Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, To Sur Bane Hamaara

I was browsing through channels on tv giving the remote control a hard time by pressing the random channel numbers. The poor machine had to bear the brunt on its soft buttons which worsened with my growing frustration of not finding anything worthwhile to watch. In a way, I was strangling it hard as if it was part of the conspiracy- the conspiracy to deprive me of watching something entertaining or sensible on tv.


My grandfather suddenly came up and asked me to put Doordarshan as he wanted to listen to the President's address to the nation on the Republic Day's eve. As the last resort to entertainment also seemed to be vanishing, i half heartedly switched the channel to our very own( is it??? never mind) good old Doordarshan. The advertisements and the broadcast quality still appeared the same as it was 10 yrs back. I wondered that what could be the reason for this. It was like when others were queuing up for the tasty and sumptuous dishes of liberalization and globalization, Doordarshan might have been misled to queue up in some old ration shop to get dal and chawal.That's why they seemed dull and mundane as ever,refusing to change. Anyhow, i thought it might act as the right sleeping pill for me before i have to bear the President's speech(No offence, but i just find it as repetitive and predictable as Saas Bahu sagas).



I was lost in my thoughts when something came on television which took me back in time and not only did it instil nostalgia within me, but also pumped up my mood- It was the "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, To Sur Bane Humara' song. Here was a song that i watched during my infant years when my rage for television was shaping up. So no matter how much cynical i sound about Doordarshan, it was my prima facie to the fascinating world of television.


Of course back then,i didnt understand the message the song gave( i didnt even bother much). For me the cynosure used to be the melody of the song and of course a few recognizable faces including Amitabh Bachchan, Jeetendra,Mithun Chakravorthy, Hema Malini, Sharmila Tagore, Kamal hassan and many others. I really didnt recognize exponents of other fields then, so seeing Big B hum "Mile sur mera Tumhara" made me hum with him, and i did it without fail as if it was some national responsibility placed on the tender shoulders of this young 4-5 year old.


But when i watched the video again now, surprisingly it was equally enchanting and winsome as it was back then. The melody was still euphonic, striking the right chord with the heart and the earlobes and auditory canal still made way for it to blend with all the senses. But I could appreciate the essence of the video much more now, as a 20 year old. It put forth such a beautiful message of Unity In Diversity in India; something which other countries can only envy or wonder about us. The Message of national integration was put up in such a simple yet a strong way, that it infuses a belonging to this great land.


One line "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara" being recited in 14 diffrent languages in their respective folk tunes; each reiterating the same fact- Lets all stand together forever and when "You" and "I" come together, "We" can bring a change. In the past few years, when communal and regional politics has taken over and there have been doubts over the secular fabric of Indian Union, this video not only comes as a fresh breather but also is a tight slap to the face of those who dont believe that India stands for much more than a segregated Union of states.


I had my eyes glued on this 6 minute video and I could actually recall the tune as the video kept unveiling from one frame to another; this simply showed the potent impact this had on a young mind who might have not understood the heart and soul of the song as a kid, but once he did, he could appreciate its substance much more.


There are myriad campaigns going on to lionize India in front of the world with Incredible India campaigns. Of course its important to showcase the technological developments we've made and to epitomize our improvement in all spheres. But i believe a campaign like this is a paragon of India and would stay that way forever, as this is something which gives us a distinctive identity not at par, but well above the rest. This is a song which takes us back to the Preamble of our Constitution which glorified India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. A country whose pillars of strength are Unity. Integrity and Fraternity.It reminds us, that this country truly is- Of the people, FOr the people and By the people.


And if you are not a person who'd go into the nitty gritties, take a look at it for sheer entertainment value. This video has the biggest names in the field of arts, entertainment and sports( all looking younger ) who have been a prime mover in their fields for the past few decades.


So all the YouTube buffs out there, maybe its time to see something different and worthwhile now. Just take a look at this video and you'll realize the mantle it carries, you'll realize what it symbolizes. And if you're anything like me, it will not only bring back fond memories within you, but also incorporate a sense of pride for your nation. It will leave a smile on your face and that's where the common nexus between entertainment and the nation lies. If both of them can leave a smile and a feel good sense within you, then I'm sure they are serving their purpose.

