Happy Republic Day

A Happy republic day to everyone – January 26 – the day the greatest democracy in the World was constituted!
But let me put on my skeptical hat for some time –
Granted it is republic day and everyone is gung ho about it – I too am – I love to parade the Indian flag and feel great about it. But what are we really celebrating? This is the day our constitution was born – one of the best written constitutions in the world I am told – awesome – even if this was mentioned in the innumerous “India is Great” e-mails floating around – lets suppose it really is the bestest in the world! … It still exists only on paper!
We all seem to unanimously nod to the fact that India has great rules but pitiful enforcement!

So then why stop short of all the gung-ho about Republic Day. Why not earmark this day to take stock of all the shortcomings of our system … especially on our enforcement front! Not to point fingers at anybody but rather to simply generate a feeling that India is a democracy – by the people and more importantly “for” the people – its time we stood up and demanded our rights! Nothing more … nothing less.
A system where politicians with criminal records are not allowed.
A system where there are legal provisions to prosecute “guilty-as-charged” corrupt politicians.
A system where the people can look to the police for help.
And someday a system of self-governance … among other things!
Not that these things are far-fetched or unrealistic, but that it is our right and we should at least realize that – big step!
Lets take stock (at least today) on what has changed since the last time.
Happy Republic Day.

Hindi Song

Brij put up some nice links for Hindi Songs lyrics - amazing the kind of stuff people put up on the internet!


Then as I was looking for something (as usual) I ran into this site for Inspired Indian Film Songs - really surprising some of the songs I found there! Bappi Lahiri and Anu Malik we all know, but to see so many famous RD and Rahman songs ... well ... maybe its time I stopped getting so anal about my compositions!

Roobaroo

My recent favourite song – from the movie Rang De Basanti.
Roobaroo - Persian for “face to face”. The tune is definitely catchy (I’m no stickler for lyrics!) but the lyrics (yes – that’s me) are awesome! Very very personal and inspiring. Needless to say - another masterpiece from A R Rahman. D and I keep humming this tune and debating over the meaning/order of this song.

We hear that the movie is out in India - will watch is as soon at it hits Raleigh - before reading any reviews or opinions about the movie! A Rakesh Mehra movie (of Aks fame) - am quite certain its going to be goooooood.
In fact the album is wonderful - highly recommended by me (for whatever thats worth!)
There's another inspirational track in the album called "Khoon Chala" (Blood Runs) which delivers the message that "a Generation Awakens" - sung by Mohit Chauhan of Silk Route fame - superb track.
Nuff said! - before I make this an official Rang De Basanti album post - I shall stop my rambling :)
Back to Roobaroo ... Will translate the meaning and post it … soon (with D’s “HELP” of course). Until then here goes …

Roobaroo Lyrics - :
aye saala
abhi abhi huaa yaqeen ki aag hai mujh mein kahi
hui subaah main chal gaya
suraj ko main nigal gaya
ruu-ba-ruu roshni heyy - 2

jo gumshuda-sa khwaab tha
voh mil gaya voh khil gaya
uulon hathaa pighal gaya
kichhaa kichhaa machal gaya
sitaar mein badal gaya
ruu-ba-ruu roshni heyy - 2

(dhuaan chhataa khula gagan mera
nayi dagar naya safar mera
jo ban sake tu hamsafar mera
nazar mila zara) - 2

aandhiyon se jaghad rahi hai lau meri
ab mashaalon si bhad rahi hai lau meri
naamo nishaan rahe na rahe
ye kaaravaan rahe na rahe
ujaale mein pee gaya
roshan huaa jee gaya
kyon sehte rahe
ruu-ba-ruu roshni heyy - 2
dhuaan chhataa khula gagan mera
nayi dagar naya safar mera
jo ban sake tu hamsafar mera
nazar mila zara
ruu-ba-ruu roshni heyy - 2
aye saala - 4

Harga blog

Was asked to read about Andrew Hargadon for one of our classes – interesting chap. Liked his views on innovation and Technology brokering. Then hopped over to his blog where he made an interesting point on new technology – He says – “There is a subtle and fleeting moment early in the introduction of new technologies when society shifts from viewing these novelties in terms of their nearest existing analog and starts seeing them for what they are!” – very very true.

His recent post Toys In The Attic is super-interesting. I myself am guilty of at least three potential computers in mine :P

Need to read this guy's blog more often!

