Fighting death

I have already wet my eyes even before writing this blog.

 

One of our colleagues in office, Alfred was told by the doctors that he will have only 5 more months to live.

 

Alfred is young at heart and soul type of person. He is young, intelligent and loved by all. He has a beautiful wife and small cute little kids. He is suffering from cancer. Initially he was told that he would be cured by the much painful chemotherapy treatment which he was undergoing. Today he went to hospital for initial discussion with the Oncologist just to discover that he has only 5 months more to live. He does not believe in it. He firmly believes that there is more to life because he just feels better.

 

Few months back, he was totally a man full of life and enthusiasm and now a sudden change of fate has drowned the hopes to depth. It is all in the hands of God, when He roars no one says anything.

 

Then too, I would pray for to the Almighty that Alfred gets more on life and wish that doctors are wrong in predicting his expiry and may he live longer to fulfill all his dreams and support his family. And I really want this magic to happen to him.

 

God bless you Alfred. May you live longer.

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ICC World Twenty20 England '09 exclusively on YAHOO! CRICKET

People in India, I admire the most - Sachin Tendulkar

“Commit all your crimes when HE is playing. Because even God is watching.”

 

I would probably commit an injustice to myself if I had not begun to this series without God. Every new and good things are to be started with the name of God is what we follow as a ritual here in India. Less of a ritual and more of a respect here. Yes, God here means Sachin Tendulkar.

 

I am not going to write in something extra-ordinary or something which is special or unknown to anyone. Because He is a kind of genre which is known by almost everyone in India, and why in India itself, over the entire world (well at least the cricket playing nations). Having completed 20 years in International Cricket, He is no doubt a legend to all of us. People’s love knows no bounds when it comes to Him, such is His aura.

 

Ever heard of Tendulkar fixed in news except the Ferrari incident? NO. And BTW Ferrari incident was something which was not His fault.

Ever heard of Tendulkar being banned or disqualified for matches due to indecent behavior? NO.

You name a negative thing and Tendulkar won’t be even besides it. Extremely clean and charismatic character, a boy with King Midas feature. He turned every moment in cricket into gold for His fans. We Indians are so sensitive about cricket, it being our religion. Even if we know at the bottom of our hearts that India is going to lose a match for sure, we have this unprecedented ray of hope shining from nowhere beneath us just because God is still on crease. He might not make India win it, but then too we have faith in His magic. Such is his caliber. Much like the ‘jadoo ka chirag’. And how many us switch off their TVs when He is no more on the ground? I do that. Personally I prefer football over cricket (50 overs), but when Sachin is batting, I can shed anything to see Him bat.

 

A short heighted man with ruffled hairstyle, extremely calm and composed body language, guided with pads and helmet and an MRF run scoring machine in His hands -  He is totally a disaster for the opponents. After 20 years of playing world class cricket, almost all the top notch bowlers know His weakness in batting and can articulate a strategy to get His wicket in the initial overs of the match. But then too, no one dare to under-look or ignore His stature. They have got to get a strategy even if He is ill or injured. He is that feared a batsmen. Extremely talented, playing almost every shot in the definition of cricket dictionary and not only playing, mastering it even, this little (I mean only the height) guy is a bazooka. If He grooves well, He is unstoppable by any force or means. The beauty of cricket and batting can be seen with His style of batting. He gives cricket that earning edge over all games. He is the sole to Indian cricket era.

 

I wonder what would happen to matches after Tendulkar retires. I know, I am being a lot more sentimental as there are many guys like MSD, YS, RS, ZK, etc. But Sachin is Sachin. No one can blend the taste of cricket so beautifully as done by the God. No controversies, no counter verbal acts. He makes every other person respect Him just with the help of his bat.

 

To coin in a great incident over here, sometime last year, during Challenger’s trophy, in some practice match, Sreesanth was bowling to Sachin. After 3 balls from him which Sachin could not play, he got air off his head. So he walked towards Tendulkar after the 3^rd ball and patted His butt in arrogance. To this, very obviously Sachin did not utter even a word. On the 4^th ball He hit him for a huge six like a slap on a face, approached him and said, ‘Don’t ever come near to me’. After this, Sreesanth got embedded on his mind for ever that he messed up with the wrong guy. He makes others respect him just with his bat. No words, no gestures, no dialogs, no complaints, it is just His bat and one tight slap on the bowler’s face.