SO its time to feel good about your nation, and stop being cynical about it. Come on and lets all sing this together "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, To sur Bane Humara".

THe Shawshank Redemption- A look within

What's CINEMA? To me, cinema is a platform to see a reflection of me and my thoughts presented in a creative way. There are billions like me, who may think likewise. That's what makes the art of making movies a challenge and an equally exciting job.There are movies we just watch,enjoy and forget, some arent even worth wasting thoughts or words on, but some stay with us. Some force us to do something which we all hate in a way but if done with honesty transforms our lives-INTROSPECTION. Referring to "The Shawashank Redemption" only as a movie would be like to imagine a heart without a soul,a dawn without sunrise or a mind without thoughts.Its not just a movie, its an experience in itself. Its a kaleidoscope of the emotions that we feel and a true epitome of the power of hope in life.

Its not a regular run of the mill potboiler, or a candyfloss chick flick.Its a movie that poses a question; a question that's so strong that it rips through your heart and compels you to find an answer from deep down within yourself. A question about life, a question about hope, a question whether one should be docile and accept what's forced upon us or whether to fight back with persistance. Its a movie that highlights a different kind of EQ- a term i would like to refer as Endurance Quotient. How long can you go on taking the pain, how long can you keep the small ray of hope shining against the maelstrom of malafide, how long do you live a life of purpose before being a dead soul in an alive body. The answers to these lie in this magnum opus.


I'm not going to focus on the story of the movie. For me what i construed out of it and what i took as an experience is more important.The protagonist Andy Dufresne came out as a person who belonged to a rare species. THe characteristic traits he possessed are rarely seen in people, but the ones who've them incorporated in their DNA, turn out to be the ones whose life have substance and relevance. THe guy was convicted for a crime he never did(revealed later in the movie), he was forced to live amongst goons and murderers who were poles apart from his life of a hotshot banker, he was assaulted- mentally,physically and sexually.But he wasnt bogged down.His immaculate persistence and his belief in HOPE kept the fire in the belly going even though he stayed placid and rock solid on the outer facade.

He made friends with Red(Morgan Freeman:unparalleled as ever) and other prisoner mates and slowly but steadily instilled hope in them and gave them moments to cherish. Fancy the scene where he gets them all chilled beer by helping Captain Hadley with his finance conundrum, or the one where he plays a classic music piece on the loudspeaker for everyone to have that one moment of ecstasy in a life of mundane suffering. Be it efforts to get the library facilities improved or be it his attempts to get tommy to pass the exam, Andy came as a person of distinct patience and will.Someone who breaks the misconception that you need to be happy go lucky and all sanguine to be a people's person.His escape is a mark of excellence, as Morgan's voiceover puts it "He crawled through a river of shit and came out clean on the other side". Andy epitomizes a perfect example of someone who cant be confined in any form of the matter." Some birds aren't meant to be caged, their feathers are just too bright" .


Shawshank presents a very strong issue of being INSTITUTIONALIZED. The sequence when Brooks moves out after spending close to 50 yrs in the prison, the hardships he faces, the way he feels as a prisoner in a free world; the one who's expendible, one who has no purpose to wake up every morning. He finally succumbs to it and hangs himself. The sequence presents a grim yet a true picture of how one ,if forced to leave an accustomed zone; no matter how harsh it is,can fall like a pack of cards. They just cant get over the phobia of leaving their own little world of comfort, in short they get institutionalized.

Red faces the same imbroglio when set free, and he feels the same claustrophobia in the open spaces, the only difference is the ray of hope instilled in him by his friend Andy, not to give up. This little food for thought strengthens him to move on with a sense of purpose and to believe that 'Hope is not a dangerous thing'.


The last 15-20 minutes of the movie leave you spellbound. You just cant get over the experience you witness during this period. The brilliant escape of Andy from the prison, and the unveiling of his plan which took him 20 yrs to be implemented. It showcased the extreme levels of patience, endurance, power of being a sangfroid, and never say die attitude. These are some of the most powerful moments that cinema can ever offer.


