Saturday, December 26, 2009

AP - DOOMED?

Andhra Pradesh - A state known for its first foray into the Information Technology under the rule of the then chief minister Mr Chandrababu Naidu. IT's capital, Hyderabad, along with its twin city Secunderabad, are known for its welcoming culture, its pearls, its biryanis, and many other things besides, moreover it is a tourist centre that attracts many, its Birla Temple, Golcondo Fort, Char Minar, The Khao Galli of Hyderabad, Old Hyderabad and its fortress like scenery. The Jyotirlinga of Srisailam, the richest temple of Tirupati, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam dot the State.

But this gem of a state is under trouble, political crisis has hit the State hard, harder than imagined. Three major factors contributed heavily to this Situation.

Firstly, the demand to carve out a separate State of Telangana. As we already know, there is Uttaranchal, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh, which are carved out of old states. Same here. All they did was sit on a bhuk hadtal. LOL. If every one started demanding separate States for themselves, it is not good since there is a loss of national integrity, let alone the development of the new State. However the latter point can be contradicted if one looks at the growth rate of Jharkhand which has successfully projected itself as an industrial state. But can the same be said of the other two? To an extent maybe. But what about Telangana? Can it succeed in the same way? A huge question mark hangs around. Moreover, this situation made it difficult for the Congress which is the ruling party.

Second count is the affair of the Reddy Brothers. Seeing the business doing through unethical ways, AP banned the Reddy Brothers, who are among the most influentials of the neighbouring States, and who did business with the late chief minister.

Thirdly, the sexual harassment by the Governor in Raj Bhavan, causing him to be sacked. The Same Old Clinton Tactic.

A bandh is called now in Hyderabad, affecting business, holding people to ransom. Can you understand, it is like a house arrest. AP is DOOMED!!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Legolas The Elf

A great son
Of An Elven Lord
Cute He was
And Tall And Fair

Came he
summoned he was
To the Council of Elrond
but there was also some news
which was bad to all

Came he to say
that Gollum was freed
Recounted did he
the pursuit in the forests

Learn he did
Of the Great Rings of Power
Amazed he was
For he had never heard it all before

Determined and resolute
he joined the Nine
which was set
Against the Nine

Journey he did
With the Ringbearer
but never was he lured
towards It

Wisdom he had
his words were golden
He could see far
as could his kindred

Stand he did
On Caradhras the Cruel
Listened with intent
The malice of the Wizard

Leapt over the snow
For the first it noticed
that his shoe was light
and his feet were nimble

Good news he bore
of the Sun and the Light
Fought he did
Against the Warg Riders

Went with the Nine
needless it was
to go into
the nets of Khazad-dum

Contempt he had
for the dwarf that was along
the seeds of which
were sown long ago

Many he killed
His bows twanged
Heavens thundered
His arrows always accurate

Troll he downed
And with pity and sorrow
he saw
The spearing of Frodo

Joy was in his eyes
To know the fate of the Bearer
And run he did
To the Great Bridge

There he saw the Great Enemy
OF the Elf-banes
the Greatest
Fear in his heart

There he lost
his friend, the wizard
Cry did he
On the stones of the Dale

Lothlorien he found
tales he told
songs he sung
trees he tapped

With elves he spoke
With Lady he met
White light was around him
Speaking of his kind

A bow he recieved
and a quiver also
full of arrows
ready to gut down enemy throats

Over the River he rowed
Argonath he saw
To Parth Galen he came
And Saw the Breaking

Orcs he killed
Uruks also
With Gimli the dwarf
who was now his friend

For Boromir he cried
Sorrow in his eyes
Arrows he gathered
Riddles he solved

With the Two he ran
over the leagues of Rohan
To Fangorn he came
Which made him feel young

Into the glades he went
Full of surprises met
the wizard was back
And to Edoras he would go

Come he did to the golden hall
of Meduseld
Speak he did
with Theoden the King

To the Hornburg he went and
lost the count to his friend
But he grudged it not
For happy was he to see the dwarf

Then to Isengard he went
Found the two merry halflings
who were what he had sought
who were captured by the orcs

Many a talk he had
Many a tale he listened
Many a riddle he got answers
Many a joy he gave

He took the Grave Paths
Which the Dead took
Without any fear
For he did not the shadows of men

To Erech he came
Saw the Power
Ride he did
Over the green Fields of Gondor

Sea he saw
Gulls he heard
The sea longing came back
to his elven heart

To Minas Tirith he came
Fought the Great Battle
Oliphaunts he downed
Joy was in his heart

He was in the Last Debate
Counsels he sought
Counsels gave
Whatever be the decision, he would abide

He came to the Dark Gates
On the Last Battles
Of his time
And that was won

For the Ring was unmade
and so he witnessed
the crowning of Elessar
his friend

He took the tour
Of the Caves of Aglarond
And then he took Gimli with him
To the Fangorn

And atlast
we heard
that the gulls took his heart
And at the end of the Age
he took away into the West
With Gimli his friend

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

One Of The Biggest Pains Of Life

One of the biggest pains one can endure in life when someone close to the person does not believe in what the person can do. That someone close, though might acknowledge the person's talents, might just snub the person for it. That someone close may just vent out negative vibes for the person, that someone close, whom the person trusts so closely, distrusts the person. That someone close might just hurt the person only because that someone close is jealous.

