Grumps and rants

With holidays mood set in, clock ticking towards the new year I'm gathering up my speed to read as much to add to the list I had decided for my resolution. I worked hard with all my might to read books more than last year, unfortunately, didn't succeed. Here's  link to the list of books read in year 2015. Books read in 2016: 1) The Fellowship of the Ring 2) The Return of the King 3) Fountain Head 4) Catch-22 5) Surely, you're joking Mr. Feynman 6) Barnaby Grimes phantom of blood alley Currently, I'm reading Anna Karenina (translated by Constance Garnett). Count definitely is not an impressive one. With all my zeal I'm committed to read more number of books. I'm looking forward to year 2017 with many new hopes, rejuvenated will to make the best of it. Wish y'all a very happy new and prosperous year.

I think this post might quench doubts in many people's mind oozing frequently, when they see someone share, publish a blog, or write a column. What makes people pen down ideas? This question could be flung to many enthusiasts who virtually take pen, write, become a medium to convey events, privation, joy, disparity happening around. Or in more dissuasive tone question is oft put: why people have a sudden spike of interests to become writer, author? The mooted question is definitely worthy the attention it seeks. I'd attempt to touch it with broader strokes. First, the ubiquitous presence of social media has been pivotal in promoting writers, authors, journalists who were away due to lack of attention, waiting for the debut - the one opportunity that evaded endlessly. Empowered internet, social media gave an outlet to demonstrate skills and talent to the world. With constructive criticism many went up the ladder and few have achieved the unthinkable in short span of time.

I think my blog shall be incomplete should I don't dedicate a post to Mumbai. Mumbai; I can go on and on about this city, where I spent nearly 2 years. There is so much spoken, written about Mumbai. City that attracts people, thrives on thriving people. People drive crazy to it and it also drives people crazy. Jobs, money, entertainment, travel, food, fashion, a city that ousts everyone in every possible dimension, absorbs anyone from anywhere, a host of million dreams, giving rise to million other dreams. Mumbai, city of dreams, is known to many of us through the lens of cinema. Portrayal of Mumbai is with many Hindi movies begin. Shoehorned slums, packed local trains, Juhu beach, Nariman point with many other spots covered that are heart and soul of this vibrant city. Bollywood has its own major role in making this city immensely popular. Umpteen movie and TV stars reside here. It still pulls many aspirants providing a platform to get a foothold in the (in?)famous industry.

With the tremendous globalization, technological advancements in 21st century we've transitioned into a new era. An era that allows exchanges of ideas globally, cultures and many different things at a vast scale. The world never seemed so small and connected powerfully ever before. The new generation of technology bestowed people with gadgets, ultra fast computers. They came with a bag full of excitement, fun, thrill to do reach new levels those were unachievable and unthinkable at the same time. New ideas poured in and tangibility happened to them. Success wasn't simpler before. Technological improvements revolutionized the way people view, perceive things. Medium through which the ideas are communicated metamorphosed really fast. Ways of communication changed. From landline phones to smart phones; from newspapers to e-papers, blogs; from personal communications to chat boxes; from letters to e-mails. They unarguably made things move at a super sonic speed. Smileys made the

One fine Friday evening whilst leaving workplace, colleague asked what plans do I have for the evening. As usual, the answer was nothing much and would get bored. She was surprised and asked why bored? I told her that I like being here and enjoy working. She chuckled and didn't believe. Ugh. I like constant reluctance from task not getting complete. That resistance drives me nuts nonetheless, and I get on to it every minute. Even I leave work, in the back of my mind I think about some or the thing related to work and get on it next day. Not that someone has put a pistol on my head for task, but how else does one steer through the day? There is an incessant pull and push from the work. Sometimes I enjoy and sometimes don't, either way. A long day and extended hours of work are something I prefer being soaked into. Totally disconnected from any other thing. Sheer numbness and absent mindedness, Ha! I like to hammer hard myself, as a blacksmith does to red hot iron on the anvil

A lot has changed since the time we've moved to new office. Fridays tend to get bit desolate as the week prepares for week-end. Few weeks back I was going nuts with deadlines of performance review. As scheduled I had a call with supervisor which went fine. Tiny tweaks here and there things got streamlined. I was about to wrap up from work then I heard foot steps and few chatters. Upon looking, I see dean of the department with 2 more persons. She knocks on couple of office doors to see anyone is there, but I told her none is around and are working from so and so place. With a bit disappointment she manages to pull herself and talk with other 2 people. Shows the terrace area and was about to leave. Upon looking closely I realize the person she is with is a billionaire. But to me a billionaire is all fancy person with suit and bells and whistles. This person outrightly dismissed my view of a billionaire. Whilst I'm still in shock billionaire exchanged pleasantries addressing

One of the top class hypocritical stuff I come across is when someone asks me what I like and having shared on it, one biting reply I get is I am picky. WAIT, what!? I can write a thesis on my preferences and on each and every part I've got a snarky reply upon asked or sharing. Berth preference side lower in train. Aisle seat in flight. Warm breakfast, lunch or any other meal. Stitched clothes. This list is endless and can go on for any random thing. I get these replies from people who themselves are extremely adamant and shall not budge even a tenth of milli-meter in either direction. Yeah, surprised to know reality? Let me explain, someone has made his/her mind for a vehicle of a certain variant and particular shade. Person would ask upon sharing his/her preference, after listening and having me/us go through all stuff the final verdict would be - I'm going to stick to the one I started on. I am like, kill me now and punch those stapler pins in my palm. Jeans? person has