The movie has spectacular performances, each frame outperforming the one before. But for me, its MOrgan Freeman's subtle performance that stands out. THe way during the entire movie, his voice over keeps the cadence flowing, is exemplary. It infused life into the movie that made it an unforgettable experience


THe Shawshank Redemption is a masterpiece and is a must watch.One gains a lot out of it apart from entertainment. And it gives us a sound advice that can be emulated throughtout our lives. So in times of despair,or in any situation of grim dilemma, just recall the message of the movie- "Fear sets you prisoner, Hope sets you free". You'll find the answer.

Motorcycle Diaries

"When you ought to, you got to". That's how the attitude flows in people who make up their minds to break the monotony. Its about going that extra mile to kick that one negative thought out of your system, which has been impending the plans for so long. That plan can be anything- it can be either taking out time for what you love to do(reading, sketching, biking, adventure trips or simply taking time out for yourself cogitating and listening to soothing music piece of your favorite band or artist). The basic idea is to come out of the incarceration of being "THE VICTIM OF ROUTINE" and framing your mind to make the most of your time so that the day leaves you invigorated.


We, a bunch of friends, had long been thinking of picking up our bikes and hitting the road with vrooooom, unquestioning and relentless. All we wanted to do was to trust the road (who, as one of my friend rightly puts, is a gr8 friend) and our instincts to take us wherever we could...like a stream of water which flows in any direction without being biased or partisan about direction or purpose. We wanted to be the Beatniks who were all set to break the fetters that had clandestinely crept all over us. So it was high time that we put our minds on the offline mode, and let the heart ring and sing the tone that subconsciously we always wanted to hear.

But all said and done, the so called potent engineers that we are, we couldn't completely get over our psyche of meticulously planning things out. So we framed up the good old What's, Why's, How's,When's and Where's for ourselves so that we had, a broad idea of the course of things to do(thankfully we aren't the best engineers in the business, else we would have dug our own grave, falling into the trap of creating a blueprint for every hour, and creating a feedback mechanism to monitor if each blueprint's target was met or not; Gosh even describing it is a Killjoy).

The last couple of months were quite gruelling in its own way, for few of us. The anticipations, the hopes, the aspirations(maybe more of others than of ourselves, on some occasions) were all part and parcel of these testing times,wherein we were trying to give ourselves the cushion of a congenial ambience for the next phase of our careers. So irrespective of the results, we deserved to take some time out for ourselves; to connect with a different world, to stay away from cellphone(The toughest part!!!! God knows why???? ), and for once atleast to look within ourselves with our own eyes.

So We all hit the road as early as 7:15am in our cool attires; the so called biker's accoutrements,which gave us the feel that was the theme of the day; the " I DONT GIVE A DAMN" attitude. And we flagged off with a snapshot of these Beatniks who wanted nothing but a sense of freedom and an experience of rejuvention.I was the pillion rider in the first phase of our drive and that gave me a perfect opportunity to feel something which I may not be able to justify correctly in words. Its something which has to be felt when you're right up there with the sun slowly and steadily rising up from its harbour of horizon; its rays adorning the greenery and the refulgence of the light giving the bucolic fields and open lands a sparkle as if they are blooming with joy to welcome us as its guests. The early morning breeze,basking in on sun's comforting warmth, and the fragrance of the fresh air; all gave me a feel as if they always wanted to play hosts to us, but somehow for so long we have failed to get their message and have taken more pleasure in the confined arcades and inhalation of automobile emissions. I still wonder why is that, but some questions are better left unanswered.But one should experience this scenic beauty- it does bring in certain level of metamorphosis.

After vrooming through, cutting through the breeze and moving like waterjet from a cannon, some fellas felt to let not only the heart and mind relish all the fun, and give the stomach also a reason to smile. SO we dropped down to the pride of highways- one of the roadside dhabas to take a quick bite. I preferred to give myself CHai's double feast while the others were willing to not settle only for tea. So there was poha, munching with the tea(Some ppl just cant have one) and cold drinks for few. And once we were done with it, we were back to business... the road was calling again and we obliged. We drove then uptil our first destination- Lord Ganesha's temple at Adassa, stopping sporadically in between, to get ourselves clicked( I hope you understand the constant pressure these social networking sites have put on our shoulders; not uploading snaps timely is sinister here.... dont mind the exaggeration!!!!!).

