a free mind

नया साल है, नए लम्हे हैं...

2009-01-01T02:27:00.000-08:00

नया साल है, नए लम्हे हैं,
जी लेंगे पूरे जी भर कर...
नया पर्व है, नयी हैं खुशियाँ,
चख लेंगे सब मिल-जुल कर...

नया ये दिल है, नई ख्वाहिशें,
कर लेंगे पूरी गिन गिनके...
नया ये मन है, नई सी मौजें
लहरायेंगी अब साहिल से...

नयी है दुनिया, नए लोग हैं,
दोस्त बनेंगे कुछ हँस के...
नयी है मंज़िल, नया रास्ता
चलेंगे साथी हाथ थामके...

नया हौसला, नई उमंगें
जागेंगी दिल के अन्दर से...
नयी सोच है, ना है सीमा,
उड़ लेंगे ऊपर अम्बर से...

अपने हैं, नए सपने हैं,
साकार करेंगे हम सिलकर...
नया साल है, नए लम्हे हैं,
जी लेंगे पूरे जी भर कर...

have a rollicking year ahead :)

Intellect

2008-12-14T10:16:00.000-08:00

It just popped up in my mind that is there a way or method that can really categorize the human characteristics? Well, I don’t know, may be there are a few… but I did not study any specific course that would have formally taught me, so I’m supposing! Traits - may be the basic ones and which are actually the outcome of deliberate practice of the basic ones. I pick up this theory… I treat imagination, zeal, reasoning (along with many more) are the basic traits that every human being would have in them. Those traits also get matured but generally will not need any other attributes as their implicit input. Now, how those basic traits are applied at various states of time, on different kind of tasks and how the outcome is perceived, observed and absorbed, does produce the advanced characteristics in every human being. With time, for the progressed human beings, those gained characteristics, then serves as the basis for their next endeavors and all decisions. I think Intellect is one of those advanced and attained qualities, I admire the most.

I ponder that finest form of Intellect begins from gaining the knowledge. Here I am looking at the knowledge in its genuine form, including education - precisely the learnings - obtained at home, various levels of school, perceiving the surroundings, other existences and experiencing whatever comes on the way of ever growing up. Intellect strengthens, when one incisively infuses the basic traits with its young version. This stage is crucial as it distinguishes one amongst many. When one avidly reads, listens, and captively discusses, the parachute open up wide and when one imagines, plans, go ahead performs, analyzes it with reasoning, removes even the lilliputian errors, achieves the sooth of success, derives the joy from sharing something with someone or with the world, the gist of any of the part or of complete process instantly propagates within the composite cells of brain. Timely sequence of such formidable essences, I think leads to the supreme level of Intellect.

This is what prompting me at the moment! if a divine soul happens to fly through and has more on this, may spell it across...

cheers!

Impressed?

2008-11-29T08:01:00.000-08:00

Passed couple of days was disturbing. Ubiquitous terror hits again, big way this time. Question is that do we have only terrorism or it is mere one from the baggage that every Indian shoulders. Some survives carrying it, some simply aren’t that lucky. Everyone knows that each element in that bag is equally backbreaking. The final question is – will there be a time when this bag gets tiny, lighter, a little bit?

Also, these are election days. So gear up for those good’ol records, soon we would have political leaders visiting our abodes.

Krejzaa kiya rayy!

2008-11-08T02:13:00.000-08:00

Haha I dont cover it, the grin on my face… yet again, a new fella, this time from the kangaroo-land does it with us! First-face, Jason Krejza - forced almost entire team act crazy. Guess what he would have already gotten Krezee as a cool nickname! This new kid on the block joined the likes of Mendis, the Srilankan who only a short while ago outplayed the Indian batsmen in the back-to-back series. Nah, I m not in any way harshly criticizing our boys – take it this way, they take their sweet time in "reading" their counterparts ;)

Not particular about Krejza or Mishra, for that matter, who also came to fame in one previous test against Aussies, ther's something special abt every debutant. Whether or not, the opponent likes, every debutant remains a mystery, say it like monalisa! hard to decipher in the first go as it unfolds right there on the field. and if they turn it something big, they’re talked, remembered and loved!

New spin barons!! Krejza, Mendis and Mishra – will they fillin the shoes of Warne, Murli and Kumble for their countries?

Anyways next inning our batsmen face Krejza, I hope the craze chills out and we see a battle, not fallout.

Cheers!
Nitin

Improving this World!!