Why does this happen? Is it a normal human tendency that makes one so hateful of another just because he/she has arrived with gifts suited to him/her but not to the other? Or is it a proven psychological factor? Do they not understand how much hurt one must endure in these cases? One suffers such mental trauma that only the strongest in heart can endure. The weak, I cannot say, what they can do? Sometimes, solutions are thought of that are not to best individual or societal interests.

Yes, sometimes, it may be misinterpretations of other's feelings towards you, but it is not so always. Why are you made to suffer just because the other is not endowed? Why are you made to understand that you are inferior just because you make mistakes in life or you take certain decisions in a chaotic way? Everyone makes mistakes, yes, even I do, but so they do also. Does jealousy lead them to believe that they are superior or is it that they tend to believe they are superior? It is okay if someone you do not know for long does that to you, for you do not feel much. But if someone close to you, like your family, or your friends(close ones) do, then would you not feel hurt?

With greatness comes a price, it is said. Is it this price that we have to pay for our gifts? If these people think they are perfect, then they are wrong but at least I am not straightforward enough to tell them so. For I am enduring and have endured till now, this same pain of life, carrying its burdens over the long years and have stood the ravages of time.

All along my life, I have lived more for others, less for myselves, obviously taking care of my own interest. But what have I got in return? Misery, sorrow and snubbishness. I have always looked to earn profits for both me and my close ones, but what is my profit in the bargain? Jealousy, inferiority and a use-for-nothing feeling.

The fact is that even my very close ones do not trust me to do anything. Yes, my close ones are cool, no problems on the personal front, they pamper me a lot. But what use is it anyway? I like to live a hard life, full of challenges. I like to be Practical and Logical and any problem exists, I deal with reason. But still, the same people I talk about, it is always a feeling that I have that I am always ignored for certain reasons. What have I done to make them so? Have I not taken care of them? There are some, yes, some, who thinks maybe like this, "sala kuch jyada hi shana banta hai" If I think logical, what is my fault in it?

People ask me to be sentimental. Probably some of them are. Maybe that is the reason. But I cannot be. Because, till now, I have been a little sentimental, all these 21 years. But for the last 2 years, I tried to work towards myself, towards achieving my goals, towards setting my objectives in life. What is my fault here? Still, I go with the flow in life.

Yes, I like my close ones, have not got any problems with anyone but still, certain misunderstandings have to be cleared. Many people tell me I am intelligent, maybe, because they deduce from what they see. But I am a better judge of myself. A person is a better judge of his own. That is a fact.

My very close one, with whom I had roamed around far, now thinks I cannot do anything. Why? Just because I made some mistakes in the past? How does that make one lose respect? They would have made several themselves, and there maybe some which I have noted, but does that mean I should stop giving them respect? There is only one funda in life, Give respect, you will get respect. But this funda has been proven false in my life.

True is the fact that I have made wrong decisions in the past, the after effects of which I am facing even till now. True is the fact that my close ones would have told me to be sentimental in order to make a good human being. But I need to have a chance to live for myself, to live independently, free of any pampering, full of hardships and challenges, sorry, I do not want an easy life.

The topic drifts to my close friends save some who come in the best friends category ( who I can say truly understand me and motivate me, they care for my best interests and I them.) Actually, many support me in my ways of life, many even look towards towards me, but from whom I always expected to have support from, they have just disappointed me. There is a saying, Do not put the stamps of expectation on anyone. How true the saying is!!!Maybe I should take a leaf out of it. After all, this is a practical and competitive world. In the world of business, there can be no emotions. And oft said is the fact that personal and professional lives are not to be mixed. Maybe that is what I have been doing these 21-22 years. Now I am changing my attitude for the best, make a new world for myself, to concentrate on my entrepreneurial ventures and treat them as if they are the children of my imagination, as if they are the children that have come through my flesh, I shall dedicate my mind, my brain and my body to these children of mine so that they flourish and with them, so do I and those for whom I care.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

The Tides Are Here

The days have come down in the west
Into shadow
The world is falling
The mountains are crumbling
Rocks are trembling.

Seas are changing
Armies are moving
Lands are shaking
Doom is coming

Darkness flowing
Light staying
Rivers gushing
The world is changing
For Evil or Good
It is yet to be seen

Doom it is
For the West
What shall we do?
What shall happen?
No man knows

Elf man and dwarf
Ready for the council
To change the Fate of Middle Earth
To make decisions
to survive
in the evil tide

The tide is flowing
Shadow is here
Darkness covering
All the lands
into shadow.