Once we reached there, we were moved by the pious serenity and the soothing ataraxis which the place had to offer. Built on a height, it gave us a panoramic view of scenic beauty covering miles in its circumferance. We paid obeisance to the Almighty with the customary genuflect and kowtow,the idol of Lord Ganesha stood with magnificence and generosity for all His devotees. Then we walked around the vicinity to cherish the calmness and the peace that the place had to offer. In the meantime, we kept on clicking more and more snaps ( Its not always the pressure of the sites, we enjoy photography and adding on to the memoirs).We all cracked pj's, listened to songs, looked around from this height at the whole place around as if a king is overlooking his empire and when we had spent some quality time there, we thought it was time to take the peregrination to its next stage and its new destination.

So the bikes roared again out of their short slumber and then ignited the roads. The sun by now was climbing with cadence to accomplish its acme for the day, but it was kind enough not to impose its tyranny on us. THe breeze was still soothing and the open spaces was the icing. The trees by the roadside made it cooler and made driving a real pleasure (Note:-Confront Deforestation). We sped on pretty empty,smooth roads but never tried to overdo it, as for us driving was more a stressbuster than an avenue of flaunting an ostentatious guys' demeanor. We reached Jaamsaavli,a very sacred and consecrated holy place for the devotees of the God od Strength ,Lord Hanuman. The idol of the lord in sleeping posture is one of its kind and attracts myriad followers from every nook and corner. We paid obeisance to Him and saw people thronging in large numbers here. After prostrating in front of the Almighty, we stepped out of the temple, picked up the machines and were back on the road. Any outing for us would be incomplete without good food, so the next step was to take our lunch. So we stopped by at one of the dhabas. I wont get into the details of what we ate, we weren't brazen guzzlers but had a sumptuous meal to pump in energy into ourselves for the trip back home.

So here were seven guys graduating as men, 60 odd kilometres away from the city, shunning all worries, enjoying the colddrinks in the sun and with a more subtle though not philosophical thought that resonated with surpisingly the same frequency in each of our minds. It just said one thing 'Cheers to Life'.

I took on the driver's seat for the journey back home and a friend of ours gave us all apprehensive ones a taste of extreme biking, when we drove the machines to a hilltop(not very steep, yet not any less than any normal driver's nightmare) and we sat there; some of us still intrigued and curious about the pertinence of our so called adventure to the hilltop. But hey, didnt we start as Beatniks who were looking for a day different from others, and following the gut unquestioning and relentless. So this little escapade did add that right pinch of spice to our day.

On our way back home, when i was donning the driver's role with earphones plugged in, i actually felt fortunate that i was the pillion in the morning as the beauty was at its peak then. Now even though they still had volumes to offer, yet they succumbed to the might of the Sun which made them more servile than charming(still a far enchanting spectacle than city's rush which causes claustrophobia). Now with pleasant acoustical euphony making way through the earlobes into the auditory canal blended with the mood as if giving a testimony to the fantastic day , and with us speeding our way through, i could gauge why and how Carte Blanche can be such a wonderful stressbuster. We drove without break now, like men who were on a mission or rather men who finally got an opportunity to be themselves. we entered the city back, but far more rejuvenated, far more mellowed and far more exuberant.

we had our final hi-fives before we parted ways to our homes. I know it was a short stint, not more than a few hours. But i think it was worth it. We are looking for more such escapades as it gave us an opportunity to think for ourselves, feel for ourselves, do things for ourselves and most importantly be ourselves. Everyone should give themselves this luxury of feeling important in one's own eyes; its not vanity; its not narcissism;its just loving what you really are and not worrying about what others think u are.

Go on, love yourself and give hi-fives like us and subconsciously you'll cogitate with the same frequency, the same thought -" CHEERS TO LIFE"

The Argumentative DL victims

This is a pretty childish attempt, but anyways it took its birth when I was sitting in class trying to study....so its pretty situational...God knows why m putting it here....neways happy reading....



Sitting in d class but lost somewhere else,
Thoughts vacillating like a clock's pendulum.
Pretending to look at what is being taught,
But actually addding lines to this poem.

