13 Interesting facts about Google

1.       The prime reason the Google home page is so bare is due to the fact that the founders didn’t know HTML and just wanted a quick interface. In fact it was noted that the submit button had a long time coming and hitting the RETURN key was the only way to burst Google into life.

2.       Due to the sparseness of the homepage, in early user tests they noted people just sitting looking at the screen. After a minute of nothingness, the tester intervened and asked ‘What’s up?’ to which they replied “We are waiting for the rest of it”. To solve that particular problem the Google Copyright message was inserted to act as a crude end of page marker.

3.       One of the biggest leap in search usage came about when they introduced their much improved spell checker giving birth to the “Did you mean…” feature. This instantly doubled their traffic, but they had some interesting discussions on how best to place that information, as most people simply tuned that out. But they discovered the placement at the bottom of the results was the most effective area.

4.       The infamous “I’m feeling lucky” (When a user clicks on this button the user is taken directly to the first search result, bypassing the search engine results page) is nearly never used. However, in trials it was found that removing it would somehow reduce the Google experience. Users wanted it kept. It was a comfort button.

5.       Orkut is very popular in Brazil. Orkut was the brainchild of a very intelligent Google engineer who was pretty much given free reign to run with it, without having to go through the normal Google UI procedures, hence the reason it doesn’t look or feel like a Google application.

6.       Google makes changes small-and-often. They will sometimes trial a particular feature with a set of users from a given network subnet; for example Excite@Home users often get to see new features. They aren’t told of this, just presented with the new UI and observed how they use it.

7.       Google has the largest network of translators in the world.

8.       They use the 20% / 5% rules. If at least 20% of people use a feature, then it will be included. At least 5% of people need to use a particular search preference before it will make it into the ‘Advanced Preferences’.

9.       They have found in user testing, that a small number of people are very typical of the larger user base. They run labs continually and always monitoring how people use a page of results.

10.    Gmail was used internally for nearly 2years prior to launch to the public. They discovered there was approximately 6 types of email users, and Gmail has been designed to accommodate these 6.

11.    They listen to feedback actively. Emailing Google isn’t emailing a blackhole.

12.    Employees are encouraged to use 20% of their time working on their own projects. Google News, Orkut are both examples of projects that grew from this working model.

13.    Quote: Give Users What They Want When They Want It.

Growing Up?

I remember when I was a kid I was so much excited about the Diwali celebrations and all the fuss around it. I used to go shopping with dad, wear new clothes on the auspicious occasion, take snaps, perform pooja, visit relatives, fire crackers, play around; it was fun all the way. But as years passed, I have stopped lighting crackers. I do celebrate it but probably not with even half of the zeal I used to in past years. It has become a mere formality now. What has happened?

And here, I am not talking just about me, but about the entire generation in all. We could see for ourselves how low was the enthusiasm level for Ganapati and Holi celebrations this year (may be Swine Flu was just the reason of time), then the new years? I remember I used to get enthralled during new year eves by some or the other thing – may be it the all night drives on our bikes, eating Chinese, watching movies or just laying off and goofing up. But lately, I don’t even go out. Moreover, I don’t even watch a lot of TV on that day (yes, TV is the ultimate time pass on new year’s eve). All the excitement has been dampened by God knows what. Is it the increased wisdom, or just a lull in this phase of life I call it as quarter-life crisis(http://goneintothewild.blogspot.com/2009/09/quarter-life-crisis.html), or is it just the matter of fact that we are grownups now? I don’t know what, but surely I am not happy with all these things.

I mean, yesterday while returning from office, I saw some kids lighting fire crackers, running around and having absolute fun. They were totally engrossed with the ‘Diwali’ thing. I mean what more a kid can ask for – the exams are over, they have got a decent 18 day Diwali vacation, they have got new clothes; it is all exciting. Looking at them I was kind of bemused as to why I can’t be the same way they are. Why can’t I leave back all my worries and just go and enjoy.  And I was clueless. I laid on bed thinking about this which made me all the more depressed. Had some ‘Arrested Development’ episodes to change my mood and then I ended my day.

Also during my last birthday few months back when I turned 24, I felt the same. I had all my friends, relatives, parents having a ball party for this occasion and probably I was only person who was least excited about it. I also had a mention of this in (http://goneintothewild.blogspot.com/2009/04/happy-birthday.html).

It is a down trend in all the things. Whether it’s shopping or visiting relatives, or celebrating occasions. Or is it the change in the season after your teenage is over? I mean, the things I used to like, I don’t like them anymore. And now, I like new things. I love watching movies, I love partying with age old friends, I love blogging; which I used to do it earlier too but not in the volume as I do it now.

Right :-) So here I get the equation of life. Probably, this is a phase where we tend to shed our old values, thoughts, hobbies and move on to a new life. A new beginning with a new thought ideology, a new wisdom, a new process, new dreams. Probably much bigger than we earlier had.

This is probably what they call - ‘growing up’.

Happy Diwali !

It's the "Festival of Lights",
It's again the day of Diwali,
It's time to dress up folks,
It's time to adorn the thali.

It's the occasion to throng the temples,
Pray to the Gods and give them offerings,
It's an opportunity to entreat the deities,
To bless us all and rid us of sufferings.

It's the day to light the diyas,
Ignite the rockets and burst crackers,
But it's also the time to be safe,
From the fireworks and all the sparklers.

It's the season to pay a visit,
To all our friends and relations,
To hand them over sweets and presents,
Diwali is a splendid occasion.
But while you spend a time of joy,
Don't think it's merriment all the way,
Out there wait many of those,
For whom it's no time to be gay.

