Me and You

This is about me and you, the ones who blog and the ones who read, the ones who use it to express themselves and the ones who use it to know other's views.

Why do we blog? rather, why should we blog? Invariably I have seen, including myself that such writing starts to tend towards creating an impression in the reader's mind. why is this needed? why can't blogs be used just to express oneself rather than to impress others. Now, I can understand if it's a journalist or a newspaper columnist or a novelist who is forced to do so to earn his livelihood, but why should bloggers of all, be doing that?

I am not writing this post to establish the purpose of writing blogs, probably there are many and I am not questioning them. But I am trying to point to an invariably common phenomenon in our everyday actions without even being conscious about it. This is not just about blogging. Whether it is using a social-networking site such as Orkut or it is having a homepage on 360, whether it is having a statcounter on your page or changing your status on Yahoo, whether it is to set a favorite tune as ur ringtone or having a wallpaper on your pc, it all seems that we are trying to get someone's attention. These are only some of the myriad examples I can point to.

Though we can all comfortably deny that this is to keep us hooked with our friends and probably find new ones, to express our likings and dislikings, it requires an unbiased thinking. It seems rather obvious that we are trying to create an impression upon others, but why is it required? I might not meet you in my entire life or even if I did live next door, does it matter? It seems to be a human tendency to try to earn appreciation from others. Again not to lose the scope of this post, I am not trying to say if this kind of behavior is right or wrong, the question is what are we missing out in the process.

To me, writing is a way to get clarity to my thoughts, giving it a structure and to know myself better. This understanding that I get either by writing or the fact that I strive a little to get the clarity to write is what I am looking for. Probably, everyone who blogs with a purpose might agree with me on this. But it is when we start trying to keep the reader in mind, that's where the trouble begins. We start to decieve ourselves catering to the reader's mind thereby losing the true purpose of writing.

I was listening to one of Jiddu Krishnamurti's recorded interviews in which he says that the observer and the observed are one and the same and only when we realise this do we truely understand ourselves. Jiddu was actually referring to mind and the self when he talks about the observer and the observed, but this specific context can be corollated here as well. Almost all of our actions seem to follow this.

"The understanding of what you are, whatever it be - ugly or beautiful, wicked or mischievous - the understanding of what you are, without distortion, is the beginning of virtue. Virtue is essential, for it gives freedom."

-Jiddu Krishnamurthy(1895 - 1986)

It is important, that I and You put an effort in understanding ourselves better. Neither you are the observer and I am the observed nor is it vice versa, but we in ourselves are both the observer and the observed.

Current Music:

True Colors: Phil Collins

Kanneera dhare ideke, ideke...

Karnataka has lost it's beloved son, Dr. Rajkumar.

He was a fine human being. One of the more versatile actors of Indian Cinema, his contribution to Kannada is immense. Some of my favorite movies include Kasturi Nivasa, Mayura, Babruvahana, Bhakta Kumbhara and Bangarada Manushya. He defined what a true kannadiga is, humble, unassuming, non-controversial, non-political and a man of principles.

To me, more than an actor, he was the best Kannada singer. Though he started singing midway through his career replacing the wonderful PB Srinivas, the Rafi of South, he was a true gaana kogile, nightingale. Not classically trained, he excelled with his sheer talent and a genuine voice.

It is a shame or probably I was being yet another hypocrite kannadiga, who doesn’t give his language it’s due when I didn't mention kannada film music in my last blog. Coincidentally or as a console, my i-pod has been playing his songs for the last few days.

These are some of my all time favorite songs, sung by Dr. Rajkumar.

1) Kanneera Dhare Ideke Ideke
2) Baanigondu Elle Ellide
3) Jenina Holeyo
4) Chinnada Mallige Hoove
5) Yava Kaviyu Bareyalara
6) Nadamaya
7) Haalu Jenu

I can imagine millions of people thronging on the streets of Bangalore to get his last glimpse. I wouldn’t be surprised if the entire state shuts down today, Corporate and Government Offices alike.

Annavaru will be truly missed by every single Kannadiga on this day and forever.

Close to my Heart

Through one's journey of Life, certain people and places leave their mark on you forever. There are a few people in my life too who have left an indelible mark and a few places as well that I will remember forever. But this post is not about any of them, it is about another facet of Life, one which has left the most impressions on me, one which has been my true companion for years, it is Music.

Looking back, having spent almost ten of my last fifteen years away from family and not being a bibliophile nor an extrovert only meant that I spent most time with my first love, Music.

When I was at high school, since my home was about 20 kms away from the school in the outskirts, daily commuting using the BTS bus (aka public transport) was very tedious. So I moved into a rented place, which was much closer to school. It was a small room on the first floor in an old locality between Ramakrishna Ashram and Ganesh Bhavan in the southern part of Bangalore. It was my first "peek" into urban life, everything seemed different than I had anticipated. Friends were few and all I had was a radio player which I used to listen to a lot whenever I was bored. Vividh Bharathi was my favourite station. It had some really good programs- Gunjan, Hawa Mahal, Aap Ki Farmaish .. and they made a great companion. I never felt out of place.

Old Hindi Film Music (yes, with the adjective old) that I listened to then was the first form of good music I tasted. Since then, It always has been special to me, though I graduated listening to Indian Classical, Non Filmi Ghazals, Classic Rock and more recently to Jazz. It was not just about the melody, but also some wonderful lyrics which I could easily identify myself with and appreciate the sensitivity.

There are a few artistes, who I am especially fond of and will be posting blogs about some of them.

People have come and people have gone, with new promises and old disappointments but these tunes and verses still linger on... They are, close to my heart..

O Mere Humraahi
Meri Baah Thaame Chalna
Badle Duniya Saari
Tum Na Badalna....
....
....


(Lyricist: Shailendra
Album: Guide, Year: 1965)