Dear Santa where have you gone?
I wait for your clue all day long...
I hope you remember your role!
Come back soon from the north pole...
Go ahead and do some shoplifting,
Because tomorrow is the day you should be gifting.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
You are my only wish!
Like the grinning birds at sushine,
May you smile at every sight of mine,
I want to realize everything you cherish,
You are my only wish, You are my only wish.
Like a gasping wind towards a silent lake,
Every step you take keeps me nervously awake,
I want to keep walking until the finish,
You are my only wish, You are my only wish.
Like a busy bee crooning around a daisy,
Dancing with you should make the world look hazy,
I want to be set free and again be impish,
You are my only wish, You are my only wish.
Like the dangling melody of a restless chime,
Every move of yours should turn me numb like a mime,
I want to keep talking until the words perish,
You are my only wish, You are my only wish.
Like drops of dew on a tender leaf,
Tears keep running down my tired cheek,
I want to fight everyday the endless anguish,
You are my only wish, You are my only wish.
- Dev
Monday, October 24, 2011
Deepavali - I dream everyday to be this day.
For all those moments glittering, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can close my moist eyes and still feel the starry night.
For all those unseen colors, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can walk looking down to find the rainbow scattered around.
For all those sweetest things to feast, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can feed my insatiable hunger with everything available.
For all those crackling smiles, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can laugh out crazy loud and still not be heard.
For all those promises fulfilled, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can look like a blooming flower with my new attire.
For all those open arms, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can get that special drug from anyone called a mother's hug.
For all those corners lit, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can see hope beaming out of the burning lantern rope.
For all those childhood times, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can dream of a fearless desire to fly with wings of fire.
- Dev
When I can close my moist eyes and still feel the starry night.
For all those unseen colors, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can walk looking down to find the rainbow scattered around.
For all those sweetest things to feast, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can feed my insatiable hunger with everything available.
For all those crackling smiles, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can laugh out crazy loud and still not be heard.
For all those promises fulfilled, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can look like a blooming flower with my new attire.
For all those open arms, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can get that special drug from anyone called a mother's hug.
For all those corners lit, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can see hope beaming out of the burning lantern rope.
For all those childhood times, I dream everyday to be this day,
When I can dream of a fearless desire to fly with wings of fire.
- Dev
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
On cloud number Nine - Skandagiri
I often think and think a lot sometimes, so much so that I get bored of the process of thinking and that is when I realize that laziness has it's limits. Hence now and then I decide do something adventurous to challenge my lazy mindset and push my useless body to it's limits.
The challenge was - Skandagiri, a beautiful hill about 60 kms from Bangalore near Mudenahalli (Birth place of Sir M. Vishvesharayya). Five of us crazy people started the adventure on our bikes at around 11 pm on Saturday night. With only enthusiasm and no planning the trips turn out to be adventurous anyways, so we didn't worry about the fun part. Since the planning part was missing we took two detours (lost our way) and reached the base of hill around 2 am.
We hired a guide, which was some good planning we did before we started the climb. With moonlit night the climb would have been romantic only if my friends magically transformed into the opposite gender somehow. But that was never going to happen and I decided to start the trek rather than regretting my bad luck.
It was fun initially for about 15 mins we were sailing smoothly with only some small stones, bushes as roadblocks which were too insignificant for us. Then once the actual climb started I realized how irresponsible I have been towards my health, carrying 90 kg's onto a hill top is no easy task. Somehow the enthusiasm took me to a level where I could recover from the punishment I was put through. But the test of physical and mental toughness was about to start since I had hardly covered 5% of the entire distance (It was like that scene from Kung Fu Panda where Po has to reach the Jade palace but is tired after just 3 steps).
Now gathering all the inner strength and peace I started again with only one friend beside me, rest of them ditched us for some girls who were ahead of us. Step by step the climb became more and more challenging but I couldn't give up. I had told so many people about the trek that I would have to run like an Ostrich if I hadn't accomplished the climb. So to save my face from embarrassment and to follow my "Never Give Up" principle I had to continue. About mid way after taking 5 pit-stops we were suddenly on - No mans land. One side there was a risky slope with wet grass on it and on the other side a huge rock which was waiting for a chance to go down. Clueless about our next step we decided to listen to some rock music (Stairway to heaven) on our phones, we thought someone should care about us and will come back to rescue us. After taking a forced pit-stop for about 10 mins the guide came searching for us and we continued under his expert guidance.