 

How can we forget about Sharjah Cup 1998. He tormented the Aussie attack and Warne commented that he dreamt of Tendulkar every night hitting him huge over the ropes. Sachin is extremely polite as a person. He is dreadly only when he bats. He is unstoppable. And better not to mess with Him. He is a kind of player to hit you big by calling for it. It’s not a gamble my friend. Its serious business.

 

There are plenty of occasions when Sachin has scored a century and India has lost the matches. Infact, according to the statistics more than half of the time India has lost the matches while Sachin scoring a ton. And there are plenty of occasions when he wasn’t in a good form to the delight of the opponents. And then I would say

 

“Form is temporary, but class is permanent.”

 

BBC once quoted on Him, “Beneath the helmet, under that unruly curly hair, inside the cranium, there is something we don't know, something beyond scientific measure. Something that allows him to soar, to roam a territory of sport that, forget us, even those who are gifted enough to play alongside him cannot even fathom. When he goes out to bat, people switch on their TV sets and switch off their lives”

 

Glenn McGrath on Sachin, “The joy he brings to the millions of his countrymen, the grace with which he handles all the adulation and the expectations and his innate humility - all make for a one-in-a-billion individual”

Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sachin, “India me aap Prime Minister ko ek Baar Katghare me khada kar sakte ho.. Par Sachin Tendulkar par Ungli tak nahi utha Sakte..”

And this one is the best: Matthew Hayden on Sachin, “I HAVE SEEN GOD, HE BATS AT NO.4 FOR INDIA”

With almost every record to his name, countless fans, boundless runs, great achievements, success at his doorstep, the only thing I dream about is that, India should win this world cup with Sachin playing in it. Even Sachin has commented desires on the same; He has never won a world cup for India. This would be the best possible end to and awesome era of cricket and the highest mark on his career.

 

We wish you all the best and we all love you Sachin.

Puppet !!

Ever ended up with piles of things at the same time? It is indeed a deadlier feeling. No, I am not talking about loads of work or chores to do. I am talking about responsibilities.

Having a job shifted to Mumbai compelled me to go for looking a home which I can call my own. And believe me buying an apartment is the hardest and the most complex thing in the world next to rocket science.

After roaming places and tasting all the dust and sweat, you finally get an apartment. But then it pinches your pocket. Because, when you decide a budget for something, it always fall short of about 8-10%. You decide to buy a car and fix your budget up to 4 lacs. But unfortunately you like a car which is priced at around 5 lacs. Same is with buying an apartment. So you plan up all the investments, look for all the FDs and funds and somehow adjust feeling the punch in your own self. Once you are into that tension (here, being into a tension means virtually being out of tension), you are pushed for getting married for being over an age of 27-28 yrs. Then another herculean task arises in front of you. And mind that, you are working hard in offices till late hours. So even that is not a cooler life as you would think of.

This race of life is just so that you probably think, that once you are done with these major things in life, you can live your age hood much peacefully. But in most of the cases, this is not the case. Because, human needs are unlimited. You grow, your salary grows, so does your needs. And the vicious circle of matrix called life continues.

Then once you get married, life changes drastically. And I am not going to highlight that part here, as there can ne n number of situations and protocols for n number of people. Hence, the wheel of life goes on and on till it gets worn out.

And then probably, when you are old enough to run or get up without support you just think about the race of life, just to find that life always wins in all the scenarios. And you were just a mere puppet which life used to play along.

Money has no memory..... Experience has....

You will never know what the total cost of your education was, but for a lifetime you will recall and relive the memories of schools and colleges. Few years from now, you will forget the amount you paid to settle the hospitalization bill, but will ever cherish having saved your mother's life or the life you get to live with the just born. You won't remember the cost of your honeymoon, but to the last breath remember the experiences of the bliss of togetherness. Money has no memory.  Experience has…..

Good times and bad times, times of prosperity and times of poverty, times when the future looked so secure and times when you didn't know from where the tomorrow will come. Life has been in one way or the other a roller-coaster ride for everyone. Beyond all that abundance and beyond all that deprivation, what remains is the memory of experiences. Sometimes the wallet was full. Sometimes even the pocket was empty. There was enough and you still had reasons to frown. There wasn't enough and you still had reasons to smile. Today, you can look back with tears of gratitude for all the times you had laughed together, and also look back with a smile at all the times you cried alone. All in all, life filled you with experiences to create a history of your own self, and you alone can remember them all.