Teachers speak something which i never hear,
The trauma i face is getting tougher ro bear.
I used to be a first bencher few months back,
But now d search is always for a place at the rear.

The lines written here make no real sense,
Dont blame me,its d subject that made me tense.
U might feel m one of those defiant kids,
Who wants to have fun at academical expense.

This is what many people construe,
But m sorry,i've a different point of view.
For me,the spring of thoughts is a roller coaster ride,
That opens my mind and makes its gamut wide.

This line of thought may have a pitfall,
'but that's what i like' is my answer to all.
The time doesnt fly by,instead it tends to crawl,
Gosh if not in DL,I would've been having a ball.

Ahaa!!finally the attendance time is striving near,
M full of ecstasy and overwhelmed with cheer.
This is the priceless moment i've been craving for,
So with the lecture,this stupid poem also ends here.

little drops of joy

A new day started n d sun rose from horizon's palms
I woke up with an infant's smile,spreading across my arms.
Got up 4m bed,n the mirror reflected my smile,
A feel of pristine calmness occupied me that very while.

I picked up my coffee mug n stepped out to light,
A breeze of cool air passed on with a curious insight.
The look of d dew on the grass explained its plight ,
The worry that it wd soon succumb to the sun's might.

And i imagined the notion that if they had speech,
What would they convey or what might they preach?
Maybe a warm good morning or affection to each,
Or maybe to be our own self is what they wd teach.

I looked up and saw this lovely bird on the tree,
Expressing an unusual ecstacy and an uncanny spree.
It's like we spoke to each other without a single word,
And we both said something and a few things we heard.

Then i came in and got down with my mundane day,
Something i never cherished but never found another way.
Driven by compulsions of life, here i lay astray
Trying to paint life's canvas with no zest to potray.

But the thought of the dew and the breeze that flew,
The bird who always kept me waiting for something new.
These made me cherish the small rays of elation,
And taking me away 4m the moments that i should eschew.

These friends of mine expect nothing from me,
They dont want me to be someone i really can never be.
And this unusual bond connects us all in a knot,
Where we stay away from the pretentious worldly lot.

So each night when i go to bed,
I feel excited about the day to come,
Where we will all greet each other with a subtle warmth,
And a soothing smile as a token of welcome.

N the sun comes again emerging from horizon's palms,
And it always has a mate now to welcome it with open arms.
N my friends join me always to fly free this way,
And this little gesture every morning, makes my each day.

my first tryst with poetry

When things dont work, n life becomes still,
Everything seems hazy and incomplete to you.
Its like climbing a hill which has no peak,
And like a lake that shows no reflection to view.

That's when you feel you're losing control,
And driving your life with hands tied up.
Even when you sit in a crowd of many,
Your eyes remain astray n mind is perturbed.

But does that mean that life has lost its quest,
Everything it offers is futile and not for the best.
Or is there still a glimmer of hope alive,
That can bring us in terms with life's each test.

When the chips are down,comes a guardian angel
As an opportunity or in the form of a person;
To invigorate the very purpose of life,
And derive positives from every inversion.

Life again regains it value n things seem germane,
Everything looks bucolic n there is nothing mundane.
You construe that lady luck has finally smiled on you,
And your future has tremendous happiness to contain.

But why do we wait for things to happen,
Why dont we get them done on our own.
Why dont we relish the spirit of life,
Instead of looking for a reason to lament and moan.

The answer lies within the realms of our soul,
That summarizes the question of life as a whole.
It just needs an honest introspection,
Not a dogmatic persuasion or a forced cajole.

So spread your arms and open your wings,
The journey called success has just begun.
Keep walking along the right path and direction,
N everything would lead you to your ultimate mission.