Denied of laughter and smiles for days,
They know not what it is to enjoy,
Can you not share something you have,
Can you not bring them a little joy?
When you can make someone else smile
When you can be someone's ally
That's when you can yourself be glad
That's when you'll have a HAPPY DIWALI!

CEO's vs our Mantris

Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia has endorsed the warning issued by corporate affairs minister Salman Khursheed that the sarkar is thinking of regulating the vulgar salaries and perks currently enjoyed by some private sector CEOs in India. The minister added that the allegedly overpaid fat cats of India Inc should take a tip from the sarkar and learn a few lessons about austerity, the official new buzzword in official circles. So, should the salary slips of India Inc be slashed? The workmen must be worthy of their wages. But are they, in this case Mukesh Ambani reportedly paid himself a salary of Rs 44.02 crore in 2007-08 , his brother Anil, lashed out Rs 30.02 crore for his own salary over the same period. Other top salaried CEOs were Sunil Mittal of Bharti Airtel (Rs 22.89 crore), Pawan Munjal of Hero Honda (Rs 15.73 crore) and A M Naik of Larsen & Toubro (Rs 8.39 crore).

Compared with these figures, sarkari salaries including those drawn by ministers do seem laudably modest at first squint. Your average mantriji gets an MPs basic salary of Rs 1,92,000 per annum, plus Rs 24,000. In addition, however, a minister gets a slew of perks: a bungalow in the poshest part of city, plus allowances which, together with salary, reportedly total up to some Rs 11lakh per month. Plus a personal staff of 16 (for cabinet ministers) and 13 (for deputy ministers). Plus security guards, a fleet of at least three cars (with petrol thrown in, naturally), and unlimited domestic and international phone calls. Plus free train and air travel. That is a lot of pluses. Even taking into account the political charade that has downgraded air travel to economy class, our mantrijis live on the saturated fat of the land. Particularly so when you consider that none of these perks which frequently include a Lutyens bungalow, which at an estimated market value of between Rs 150 and Rs 200 crore would command a rental upward of Rs 60 lakh a month, minimum invites the fringe benefit tax that the private sector is obliged to pay when it provides comparable facilities to its employees, including CEOs.

But unarguably the biggest perk enjoyed by ministers and MPs is that of unaccountability. A private sector CEO is accountable to shareholders and to the laws of the marketplace: if the company goes bust, for whatever reason, the CEO is out of a job, and thats an end to all pay and perks. This is not the case with our sarkari CEOs, our mantris. No matter however badly managed and unprofitable it is, sarkari India can never go bust: all it has to do is add to its already humungous fiscal deficit (the difference between earnings and outgoings) which in January 2009 was an estimated Rs 2,10,000 crore, and counting.

Thats the perk literally beyond price which sarkari CEOs enjoy and private sector CEOs dont : freedom from fiscal accountability . Of course, in a democracy particularly one such as Indias where the so-called anti-incumbency factor is particularly assertive sarkari CEOs who are deemed by voters to be bad managers can and are voted out of office. But this, generally speaking, happens only once in five years. And five years in politics, particularly Indian politics, is a long time: according to the National Election Watch, in five years Haryana MLAs, on an average, each added five crore to their net asset values. In the meantime, the projected revenue deficit for Haryana (i.e. the loss the state will make) for 2009-10 is over Rs 3,380 crore. Nice going, guys. Bankrupt the state, while filling your own pockets . Thats the biggest perk of sarkari office.

So, should private sector salaries and perks be regulated by the sarkar Sure. But only after the sarkar has learnt to regulate its own inestimable perk of unaccountability, which allows it to live so hugely beyond its means. And till you can do that, mantriji, please perk down about others salaries and perks.

PS: An excellent article from TOI.

The twist of fate and the stroke of luck!

Can you imagine your fate beating you ruthlessly every single time you play a game against it? What if one probe or idea does not work; you come out with another. What if that too does not work; you probably get stressed up and after burning the grey cells of your brain you decide to come up with yet another one. And what if that too does not work; (enough is enough), atleast I would give up being a normal human being. Thomas Alva Edison after his stint in inventing the light bulb, once said, “I did not fail, I just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” And by that I mean to say that he was truly a revolutionary and a great figure to have attempted a single stupid thing for over 10,000 times (if really true).

For me, the entire week was like a run in marathon, extremely tensed, tiring, drooling and unpredictable. Having my cards gamble with fate for even the slightest and simplest of things to get worked out, I was more than bemused by the stroke of luck totally against my favor.

My HTC Touch Pro went on for a toss sitting idle on my office desk. Had it been struck with the tornado and got off would be quite an understandable reason. But all of a sudden when your touch screen stops working is quite shocking and more of a turn off. I got pissed off when it did not work even after restarting for a couple of times. So I decided to Google out the possible solutions for my problem. I found 2 solutions - removing the screen guard and hard reset of the device. So I decided to try these solutions. First I removed the screen guard but no success. So I decided to go for the ultimate hard reset of the device. Very painfully I took the necessary backup of the data from my cell and went in for hard reset. It restarted with a disappointing message saying 'tap the screen to setup your windows device', and I got screwed. The touch screen isn’t working and how come for God’s sake am I going to tap the screen. I was stuck in a deadlock situation, not even able to receive calls. Finally I gave it to a vendor and then another vendor and still have not received it in a functioning state. I mean, is it rocket science that it is so difficult to fix a non working touch screen of a god dam cell phone? I just don’t understand the mechanics.

