Full-of-work Friday evening

Weekend round the corner; Friday evening; 19:56 IST; what am in doing in office?

Working, of course!!! Und ich höre Musik; Keine Freundin; ich bin glücklich. No woman, no cry.

Tomorrow, I intend to write my blog further. I have to call up lots of friends tomorrow and have to do lots of things at home…

Have a nice weekend! Tschüss!
Sign off note: Hey! i just got a call from a long lost friend....This is a good start of the weekend...

The Rule of Four

Hypnerotomachia Poliphili (the struggle for love in a dream)

The book ‘Rule of four’ is based on this 15th century Renaissance text which couldn’t be understood by anyone for 500 years after it was written.. On the surface, Hypnerotomachia is about the longest dream of Poliphili in search of his love. It was written in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic and various other languages.

Written by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason, ‘Rule of Four’ has been narrated in first person by Tom Sullivan whose father was also a researcher of this book

Two Princeton students, Tom Sullivan and Paul Harris, embark on the journey to understand Hypnerotomachia completely and come across lots of difficult puzzles, crypts and not to mention the bloodshed, distrust and jealousy. Their problems are compounded by the presence of other researchers on the campus who want to claim solving the Hyperotomachia.

The novel disputes the authorship of the book.

Coming from the first-time authors, it’s a good book. But the plot is not captivating enough to hook on the reader all through. The puzzles pop out of the blue. Sometimes when Tom describes the past or goes on to explain the growing distance between him and his girlfriend-Katie because of his dedication to Hyperotomachia, the plot is lost. Also, the authors spend more time talking about their College. Hope they get over their student life fast.

If you can get past the first half, the book becomes interesting with a murder and other intricate events that happen on the campus though what is Rule of Four has not been completely described.

At many a places in the book and also on web, this book has been compared to Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. I feel that Da Vinci code was a better read than The Rule of Four and appealed to the readers worldwide. I never felt bored reading Da Vinci.

Nevertheless, there are some quotes/lines I liked in the book:

The strong take from the weak but the smart take from the strong.

It’s better to love something that can love you back.

May God and genius, friend, shepherd you aright.

It is the greatest houses and the tallest trees that the gods bring low with bolts and thunder. For the gods love to thwart whosoever is greater than the rest. They do not suffer pride in anyone but themselves.

BLACK

Yesterday, I watched BLACK.

A movie inspired by the life of Helen Keller and her teacher, it is the story of a deaf and dumb girl, Michelle, who is very obstinate and lives in a world colored black. Then from somewhere, she gets a teacher who holds her hand and bridges for her, the gap between the recognition of a word and its meaning; gifts her, a word for every touch. Her fingers become her eyes.

Later the teacher gets affected by Alzheimer’s disease and disappears for 12 years only to be found again in front of Michelle’s home in the last stages of the disease. This story runs in the background.

Amitabh Bachchan has given yet another overwhelming performance. Acting is his forte. Acting comes as naturally to him as swimming to a fish or flying to a bird. The way he moves his head and rolls his eyes while enacting a person affected by Alzheimer’s disease, he clearly sets himself a class apart. He is the GOD of Bollywood. When people rated him the best and above Marlon Brando in BBC Best actor poll some years back, many were taken aback. He has more than justified himself for all awards and all recognitions time and again. It is difficult to find adjectives for Amitabh’s acting.

I am not sure if Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson, Sean Connery, Al Pacino, Russel Crowe or Tom Hanks could have done justice to the character of Devraj Sahai any better than Amitabh has done.

Rani Mukherji has also acted well. I think even Urmila could have played that role though not with an equal ease.

The young girl- playing the part of young Rani Mukherji, Ayesha Kapur is impressive and seems more talented than Rani. It was difficult to ascertain whether she is really deaf and blind or is she playing the role!

This is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s best movie ever.

The best part is that this movie lasts only 1 hr 55 minutes and doesn’t contain any song or masala. A must watch.

Mathematics tidbit

26 is the only number to be sandwiched between the square of a number and cube of another number.

Who is he?

I found his photo somewhere- Can you help me find this guy? The title of the photo is 'The first cut'

Resolutions for 2005

Junta,

I made some resolutions for year 2005 in mid of march. Here is the list (not the least):

1. To be able to run 15 kms at a stretch (i am clocking only 5 kilometers on the treadmill at the speed of 10 kms/hour)
2. Learn swimming (where? when?)
3. See 7 new places in India (seen only 2 so far)
4. Read 15 good novels/books (stuck at 4-5)
5. Start learning guitar (don't have time!)
6. Play good pool (where?)

It's a long long way out there.....

Air Sahara- Emotionally yours

I called up Air Sahara yesterday since I wanted to book two tickets from Delhi to Bangalore on 6th November 2005. I call up their office at Airport. A lady checks the availability and tells me that only two tickets are available.

‘Please book the tickets,’ I tell her.

‘No Sir! We can’t book the tickets here. I will give you a number. Please call them up and book your tickets’

I dial the number she gave me. No one is picking up the extension. I call her up again and tell her my problem.

