather walking along the beach named LIFE.................