Like that wasn’t enough that I had to get into another serious crap. My home loan agent called me early in the morning saying that my sanction letter would be getting expired and that I need to re-apply for it. What if I need to re-apply for a home loan? Are you insane? Apply for one and you would come to know what pain in the neck the entire procedure is, probably even serious, irritating and frustrating than labor pains. Filing in all the documents from your salary slips to bank account statements, to your qualification certificates and what not. This also meant, I would need to pay all the processing fees as well as the transaction fees all over again, without even getting a penny from the bank. Isn’t this awful? That is still an un-decided fate, no wonder I need to bend down yet again against the unruly and unfair outlaws of nature.

And as if, this was quite a less to hang up with, my code had to screw it up big time. I had put in an almost 40 hrs stretch for that piece of crap to work in the simplest of ways, but it didn’t. IT JUST DIDNT. And finally when I discovered an alternate workaround on Thursday to silence the tsunami of my code, what do I get to hear on Friday morning? That my project contract would not be renewed by my client from November this year due to change in their organizational policies. I mean, let me be cool here without getting into shitty business of outsourcing. But we are typical donkeys, just to follow the masters even if we are brainier than them. It is more like a wish well. You wish and you pay a few bucks and outsource a project to a land called India and when you are out of all your wish or excitement or in terms money just call off the project. What does this mean to me? No, I certainly won’t be signed off as they have guaranteed me, but now everything would be at stake. My unbeaten experience in this technology, my promotion, my Amsterdam, and above all my morale and confidence.

Such has been my week, tiring, hectic , saddening and a time when everything is going wrong. And I am being nothing more than useless about the situation waiting and hoping for the starts to shine back at me again at some stroke of luck.

Sentimental fools!

I have always thought and disliked the fact that Indians are such sentimental fools at times. But then I realized that I am no different than such people.

I was just returning from a movie on my bike and suddenly I was so attracted to my bike. Having rode it for almost 7 years now, I sometime tend to ignore its condition, but today I realized that it has stood beside me for all these years whenever I needed it. And I did not give my 100% to it.

There were times when I needed to reach a place within no time and during the wee hours. There were times, when I was late for my engineering exams, there were times it was a medical urgency, there were times it was a friendly request, and it was only my bike that helped me to achieve my goals. Racing with friends in Mumbai, wheelies on the straight and quiet roads of Pune, skidding and dribbing during midnights on the lonely weekends, trips to Marine Drive and Sinhgad during the early skies, long drives on the Satara road with just 3/4^th and sneakers, night drives to Siddhivinayak temple, I had it a lot. And while writing this blog, I understand we Indians are really sentimental, possessive about our things; may be it our cell phones, cars, bikes, bicycles, our office desks, our laptops, our iPods. And nothing is wrong about it.

I was possessive about my working place too when I was in Infy. I sat on the same chair, in the same cubicle for more than 2 years. At times, I was more than bored. I always thought that it is more than 2 year I climbed the same stairs, came in the same cubicle and sat on the same machine. People around me changed, their projects changed. But I remained stuck to my place, only to realize when I was about to quit Infy, that my place was my face, meri pehchaan. During a small speech on my last day in Infosys, I was more than proud not to forget to mention that, people came, people went, their places changed almost once in 2 months, but I sat at the same place for 2 years. I felt I have achieved a herculean goal. I was a man of pride at that time.

We sometimes tend to be so simple and stupid in life, but then too it feels good. It is like, nothing is wrong in it. And then I smile to myself, Indians are real sentimental fools, and I love to be one J

Au Revoir Rahul !

Why always me, and then I get my answer. This is life and life goes on. And believe me I more than hate these 3 words.

Rahul is off for New Zealand. And you must be thinking why am I sad. It is not that I am sad about it, but parting ways is a theory which I have never understood in my life and hence never been able to digest it so easily. The very fact that I won’t be seeing him atleast for a year, makes me sick. But it is like, dil ki sunoge to kahi ke nahi rahoge. That is why I am not going to say anything more.

I love you brotha, keep rocking in New Zealand, which I am sure you will. And I am going to miss you like hell.

Pata nahi fir kab milenge :-(

Au Revoir!

Reverse - ageing?

We go to school only to find out at a later stage that life is not only about completing homework and getting thrashed up by teachers and mom. Then we go to college to enjoy the so called freedom of life. Its more than bemuses everyone that its upto each one how to choose the path of freedom. No one is going to force you to attend lectures. Sometimes, even the terms are not mandatory. That period is only to make you realize that life is not so much freedom everytime and everywhere.

Sometimes, I wonder, why do we first attend kindergarten, then schools, then colleges, then work, and then retire. Why can’t we retire at the very beginning, then after we are bored of the retirement, work a bit. Now when we have a bit of money we have ourselves admitted to the colleges. And having learnt wisdom, we can then attend schools to have all the fun and relaxation and then die peacefully without any tensions and burdens. Life would be so hilarious then!

The whole concept of life, or for that matter, any individual thing in aspect, is based on advancement. We call it as revolution or may be invention. First we make the wheel, and then we make rolling carts and then finally a car and then a better car. And this is the sole reason, why we go to school first and not retire. So that we know how to talk, walk, dress up. And then to college, so that we know how to use the freedom, how to judge the world outside. And then to work so that we can try to materialize everything we have learnt for all these years. And then finally retire after having the satisfaction of knowing and doing all the things we were supposed to do in a lifetime.

Yet I guarantee you that almost 99% of the people including me, will realize only at the end that it is not done yet. We would still be pining for more time, more money, and more of life. But life is on its way to the heaven. I have read it many a times that the “life is now” but have seldom been able to feel it, imbibe it and reveal it. It is so, so difficult. To read, it’s the simplest of thing and when it comes to practice what has been preached, it’s the most complex thing in the universe.

Life is a gift from God. Its upto us how we live it. Be a kid in the kindergarten or be an oldie in the old age home, wisdom seeks it all. The smallest (kid) and the oldest (oldie) are the people who donate nothing to the nation as such but are still the wisest of all.