‘Sir, they may have gone for lunch. I will give you another toll-free number. Please call at that number’

I call up at that toll-free number. Luckily, a person picks up the phone and confirms the availability of two tickets on the said date.

‘Please book the tickets,’ I tell him.

‘Sir, we can’t book the tickets here. You will have to come to our office on 39, St. Mark’s road office or Airport road office to book the tickets’

‘Listen, Airport is 6 kilometers away from where I am right now and only two tickets are available and I want both the tickets. Why can’t you book them on phone?'

Finally, I reach their airport office to find that one of the tickets that i wanted has been booked. I can do nothing but get frustrated.

Another ticket booking counter at airport- Air Deccan’s office:

I am second in the queue. There is a middle-aged gentleman in front of me arguing with the person booking the ticket.

‘I booked the ticket on phone by calling your call center. He gave me the Pnr. No. Why didn’t he tell me that I can get the ticket printed on internet by giving this Pnr. No.? I had to drive for two hours to reach the airport just to collect this print-out.’


So, more or less, this is the story of all the air service providers (or their call centers) in India.

Flooded Mumbai

Many people put entries on their blogs extolling the inhabitants of Mumbai for braving the highest rainfall ever in India, for not giving in. Meanwhile the TV channels continuously aired the scenes of vehicles half submerged in water; interviews from people stranded on roads, in offices, trains, airports and elsewhere- In all, whole of India sticking to their TV sets could feel what it was about to be in Mumbai at that time.

I say readers, what else could people of Mumbai do?

Walter Cannon in 1920s introduced the concept of Fight-or-Flight response which holds true in our very own case. People of Mumbai couldn’t choose to run away from their well-set homes and businesses and so obviously the response they chose was to fight.
I wonder if people of Delhi or Kolkatta would have done anything different.

Though these rains exposed the vulnerability of India’s financial capital and its physical and communication infrastructure, Media-especially TV- played the role of a good Samaritan helping people a lot by flashing their messages on TV for their near and dear ones whom they couldn’t contact. Unfortunately, some anti-social elements engaged in looting while people ran away from their homes to save themselves.

Also, children from many schools couldn't reach their homes for almost 18 hours.

In the wake of loss of more than Rs. 4000 Crore, Government leaders largely remained underground surfacing only when the rains subsided showing complete apathy.

More than 1500 people lost their lives (actual figures yet unknown) due to floods and in the aftermath of epidemics which still looms large on Mumbai’s head. Carcasses of cows, buffaloes, dogs, goats etc were dumped in thousands- these dumping grounds are now the graveyard of toxic waste. Leptospirosis, after the floods, claimed some 70 lives in Mumbai.

It’s a pity that esteemed metropolitans of our country do not have a natural calamity disaster plan in place and during these times people have nobody but themselves to look at for help.

If Mumbai being a so-called sophisticated city bowed down to the floods, i shudder to think what would have been the condition of people in various village of Mahrashtra that were flooded.

You can read more on
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Maharashtra_floods

Collage Remix

If you visit my place, you will be greeted by this collage which will look straight into your eyes...Guess the theme and guess who all are placed-if you can...

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
-- Robert Frost

As you can read in many reviews in books on poetry dissertation and on web, fire symbolizes hate, quick destruction, love, lust, desire etc. Frost himself takes the side of those who agree that desire has the power to burn, to destroy and to consume what it comes in contact with.
In the lines,’ some say the world will end in fire’, he may also be insinuating that the world of a person comes down if his desire makes him live life at a pace he himself is unable to keep up with. His life, his passions and his energy is fuelled by a desire that can destroy his own world.

Frost then goes on to suggest that ice is an equally destructive factor. Coldness, rigidity, unable to move beyond one’s dogmatic beliefs or principles- factors like these also possess the power of destruction.

Fire destroys by burning everything to ashes; Ice, albeit slowly, by making things unable to move, applying pressure from outside and hence cracking everything.

This poem is so beautiful that you can apply its underlying meaning to the life of a person or to the state of a country- it stands tall.

One reviewer on web went on to connect ‘ice’ with ‘Frost’.

Frost remains one of my favorite.

Hampi- Indian Rome

This is an account of my trip to Hampi in March. I stayed in KSTDC hotel in Kamalapuram:

On the bank of river Tungabhadra, a boulder-strewn land reminiscent of the grand Vijayanagara Empire welcomes any adventure-seeker to its breath-taking beauty. Approximately 13 kilometers away from the town of Hospet in Karnataka, this serene sleepy village offers a picture of the erstwhile capital of Hampi ruled by King Krishnadeva Raya, its palaces and marvelous images deftly carved in walls and pillars. Incidentally, it also happens to be the same place, Kishkindha, which is mentioned in Ramayana- a Hindu epic of great fame. Thus, one can also find images of Gods like Narasimha, Shiva, Parvati, Vishnu, Ganesh and Hanuman.