Why MBA????

why mba?
Master Of Business Administration. Well the term brings about a wide spectrum of reactions.Oops is it not something every second guy i meet, keeps blabbering about? I guess it is.Well believe it or not, MBA is the in thing folks. Its got the punch,its got the respect,its got the glamour and its got the moolah. What else can you ask for. Well the answer is pretty simple - MORE.
ok enough of the Alice's wonderland talk, lets take a reality check. What is MBA and why is there so much hullabuloo over it in the entire student community, no matter which part of the country or the world you go. Well lets take each word of this crucial abbrevation individually. Business is a worldwide phenomenon where people enter into ventures to generate revenues, employment and satisfaction to each one connected with them. So the person getting into a business has a grave responsibility on him/her. Then comes the pivotal issue of administration- well its a paragon of responsibility where a person has to take care of every facet concerned with running a business- managing people, revenues, resources, market, and create the best possible scenario to run that business.Hmmmm....that sounds even more grave. But the best and the toughest part comes with the first word in this entire term i.e. "Master". The person needs to be a master of all that is expected to run a business and making it a point that the business runs effectively.To put forth in simple terms, thats the job of an MBA. As Management Guru Peter F. Drucker put it in a brilliant way," A manager needs to be efficient as well as effective. Efficiency is doing the right things and effectiveness means getting the right things done."
So ladies and gentleman, guys and dames,its not just about some honeymoon period of your life where you'd just get in,rack your brain for a while and an angel would come in front of you with a gift box carrying a whopping salary check. If that's what has been your idea of MBA till now, i'm sorry to do this but "Good Morning, wake up folks, the dreamy Lalaland station has gone by, welcome to reality junction." The point i'm trying to make is pretty simple and candid, MBA is about cutting off your rough edges to make you a diamond who is ready to take on the world by storm. Its a huge task and involves tremendous efforts and panache, but believe me guys the perks are worth the effort.
Enough of the scary stuff, let's now look at WHY MBA??? Exactly what lies in it which makes it a much sort after and lucrative career option??
with the increase in tooth sweating competition, it has become essential for every individual to inculcate some basic elementary qualities in himself/herself to work/compete with the best of the best in the corporate sector. MBA, as a course gives you a formal training and grooming module, which creates a sense of deja vu of the real world in your minds, thus preparing you for the kind of goody goody stuff in store for you ( Like you believe that????). Well some part of it is goody goody, so relax.
There are people with different aspirations, some are looking for a secure job with challenges at work place while some take it a step ahead to venture into the danger zone of entrepreneurship. TO put up an enterprise of one's own, having a winning idea that may be revolutionary in itself, is just a beginning. To bring out that idea in the real world, pursuing that venture and aspiring to gain revenues out of it requires brilliance in business aptitude as well. Now MBA gives you a platform to understand the nitty gritties of everything in nexus of business. Thus it opens up doors of a new world of opportunities, resources,challenges and obviously tremendous satisfaction.
Another important requirement at work places is the ability to make decisions- sometimes small ones, sometimes grave ones and sometimes revolutionary ones. Thus its mandatory for a person to be well versed with the pros and cons of the status quo, the ability to deal with people of varying IQ'S, temperaments and work capabilities. Now to make a decision taking all these scenarios together is no joke. Apart from inner strength, it requires sound knowledge to appraise the decision's gravity and then to come out with the most suitable alternative. That's precisely what i meant when stressed on the term "MASTER". MBA offers you the ambience and the required ammunition to become good enough to encounter and combat the enemies. As goes in the Stallone blockbuster Rocky series," Its something for which you need THE EYE OF THE TIGER and A BURNING HEART because believe me THERE IS NO EASY WAY OUT, so once your HEART'S ON FIRE just do one thing, GO FOR IT."
Getting down to the Indian scenario, India is in a condition where it requires more employment generators as compared to employment seekers.MBA offers you the arsenal to face the indispensible cruel times of entrepreurship. thus its the managers who're actually making this society a better place to live in by generating employment, optimum utilization of resources, making people work congenially in groups, and with these small battles, they help to win wars like unemployment, poverty, corruption and make the Indian economy strengthen the momentum it has picked up.
Another important topic that MBA deals with is that in this era of globalization where the world has become a small place, it has become an additional asset for a professional to have a good understanding of the global market, the global requirements and its solutions. Thus what we're looking at in the future is it more number of Indians global in stature, but local at heart. Now how does that sound....i'm sure alluring.
So to put it in a nutshell, mba may not give you the key to every lock, but it'd make you a good enough locksmith to have more keys for different locks. So what are you waiting for, you know the door, you knpow how to get the key, and with that key how to open the locks. So dont wait anymore and just MAKE THE MOVE.