Let me be free

Let me live

I want to breathe 

I don't want you to tell me how to live

I have played your game for too long

I don't want to be bogged down

Let me walk my own path

Let me do my thing

let me follow my heart 

and let me live within

Too many choices have been made my others

I want to make this one alone

I want to listen to the wind

and dance with the seas

Give me freedom not land not money

Give me equality

Let me live let me breathe

Stay Calm and Carry On

I watched RocknRolla for the nth time yesterday (Yes I have a thing for Brit gangster flicks). But it was brilliant to hear the Johnny Quid bamboozler on the packet of Virginia Smokies.

This whole Baba thing was anyways a little too much for me to handle. We cannot have a parallel government and NO fasting for a few days is not going to suddenly make us less corrupt.

We are not doing anything about it but we want the government to act. Have you stopped giving a bribe to the traffic constable that stops you. Have you stopped having a beer and driving on the road. Have you suddenly stopped giving "corporate gifts" and "power lunchs" to clients who you want a contract from?

Once you stop this and we are still corrupt go and overthrow the god damn government for all I care, but till then stop being wussy

Bowling for Dharavi

A few days back as I flipped through TV channels I merely chanced upon Bowling for Columbine. I find it a rather brilliant and thought-provoking story. Imagine if there was no arm control in India. It is difficult to know what would have happened but the results would definitely been absurd.

This got me thinking about something else, we need monitoring. We have a law against child labor. But walk around any slum not just Dharavi and you will see children working. We have NGO's trying their best to stop the rot but it is not going to change until 'WE' stop.

I recently decided to stop going to a shop because he had a small boy doing the work and I made it a point to tell him too. There are thousands of small and big establishments in our country that are no different. Bombay according to me is also the land of chai tapris. How many of these do you know that where there is no chotu working?

But lets be real. There are a number of children who are doing this for money. Yes the government is feeding them to go to school but have you eaten what they serve? These kids need to be taught a trade not history. Those who want to become scientists and engineers should obviously be taught and nobody should be denied an opportunity but helping them learn a trade and setting up someway in which they can monetize that trade opportunity is more important.

This is what I feel. Your turn champ!

Souffle

This is not a recipe this is a story that revolves around the mentioned savory.

Growing up in a small town and always surrounded by doctors dinner parties were a norm. The usual thing was everyone would get one dish and dinner was usually followed by a old fashioned game of scrabble or a few rounds of pictionary.

In this whole group of people there was one gem of a person who was extremely clever and brilliant in her work and good bless her soul an amazing human being but she would always decide to make the dessert which would invariably be souffle which passeth all understanding. But it developed something in me the curiosity and love for food that is not necessarily Indian.

Many years later I went to the US as an exchange student and only real reason I was happy there and was able to adapt was the food. I loved the smell of cheese burgers and the sizzle of a steak on the grill it helped me bond with people helped me in making friends this thing continued in the UK but was oriented a lot to non-curry food. The chips-cheese-beans still make me feel like opening a kebab van. The whole reason people feel not at home is food according to me. The global village that we live in today has made it possible to get the popular food anywhere in the world but it is just not the same. I mean fish and chips looking out of window in Pune and seeing other buildings is not the same as fish and chips looking out of a window in Portsmouth and watching the huge ships go by.

New day, innit?

That word first it drove me mad

then it made me feel understood and now it makes me miss the things.

Yes it was a decision that I made that I did not want to work in "innit" but I do miss some things. I definitely pine for nightingale road. Me house on the commons. The walks along the Pompey fort walk where on one side is the sea and the other side is the fort. Brilliant I say.

Well that and the assortment of things we used to do as the E-7 Massive.

My journey to the UK needs to be credited to someone else though not me. Thank you. I would never have experienced the splendor of oxford from the eyes of a non-tourist. I would not have walked along river watching the rowers. Well these places would not have been haunting memories if it were not for the company.

Pompey I can sing an ode to. I can compose ballads for thee. Me house was exactly what I wanted and still want. The pub around the corner where you know the owner and pop by to have a word on your evening job. The sandwich shop run by the two French girls who tried teaching me French. The flat-mates from different countries. All beautiful and alluring but I still felt "Do I Belong?" same as I do now. Are my ideals very different from others? Is the way I think a little too radical?

I may not know the answer today. But I know I have had a good life so far and met some amazing people along the way.

First docs removed 226 uteruses, now go on strike

Right, this would not be a big deal for many but since I belong to a family of doctors it is obviously painful to see something like this. A few doctors cause so much negativity that all doctors are suddenly under the scanner even if they are doing things that a normal man would not do. Even if they are sacrificing themselves for the greater good. Because we will never highlight the good.

The India I want to live in...

I have a dream that one day there will be school in each village, a day when healthcare will be provided to each and every citizen.

I have a dream that one day the roads will be clean and no filth everywhere. I have a dream that one day children will be given options. A day when religion will not be the calling card for people where it will not matter which state or region you are from.