2008-10-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

Recently I came across a couple of occasions which were related to meliorating the world! How an idea can better the world or how you like try helping the needy? Yey I know, it sounds like a typical B-school question or in a beauty contest demanded by a judge to the anxious-yet-confident dame! but this time its someone else asking the question – it’s the tech-giant Google. Yeah, Google has launched a "project 10 to the power 100" on its 10th anniversary. Some of ppl I talked said they know the behind-the-scene stuff, why an organization would put such contest. What benefits they themselves gonna reap out of it, in one way or other. Like why Microsoft would run “a laptop per child” program. Yeah I know, but take this - they are no charity party and frankly if they are trying something good, they deserve enjoying the fruits as well... anyway here, all that didn’t matter to me. I did not pull out an idea that was a technical one nor they’re asking for any geek stuff, which is their direct business. they called for thoughts to help as many as people in the world in every other way. Finally, I kept all the business n intellectual part behind and spent a couple of hours in drafting an idea into the tiny plan – the 1000 odd words, as desired by the online form that was to be filled to submit the idea. They plan to fund the top 5 ideas… (also my brain actually wanted to know, whether the social-like feelings my heart has are really viable or its just product of sudden collision of sentiments! Later they both got along as I compiled that mini proposal. I take it as simple as that :-)

Another instance was when the teachers from “Sahan” (a school of mentally special kids) organized a stall to sell the art-work done by their students in my office. The astonishing items were especially prepared for the upcoming Diwali festival. The entire stall was packed with super stuffs like paper made fancy bags (environs friendly - mind it!), embroidered fabric like pillow-covers, curtains, some other textiles, embossed file n sheet holders, and lods of things to illuminate our homes this Diwali like a fabulous collection of candles with different shapes, colors, and nice varieties of traditional dias… with many thronging to the booth, I somehow managed to get some share. With whatever I could catch, I was completely taken over by the creativity of those children that they brought to us - the stable kinda ppl!

finally leaving with the melodies which these two incidences, in combined led me to -

Clouds of wisdom, I shall stretch
for those who thrust to learn
spend wealth of goodness n health
if someone desires to earn…

let’s light-up our thoughts
for those who can’t read,
one who gets little to eat
a pair of eyes if one need…

my senses spark united
for the ailing who mere survive,
a slave who is still juvenile
an unborn who ought to see a life…

vain jubilations every year, year after year
this festivity I carry smile to a face, that feels better,
a lantern twinkles at my place, sometime later.

ye, I know it sounds like an altruistic guy in me, that wake up some times! guess, without being tagged as a social-worker, little things one can always do …

love...

Marriage!

2008-10-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

Believe me there is No other word that can be justifiably substituted for Marriage! therefore the title. Well, everyone talks about it, coz it gives them shivers (n shockers sometimes:-P ) I know it's not so funny, but I guess it can be at least of some fun!

So here comes a play, whr 4 friends, all set free to talk freely abt it! I mean they’re all single… they don the different hats though. Be introduced to them - First is F, stands for Funny (a light-hearted buddy, masters in delivering PJs, F is also for Female - ladies first sir!), next is Ph for Philosopher (who adds his not-so-mean thoughts on everything), D for a Day-dreamer (this chap thinks the world is just perfect n so is the marriage n life)! and last is S, for Sincere (kinda balanced n practical pal) and there goes a chat among them. how they infuse some of themselves on this fantasy. So, for a while, just slip into the characters n have fun ;-)

All, excluding S who is in other room doin something, r in the frame….

F kick it - you know guys, man owns all his bed before he is married and later, he is only left with a half of that. poor guys!! We, the girls-turned-wives virtually strip him of all his wealth, home, car, credit cards n all that…

ha ha, Ph pitches in - it is just that he is being punished for the crime he has committed… dear friends, you tell me - why does man marry? (All are just grinning) See, everyone does it. but why? They don’t exactly know! So when one does the things without estimating the risks and results, they go haywire, the results turn to be devastating. There is no other to blame.

D strikes the defense - guys, give it a break, you must know marriages are made in heaven.. it’s a divine connection….
F - oh c’mon D, wakeup dude... heaven? whts this place. Whr is it? I searched all over, no clues. even googled, hell… absolute zero returns!!
(All three giggle:)

D again puts across his point - see a married couple is like a sandwich buttered with sheer love.
Ph at his best - wht u saying D? a sandwich? Yeah, u know, u r right, but only a part of it. let me correct you - gentlemen, married couple is like two leaves of bread in a sandwich, between them exists love or what, even god is afraid to know!

D fumes, has more thoughts - the world respects married people than singles, ppl r nice to married ones.
F pops up in middle – ha ha, respect?? only married ppl think so, frankly it’s more of a consolation:-D (Laughter spreads all over!)