If only I could seek retirement at this age (infact in the very childhood), I would have known why it is not so as I think.

If Cricket is Religion, Sachin is God !!!

What a wonderful day it was for all the cricket lovers and Sachin fans.

While in the office, I was surfing the Tendulkar Opus (http://tendulkaropus.com/static.php?page=index2) and reading some comments on Sachin Tendulkar, watching his statistics, viewing his records up-to-date and let me tell you, they are just marvelous. Sachin is a kind of personality, its more than a treat reading his stories, interviews and looking at his profile. When he flashes the news or newspapers, every Indian has a reason to smile no matter what life hails for them.

While I was reading, 43 ODI centuries and 42 Test centuries were already in his basket. Some of the hair-raising comments on him by maestros like Sir Don Bradman, Steve Waugh, Shane Warne, Brian Lara, etc were more than making my reading exciting. I also came along many (and by this I literally mean innumerable) websites/blogs/pages dedicated to the God of cricket, created by his diehard fans all throughout the world.

And when I went home, yet another tonne was knocked by the little master (little exemplifies only his height, he is bigger than the biggest when it comes to glory). I was so happy from within. I just forgot how my day went at the office and was enjoying the game. And it was a match and a series winning knock of hundred by the God himself.

It is so easy for him to beat the runs under any given circumstances, on any field, in any country, against any team with sheer determination and with the zeal to succeed even himself everytime. Otherwise, how would you justify a man (he is more than just a man, he is GOD) knocking yet another century when being in his 20^th year in the game, when almost 4^rd generations of cricket has been mortalized in front of him. Back when he was just 17, he hit his first century and down the line, even after 20 years he delivers world class cricket by hitting his 44^th ODI century.

His records are remarkable in the field of sports. His dedication, involvement and gift to the entire nation in particular and to the entire world in general is tremendous. He is someone, the entire India is proud of. No matter of caste, color or creed, no matter of whether you are a student or worker, no matter if you even don’t watch the game, every individual is fond of this man. Such is his aura. People respect him and there can be riots when anything goes against him.

Had it not been for him, probably the love for cricket wouldn’t grow to such an extent for all of us. Its more than a privilege to belong to a generation when GOD himself played for India.

To sum it all, I'll just say one statement about Sachin what Einstein had said about Gandhi: "Generations to come will scarcely believe that such a one as This, ever in flesh and blood, walked the Earth".

Hail Sachin :-)

Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay !

I would like to share with you a very romantic Chinese article about leaf, tree & wind. The article is in Cantonese. And for all the readers a direct broken English translation is present to the rescue. It's a very long read. I really love the verse "Leaf departure is because of Wind pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay". If you fall for somebody don't pretend that it didn't matter. Love is something that t you can’t afford to have mind games. Quickly tell your love, you love him/her so much.

Tree

People call me "Tree".

I had dated 5 girls when I was in Pre-U. There is one girl who I love a lot but never dared to go after. She didn't have a pretty face, good figure or an outstanding charm. She was just a very ordinary girl. I liked her. I really liked her. I liked her innocence, her frankness, her intelligence and her fragility. Reason for not going after her was that I felt somebody so ordinary like her was not a good match for me. I was also afraid that after we were together all the feelings would vanish. I was also afraid other's gossip would hurt her.

I felt that if she were my girl, she'd be mine ultimately & I didn't have to give up everything just for her. The last reason, made her accompanying me for 3 years. She watched me chase other girls, and I have made her heart cry for 3 years. She was a good actor, and me a demanding director. When I kissed my second girlfriend, she bumped into us. She was embarrassed but smiled & said, "Go on!" before running off.

The next day, her eyes were swollen like a walnut. I did not want to know what caused her to cry. Later that day, I returned from soccer training to get something & watched her cry in the classroom for an hour or so. My fourth girlfriend did not like her.

There was once when both of them quarreled. I know that based on her character she is not the type that will start the quarrel. However, I still sided my girlfriend. I shouted at her & ignored her feelings and walked off with my girlfriend. The next day, she was laughing & joking with me like nothing happened. I know she was hurt but she did not know deep down inside I was hurt too.

When I broke up with my fifth girlfriend, I asked her out. Later that day, I told her I had something to tell her. I told her about my break up.

Coincidentally, she has something to tell me too, about her getting together. I knew who the person was. His pursuit for her had been the talk of the School. I did not show her my heartache, just smiles & best wishes. Once I reached home, I could not breathe. Tears rolled & I broke down. How many times have I seen her cry for the man who did not acknowledge her presence?

During graduation, I read a SMS in my hp. It said, "Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay"

Leaf

People call me “Leaf”.

During the 3 years of Pre-U, I was on very close terms with a guy as buddy kind. However, when he had his first girlfriend, I learnt a feeling I never should have learnt - Jealousy. Sourness to the extreme limit. They were only together for 2 months. When they broke up, I hid my happiness. But after a month, he got together with another girl.

I liked him & I know he liked me. But why won't he pursue me? Since he loves me why didn't he make the first move? Whenever he had a new girlfriend, my heart would hurt. After some time, I began to suspect that this was one-sided love. If he didn't like me, why did he treat me so well? It's beyond what you will normally do for a friend. I know his likes, his habits. But his feelings towards me I can never figure out. You can't expect me a girl, to ask him. Despite that, I still wanted to be by his side. Care for him, accompany him, and love him. Hoping that one day, he will come to love me. Because of this, I waited for him. Sometimes, I wondered if I should continue waiting. The pain, the dilemma accompanied me for 3 years.