Niladri Kumar and his Zitar

That’s what he calls his 5-string electrified sitar and is in the process of patenting. It has a pick-up and is plugged into a Boss GT-6 guitar effects processor - a rocker's delight!
Had the good fortune of watching him play his zitar live at the first ever Bangalore Habba in 2003-2004. His performance - MIND BLOWING –
Watching him sitting centre-stage with the likes of Fazal and Taufiq Quereshi, Karl Peters, Louis Banks and play like he did … the guy is a genius.
Unfortunately not too many albums of his out there … available in the shops i.e. – we truly live in an age of bhangra and techno … its unbelievably hard to find albums of Indian artists.
Update – Its impossible to find CD’s of Colonial Cousins or Silk Route – they don’t make them anymore – so if you have them or know someone who has them – hang on to those CD’s friends! That’s how bad the situation is!
Getting back Niladri – his album Sitar Gaze is wonderful (still waiting to get the CD back from Sarat) and am listening to “Kali’s Son” – sweeheeeeet works. Plis listen if u can – and yes – do let me know if you find more of his works.
Rock on Niladri & Zitar.

Sticky Post for Recent posts

Indianism
Assimilation is in our culture
Iamback!
Hand Rickshaw
Best City In The World
Calcutta-Trip
All in a Day's work
Smell Of Bombay

Indianism

http://www.kaustubh.com/indianism.html
Sounds cliché but hey I liked it … thanks to Kaustubh Prasad of www.kaustubh.com fame – again stumbled over this while looking for some info on Pankaj Awasthi.

Heck it's actually a word - dictionary.com defines it as – “Devotion to or preference for the people and culture of India.” Among other things … of course!

Assimilation is in our culture – our Nature.

was looking for Pankaj Awasthi and stumbled onto http://www.shekharkapur.com/blog/
from there I stumbled over …
The Asians are coming
Kapur says – “Assimilation is what is great about Bollywood. Because India has been conquered so often, assimilation is a part of our culture. It's also the strength of the philosophies of India, the strength of hinduism: it refuses to define itself. Western cultures are more stone, eastern cultures are more water. Water doesn't define itself, it just keeps flowing.”
I concur.

Shekhar has some interesting posts
Sound So Pure
Juhu That Once
Us Immigration
Masturbating In

Iamback!

Iamback!

from a hectic and fun trip to India. 5 weeks - 5 states - 7 cities - 3 weddings - lots of eating out - lots of driving - lots of shopping - sunsets - beaches - temples - trams - buses - families - friends - emotions ... and much much much more.
Lots of things to write and so little time!

and oh, a recurring update - Bombay does not have one of the best sunsets in the world - it has THE BEST sunsets in the world - period!
random pics from the trip ...

Indian Marriages - a miracle!

Indian Marriages – I guess its always a bitter sweet symphony! Its amazing how things work in Indian marriages – nobody seems to know the order of events and details except one man – the pundit-man!
And still everybody is about doing their stuff – amidst all the chaos. Its almost like an event-management disaster waiting to happen! I write this after being an integral part of 3 marriages – yep 3 different ones (and different people) - in less than three weeks! Harsh-Aparna, Sarat-Sally and Pranav-Dipti – all in a few days!
God seriously loves my country!

The Hand Rickshaw

Calcutta still has the hand rickshaw mode of transport – a 2 seater pulled by hand. Knee jerk reaction – “no way we should ever climb one of those … its cruel to the drivers”. Soumya made a very very interesting point – “then how would they earn money?”
“wouldn’t it be better to use their services and tip them better so that they can afford to buy a conventional cycle-rickshaw or better!”
excellent point – the next day mom and I took the hand rickshaw back to the hotel – it was a very short distance and we paid the chap twice the amount he asked – all very nice – but we pretty much felt each and every bump on the road! The damn thing does not have any shock absorbers or the sorts! Heck it pretty much has cart-wheels – no air cushion in the wheels here!

The best city in the world

Bombay at night. 3 January 2006.
The best city in the world – looks its best at night … unfortunately! But amidst all the marriages, food, family and friends, we did manage to slam in a purely impulsive 6 hour drive – New Bombay to Sion to VT to Gateway to Marine Drive to Malabar Hill to Worli to Dadar to Ghatkopar to New Bombay – 80 kilometers of gooooooooood sights from 9pm to 3am. Needless to say - we did have a good pit-stop at GK (Sion) for a splurge of paani-puri, samosa, pav-bhaji and the likes. Would have loved to have Canon's pav-bhaji but that will have to wait ...
Strangely, each time that I pulled out my camera they turned off the lights!
11:55pm - at Gateway adjusting my camera to get a sweet pic of the monument and suddenly everything becomes dark! Things suddenly seem unsafe and we leave the place 
2am – at SiddhiVinayak – am adjusting the camera to get a nice closeup of the Gopura and they turn off the lights!
Seemed like the pattern for the night.

But it’s always boatloads of fun to be in Bombay – we had tea at 1am on Marine drive sitting on the wall – nice. The city never sleeps! Really.

Heck, we almost crashed into someone’s house at Malabar. In all eagerness to view the Queen’s necklace from the top of the hill, I pulled the car onto the curb – when we heard anxious voices screaming “stop”! a couple more feet and we would have been on the terrace of one of the houses and probably crashed thru the roof – what seemed to be the curb was actually the roof of one of the houses! Really Close shave!
Wonder what would have been the first few words exchanged if our car had drooped thru their roof at 2am! “Some tea?” … probably not!