F continues - hey D, don’t feel sad yaar, ok ok.. I’ve something that will make u happy. I saw a marriage taking place. It was a dream marriage between a dream couple and they happily lived forever. D - see ther u r… F - let me finish yaar. .....It was a dream marriage between a dream couple and they happily lived forever. And then... then the director yells – cut, nice shot, pack up. hehe it was a film shoot! F and Ph rolling on the floor.. laughing loud ;-)

D is on the verge of loosing, Ph lends support – my friends, opposite to what is generally said, the marriage is not about two persons coming together. It’s actually a larger affair where many people come together to cherish many more miraculous moments and start enjoying a galore of new relations. D breathes easy as does Ph, F again in her touch - you mean to say many more new troubles, right? And everyone’s face flashing again ;-)

S who was out-of-frame until now, joins the party - hey guys, I’ve been hearing ur “pretty simple” thoughts on marriage… u guys talking interesting stuff, I too have somethin over this -
I think married life is more like a well-thought of n enjoyable relationship. Married ppl care, try to do things that make them feel well. They talk abt matters n plan on things. They r friends, understand, appreciate and even enhance other’s point of view. Sometimes they agree, sometimes they agree to dis-agree. Sometimes one feels like giving space, sometimes having one’s own. They first adjust li’l bit to other’s style of living, then make their’s better. They face not-so-comfortable times together n they come out cool! They go social, adventurous, have fun, raise a healthy family, help each other on achieving things, they ultimately want to feel proud of themselves. heh D, they are for sure in love with each other, n F, yeah ofcourse, they certainly do act, talk funnily! and as Ph say, they do nurture many relationships… well, if all this looks complicated to you - it exactly is, but if is not - it is rather sensibly doable. I guess ther’s a bit of all of us in them :)

As S finishes, they’re all amusingly glad!

Curtains down! Any audiences?
nitin

॥ गाँव और एक बचपन ॥

2008-09-27T02:33:00.001-07:00

इस शहर से दूर, गाँव में एक बचपन रहता है,
जिसका मन उस साफ़ हवा में, उस झरने के संग बहता है।

जहाँ प्रकृति कितनी सुंदर है, हर ओर फैली हरियाली है,
हर आँगन में है चहल-पहल, हर घर रहती खुशहाली है।

जहाँ खेत सींचकर उनमें नए बीज लगाये जाते हैं,
जब फसल पका करती है, तब त्यौहार मनाये जाते हैं।

जहाँ ठंडी की उन सुबहों में, पत्तों पे ओस की चादर छाती है,
और बरसातों में उसको, मिट्टी की सोंधी खुशबू भाती है।

जहाँ हर सुबह बाँसुरी, हर शाम को ढोलक होती है,
हर दिन होली सा लगता है, जब अल्हड मस्ती होती है।

हर जन को सरल, हर मन मैं निर्मल पाता हूँ,
जब-जब मैं उस बचपन से मिलकर आता हूँ॥

एक गाँव और एक बचपन...
नितिन

The 3 mighty Ps!

2008-09-20T21:51:00.000-07:00

It seems only yes’day, when I was almost perfectly physically fit (now also I am, even better, but how comes next!) I was quite kicked about it. Happy, to the extent that when my friend would pull me every morning to get me to the gym, I’d never let him!! Half in sleep, I’d crack a joke, "yaar don’t u know - only naked ppl go to gym!!! You go, I don’t need it..." appraising the god’s gift, I was glad the way I was! The gym remained alien to me… then? huh, enter in my life the 3 mighty Ps. well, dont stress the mind! they are our own, truly worshiped, utterly delicious, the Parathas, Paneer n Patatos!! yeh they were there earlier too but I would snoop a corner, if at all there was one! but, ever since I landed in this part of motherland, gods of all food have come “kind” to me… The caterer never misses serving me at least one of the 3 Ps in the breakfast and lunch! the story doesn’t end there, the cafeteria crew tests my patience when a Paratha is coupled with “Shahi Paneer*” and complemented by “Patato curry”… I just couldn’t ask for more (but there r some who still insist for that butter-topping ;-)

I know not everybody is equally health-conscious, but everybody is health-conscious to the level they are comfortable being in. I keep pinging ppl in office, y doesn’t this guy prepares a green veg a day, and as expected their answer - just a smirk :-P . but, inside them, they also want and very well know to handle it. Some get their fillers from home, some avoid having evening snacks or sweets. Some simply try mini-meal, and some thoroughly enjoy it, they don’t give it a damn. Rest, including me gets a scheme in place… but in any case, Ps just refuses to part with anybody!!

