Now that I know the terms of this game, I was "unofficially" tagged by a comment on Teju's blog, and it's fun!
Guilty Pleasures:
- Drinking coffee at nights knowing very well that I will have a tough time getting sleep
- Sleeping after 8.30 AM when I can't be late for work any further
Things I Can't Forget:
- My school days and some specific things about childhood
- NCJ cricket days
- Late night harates with friends at dhruvan mane katte and cool corner joint.
- Thatha being carried away
- Vajpayee's speech in the parliament in 1999 when he lost the no-confidence motion by a single vote
- The few months that I worked in Blore with a great bunch of colleagues before coming to US
- The first time I heard Jagjit live at Chowdaiah Memorial Hall, and the moment he sang "Aakash ka soonapan, Mere tanha dil mein", that moment when I felt what "tanha dil" truely was
- The time I spent with Naga's parents during his last few days
- Sunday visits to the church, walks between Buffalo and Amherst, joint cooking sessions, walks, talks and fights
- the evening when sis and bil returned back to India and it suddenly struck I was alone
Things I Wish To Forget:
- That laughter over the phone on the other side of the door
Unforgettable Dishes:
- UD Masale Dose
- Amma made Avalakki Voggarne
- Self made churmuri
- Vade and filter Coffee at SLV
- Set Dose I had once in Chitradurga
- Masale Puri on a chat bandi in Jayanagar 8th block
- Veggie Burrito Bol at Chipotle
Crushes:
- On the last day of my 7th standard, I confessed to her and so did she! but we never met after that day
- the singer(was purely for her singing)
- the one whom I dedicated a song in a high school reunion party
- the one whom I wish I had dedicated to in the same party
- a bihari batchmate at RVCE
- lovely eyes and long hair, I saw her on a snowy night
- this lebanese girl was my metro-companion for a month in DC
Close Brushes With Death/Danger:
- An unprotected left turn to the metro station when a car just missed hitting mine
- When my car skid on ice last winter.
Strangest Dream:
- Can't remember anything specific
Preferable Modes Of Suicide:
- Though I can't imagine why I would want to do it, I would prefer something painless
Favorite Characters:
- Roberto De Niro in Taxi Driver
- Aamir and his son's character in Akele Hum Akele Tum
- Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting
- Jim Carrey in The Trueman Show
- Om Puri in Ardh Satya
I tag Shubha and Guru.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Friday, May 19, 2006
Baitu Coffee- An immigrant's musing
I wanted to have some coffee this afternoon at work. For the last few months, I have reduced my caffeine intake to one cup per day or on some days even lesser. I wasn't feeling like having a cup on my own, so I thought I will call my pal next door to have a baitu coffee. Arghh... whoa.. it took a little less than a second to realise I wasn't home! I was found lost yet again...
For those who are wondering, Baitu coffee is basically kannada-ised word for by-two or (1/2) cup coffee. Whether it used to be evenings after playing cricket, or during long walks or bike rides, be it a moment of mutual contemplation or of pure joy, sharing a cup of coffee with a friend was blissful.
As each day passes, I only have started sympathizing first generation immigrants^^. Baitu coffee is only minuscule of what people miss being away from home. I often wonder if it is really worth being away from your dear ones and miss all the little pleasures and happy moments you once had, all of it which can only be a nostalgia. This is especially relavent when the skill-opportunity curve isn't any better here. Immigration from my country is no longer of low skilled workers aka cab drivers or coolis, which used to be decades ago when people had to migrate for better income. Now, these are educated, high-skilled "laborers" who migrate by "choice".
Ya, I know of corruption, and I also know about the increasing traffic in cities. The friends I miss may no longer live around the place. Even I do love travelling and exploring new places and culture, but it is a different issue altogether to settle elsewhere as an alien.
Though I do not advocate Parochialism or even Nationality as that can only breed violence, there is a bond between a place and a person whether you like it or not. As Javed Akhtar puts it beautifully, "Ye woh bandhan hai, jo kabhi toot nahin sakta.."
Come to think of it, the social and cultural life of an immigrant is barren. I am receptive to change, but if you are a teetotaller like me, there is a very bleak chance for new social acquaintances. Yes, there are get-togethers within your own community, but ironically, I see that it is easier to get along with a localite than to mingle with fellow brethren from same country. Town houses, cars, greencards and citizenship should be a topic of your liking if you want to spend an evening with them.
Neither does it make an economic sense to me. After all, how many Laxmi Mittals or Vinod Khoslas do we have. If at all there is a scope for progress and development as a society and a scope for both lateral and vertical career growth as an individual, My dear friends, it has to be in the East. The "wild west" of the past is only a mirage. I can only see around me hoards and hoards of people living on monthly incomes defining and redefining mediocrity, forget if generating wealth was ever an incentive. People seem to find solace under the pretention of being "achievers" while actually losing out on a lot of things.
Every immigrant has to do this introspection at some point of time. I have been seriously thinking over my existence here.
For now though, I will have to mull it over a full cup of coffee.
^^DISCLAIMER: This blog by no means represents my view on the immigrant community as a whole or it's success. Please ignore any such generalization that might come across. This is a personal post to get clarity on my thought process and this commentary looks at only a very narrow group of immigrants when the word "immigrants" is used.
Current Music:
Seene mein jalan aankhon mein tufaan saa kyon hain ?
is shehar mein har shaks pareshaan saa kyon hain ?
...
...
Dil hain to, dhadakne kaa bahaanaa koi dhoondhe
patthar ki tarah beheesa-o-bejaan saa kyon hain ?