The weather started changing as we approached the pinnacle, we were sweating like pigs for first half of the climb and shivering like a malaria patient for the second half. Finally after about 5,003,343 steps and 3.5 hrs later we reached the top. And the rest was just an experience of lifetime which cannot be put into words. We might not have scaled the Everest but we sure felt some exhilaration of having achieved something at least in our aimless lives.
The wind resisted each of our steps on the top and we marched on against it, the temperature must be around 15 deg Celsius probably or I felt so. The moon seemed like a jump away when we stood on the edge, all we could do was stand spell bound and admire the beauty of Mother Nature. She in her grandeur is so humble and giving but we treat her like we own her! The place in itself is beautiful and out of the world but we have only made it ugly by using it as a place to booze and smoke. I was disturbed by too much human noise above so I found a calm place on the edge of a cliff and sat down there to feel the wind and stare at the moon, I did this for 2 hrs and around 5.30 am the color of sky turned from black to blue. We knew the sun had arrived and with it the end of our adventure...
I might not be able to explain the exact feeling of being there but this poem does it beautifully,
Beautiful Earth (what a marvelous thing) - Kathye D. Perry
What a wonderful joy it is to see,
The beauty of nature and its majesty.
Everything blends, entwines and embraces,
Spaced precisely in their designated places.
What a marvel to see, I wish I were a bee,
Flying free,
Smelling life's roses, no particular place to be.
How can it be, such a marvel to see
When it’s possessed by such as you and me?
Ours to have, cherish, and protect,
Not to pollute, take for granted, nor neglect.
Enjoy the earth, treat it kind
After all it is ours, yes... yours and mine.
- Dev
The challenge was - Skandagiri, a beautiful hill about 60 kms from Bangalore near Mudenahalli (Birth place of Sir M. Vishvesharayya). Five of us crazy people started the adventure on our bikes at around 11 pm on Saturday night. With only enthusiasm and no planning the trips turn out to be adventurous anyways, so we didn't worry about the fun part. Since the planning part was missing we took two detours (lost our way) and reached the base of hill around 2 am.
We hired a guide, which was some good planning we did before we started the climb. With moonlit night the climb would have been romantic only if my friends magically transformed into the opposite gender somehow. But that was never going to happen and I decided to start the trek rather than regretting my bad luck.
It was fun initially for about 15 mins we were sailing smoothly with only some small stones, bushes as roadblocks which were too insignificant for us. Then once the actual climb started I realized how irresponsible I have been towards my health, carrying 90 kg's onto a hill top is no easy task. Somehow the enthusiasm took me to a level where I could recover from the punishment I was put through. But the test of physical and mental toughness was about to start since I had hardly covered 5% of the entire distance (It was like that scene from Kung Fu Panda where Po has to reach the Jade palace but is tired after just 3 steps).
Now gathering all the inner strength and peace I started again with only one friend beside me, rest of them ditched us for some girls who were ahead of us. Step by step the climb became more and more challenging but I couldn't give up. I had told so many people about the trek that I would have to run like an Ostrich if I hadn't accomplished the climb. So to save my face from embarrassment and to follow my "Never Give Up" principle I had to continue. About mid way after taking 5 pit-stops we were suddenly on - No mans land. One side there was a risky slope with wet grass on it and on the other side a huge rock which was waiting for a chance to go down. Clueless about our next step we decided to listen to some rock music (Stairway to heaven) on our phones, we thought someone should care about us and will come back to rescue us. After taking a forced pit-stop for about 10 mins the guide came searching for us and we continued under his expert guidance.
The weather started changing as we approached the pinnacle, we were sweating like pigs for first half of the climb and shivering like a malaria patient for the second half. Finally after about 5,003,343 steps and 3.5 hrs later we reached the top. And the rest was just an experience of lifetime which cannot be put into words. We might not have scaled the Everest but we sure felt some exhilaration of having achieved something at least in our aimless lives.