Ps (and sister cos like butter, oil n ghee) are kinda forces that keep striking us, and if we remain dormant to them, it’s not too far when we, the new class of service-wo/men for sure fastening the Sauna belts around our bellies, permanently attached with our office seats! (wow! chairs fitted with Sauna belt, any patents? :)

Moreover, I hear this saying and it makes me wonder. “Dilli dil walon kee#” – yeah, kind of agree! but there is more to it. I know ppl here luv to flaunt it, like to eat lavish. guess, wht the “Parathon kee gali##” is for… (Actually, Saffola fliers “listen to ur heart” can find no better place than this!)

Oh, how do I press on the Ps? I take'em easy buddy… as soon as I realized there is no escape, I made a pact to myself - have it n muscle it! so, whtever little or big felonies I commit in the dine, I delightfully confess them all in the gym!! Lastly, The 3 Ps are not as terrible as they initially looked to me, I actually turned them in my help. Infact now watching myself, I am perhaps more contended, Ps have brought to me, less of trouble n more of pleasure (indirectly though :-D) and more recently, we got a new caterer! (the vindictive powers of 3 Ps slowly diminishing :)

Healthy eating, happy living (heh, this’s not from the health dept books ;-)
nitin

*A dish with Paneer as main ingredient, #Delhi belongs to the sparkling n jolly ppl!, ##A street famous for assorted Parathas in Chandni Chowk, Delhi.

who shall endure this night…?

2008-09-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

(one on the eve of Big-Bang!)

they say its all gonna over,

they’re scared,

a few good men dares,

the destiny, this universe…

but deep within i trust

all the thousands sense,
who exerted their life

questing to find our existence…

our faith is firm, vigorous

far larger than the magnets,
combined we shall retort

to sight newer, calmer sunsets…

tomorrow blooms gonna alive again

sun gonna glitter even bright,

we all shall endure this big night…

even when they’ve destroyed me
in their provoked gush,
here, i forgive them
they’r nice humans like us.

cheers!!

nitin

Many rises to the Integrity

2008-09-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

Early days in the year 2006, it was yet another pleasant morning in Bangalore, as I reached office (I worked with MindTree earlier). I got myself a cup of tea and raced to my workplace, now reading mails. I see a mail from my previous project manager asking me to join an urgent meeting at 9:30! well, it wasn’t really surprising as she would call me to discuss on some work or to clarify anything on the work I did in the project. But, why all the members are copied to the mail? Most of them, like me, are no longer part of that project because it has been delivered successfully and it’s only couple of guys who are in project, supporting the customer in deployment and are responsible for testing. Oh! There looks to be a bottleneck; the customer seems to have reported something very nasty!!

As always with lods of energy to know the issue and if I could help, I dialed to a colleague. “Hey Khan ji, what’s the issue? This quick meeting!” Khan ji promptly replied, “Nitin, Vishay (name changed) has been sacked!!” I am shocked. “Sacked!! I mean terminated, but why?” Khan ji said, “he forged some medical bills!” “O god”, I uttered.

In sometime I went downstairs to see the team, almost everybody had arrived, some were discussing, some were upset and some were just speechless. No one had seen anything like this in their career, when their very close colleague was asked to leave. Vishay was absent, he was given an appropriate timing to come over and get the final settlement done. To introduce Vishay to you – Vishay joined MindTree about a year back, fresh from college. Like many new graduates, he was energetic and passionate towards his job. He was into testing side and played a crucial role in the world-class product we delivered to the client and was still part of the project. Last month only he was awarded for his remarkable contribution in the project.

“Ok, lets go in the meeting room and discuss.” PM requested everyone. In the meeting room, she started explaining. “Vishay has submitted fake medical bills of Rs. 800/- and in a random check by admin dept, he is caught.” We knew that anyways it was his money of Rs. 15k/- (annually reimbursed on medical bills), but to save some paltry tax he decided to submit fake bills. One colleague lamely justified that he would have either done that in ignorance or without knowing the consequences. Other says that economic condition at Vishay’s home is not good. It might have forced him to take the wrong step. Alright, what’s next? We had worked for about 10 months very closely and somehow are concerned for one another! So, having worked with Vishay, seen his record, and his economic condition, even when we know that Vishay is wrong, we decided to give a try. Try? yes, lets meet HR head to sort this out.