At the end of my 3rd year, a junior pursued me. He pursued me every day. He's like the cool & gentle wind, trying to blow off a leaf from a tree.

In the end, I realized that I wanted to give this wind a small footing in my heart. I know the wind will bring the leaf to a better land. Finally, leaf left the tree, but the tree only smiled & didn't ask me to stay.

Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or cause Tree didn't ask her to stay.

Wind

Because I like a girl called leaf. Because she's so dependent on tree, so I have to be a gust wind. A wind that will blow her away. When I first met her, it was 1 month after I was transferred to this new school. I saw a petite person looking at my seniors & me playing soccer. During ECA time, she always sat there. Be it alone or with her friends, looking at him. When he talked with girls, there was jealousy in her eyes. When he looked at her, there was a smile in her eyes. Looking at her became my habit.

One day, she didn't appear. I felt something missing. I can't explain the feeling except it's a kind of uneasiness. The senior was also not there as well. I went to their classroom, hid outside and saw my senior scolding her. Tears were in her eyes while he left. The next day, I saw her at her usual place, looking at him. I walked over and smiled to her. Took out a note & gave to her. She was surprised. She looked at me, smiled & accepted the note.

The next day, she appeared & passed me a note and left. It read, "Leaf's heart is too heavy and wind couldn't blow her away."

"It's not that leaf’s heart is too heavy. It’s because leaf never wanted to leave the tree." I replied her note with this statement and slowly she started to talk to me & accepted my presents & phone calls. I knew that the person she loved was not me. But I had this perseverance that one day I will make her like me. Within 4 months, I had declared my love for her no less than 20 times. Every time, she would divert away from the topic. But I never gave up. Although I knew, she would try to divert but I still bore a small ray of hope. Hoping that she will agree to be my girlfriend. I didn't hear any reply from her over the phone. I asked, "What are you doing? How come you didn't want to reply?" She said, "I'm nodding my head". "Ah?" I couldn't believe my ears. "I'm nodding my head" She replied loudly. I hung up the phone, quickly changed and took a taxi and rushed to her place & pressed her doorbell. As soon as she opened the door, I hugged her tightly.

Leaf’s departure is because of Wind’s pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay...

PS: This story was forwarded as an email and its actual source is unknown.

"Quarter Life Crisis"

It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are many things about yourself that you didn't know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you don't recognize is that they are realizing that too, and aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job... and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to start from the bottom and that scares the hell out of you.

Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn't. One minute, you are secure and then at the next moment, insecure.

You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you are and move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such a damage to you. You lie in your bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why you're doing this because you know that you aren't a bad person. You want to settle down for good because now all of a sudden that becomes top priority. Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You begin to think a companion for life is better than a hundred in the shack and for once you would not mind standing tall for that special someone which otherwise you had never thought of until now.

You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans, money, the future and making a life for yourself... and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

 

We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

 

We call it the "Quarter-life Crisis."

People are really mean

People are really mean out here. And by that I mean LITERALLY.

They have a work with you and you are God to them. And that work is done, you are no more than a piece of flesh. It is really a mean and selfish world out here. I might be exaggerating just because I got to experience it, out of many experiences, but this is a fact for most of the times.

I just don’t know what do people get by being so rude, mean and selfish in life. I just don’t understand the hell of it. And I am bloody pissed off.

May be see you later when I am in a good mood.

Happy Independence Day !!!

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high

Where knowledge is free

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments

By narrow domestic walls

Where words come out from the depth of truth

Where tireless striving stretches its arm towards perfection

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way

Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit

Where the mind is led forward by thee

Into ever-widening thought and action

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

-          Rabindranath Tagore

Freedom at the stroke of midnight was not something that was achieved by fluke 62 years ago. It was a well pre-planned and life straining effort. The effort of thousands of people, planning of the master minds, at the stake of lives of several innocent fellows, bills actions and movements of varied individuals and aspirations, without saying a word against anyone, on the path of Satyagraha and led by a thin man who barely had any clothes on his body drove us to the path of Freedom. We as young citizens can just imagine (probably can’t even do that) what freedom could mean and that too only on days like 26^th January and 15^th August. The next day arises and the same old story continues.

But it probably took much MUCH more than what we have read, thought or imagined by ourselves or for that matter any movie or book might have illustrated. It took their entire life. It is probably the costliest thing we are bearing while taking a breath in an independent India. Woh kehte hai na, hume viraasat mein mili hai Aazaadi. But do we truly respect this independence? I don’t think so. I am not here to debate on this topic. Only grave concern is we just don’t know what is the true spirit of freedom. Probably every aspect of today’s modern life is governed by this independence even if we have no (even the slightest) clue of it. There are still ill practices all throughout India in some corner or the other. There are still many things in this nation which seeks our attention. Corruption, child labor, bribes, dowry, child marriage and probably many more which we are not even aware of. Right? We (and I mean a literal WE; as in united) need to do something in this path to stand true to be called as an Indian. Just by writing our nationality as Indian in our resumes and by boasting of being an Indian when India-Pak match is going on, only makes us an Indian and not a true Indian. A thing done is worth more than thousand things said. I would die happily if I do one thing in my entire life before I die that would please me and my nation in some or the other way. And then imagine, if all of us have similar goals like this what would 1.15 billion junta of India would be able to do. We need a RDB scheme in some aspects of today’s modern world to make India grow better. And then I would be proud to say that I love my country.

Let us be proud of our country, let’s show respect in its success. Let’s keep our head high in glory for its developments. Let’s be boastful about its metros in Kolkata and Delhi, the backwaters and nature in Kerala, the IT hub in Bangalore, the BSEs and NSEs in Mumbai, the infrastructure in Andhra, the strong government in Gujarat, the tactics is J&K, the legislature in Chandigarh, the scenic beauty in Himachal,  Assam and Kashmir and about all other states and UTs which form our motherland. Lets stand united against every evil pointing to us and make India grow long, strong and prosperous.