The wind resisted each of our steps on the top and we marched on against it, the temperature must be around 15 deg Celsius probably or I felt so. The moon seemed like a jump away when we stood on the edge, all we could do was stand spell bound and admire the beauty of Mother Nature. She in her grandeur is so humble and giving but we treat her like we own her! The place in itself is beautiful and out of the world but we have only made it ugly by using it as a place to booze and smoke. I was disturbed by too much human noise above so I found a calm place on the edge of a cliff and sat down there to feel the wind and stare at the moon, I did this for 2 hrs and around 5.30 am the color of sky turned from black to blue. We knew the sun had arrived and with it the end of our adventure...
I might not be able to explain the exact feeling of being there but this poem does it beautifully,
Beautiful Earth (what a marvelous thing) - Kathye D. Perry
What a wonderful joy it is to see,
The beauty of nature and its majesty.
Everything blends, entwines and embraces,
Spaced precisely in their designated places.
What a marvel to see, I wish I were a bee,
Flying free,
Smelling life's roses, no particular place to be.
How can it be, such a marvel to see
When it’s possessed by such as you and me?
Ours to have, cherish, and protect,
Not to pollute, take for granted, nor neglect.
Enjoy the earth, treat it kind
After all it is ours, yes... yours and mine.
- Dev
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Theory of Reverse Psychology
Theory of Reverse Psychology - postulated by Prof Pritesh J Rasquinha
Theory
In short Theory of Reverse Psychology says,
"When someone’s doing something right and it goes wrong do the wrong it may go
right" - P.J
OR
"For every action there is equal and opposite reaction, hence do the opposite to get the right reaction for the wrong action" - P.J
Explanation -
Long ago when Newton postulated his 3rd law of Motion and Heisenberg postulated his Uncertainty principle they were both thinking of applying their theories to human psychology more than anything, but failed to do so. But only "Theory of Reverse Psychology" makes this dream of Greats come true.
When I first heard of this theory from PJ I didn’t believe it would work in this humane world ruled by uncertainties, but it does work like his charm on all the girls.
Initially it took time for me to get a grasp on this theory but when the Master was always there with me it wasn’t so difficult in the end.
The best application of this master philosophy is when you are with a gang of friends and you goto a common place just to eat or drink but you don't have a place to sit because it's crowded. Apply reverse psychology and take your whole gang to the table with least people and join them. Now since the people already seated there have no clue why you are there and looking at the size of gang they will eventually move out.
One more stunning application of this theory is to attract the opposite sex, when you know someone's watching you instead of responding with a glare just do the reverse i.e. IGNORE, as they say "Ignorance is bliss" and this bliss will help you get the undue attention. Anyways it's very hard to apply until you rate yourself amongst the best looking people around.
The tag line for this philosophy is – “It works like axe effect minus the axe”
The actual application of this philosophy is in our daily lives. Like in the song - "Awarapan Banjarapan" which is one of my favorite songs, there is a line "kaha kisi ke
liye hai mumkin, sab ke liye ek sa hona" which is indeed so true. But if you achieve what this line says you cannot! you will reach the utmost level of inner peace I think. People around you don't expect you to be nice and true always but do the reverse of what they might think of you. Be nice and true to them always even when they are not the same with you, it isn't so difficult. This will, at some point of time bring a change in their attitude and hence the reverse effect. You'll see the hatred turn into likability and likability turn into respect in the end.
It is indeed difficult to practice what you preach, but I try.
- Dev
Theory
In short Theory of Reverse Psychology says,
"When someone’s doing something right and it goes wrong do the wrong it may go
right" - P.J
OR
"For every action there is equal and opposite reaction, hence do the opposite to get the right reaction for the wrong action" - P.J
Explanation -
Long ago when Newton postulated his 3rd law of Motion and Heisenberg postulated his Uncertainty principle they were both thinking of applying their theories to human psychology more than anything, but failed to do so. But only "Theory of Reverse Psychology" makes this dream of Greats come true.
When I first heard of this theory from PJ I didn’t believe it would work in this humane world ruled by uncertainties, but it does work like his charm on all the girls.