...
...
(Lyricist: Shaharyar
Singer: Suresh Wadkar
Album: Gaman, Year: 1979)
For those who are wondering, Baitu coffee is basically kannada-ised word for by-two or (1/2) cup coffee. Whether it used to be evenings after playing cricket, or during long walks or bike rides, be it a moment of mutual contemplation or of pure joy, sharing a cup of coffee with a friend was blissful.
As each day passes, I only have started sympathizing first generation immigrants^^. Baitu coffee is only minuscule of what people miss being away from home. I often wonder if it is really worth being away from your dear ones and miss all the little pleasures and happy moments you once had, all of it which can only be a nostalgia. This is especially relavent when the skill-opportunity curve isn't any better here. Immigration from my country is no longer of low skilled workers aka cab drivers or coolis, which used to be decades ago when people had to migrate for better income. Now, these are educated, high-skilled "laborers" who migrate by "choice".
Ya, I know of corruption, and I also know about the increasing traffic in cities. The friends I miss may no longer live around the place. Even I do love travelling and exploring new places and culture, but it is a different issue altogether to settle elsewhere as an alien.
Though I do not advocate Parochialism or even Nationality as that can only breed violence, there is a bond between a place and a person whether you like it or not. As Javed Akhtar puts it beautifully, "Ye woh bandhan hai, jo kabhi toot nahin sakta.."
Come to think of it, the social and cultural life of an immigrant is barren. I am receptive to change, but if you are a teetotaller like me, there is a very bleak chance for new social acquaintances. Yes, there are get-togethers within your own community, but ironically, I see that it is easier to get along with a localite than to mingle with fellow brethren from same country. Town houses, cars, greencards and citizenship should be a topic of your liking if you want to spend an evening with them.
Neither does it make an economic sense to me. After all, how many Laxmi Mittals or Vinod Khoslas do we have. If at all there is a scope for progress and development as a society and a scope for both lateral and vertical career growth as an individual, My dear friends, it has to be in the East. The "wild west" of the past is only a mirage. I can only see around me hoards and hoards of people living on monthly incomes defining and redefining mediocrity, forget if generating wealth was ever an incentive. People seem to find solace under the pretention of being "achievers" while actually losing out on a lot of things.
Every immigrant has to do this introspection at some point of time. I have been seriously thinking over my existence here.
For now though, I will have to mull it over a full cup of coffee.
^^DISCLAIMER: This blog by no means represents my view on the immigrant community as a whole or it's success. Please ignore any such generalization that might come across. This is a personal post to get clarity on my thought process and this commentary looks at only a very narrow group of immigrants when the word "immigrants" is used.
Current Music:
Seene mein jalan aankhon mein tufaan saa kyon hain ?
is shehar mein har shaks pareshaan saa kyon hain ?
...
...
Dil hain to, dhadakne kaa bahaanaa koi dhoondhe
patthar ki tarah beheesa-o-bejaan saa kyon hain ?
...
...
(Lyricist: Shaharyar
Singer: Suresh Wadkar
Album: Gaman, Year: 1979)
Sunday, May 07, 2006
"Tugga" - Defining Leadership
I am easily drawn towards Leaders irrespective of the arena, and this blog is about one of them.
Jan 6th 2004: After being away from home for a year and a half, I was enjoying time with my family. I was also happy to be witnessing a great cricketing battle between India and Australia. India were 1-1 against the invincible Aussies and were totally dominating the third test with Sachin scoring a masterly 220 on the aussie turf !! But for that day, I wore a baggy green when the Australian captain walked down to the pitch for the last time in his cricketing career with the mighty aussies once again depending on him to take them out of trouble.
This blog is dedicated to a sporting hero from whom I have tried to learn so much about attitude, grit and a never-give-up attitude. Yes, I am talking about the "Tugga", and one of my all time favorite cricketers Stephen Rodger Waugh.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. There is no better example to this in Cricket than him, Steve Waugh saved that match for Australia with a gritty 80 and walked off the Sydney cricket ground amidst thunderous ovations. Grit and determination were his defining virtues once again.
Who could forget his 200 against the West Indies at Sabina Park in 1995, his twin centuries against England at Old Trafford in 1997, or his daring 120 against South Africa in a must-win match at the 1999 World Cup. This uncanny ability to fight his way out of trouble that has seen Steve making a name as one of the greatest batsmen of all time. A man who would put his best foot forward during times of adversity - a tremendous competitor.
Steve Waugh may not have had the talent of The God or The Don, the technique of The Wall or the attacking flair of The Prince. Infact he was considered the lesser talented than his twin, Mark. but I would rate him always a notch above the rest simply because of all that he brought to the game in terms of attitude, grit and more importantly, leadership.
Though many critics attribute the team's success to Warney and Mcgrath, It was beyond doubt that there was a noticeable change in strategy and style and the whole approach towards cricket under Steve. He led the Aussies to a World Cup triumph in 1999 and is still the most succesful test captain with 41 victories from 57 tests. It was under him, that a good team transformed into a great team.
That he is an Indophile and is committed to social causes is a folklore now, Steve Waugh was named Australian of the Year in 2004.
Coincidentally, his name Stephen in greek means 'Crown'!, but ironically, he is a perfect example of an average player achieving beyond potential.
What makes one a great leader? That will be in another post.
Talking about leaders, I am happy that Mr.Jairaj whom I wrote about in an earlier post is back as BMP chief in Bangalore.
Current Music:
Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
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