A grande salaam to all those who devoted their lives so that today we can breathe free air. What a cost they have paid for liberating us.

I would like to quote few lines here:

A brief candle; both ends burning

An endless mile; a bus wheel turning

A friend to share the lonesome times

A handshake and a sip of wine

So say it loud and let it ring

We are all a part of everything

The future, present and the past

Fly on proud bird

You are free at last.

JAI HIND

5 Reasons not to Panic about Swine Flu

The world has learnt a lot about swine flu - much more than was known about previous pandemics, and much more rapidly. And technology allows instant sharing across the globe. Based on worldwide experience documented by scientists, here are 5 solid reasons why you should not panic:

1 Low Fatality: Out of over 2 lakh cases worldwide, the number of deaths is just short of 1,900, or, less than 1%. WHO says many countries are no longer recording confirmed cases. Actual number of cases might run into many more, which would bring down the number of people dying of swine flu to much lower than 1%. Many of the deaths are also due to underlying conditions or complications. In short, swine flu is not a killer disease like TB (death rate 3.5%) or respiratory diseases (death rate 11%). There is more likelihood of death in a traffic accident (1.8%) or a fire (1.4%) than by catching swine flu

2 Moderate Symptoms: Fear of suffering is next only to fear of death. Swine flu causes aches, fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose and in some cases vomiting. All this will make you (and your family) pretty miserable if you do get infected. But it's no different from having a severe case of common flu or cold. And, the symptoms can be reduced by taking (under doctor's guidance!) suitable painkillers and analgesics. Compare this to the suffering caused by diseases like malaria or cancer or by a stroke

3 Short Duration: The illness lasts up to a week in most cases. In some cases it may be shorter. It won't haunt you for a month or two like jaundice or typhoid. For this week you will suffer some isolation, but mainly you will be resting throughout, and having lots of fluids. No injections, no drips, no constant testing. Tamiflu is there, but studies show it only reduces the duration by one to two days

4 Complete Recovery: After the fever goes away on its own, you will feel weak for a few days — then back to normal. There are no lingering effects, no scars, no slow road to recovery. No future complication — in fact, you would have strengthened your immunity to the flu. You can start interacting with others within 24 hours

5 Panic Creates Problems: If you panic, rush around, crowd hospitals at the slightest sneeze, you might end up increasing the chances of actually getting swine flu. Besides, you will be unnecessarily choking the stretched medical system. Swine flu is a disease, not the end of the world. Treat it with respect and deal with it

 

 

Source - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Private-hospitals-reluctant-to-join-battle-against-H1N1/articleshow/4884102.cms?curpg=2

 

Get Going ....

Too many times we stand aside and let lean waters slip away,

What we have put off till tomorrow has now become today,

So don’t you sit upon the shore line and say you are satisfied,

Chose to change the rapids and dare to dance the tide!

Gone like a Black Hole

It all began good with a big bang,
With rain, bush, wood and a gang

We came into existence as great friends,
Travelling on a road which had no ends

For me, you became a huge domain,
Everything meaningful, and a good game

In my orbit, you were the captain star,
With no one around far away and far

Exemplifying team ups, friendship and good spirit,
We stood ultimately true on it

Then an asteroid struck you,
And I just could not protect you

You were gone as if you did not even exist,
May be you were angry that you were ditched

I tried to console and hold back on you,
But you were no longer seen in the darker hue

Now I just cry, rotate and revolve,
So that, misunderstandings I could solve

One loss of hope and lightning struck,
Blinded me with lack of luck

Could not revert back the loss of you,
My existence is now all more blue

I keep on orbiting still with hope,
Just assure me there is still a bit of hope

You always reflected my entire soul,
But now you are gone like a black hole.

Being Departed

My mood today: Extremely sad, depressed and lonely. Feeling very bad and very low for all the obvious reasons.

And when I am in this deep shit, you guys bring back smile to me. It will be 3 years now that we have known each other. And inspite of regular ups and downs in our lives, relations, our friendship has sneaked the peak of so called glory and reached new heights every time.

I got the first blow of it when I was about to leave all of you and head towards Bangalore. It was only me who knew what I was actually going through at that moment. The only feeling of partying ways was something more than suicidal for me. I am a bad digestor of all this stuff. It was like I was being betrayed by the very time. But they say, distance makes us grow fonder. Bangalore was an ultimate lesson of life for me. After 5 prosperous months in Infosys Mysore campus with all the necessities being spoon fed right from friends, Bangalore gave me the necessary setback to understand myself and my life more closely and seriously. I was all alone there which enabled me to think on various aspect deeply and ethically. It is like, when you near death you never lie, you never hate, you only love. And I was in the same trauma of life. Then I knew what friendship meant. Then I knew what family meant. Then I knew what true love meant. When I had nothing with me, I began to treasure everything with utmost care. It was like realizing the value of light when you have just turned blind.

Few weeks prior to leaving for Bangalore, Vaidya was to leave for Hyderabad. And I remember crying the hell out of me just while seeing him going. I do not remember I have ever cried for a guy and that too so much and that too in front of almost 100 people. But this is something I just cannot handle at all. That parting memory is still fresh in my mind as probably a lesson God wanted me to learn so that I can be more considerate.