HR head joins us for a brief discussion and try to justify elimination of Vishay. But many were not in mood to listen; we were sort of putting all our credentials to save that guy. Meeting resulted in nothing! Having seen such support from team, HR guy gave us an option whether we like to see the President on this matter. You said President? We were surprised. HR lady further clarified all such decisions are in the knowledge of company head.

Afternoon just before lunch, team was walking in the garden along with “Jani*”, who heads the R&D business of MindTree. We all sat down and Jani initiated his talk. “Guys, this is unfortunate that we are here to meet on such matter. It’s good to know, you guys support your peer, but do you really want to endorse a wrong behavior that Vishay has shown? Does it really match with our CLASS Values? We talk about it daily, share so much of data and even distribute book that has such cases illustrated in it” After a pause, we started defense. “Jani, he is young and bright guy, he has been working very hard for the project and has been recognized for that. His career is at tender age and if something like this happens to him now, it is going to change his life. This is as bad as spoiling his career”. After hearing us, Jani gently smiled, “yes, it is going to change his life, but the change will bring-in him the good, the integrity, which we all live by. It is only going to improve him as professional and person. You just think this way, we are now 4000+ strong company and if we started to do this on case by case basis, where does our values go? Tomorrow, other guy will come to me asking the escape. You guys tell me, where do I draw the line?” Our hearts were thumping. One of my peer again speak up, “Jani, he has learned the lesson, why can’t we just give him a chance? He is never going to do any wrong again”. Jani in his composed manner, “Ok, let’s give him a chance. Just think, can he ever going to work with that self-respect as he has been till now? Can he ever see in your eyes when you passby? Wouldn’t we recall this ill-fated incident everytime we see him around?” We were stunned. Nobody had any clue to talk further. As a final try, I opened, “Jani, Vishay’s family isn’t doing well with financials, infact it is his family that desperately needs this job. I am sure even when we talk about our values and integrity, there’s an element of humanism in us. Can we take that into consideration?” Jani, heard it very carefully. After some silence, he smiled again. “Ok, if that makes it clear, we will see after him. I know, this guy is capable and he has learned a lesson for lifetime, we wouldn’t hesitate to help him out finding other job outside. We will see the harm is towards the minimum”. That was all done.

Soon after we were walking back to our seats with a sense of satisfaction. We were heard, and if not all, we managed to pull some back. I am sure Jani would have more relief than us for having successfully resolved a conflict that would have otherwise left an entire bunch of people unconvinced. Many rises to the Integrity.

What does Integrity mean to you? Does the whole idea of it really matter so much that a meager bill might take one’s job? Go ahead… pendown your thoughts on this.

* a special thx goes out to Mr. Janakiraman S. “Jani”, President & CEO, R&D Services, MindTree Ltd, for leting me reveal his identity here!

।। मैंने ये जहाँ देखा ।।

2008-09-04T00:50:00.000-07:00

धुआं सा कोहरा था वो, या रुई सा बादल देखा,
रात की बिजली थी कि, इक तारा सा गिरता देखा।

नीले अम्बर के आख़िर में वो क्षितिज था कि,
सागर के आख़िर में अम्बर को गिरते देखा।

पूनम की चाँदनी में ज़मीं निखर रही थी कि,
हिमालय के बर्फ को सूरज से उजला देखा।

उन मासूम सी आंखों में जब नज़दीक से झाँका,
तो मैंने एक सारा जहाँ, उनमें वहाँ बसा देखा।।

मैंने एक जहाँ देखा
नितिन

First things first… feeling free to share!

2008-08-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

Hi ther! It’s been long I wanted to share something ...! may be something amusing, some experiences (ones those I can share!), a pleasent story or some of my creations. well, I've never been blogging and not even an avid blog-reader but I know somewhat from deeeep inside that "meshared" is hiding! I think that I have in me that it takes (until proved wrong ;-)

lemme be frank and honest (yeah really!) to anyone who is reading this. It's only short while ago when I started following this out-of-work stream of work! but after honing my writing skills on areas I work in, want to now try my hands on this blogger’s paradise! No, no... I didn’t give up my job, its just like other stuff that interests me, I start to follow this one as well!

Frienzz, I'm not great with language, so here u're gonna find simple words, said simpler. Sometime EVEN U (:p) may have a better phrase for something I wrote in, or spot a silly mistake (until otherwise changed the meaning !!), plz let-me off, I promise! to improve on time ;-)

I'm no subject matter expert, what I like and offer is a blend of different spices, a jumble of many worlds. so, if you are a variety lover, like the versatility and to talk anything under n over this sky, you are at right place, keep sneaking into “meshared”!!

bye for now, c u soon again!

Cheers!
Nitin