By no means I'm connected to art, not even in the remotest way. I'm awful with drawings, writings, performances or any other form which necessitates creativity or, and ingenuity. I profoundly lack artistic skills. I never learnt, never developed or perhaps had them in me. Never did I focus or knew what art is until I saw friends engaging in poems and similar works. Back in school couple of participation once or twice in Annual function at Ravindra Natya Grah or playground, but things never took off. For live shows I never had the massive desire to go to rock bands, nor I could know where and what to look out for such things. Also, given their location and exorbitant prices they were always a let go. But sometimes there always comes a window of opportunity. There were mass e-mails at my earlier workplace regarding blood donation drive or, corporate social responsibility (CSR) or any other outing. Out of curiosity I never stopped checking them and one fine day there was one

There is always a lurking thought in mind to reach certain height. For few it may be top level in firm, or stardom, or financial stability, or getting along with physical, or mental disability. And as and when these milestones are achieved, bar is raised to another level and endeavors start pouring in respective direction. Perhaps, that is how one keeps on striving and get the going? This post of mine doesn't cover any such aspect of life but is about my recent trip inside the Washington Monument. I had booked ticket 1.5-2 months online prior to my visit. I wanted to reach there before dusk hours but at the same time not in DC heat. Keeping everything in check I planned it for August 5, Friday evening. The weather was really nice by the time I entered monument and it got beautiful by exit hours. Elevator takes you to the top. You can spend any amount of time until closing. Upon reaching there you will notice big red blinking lights present, which are visible from any part of DC

I wake up in the middle of night to hear someone call me from another room. I wake up in the middle of night to have someone ask if I'm doing fine, and allay me to sleep back. I wake up to pull my blanket, to wrestle it with myself. I wake up in the middle of night to see if the night has been crawling toward twilight. I wake up from my nightmares. I wake up to gulp down water even though I'm not thirsty. I wake up to see someone has texted, mailed, pinged. I wake up in the middle of night to wait for the dawn to hit, and have me out of the bed, to get me away from the abysmally long nights. I wake up to see if the clock hands can have me wait more before I begin my day. I wake up in the middle of night to listen to the deafening silence broken by clock's second hand. I wake up to see if it is still snowing out there. I wake up to see if the rain will stop before I walk out for the work. I wake up to shut off the cooling. I wake up to see if I've missed anyone's c

This year Olympics will be organized in Rio. With all support, and positive vibes in media, social networks Indians are wishing, and aiming for a tally of 10 than 6 of last Olympics. Media flooded with greetings on qualifying of Dipa Karamakar in Gymnasts for Rio-16. A true moment of happiness, whence hard work, sweat and blood meet a coveted spot for a sports person. She is the first Indian woman to enter in gymnasts. A moment of pride for the nation, indeed. Warm wishes from the legendary God of Cricket - Sachin Tendulkar were relayed. Moments like these throw a tide of inspiration of many other athletes, and people whom nation doesn't know, and hear of. Boosts morale for sports persons to continue to persevere, and sweat out with one goal irrespective of the failures, and hurdles.  Running out of romantic, Hollywood, and South Indian movie scripts Indian cinema has of late shedded light on sports through biopics on Milkha Singh, Paan Singh Tomar, Mary Kom among few others. I

Oft has been said books are the best friends. Little was understood of this before I started reading, or made reading as my hobby habit. Alike many other things this wasn't done in a fortnight, or single handedly. Back, as in once upon a time: that long back we were highly encouraged by one school teacher of ours to improve English, for she was teaching French, and unless we don't know what a verb (an example) is, and if a word in French is a verb, then it gets 2 levels difficult to demystify a thing. First know what is Verb, then understand what that verb means in English. Ugh.!! Never did I understand nothing of these things much save to eat, to sleep, to see, so on and so forth words. Over the span of the course she tried with her blood and sweat to instill to improve our English, but we were "we" after all: all in vain that time. Seldom we were told meaning in Hindi, for that would have beat the purpose of her teaching French for she was there to teach Frenc

I've been in a train of thoughtfulness, and thoughtlessness where you know you're are thinking something yet no specific thing have been thought out. Yes, it is confusing, and as confusing it can get.  Nonetheless, I'll take this moment of complete unawareness of surroundings, and share some of the weird, blunders and funny stories. - In a rush to reach office I keep on punching elevator's button. As soon as the elevator arrives without discerning I board elevator, and go to the top floor. It stops again on my floor, and traveling all the floors I begin my day. Sigh. ** - This one is one of the tale tell things during lunch, everyone was praising and sharing their Uber ride experiences. Story is of coworker's husband and his friend. Person with his friend books a ride in Paris, a car arrives. Without looking and asking if that's an Uber driver, they opened door, and boarded in. This would have been normal had the driver would have been a male. Inst

Long ago, had someone would've asked me - what I'd like to be in my life; like many others after marveling at the trail of an airplane in a cloudless blue sky I'd have said a pilot, or after watching couple of shows on Discovery channel, may be an astronaut without knowing what I'd have to study, where I'd have to travel to acquire certain expertise. Over the passing by of next couple of years and the meteoric rise and rise of the God of cricket, I'd have said I want to be a cricketer, and bat like Sir SRT. As time and people change, so do the goals. Mine changed, too. Later on, I aimed to be a a computer geek thanks to Hollywood flicks. It is really hard to not to stray. But, something else was in store for me - I got my bachelors and later on a masters in an interdisciplinary field which spans through Biology, Maths, and Computer skills. There I was, equipped with something less heard of, never thought of, yet I landed onto an unknown territory.  Eventually