Days passed, and I got myself transferred to Pune to live my dream life, and yes I did. Thanks to God. Rahul used to wake me up every morning and I felt so lovely about his gentle way of doing that. coz I remember how I was treated while being waked up every morning back at home. He left for UK and it was going to be almost for a year. He had a dampened heart though he tried to hide, but life goes on (these are the 3 words I hate the most in my life ... I fu**kingggggg hate it). He left from office itself and I could not go back to my cubicle. I was still unable to understand and digest the fact that I won’t be seeing him again, atleast for 10 months.

Shree remained neutral on all this, I never knew why. May be it did not matter him that much, or maybe he did not want to reveal it to us. We all made a great team. It was like partners in every crime.

But we had to depart every single time we were united. Days rolled on and I decided to leave Infosys and shift to Mumbai. I knew for myself, what this decision meant for me. I was about to leave what I chose with my heart 2 years back and rather go for a path which my brain wanted me to go for. Believe me, never agree to your brain if your heart has an equally strong decision for you. You will seldom be happy that way. I left Infy, Pune, friends, colleagues and most importantly I probably left my life there to chase the real life here.

Just want to tell you guys, missing you like hell. If I could do anything to be with you all again, believe me, I would go any far to do that. Love you loads. :-(

From Infosys to Politics - Nandan Nilekani

From an INFOSCION to a POLITICION - Nandan's Chronicles

Continuing my tryst with capturing the life and times of Nandan Nilekani in his new avatar as a Cabinet Minister, here is what he had penned after his first day in the Parliament. The last entry stopped when the House was just about to begin. Let’s see what happened thereafter….

The House was in pin drop silence. I was brimming with anticipation and excitement!!!! Manmohan had informed me that my introduction was one of the important points of the agenda. I hoped that I will be able to make my speech properly. After so many interviews and conferences, I was nervous today!!!! After the Speaker indicated that the proceedings of the House could begin, Manmohan formally introduced me to the entire House. He mentioned that as the head of the Unique Identification Authority of India, I was responsible to ensure that each and every Indian had a digital smart card as a proof of his existence.

Manmohan spoke about why I was selected and also some references to the various projects executed by me in Infosys were mentioned. The House listened with rapt attention. I was asked to say a few words and I did exactly the same!!! I thanked the Government of India for having given me this opportunity and I assured the House that I would strive to successfully deliver this project. The Speaker then formally inducted me into the House and before the proceedings could move any forward, there was a small commotion on the other side of the hall.

It was Minister of Textiles who had a comment to make before the next point on the agenda. He made a request that I should be attired in a more austere way instead of a flashy suit. It did not go well with the image of a minister who should live to serve the common man and should be less ostentatious in his habits. I stood up to reply. I offered my apologies to the Honorable Minister and assured that I shall be in a more acceptable dress next time. I felt that he was right. We also used to have corporate dress code in Infosys. So it's here as well!!!!

I sat down and felt somebody nudging me. I turned around and to my surprise; it was the former Indian skipper and one of my favorite batsman Mohd. Azharuddin. I remembered that he had recently won the elections. I smiled at him and mentioned to him that I used to like his game very much, shaking his hand. No Rolex, I noticed. Azhar told me that he would “fix” me an appointment with an Italian designer who had designed his dapper Kurta suit. An Italian designer in Milan doing Kurtas!!!!! I made a note of this and reminded myself to give this example to Friedman for his next book,” The World Markets are flattened”.

Since there was no doubt about the “Fixational” capacities of Azhar, I told him to give me the details and I would consider. The proceedings of the House went on with numerous bills being debated and passed as I sat as a passive audience waiting for my project’s turn to come up. After the lunch break, it was the moment for me!!!!

MY PROJECT”S FIRST REVIEW CAME UP FOR PRESENTATION.

I was at sea. My laptop did not have any reserve power. I went to Manmohan and apprised him of the situation. I was sweating. He calmly replied that this would not be a cause of concern. I was flummoxed!!!! The Speaker asked me to explain to the House on what were my plans for the Unique Identity Project. I replied that I have a plan prepared for 30-60-90-120 days’ milestones and I have presentation to make for which I need a power socket, a projector and a screen. I had no idea what was going to happen after this.

The next couple of minutes were a complete jolt for me. I was completely in a tizzy. Let me just summarize what happened. A Joint Cabinet Secretary Committee was set up to judge the feasibility of my request. The Under Secretaries for the Ministries of Power, IT and Broadcasting will prepare a Viability Report after scrutinizing National Security threats to my request. This was because the power socket comes under Power, laptop comes under IT and projector comes under Broadcasting. I have also been told to reconsider my timelines of 30-60-90 days and start thinking in terms of years. Probably, they are right. I did not have the foresight in this matter.

The summary of the issue is that I need to come up with a more inclusive, democratic, comprehensive long term plan for this project to be executed over the next five years. I have also been given a presentation slot 3 months from now (by which the issues related to the power cord etc will also be resolved). I am filled with mixed reactions. I was planning for a quick resolution; the management wants a strategic solution. I come out of the House and text Murthy.

“You won’t believe it but these guys work just like us. I am on a NATIONAL BENCH for the next three months!!!!!!!!”

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

Laid back life ....

I have always been wondering why do people rush all the time? Why do they always need to be in hurry? Why do they always have to look tensed. And now, when I am in Mumbai, it is truly justified. Even if you are not in hurry, the pace around you makes you one amongst them.

I have always been a lazy kind of person and having said that I hate hurries. I would rather leave home early to catch a train than leaving in hurry at the last minute to run for it. But everything has changed after coming to Mumbai. Now, I am one of those kinds. You won’t work unless you are on fire. And same is my case to an extent. And I hate being like that. But it is probably the Mumbai spirit of ‘keep walking’ even if you don’t want to.