The first time you balanced yourself on your cycle without support.
The first time she said 'yes' and it was two years since you proposed.
The first cry, the first steps, the first word, the first kiss. All of your child.
The first gift you bought for your parents and the first gift your daughter gave you.
The first award, the first public appreciation, the first stage performance
And the list is endless. Experiences……………..with timeless memory.

No denying that anything that's material cost money, but the fact remains the cost of the experience will be forgotten, but the experience never.

So, what if it's economic recession? Let it be, but let there not be a recession to the quality of your life. You can still take your parents, if not on a pilgrimage, at least to the local temple. You can still play with your children, if not on an international holiday, at least in the local park. It doesn't cost money to lie down or to take a loved one onto your lap. Nice time to train the employees, create leadership availability and be ready for the wonderful times when they arrive. Hey! Aspects like your health, knowledge development and spiritual growth are not economy dependent.

Time will pass. Economy will revive. Currency will soon be in current. And in all this, I don't want you to look back and realize you did nothing but stayed in gloom. Recession can make you lose out on money. Let it not make you lose out on experiences. If you are not happy with what you have, no matter how much more you have, you will still not be happy.

Coz money has no memory, but experience has…..

PS: This story was forwarded via email. Its actual source is unknown.

Child Labour

And we call ourselves a developing nation!

When we witness the very brutal scene of child labor and do nothing. I don’t know about others, but my one and only concern about being a socialist is being against child labor. Back in school, I always read that illiteracy is the root cause of all evils. So true. Small chaps in around almost every corner of the country are compelled to face these brutal and inhumane deeds which we are not even aware of all our lives.

They are forced to work at tea stall, garment shops, dump yards, etc, for little or no wages. And they work for as many as 10-12 hrs a day. For all the amount of time when we (IT professionals) are on bench and enjoying an online Sudoku or a nice sip of coffee in an air conditioned office, these little innocent children of God are facing the most brutal and adverse conditions of their lives.

And you know what the worst part is? No one gives a f**k about it. It has been legally banned to hire a child and to practice child labor. But who the f**k cares about rules and laws in India?

These young kids, who should probably be given at least an un-torn piece of clothing and minimal education to make them wise are rubbing their fates at work we can’t even imagine. They are molding iron in hot furnaces in extremely hazardous conditions, serving tea to utter bast**ds, cleaning cars and buses in garages and doing all the shitty work they are not supposed to do, and that without or minimal wages.

I find many forces responsible for that one child’s fate. First and foremost are their parents. When you can’t raise your child why the f**k do you give birth to them. Just because you can , doesn’t mean you should create babies and then leave them at stations and roads and ask them to beg or leave them without any clothing, shelter and food wandering all the places.

Then, why is the government in place. To make laws and to strictly follow these laws and punish those who don’t. Such is their simple job. But such a cheap character is portrayed by so called politicians now a days, that they are in-efficient to solve such ground reality harshness. What is the use of all the nuclear deals and oil allies and all the billions of dollars in projects when you can’t eradicate a small bug in the system?

Most of the problems threatening India today are due to lack of awareness. Media can go to utter bullshit things to create hype of all the unwanted and shitty facts (?) but they won’t go and create awareness of such grave scenarios like child labor or raising literacy. Why are all responsible people so f**king careless about their responsibilities? No doubt, every other Indian utters a word that ‘India ka kuch nahi ho sakta’. I somewhat agree to these workforces now. Because, a common man is helpless (?) and an extra-ordinary man is too way beyond of all these concerns.

Cricketers and film stars who drive India crazy by their style quotient have so much to their credibility to give it back to the society. But they are no humans, coz they don’t know how to give back. And so is their morale - low and tweak. Hats off to Sachin Tendular who recently announced that he will be sponsoring the education of 200 poor children. These are men of honor. I bow to such people. And believe me, whatever I can do for such concerns, I will do.