Initially it took time for me to get a grasp on this theory but when the Master was always there with me it wasn’t so difficult in the end.
The best application of this master philosophy is when you are with a gang of friends and you goto a common place just to eat or drink but you don't have a place to sit because it's crowded. Apply reverse psychology and take your whole gang to the table with least people and join them. Now since the people already seated there have no clue why you are there and looking at the size of gang they will eventually move out.
One more stunning application of this theory is to attract the opposite sex, when you know someone's watching you instead of responding with a glare just do the reverse i.e. IGNORE, as they say "Ignorance is bliss" and this bliss will help you get the undue attention. Anyways it's very hard to apply until you rate yourself amongst the best looking people around.
The tag line for this philosophy is – “It works like axe effect minus the axe”
The actual application of this philosophy is in our daily lives. Like in the song - "Awarapan Banjarapan" which is one of my favorite songs, there is a line "kaha kisi ke
liye hai mumkin, sab ke liye ek sa hona" which is indeed so true. But if you achieve what this line says you cannot! you will reach the utmost level of inner peace I think. People around you don't expect you to be nice and true always but do the reverse of what they might think of you. Be nice and true to them always even when they are not the same with you, it isn't so difficult. This will, at some point of time bring a change in their attitude and hence the reverse effect. You'll see the hatred turn into likability and likability turn into respect in the end.
It is indeed difficult to practice what you preach, but I try.
- Dev
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Last day mail @ Infosys
As a dialogue in the movie “Asoka” goes –
A Monk predicting Emperor Ashok’s future says – “Tumhara bhaagya Samraat se uncha hain!”
Ashok – “Samraat se uncha bhaagya kiska hota hain?”
Monk – “Samraat se uncha bhaagya ‘Ek Yatri’ ka hota hain jab woh apni yatra sampann kar leta hain!”
Main bhi ek yatri hun jo apni ek yatra sampann karke doosri yatra pe chal pada hun. Mujhe nahi pata mera bhaagya kisse bada hain aur mujhe naahi apna bhaagya kisi Samraat se uncha bana naa hain, Mujhe toh sirf apni yatra puri karni hain.
Meri is yatra ke jo humraahi the unko mera hrudaypurvak dhanyawad. Aapki yatra bhi safal rahein aur aap sabka bhaagya kisi Samraat se kum naa ho.
Now coming back to reality after the filmy dialogue, 22nd Sep 2008 to 28th Jan 2011 @ Infosys has been the most awesome time spent in my life.
Thanks to everybody who shared this valuable part of my journey with theirs.
The Beginning J,
Mahadev M Surve.
Monday, April 27, 2009
"A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user."
I had taken a leave on 23rd of April so that I can vote for the first time in the general elections, but my idea of choosing the people to run my country was just an illusion I guess. I didn’t have too much work to fall back on as a reason to not vote, hence I took a leave of 2 days to go and exercise my vote from my hometown “Dandeli” part of the “Uttara Kannada” constituency.
The city in itself is a very well developed one with a literacy percentage of above 85% I guess at the least. So my idea was that since it’s a mature and sensible city I would find many people turning out to vote. But that didn’t happen! I reached my hometown at 8.00 am and was ready by 10.30 to go and exercise my vote. I was excited and asked each one in the family to give their opinions of the party to vote for, my parents for some reason did not want to disclose whom they would vote for. Whereas I and my sister had a kind of brainstorming session on the party to vote for, finally we both agreed on a particular party and decided to vote for it.
At 11.00 am I drop my father to his polling booth and then went back to get my mother. I go into the polling booth accompanied by my mother; they give some slip of paper which has details of our registration number and the polling booth number. We have to give the slip in our respective booths and then show our voters ID card or any of the ID’s recognized by the Government of India, like PAN card, passport etc. They strike down our names as present and apply the indelible ink on the left pointing finger. Now we proceed to the hidden section of the booth where we vote by pressing a button beside the party symbol you want to vote for. I did just that and the process was over.