One day when every normal citizen will not pay the traffic police to get away where we will not pay to get into school where we will not forge certificates and degrees.

I have a dream that one day each child in this country will be allowed to follow her / his dream. Where they will not be frowned upon for the choices they make.

I have a dream that one day my country will rise from the past and live for future where the farmers will be given their due. The true leaders honored and the petty issues resolved.

I have a dream that one day we will be one again.

PS: Cycling to work gives me time to think

Did anyone see NZ lose yesterday.

Yes they lost. Yes they seemed outplayed but they never gave up which is more important. A team which was whitewashed by India and Sri-Lanka and also for crying out loud Bangladesh reached the semi-finals of the world cup that is story of motivation a story of strength of will. Yes if it were a movie they would have won the cup and what not. But this is reality and they run as much as they could but they did it with the Maori spirit hats off to them and their performance. Well done Kiwis.

The idiot box will show it's true power tomorrow when the India Vs Pakistan cricket match is on. Much like the days of Ramayana on DD when the roads used to be empty, the shops closed and the masses stuck to the TV screen.

Like the days of yore when children discussed the last episode of Chandrakanta and I looked on like an amused buffoon because I never saw it and when I did try it was too imbecilic to me.

The whole commotion around the match is quite unnerving. I mean one team will lose no matter what even if they play their heart out. What then, there will be group of nincompoops who will call for the heads of the players does not matter which side of the border I am referring to both the sides are the same. There will be huge stories on conspiracy and someone will become the scapegoat. All thanks to the team you say? No all thanks to the idiot box which has given us the freedom to do this.

Oh then don't watch it you say? I am not against it I am in awe of it the influence that it has on our lives. It does not matter if it is sports, politics, social life, etc it influences us all. Amazingly it is called idiot box.

Sunday: The day of relaxation? Unwinding? Hanging out? Pursuing your hobby? or just contemplating?

I thought I did not do anything and it was boring. But I did contemplate on a wide array of things and it felt nice. In the hustle bustle of daily life we forget to think about us. Sometimes it is nice to take a step back cook a nice meal and think about what has happened in the last few weeks how life seems to have changed has anything gone wrong.

How much of influence does media have on a court's judgement?

If the media is convinced that someone is guilty they do have the tools to make people believe them. What would happen if a person is charged with something that they have not done and the media portrays him as guilty with the general consensus being the same the court would then have to play the tough part of being impartial listening to all the arguments and making an informed decision. But the person has been pronounced guilty by the media what happens to them then? Can what has been said be taken back? It could be undone in other manners but I doubt it is.

What is happening?

There are protests and deaths in the middle east,
And we choose to concentrate more on cricket.
There are nuclear crisis looming in close vicinity
there are earthquakes and tsunamis showing the force of nature
And we focus on How bright the moon is going to be and the superstitions associated with it.
There are pirates who are minors and in international waters
and we see that some actress will not dance with some hero.

Is it time to think of Media differently?

Yes we do have 24 hours News channels and they carry many things that seem important but they have become less logical. One of the headlines this morning was Clinton asked for information regarding the Indian economic policy makers. Does that mean they were influenced? That is what the news channels say. I am not a supporter of any political party but I am a proponent of good governance. This is a stupid debate seeking information about someone does not mean you are doing so to influence them there can be other possibilities why not focus on things where the media's help is needed.

Why are we not showing the plight of the people in rural areas who do not have medical care, schools, simple infrastructure. India is a country of villages and we focus on not focusing on them.

Never try to be better than someone else

John Wooden says it in a talk on TED. Inspiring and thought provoking. Be the best you can be through the means you have and you will be successful.

A lot of people will walk away from something like this for the simple reason that we want to grow bigger than our neighbor. I have a friend who will always talk about his salary and how it is higher than the rest of the people from his class or his circle of friends but does that make him a success. In the eyes of society which has become very materialistic maybe. But there is always a guy / girl who is earning more so he is only going to be top dog till someone else comes along and we go out to get him / her out of the 1st spot.

To me as a trainer and as an HR professional success is touching people and making a difference. It is also implementing practices that make the organisation capable of facing any storm and making the future bright. It is also making the experience that my customers have a beautiful one. May be I am wrong but May be I am not.

People do not realize their true potential until they are shown what they can achieve.

I have been interacting with doctors lately and have realized that they need to be reminded at times about their importance. About how important a part of society they really are. Its interesting when you think about it because growing up around doctors I never really realized it but when I have a look from outside I feel they need to be motivated too. Gone are the days when work alone was enough.

Happy Womens day :)

It is obviously a good day to talk about how Women have influenced my life. The two most important women who have played a major role in my life are my Grandmother and my mom.

My Grandma was a double PhD one in English and one in Sanskrit in an age when women did not work she was the head of two departments. she used to drive a car and did so much even for the community. She passed away due to cancer when I was still young but she taught me a lot her hands were there to guide me as a child. I never understood what was wrong with her because I was too young to understand, but I thank her everyday for who she was.