Vithala Temple


One has to tread a rocky path of 2 Kilometers along the river to reach this temple. But, the view is worth it. As soon as one enters the temple, one finds the famous Stone Chariot. The way Sunlight fell on this chariot produced different colors of the stone at the same time.
The wheels of this chariot, made completely of stone, can revolve.
Also one finds the 56 musical pillars inside the temple though it is difficult to listen to the music without the help of a guide. The walls of the temple depict kings on majestic horses and Gods side by side.
Reason for taking a picture of it: The Stone Chariot looks to be of two different colors when shot from two different angles because of the sunlight that falls on it.


Laxmi Narasimha (Ugra Narasimha)
One of the finest examples of sculptures in Hampi is the erection of a 6.7 meters tall statue of a God- half Lion, half Man.
Reason for taking a picture of it: This statue has braved weather for centuries and yet it seems so timeless. Due to the destruction of this statue, it looks like the God is angry and that’s why it is also named Ugra Narasimha (The angry God-half Lion, half Man)


Coracle rides
The existence of river all along the main Hampi bazaar, offer opportunities to the travelers to enjoy the boat rides in a round boat called the coracle. One can see a person rowing the coracle and his friend taking an afternoon nap in the picture enclosed.
Reason for taking the picture: How a man in one corner of the world takes his afternoon nap in a coracle boat unbothered about anything else.


The Museum
3 Kilometers from Hampi lay a small village Kamalapuram where one can visit the historical and informative ASI museum. Unfortunately, some of the sculptures that have been excavated have been put in open because of lack of space.
Reason for taking a picture of it: The first sight of it gives one an illusion of being in a graveyard.


The Lemon-Soda seller
In approximately a population of 1000 people of Hampi, most of them earn their living by serving tourists. I met Mohammed while I was cycling to Lotus Mahal on a very sunny day.
Reason for taking his picture: His smile and lemon-soda provides the much-needed respite from hot sun to the travelers.

Soccer match- Command hospital

I was on my way riding my bike (motorcycle) to the Lourdes Church in Cambridge Layout. We (my present company) were supposed to play a friendly soccer match on the ground in this church at eight-thirty a.m. - what a start of a Saturday morning!

I was about to reach the venue when a man signaled me with his hand. He carried a lunch-box with him. Ample of time at my disposal, I gave him a lift. ‘Command Hospital’, he ordered. I was taken aback with his tone. Wanting him to get off my bike as soon as possible, I just replied with an intonation-hmmm.
I had hardly taken a breath when he started speaking,’ actually I cook food for everyone at command hospital. It is near by. Where you going Saar? ’
Before I could answer anything, he blurted again,’ I have to reach there early morning everyday Saar, so many patients, their relatives visit Saar- If I don’t reach early, they will complain Saar. I was walking from there when I saw you…..’

I saw myself crossing Lourdes Church but I kept on going since the command hospital was not very far. He got down at the command hospital, thanked me, kind of saluted me and asked me to contact him if I had any work in that area.

What work could I have from him? May be I could leave my job, start a food joint and then ask him to be my partner and sell that food in Command hospital or ask him to get me the job of a cook in the hospital. No. Not a lucrative idea. I don’t think I will contact him anytime soon since my manager doesn’t seem to have too much of a problem with my work though now I am happy I have a back up job.

Anyway, he seemed to be a nice simple man. I just hope he doesn’t talk endlessly to the patients he serves food. Moreover, if he was a cook, why was he carrying a lunch-box? To save time?

The match started at around nine in the morning. We were leading by 5-2 to finally loose the game by 5-6. Theirs was a weak team but I think after playing these five-a-side tournament, we don’t know how to play a proper eleven-a-side game. I was a defender on the right flank and very neatly I let an opponent player take a header into the goal on a corner kick. Sleeping I was?

We decided to play them again and I headed back home - what a start of a Saturday morning!

November Rain

Four years back, when I first heard November Rain by Guns N roses(Use your Illusion I) on my headphones, I didn’t enjoy it a bit but then, I heard it playing loud again and voila, I was hooked on to this song for life...

The song starts with the unforgettable lyrics-
When I look into your eyes, I can see a love restrained
Darling when I hold you, don’t you know I feel the same
Nothing lasts forever and we both know hearts can change
And it’s hard to hold a candle in the cold November rain

These four lines say so much about life. Nothing is persistent except change. Actually i read the above lines by replacing love with life. So, go on and live your life as if there is no tomorrow.

I sometimes feel that I should pack my bags (unlike the ones in ‘Three men in a boat and to say nothing of the dog’); hang a board on my door which would read,’ So long, and thanks for all the fish’ ; hand over resignation to my manager and log out from this traffic-jammed city to take a refuge in Paris for somedays.

It is as if my own life, through this song, is saying to me:
If you want to love me then, darling don’t refrain…

And the guitar just after ‘Wouldn’t time be out to charm you’, gives one a different high altogether.
To enjoy this part the most, mix it with Vodka on the rocks and turn on the volume knob to the maximum.

When you listen to this song, don’t miss how they return to their base line (Nothing last forever, even cold November rain) after ‘Never mind the darkness, we still can find the way’. In this part of music, they have played guitar wonderfully well. It strums the beats of my heart.

Wish I was more literate in music to give you a better account of this song. So, listen to it yourself and have a feel.
I will now sign off with the line-
Everybody needs some time all alone…