I was tired of the very feeling and had to break to survive. And then GOA happened to me. Yes, it ‘happened’ to me. Just four of us, and we had the time of our lives. It wasn’t the first time I was visiting Goa, but it was never such a boon for us. I think Goa is synonymous to ‘laid back life’. No one has to do anything with your business. Just go there, with a can in one hand and keep on chilling. The literal feeling of ‘get chilled’ was discovered in Goa.

Far away from home, no setbacks, no jhanjhat, no phone calls, no work, no tension, it was like complete peace of mind and hence the body. I just wonder if Goa could be so pacifying to our souls, how great would be chanting in Himalayas? And hence, I have made a plan of visiting Himalayas in next 2 years or so (I am not that long term planner, but I am mostly unsure about my plans, so such a huge time frame to be safe :-)) … I want to experience life over there. With no one to sit on your head and shout to have your dinner on time, or to pay the bills, or to give your vehicle for servicing, or your manager frequently bothering you to complete the work. Its total recall from all these things. Just you and the beautiful yet sometimes scary nature.

I want to live life the laid back way. With no bothering, no follow ups, no to do lists, nothing. Get up whenever I want, do whatever I want to do or for a reason, do nothing. God bless Goa for making me realize that life rests not in concrete but nature, that life is not taking but giving, that life is more than running from life itself, life is more to be happy than to be sad. Life is more in smiling than in frowning. Life is more to love than to hate. And life is more to enjoy than to crib otherwise.

I would conclude with a saying that I love the most, which also appears as a marquee at the bottom most part of my blog-page, which is truly a short snap of what life should really REALLY be:

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways – with a glass of wine in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming”.

Breath of life ....

Venue: Training Room 4, Mumbai 4, My Office.

Purpose: To hear some stuff on 'Professional Effectiveness'

Duration: 16 Hrs

Friends, after this introduction, what do you think this is going to be? Won't it be boring? Isn't it something we usually try and succeed to avoid in our lives? Yes, at least I think the same. Why to take an effort, break the jinx and be a part of something just for filling our calendars and probably gain nothing (may be something which we will surely avoid using)? Right?

I thought let's give a chance for the only matter of fact that I believe, being in different places at different times will give me something to feed my blog. And that it is. I got more than something not only for my blog, but for my learning and life too.

Being a big fan of cinemas, the very first block of ice was broken for me when I learned that my trainer is a film director; a handsome man with a charming personality – his name is Pratish Nair from Crossroads Training Solutions. I was ready to give it a risk. Things went on pretty smoothly with sessions on various activities like team building, leadership, some profound information on keen subjects, debates, dance, singing and it was worth an experience.

I find a deep curiosity in people. If someone is smiling, I have always wondered how can he be smiling all the time. If someone is so beautiful, how can she be so awesomely beautiful. and my curiosity was pleasured by every passing hour as I came to know something about each individual there.

I found Pratish was more than awesome, for I learnt probably the simplest of all the qualities – to keep smiling no matter what, which I find as the most complex thing to imbibe in myself. He managed it superbly, blending his aura with people's experience there giving an overall output of zeal and breath of life.

People were and are always amazing. To name a few, Gaurav was sporty with whatever came in front (how can I not start with him :P), Debashish was the guy of the session, Navin and Rupendra were like chalte firte Google. They both were so amazing with statistics, one after another and a big bang. It was like a tight slap on everyone's mouth and all were dumbstruck. Purnima was the talking lady, I think she talked even more than Pratish :-). Amazing communicator with awesome hold on her language, so was Parul. The best thing of Parul, which I liked was she was so easy with emotions. So stern and firm while talking on serious issues and so jolly while dancing. Kalpesh was the question bank. He had a question even for 'why was this training being held'. Preeti was like the girl next door, she had so much to talk about but she was hardly allowed to talk by everyone. Girls, can talk so much. They don't even need a topic and they can go for hours and hours. That always make me feel that girls can always be good orators than guys, but haven't been exemplified yet in the history. Tarak and Parag were like the cool and composed guys. Pradeep was down to earth. Suleman was another quiet guy with firm feelings just like Deepak. Darshana the French tutor and Pragya – who also had so much to talk about. And not to miss Prachi – the 1983 girl. I found her most cutest, (no hard feelings Prachi). A truly cosmopolitan – Bengali by birth and married to a Hindu. Suresh who was termed Obama was selective and Micky was the girl with a bang. She usually kept quiet, but when she opened her mouth, it was for a rock solid reason. She conveyed exactly what she wanted to. Antonete is an Anglo – Indian which itself made her charming. Sujata was a family person strongly and accurately exemplifying today's Indian women. Hats off to you lady. Rohit, I found him serious but he was according to me the most knowledgeable guy along with Navin and Rupendra. And about me, I was quiet until I was presented with a 'Section 377' tag :P

I have scratched my brain more than usual to remember the names, and please forgive me if I have missed someone, which definitely I have. Deepali was the organizer of this plethora of experience bank and thanks a tonne for that Deepali. And the big show man was Pratish. Brilliant dressing sense. The second most flattering thing about him (besides his smile) was his Spanish accent in the middle of nowhere and it was damn impressive. He is so much to take from.

I am damn sure, we all will remember him and the session for a lifetime. He is writing and script for a bollywood film titled '3D' to be directed by him. A PNC production with Ranvir Shorey, Vinay Pathak and Rajat Kapoor. I am damn sure it is going to be a great success and we all wish you all the best Pratish.

Thanks for filling us with hope, positive air, removing the junk from our brains and most importantly for helping us breathe again giving us fresh life. Thanks a lot.

And friends, we would be meeting soon.

P.S.: No offence meant and no personal grudges. These are truly friendly views and comments and please do not take them to your heart.