It is high time that educated and knowledgeable people like us, take the responsibility of driving our society in particular and India in general to a successful path. We just can’t rely on the government for solving all the problems faced my mankind. We just can’t completely rely on God to do all the justice. Coz He helps only those who help themselves.

Aspire a feeling of help towards other, to those who are less fortunate, to those who struggle their lives just for one meal a day, to those who are physically challenged, to those who, unfortunately, belong to the under privileged societies. For, even they are human. And the war is not (or rather should not be) against humanity.

Lets inculcate a feeling of humanity within us. Lets plan to heal the world. For then, we can at least heal one life.

New York Times on Indian Elections !

It is truly the greatest show on Earth, an ode to a diverse and democratic ethos, where 700 million + of humanity vote, providing their small part in directing their ancient civilization into the future. It is no less impressive when done in a neighborhood which includes de-stabilizing and violent Pakistan, China, and Burma.

Its challenges are immense, more so probably than anywhere else, particularly in development and fending off terrorism -- but considering these challenges and its neighbors, it is even more astounding that the most diverse nation on Earth, with hundreds of languages, all religions and cultures, is not only surviving, but thriving.

The nation where Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism were born, which is the second largest Muslim nation on Earth; where Christianity has existed for 2000 years; where the oldest Jewish synagogues and Jewish communities have resided since the Romans burnt their 2nd temple; where the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile reside; where the Zoroastrians from Persia have thrived since being thrown out of their ancient homeland; where Armenians and Syrians and many others have to come live; where the Paris-based OECD said was the largest economy on Earth for 1500 of the last 2000 years, including the 2nd largest, only 200 years ago; where 3 Muslim Presidents have been elected, where a Sikh is Prime Minister and the head of the ruling party a Catholic Italian woman, where the President is also a woman, succeeding a Muslim President who as a rocket scientist is a hero in the nation; where a booming economy is lifting 40 million out of poverty each year and is expected to have the majority of its population in the middle class already, equal to the entire US population, by 2025; where its optimism and vibrancy is manifested in its movies, arts, economic growth, and voting, despite all the incredible challenges and hardships; where all the great powers are vying for influence, as it itself finds its place in the world.

Where all of this is happening, is India, and as greater than 1/10th of humanity gets ready to vote, it is an inspiration to all the World.

Mysterious element called life ....

Sorry friends, for being so delayed in posting the 'next' blog. You see, I remain more than the word busy actually means, that I get no time even for the simplest chores of having a dinner and getting a 6-hr sleep. Well, that is life for me at this moment. And I have no grudges about it.

 

So, that is the obvious reason, I had to put my 'to-do' blogs in a pending state. But, today I find myself stealing some quick moments amidst my tragic condition to visit this page and post yet another title.

 

Nothing great as usual, at this moment, life for me is no dinner, no sleep, dreams about codes and failing test cases, no IPL, no EPL, no music, no friends, no chats, no readings, no blog postings, no 'Friends' or 'How I Met Your Mother' and not even reading inbox mails.

 

But let me tell you guys, being in a screwed up state has its own magic feeling in itself. The feeling that you have when you have 'pulled' yourself beyond your limits and when you have fallen to the deepest place possible and available is an awesome feeling. You know for sure, that nothing worse than this can ever happen, you cannot fall any further beyond this. You cannot bruise yourself more than this. And this is reaching to the pinnacle from where you see everything clearly and when you have the confidence that everything possible thing has been stretched to its maximum. It can't go beyond this. I feel the same way these days.

 

With lots of interesting things happening in around me, I am unable to see this world as most of you guys see it. IPL having its major turnarounds (with Mumbai Indians on a winning streak, yeah MI is my favorite team, being a Mumbaite this is a quite obvious thing), EPL is as awesome as it could get, Steve Balmer visiting Microsoft and snaps with him, parents out of town which leaves my home empty to have fun and many more things. But it is like you have the football in front of you and goal post ahead of you, but you can't kick the ball because of bruised knee.

 

But, life goes on. I believe life has everything in store for you. Joy, sorrow, happiness, heartbreaks, companionships, loneliness, friends. But the worst tornado arrives when you get all the undesirable things together.

 

Life is the most amazing and the biggest mystery ever created by God. At times, it is just so simple. And at times, it can break your brain nerve and freeze your WBC's. Cheers to the mysterious element called life :-)

Freaked Out !!!