Now what amazes me is the very little time it took me to complete the entire process of voting, exactly 2mins and 20secs. What puzzles me more is the number of people who didn’t have only this much time to invest in the future of their country. In the evening my father came back from the polling booth with a sheet of paper in his hand which had details of the days voting in the city. Which revealed that only and only 40% of people had exercised their vote? In the evening I hear the NEWS channels reporting 34% of voting in the district, what a shame for being called a democratic district part of a “Great Democracy” which they say is “India”. As far as I can understand about the city I am from, it has a very huge population which either studies or works outside the city in places like Bangalore, Mysore, Pune, Mumbai etc. Since the cities are far from “Dandeli” they cannot come so far to vote I guess. This doesn’t however take away the fact they are just irresponsible one way or either. I bet most of the migrated population would not even have voters ID card also, neither from Dandeli nor at the place they live now for education or work, so forget about voting from any place. Most of the people would preferably enjoy a long weekend as a good break from their hectic lives but wouldn’t spare these 2mins for their future. I wonder if all this 75% of the population of India being aged less than 35yrs will ever benefit us at all as the great economists are predicting, because a countries growth depends both on the privately funded organizations that they work in and a publicly voted government also.
This wasn’t the case when the voters ID card were being distributed, there were long queues to get their ID card. I was happy to see so many people wanting to vote, but as I stood in the queue to get my voters ID card I met a senior lecturer from the local Degree college standing beside me. I started dicussing the voting trends and the way elections were held in the city. Firstly he said he was tired standing in the queue to get his renewed voters ID card, but he had to do it he said. With so many people in the queue he frustratingly said I bet not even 50% of the people want their ID because they want to vote instead want an identity proof which claims they are Indian and that they can enjoy the rights, privileges and the invaluable freedom that their beloved “Great Country” provides them. He gave a very interesting point of view about elections, the elections are held only for the poor or the lower middle class people. And the rest of the section of the society really didn’t care because it would never make a big difference to their lives.
He was put into a number of election duties earlier and he said he had hardly seen doctors, engineers, corporates, businessmen etc rarely come down to vote. Most of the people who vote where daily labourers, House wifes, small scale businessmen, employees of the Paper Mill that the city has and some section of learned few. Sometimes, he said that because the turnout was so less that they were ashamed to report the details of just 10 people turning up out of 1000 people in the list. Also he said that the teachers who were put onto the election duty would have to take some special permission to vote from the place they have been put to work. Now if so many people and sections ignore the process of voting I don’t know what the consequences hold for us may be bad roads, impure water, bad climate, corrupt people and institutions, communalism, regionalism, increase in crime and what not!!! This was the situation for the biggest of elections in the country, I guess nobody would not even know when the statewise or city elections go on.
I don’t necessarily mean that voting is the only way that any change can be achieved but it is surely one of the ways. It means you are as responsible for all the right and wrong that goes on in the country as the politicians or the bureaucrats are. It means that 2mins is like a drop of your time that can become an ocean of changing time. With just 40% percentage of voting reported it’s just the 40% voices heard from your side rest 60% are just numb watchers to the helpless situation that they and their countrymen face. It not a huge investment I guess but its worth it every second of it. I being a responsible citizen did it out of curiosity and sheer chance to do it; because I don’t live in a country like Burma, where army rules and is found helpless when its citizens are dying after a cyclone; I don’t live in a country like Pakistan, where democracy is an imaginative word; I don’t live in country like China, where citizens are treated like prisoners who should just follow orders, I live in a “Great Country” and I am just lucky enough to be living so freely and enjoying my freedom to its utmost. Democracy is a beautiful way to be heard and elect your representatives to run your country, believe me.
The city in itself is a very well developed one with a literacy percentage of above 85% I guess at the least. So my idea was that since it’s a mature and sensible city I would find many people turning out to vote. But that didn’t happen! I reached my hometown at 8.00 am and was ready by 10.30 to go and exercise my vote. I was excited and asked each one in the family to give their opinions of the party to vote for, my parents for some reason did not want to disclose whom they would vote for. Whereas I and my sister had a kind of brainstorming session on the party to vote for, finally we both agreed on a particular party and decided to vote for it.