My Mother what can I say about her. I always wonder how she has so much energy after working all day. A doctor par excellence and an amazing human being. She has always been my comfort cushion. I have grown up to realize that nobody can come close to my mother's greatness. She is the epitome of calm and the saint of compassion. She has changed a community one at a time.

When I look the strong women in my life I feel it is wrong to thank them and appreciate them only one day in the year. Everyday they deserve to be appreciated and told how much you love them.

It was quite interesting to see perceptions that people have. Gettinh thru security at pune airport and not being in my formals was a eye opener people look at you different we have different tones very damn interesting to me
I got on a bus in b town and there was a french family next to me very nice a huge change from the sterotype lol... But the way they felt deceived by the bus operator for promising that the bus would leave in 5 mins and not leaving for 15 made me realize that what we take as a given should not be an international perception none the less but a thought we should spare...

Have you every had the urge to take a step back and take a look at things from the past and think to yourself WHY?

There have a few developments since I last wrote one of the biggest ones is a new location. Not home as yet I really don't know how I can call any place other than Bombay home.

I was watching the news today and I read something that has hit a nerve...

Onion prices in cities all over India have gone up and the BJP spokeperson made a comment to the effect of is the government going to tell us global onion prices have increased and in a different comment onion prices are a classic case of inflation going up and not really decreasing as was reported earlier.

I am not a congress supporter infact I am believer of a good governance implies little governance....

But these statements got me thinking. If a senior politician can say this obviously the common man is going to say the same thing. Teach economics to the general population came the reply... but economics is filled with numbers people may not like it... I have always saud I would want to make a difference and this is the first time something has made enough sense to start...

Inflation and the price of onions:

What is inflation exactly? How does this index come about? And can the price of a particular commodity be controlled by the government in a free market?

In simple terms the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising, and, subsequently, purchasing power is falling is called as inflation.

The formula for calculating the Inflation Rate using the Consumer Price Index is relatively simple. Every month the Bureau surveys prices and generates the current Consumer Price Index (CPI). Let us assume for the sake of simplicity that the index consists of one item and that one item cost 1.00 in 2010. The Bureau published the index in 2010 at 100. If today that same item costs 1.85 the index would stand at 185.0. This would imply that the price has gone up. Generally the CPI basket comprises of a number of goods that are essential for the people. If the price of a majority of these goods increases we say that there is inflation.

Now we come to the bone of contention the Price of Onions

How much do you think it costs to grow one Kilo of Onions. Well there is the price of land, water, electricity, seeds, the upkeep of the machinery, the cost of the farmer, petrol, and then the opportunity cost which cannot be calculated. In India the monsoon season also plays a huge role in determining the cost of onions. For the sake of this argument we shall not consider the impact of the rains.

Now, petrol prices are in every turmoil which makes it expensive for the farmer to plough his land with a tractor, but using cattle is not as efficient. So the cost to produce has gone up a little.

Land is not something that we have in abundance. The number of people to the land under cultivation is low. This means that the farmer needs to produce more onions than every before from the same piece of land. But the land will become infertile if it is over cultivated so he might buy fertilizers and pesticides which all cost money. He might instead go and get better land which will cost him and again the price increases.

Now the onions are ready to send to the market. Well petrol will be there so will transportation. The middle men are a different story and we shall eliminate them for the sake of argument right now.

Well the onion has reached the market place and we have not put in the price increase for the sake of the farmer and his family. After increasing the price for a good profit margin we can sell it in a market that is free. Which implies that if the demand for my product grows and the supply is limited the price of my product will increase.

Economics is amazing. In very simple terms we are able to link the prices of goods and the external non-financial environment to the price of one commodity. Can it be controlled? Well yes it can be but not completely eliminated. In fact there should be a small amount of inflation in any economy but more on that in another rant.

I have started using twitter more often and there are a lot of interesting people who tweet. I wondered for long why would people update what they are doing or what they are thinking about... Will it not get boring and who will really want to read that stuff... well to be honest just like facebook twitter is addictive to a certain extent. I am cool is what everyone would like to project at least that's what I feel... Plus it is kind of nice to know that some people who you think of as role models are quite human and have likes and dislikes sometimes similar to our own...

I somehow could not make myself follow a actor / actress I felt they were very different from me... Also an interesting thing that I learnt is that journals keep updating their twitter page with links to articles which is very beneficial if you like keeping yourself updated...

I have officially crossed 60 posts :P, which is a huge thing for me.

Well I was generally looking at random things on the Internet and saw a site where you can list 100 things that make you happy - other than money.

My initial reaction was how hard can it be but then you reach a limit and go what else makes me happy it is kind of weird but then there are so many small seemingly insignificant things in life that also bring a smile to your face. Like a leaves rustling in the wind, a feather floating away with the wind...

When I was small I used to be happy riding my bike all around my house I used to feel cool. There were no worries just pure happiness. When I jumped into a pool I felt that sensation as though I water just going with the flow unadulterated joy and bliss. It seems soooo long ago...

So, What are your 100 things?