Calcutta Trip

Dec 24 2005 to Dec 31 2005
Bombay-Calcutta-Jamshedpur-Bhuvaneshwar-Konark-Puri-Bhuvaneshwar-Calcutta-Bombay ... whew!

Kudos to Brij (and Maggi) for planning the entire trip so well.
An early morning flight always sucks – but what the heck – this was one of the high points of the trip – 7 days of touring India - yaaaaaaaaaay
Calcutta city was like any other city in India … only worse! It was a pleasure to see so many yellow Ambassadors as cabs! God bless Amby’s for their ability to seat 6  - and welcome to the land of trams – double yaay :)
The road to Heera’s Holiday Inn gave Brij (and the rest of us) the jitters … but it was a nice place – snug in the heart of Calcutta … a couple of blocks from Calcutta’s famous Park street!
Walking on Park Street on Christmas eve was good fun – the place was crawling with people … and we added 5 to the numbers :D Flurys was a fun place to be … albeit the waiting and pushing in the waiting lines – but hey that’s the festive spirit no?

Spellings in Calcutta are a different story altogether – we were fortunate to witness some of the most innovative spellings and sayings – and our favourite had to be “Mony loss is nothing loss but chariter loss is everythisg loss” – priceless!


The Graceful Victoria Memorial and its light show was good fun.


The Kalighat temple was an experience - I will say no more at this moment!


Lots of good yummy food at the Gupta's - novocaine for the vegetarian souls in Calcutta :) And all the cakes and pastries at the famous Flury's on Park Street.



We bumped into Mr. Ajit (almost ran over would be more appropriate) on the corner of iforgotthename street … and in less than three minutes, all of us were humbled/overjoyed/stupefied/sad to see the amazing talent of the man – the man who painted on greeting cards without a brush! Just uses his fingers and nails – awesome!

Of course the wannabe entrepreneurs in all of us started musing on the idea of trademarking his style and art and not only making big bucks but also give artists like Ajit his due! “Finger art” / “arty fingers” and the likes made their appearance and quickly got lost in the task of getting to Howrah station quickly.
We had to get to Jams for the wedding ...

All in a single day

Horsey’s marriage tomorrow … jet lag is still around - but the euphoria is keeping excitement levels high.
– All in a day’s work today
1am – walked out of the airport in Bombay
7am – woke up for the pooja
5 hours of pooja and more than 200 pictures later ;)
heavy traditional south Indian lunch
quick 45 minute shopping and Rs 8000 later
quick trip to the bride’s house to officially invite the bride’s family – and I was driving – yep barely 16 hours into the country, I was driving on Indian roads and nothing felt different … almost!
Got to get back and prepare for tomorrow – big day!

The smell of Bombay

Could smell Bombay for the first time … as soon as we walked out of the airplane at Bombay Intl. airport - despite all the headiness and sore sore throat!
Am I getting soft?

MP3 and Music

Those days of audio-cassettes, where we would listen to a tape till it got worn-out - literally! Albums were hard to come by and music got its due diligence ... an album was heard a few times before judgement was passed.
But of late, music has almost become like fast-food "to-go" - if it is not something that makes me stop what I am doing then it does not get a second chance! I don't really like that - one that it is not fair and two that I notice that I am doing something when I am listening to stuff ... not like the old times when I would stick the tape into my Walkman (a SanYo personal-cassette-player actually!) and simply “listen” to the music!
Life has gotten more complicated and music has become more diluted! Like Sarat pointed out, there’s an insane amount of music that is being produced - unlike days of yore! And with mp3's the whole situation seems like it has been put thru the blender!
Ask me my favorite albums and they mostly are the ones I heard on tape first! (‘cept Karsh Kale of course)! Bad. Not Good. Something needs to be done.
the worst thing is - I don't know what to do about it!

Random shapes

Was reading the interesting comments that Brij made in his blog about my arty-farty pics - very insightful observations by Brij (as usual).
And then D, made another insightful observation (as usual) - that she has noticed my fascination to flames, steam and other things related to fire!
Very very true - she couldn't be more correct - I am fascinated by fire.
On more pondering, I think it is to do with the randomness in shape that fire has. I I have never ever liked clean-cut and orderly designs - I have always been a stickler for random brush strokes and the likes - even scattered handwriting! - my hair, my ties, my tees ...
notes to self!

The lull after the storm

Kinda feel that way - with most of the homework and tests completed for this week.
At least no more sleepless nights working ...

Kinda unsure what to do - feels strange now that the weight's lifted! But I guess this is only momentary - with India 7 days away - things are going to get hectic soon!

arty farty pics - 2

quick snap in a store on Bourbon Street - New Orleans (Dec 2004)... will buy one of these busts someday :(


Diwali diyas at home (2002) - love the way the flames move in different directions.


selftest - with the JVC camcorder - March 2002 - lots of trial and error to get that right ... working by myself