At 11.00 am I drop my father to his polling booth and then went back to get my mother. I go into the polling booth accompanied by my mother; they give some slip of paper which has details of our registration number and the polling booth number. We have to give the slip in our respective booths and then show our voters ID card or any of the ID’s recognized by the Government of India, like PAN card, passport etc. They strike down our names as present and apply the indelible ink on the left pointing finger. Now we proceed to the hidden section of the booth where we vote by pressing a button beside the party symbol you want to vote for. I did just that and the process was over.
Now what amazes me is the very little time it took me to complete the entire process of voting, exactly 2mins and 20secs. What puzzles me more is the number of people who didn’t have only this much time to invest in the future of their country. In the evening my father came back from the polling booth with a sheet of paper in his hand which had details of the days voting in the city. Which revealed that only and only 40% of people had exercised their vote? In the evening I hear the NEWS channels reporting 34% of voting in the district, what a shame for being called a democratic district part of a “Great Democracy” which they say is “India”. As far as I can understand about the city I am from, it has a very huge population which either studies or works outside the city in places like Bangalore, Mysore, Pune, Mumbai etc. Since the cities are far from “Dandeli” they cannot come so far to vote I guess. This doesn’t however take away the fact they are just irresponsible one way or either. I bet most of the migrated population would not even have voters ID card also, neither from Dandeli nor at the place they live now for education or work, so forget about voting from any place. Most of the people would preferably enjoy a long weekend as a good break from their hectic lives but wouldn’t spare these 2mins for their future. I wonder if all this 75% of the population of India being aged less than 35yrs will ever benefit us at all as the great economists are predicting, because a countries growth depends both on the privately funded organizations that they work in and a publicly voted government also.
This wasn’t the case when the voters ID card were being distributed, there were long queues to get their ID card. I was happy to see so many people wanting to vote, but as I stood in the queue to get my voters ID card I met a senior lecturer from the local Degree college standing beside me. I started dicussing the voting trends and the way elections were held in the city. Firstly he said he was tired standing in the queue to get his renewed voters ID card, but he had to do it he said. With so many people in the queue he frustratingly said I bet not even 50% of the people want their ID because they want to vote instead want an identity proof which claims they are Indian and that they can enjoy the rights, privileges and the invaluable freedom that their beloved “Great Country” provides them. He gave a very interesting point of view about elections, the elections are held only for the poor or the lower middle class people. And the rest of the section of the society really didn’t care because it would never make a big difference to their lives.
He was put into a number of election duties earlier and he said he had hardly seen doctors, engineers, corporates, businessmen etc rarely come down to vote. Most of the people who vote where daily labourers, House wifes, small scale businessmen, employees of the Paper Mill that the city has and some section of learned few. Sometimes, he said that because the turnout was so less that they were ashamed to report the details of just 10 people turning up out of 1000 people in the list. Also he said that the teachers who were put onto the election duty would have to take some special permission to vote from the place they have been put to work. Now if so many people and sections ignore the process of voting I don’t know what the consequences hold for us may be bad roads, impure water, bad climate, corrupt people and institutions, communalism, regionalism, increase in crime and what not!!! This was the situation for the biggest of elections in the country, I guess nobody would not even know when the statewise or city elections go on.
I don’t necessarily mean that voting is the only way that any change can be achieved but it is surely one of the ways. It means you are as responsible for all the right and wrong that goes on in the country as the politicians or the bureaucrats are. It means that 2mins is like a drop of your time that can become an ocean of changing time. With just 40% percentage of voting reported it’s just the 40% voices heard from your side rest 60% are just numb watchers to the helpless situation that they and their countrymen face. It not a huge investment I guess but its worth it every second of it. I being a responsible citizen did it out of curiosity and sheer chance to do it; because I don’t live in a country like Burma, where army rules and is found helpless when its citizens are dying after a cyclone; I don’t live in a country like Pakistan, where democracy is an imaginative word; I don’t live in country like China, where citizens are treated like prisoners who should just follow orders, I live in a “Great Country” and I am just lucky enough to be living so freely and enjoying my freedom to its utmost. Democracy is a beautiful way to be heard and elect your representatives to run your country, believe me.
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