Hi Guys,

I am totally freaked out. When you are out of time, you are just OUT OF TIME. Then you can't even find time to hog, to watch, to live to do anything else. All you do is code and keep on coding. The vicious cycle of work, review and rework starts and takes it stroll over you. You are completely bemused  in it.

 

Same is my conditions, I am working for more than required hours now a days from past 3 weeks and that is keeping me away from my blogs. Today anyway I thought of stealing at least some time to write a short one.

 

IPL has started, but by the time, I reach home all the matches are over. Thanks to EPL that keeps me amused in the wee hours too. Life is asking much more to work than for me to demand. That keeps even the simplest and smallest of my chores in pending state.

 

Seriously looking forward to the extra long weekend when I could possibly breathe in a little life in myself.

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Never, EVER owe a 'Sorry' !!!

Never ever, EVER get yourself into a situation where you need to say sorry to someone. I mean, who knows it better than me that there can be zillion of times in your life when you desperately need to say a sorry to someone for the things you did which probably you shouldn't have. I have done it more than actually necessary. And today I realize I have done a grave mistake.

 

I do not say, never say sorry to anyone, say it when someone gets pushed by you in a crowded place (it's a pleasant gesture), or say it when someone tells you a bad news. But never say it for your mistakes, rather never owe it. Wait, I mean never ever commit such mistakes that you need to say a sorry. Because it's after effects are disastrous. Every time I arrive at a point to say a sorry, I lose all the zeal, enthusiasm in me and start becoming depressed and paranoid (yes, I have those curses). I lose all the concentration even from the smallest and simplest of things, from life, from food, from everything. At that time, the only thing I feel is that 'I wish, I would have never done that'. But now, there is no way back.

 

I am not against the word 'sorry', but what pinches and pushes me is the suicidal feeling it brings within you. The feeling that you have committed a blunder. What an a**h*le you are. The guilt, the negativity ruins it all. It's like, 100 good things and 1 bad thing and all is gone. Its more serious and devilish than you think.

 

Well, to avoid getting into such a crappy situation, do not take chances. At least the ones in which you need to owe a sorry if things get screwed up.  Be doubly sure of the things you do, say, write or convey to anyone. Think about the consequences and aftermaths. You just need to be more thoughtful. If you have the slightest of doubt in your mind, take a pause or clarify the doubt and then head forwards. Getting doubts in mind is, what I think, Gods way of telling us 'Don't do it'. You just need to get that call.

 

And believe me friends, saying sorry is not that beautiful thing. Having said all, what if you have already committed a mistake, already said things which you regret now? Just relax, try to solace with things. Because you cannot live with a tornado in your mind. Sometimes sorry is inevitable. So better clarify it, say a sorry and end it up. And keep in mind, NEVER to commit such mistakes again. Because, doing things wrong once is a mistake and twice is foolishness.

 

So why do you think I have written this blog? Because I know what foolishness means. :-)

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May be ... I'll be back ....

Hi Guys :-(

This very smiley denotes that I am totally exhausted by doing coding. I mean, with reference to my earlier blog titled "Do I hate coding?", I would like to say here that I do not actually hate it, but I am tired to do it, taking into consideration probably my incapacity.

 

I mean seriously guys, when you would read this blog as a third person, you would feel what a loser I am to go hands up in front of the most complex application (technically as well functionally). Because I would do the same. I have had always more than loved coding considering the fact that it gives me a chance to become the DEVELOPER. The creator of something in this world. But sooner, I am afraid to know that I see this feeling diminishing within me. After spending loads and loads of hour on a particular chunk of code just to analyze as simplest thing as deleting a particular record from the table (yeah, it may sound much much simpler) but believe me, it's more complex than even you can think of; I have finally decided to give up.

 

Analysis sucks. I mean how come I am supposed to analyze a rocket science code when only I have been doing the boat sciences?

 

PS: It might be a possibility that the things are simpler and I am not able to foresee them clearly due to over work, and may be in due time after the air is cleared, it becomes just a matter of few minutes. Coz I also believe that when things go wrong, they go wrong big time. May be you just need to overcome yourself from this depressing phase of life. The only fear I grudge about is that this phase tends to occur more often in my life now a days. :-)

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