An Insight Of Gondor

Gondor O Gondor
The lands near the sea
Whenever i pass by thee
My face glows with glee

The coast is clear
With gulls
Reminding me of the sea
Gondor O Gondor
The lands of elven glee

Langstrand and Lebennin
The great green lands
Pelargir and Amroth
The place by the sea

Swans are common
Birds chirp
That is what the elven want
They clap their hands with glee

Fortress there is
that is white
Whiter than that of light
City there is
That stands amidst the great river
is the Citadel of the Stars

Gondor O Gondor
My paths npow lay towards thee
Every step i take upon the
gleeful road that my heart always beat
and now i come to thee
To save thee,to preserve thee
from evil and dark shores of the east

Frodo's Journey

A little boy
with red cheeks he was
funny he was
and solemn too

Son of Drogo he was
He lost his parents
in his childhood.
Playful he was
Liked mushrooms
Which he stole from Maggot's farms

After his loss
Reared in the Brandy Hall
Grew he to youth
And friends he had so less
Used to spend time with his uncle
Bilbo the elf-friend

To Hobbiton he went and made many friends
Samwise it was his closest
who was the son of his gaffer
Together they strolled
And saw many things
Weird he was
after Bilbo

A party they had
of bilbo's birthday
On September the twenty second
Fortunately it was
that it was also his birthday
on the same day

Fun they had and danced
speech he listened
And talks he had
With Gandalf the Grey

Sad was he when bilbo left
Inherited he did the ring
But the ring was doom
of men and elves
certainty of evil things

Gandalf left
telling him to keep it safe
For years he grew and
was said as cracking
like uncle bilbo who was cracked
as the neighbours said

Gandalf came later
A wizard he was they say
With ponted hats and a grey staff
An old man was

He said to Frodo
That the ring was evil and he had to let go
He asked him to leave the Shire
The shire was it the home town of him
who had played in the shire for long years

The years were happy but now it was sad
He left the shire with samwise and pippin and merry
his friends
To the old forest they went
Picked up by a willow
troubled he was
called out for help

Came a man
Journey they made to his house
Tales he listened and tales he told
of men and farther lands

Barrow-downs was the place even he went
Striked the wightsses hand
To bree he went also to the inn of the pony
And there many beer he had
Sang he tales
Disappeared he was
MAgician he was regarded.

Shunned after they set with a man
for their company
Lands he strode
To weathertop he went
Stabbed he was
by the witch king
Saved he was at rivendell
By Elrond the Great


A council took
Joined he to the fellowship
Planning to destroy the ring
Set out he did
Through Caradhras and moria he went
And saw the wizard
fighting a flame

To lothlorien he went
Welcomed by Galadriel
The lady of the woods
A sorceress she was every one said

Rivers he knew and
Argonath he saw
Left the Fellowship there
For he sensed
Evil at work it was
Through the hills and marshes
He went with Gollum
The sneak

To the black gates he came
IT would not open.
He went south
For he knew there a road was
near the evil city
Captured he was
by a dunedain he says
but he showed his quality
and that was the very best

Crossed the mountains of shadow he did
to the towers of cirith ungol
Shelob he fought
but poisoned he was
and captured by the orcs

The mails were taken
And sauron commanded him be bought to justice
But escaped he did
Wearing now the orc mails
he strode the lands of mordor
with samwise the friend
he came to doom
The mountain where the ring fell

The evil banished
The evil stemmed
Frodo was the saviour
Healed he was of all shadows

Returned to shire after great journeys
But his did not lessen
He wanted to feel his heart at rest
But he could not
Months later when he had finished a book
He went to the west
To the west he went with elves
To see a far green country.

Drunk Party

The world goes round
and round and round

It seems to me that
one is two
that three is four and
five is six

Drunk am i
so i need no excuse
For drunk am i
after many days and nights.

Wars i fought
people i helped.
But such a mirth i had never
Amongst such a warm
welcome that you hath given me

The enemy flows
The evil stems
From the east
To the west
But i care not
For tonight is night of mirth and
happiness

The elves are good
and helpful
The men are friendly and
all the respect earned
to them to them who bought me
safe here to this warm inn

The inn is good
situated in caves
The fortress seen from afar
Guards stand all night and ask the wayfarers
their business
Good it is that secure you should
For the enemy is at hand

The ring is fallen
Evil doomed
But again it is nigh
I warn you again to think of it
But never let your hearts
falter down
at the sight of it

But think not of it now
Enjoy your drink
For the world is going round.

A Memory of Aragorn

A boy was born in the evening glade
Estel he was named
Hope it was in the toungues of men

At ten he lost his father
who was blinded by one eye
The mother then gave the child of men
For the elves to take care

Youthful he grew
Strong he was
Looked and revered
Many names had he
Strider to one fat man
who stayed within leagues

He was shunned by normal men
'Coz a ranger was he
Carried a bow and a broken sword
That would not be reforged
Until the doom be found

He loved an elven maid
Fair and beautiful as the earth
No one has ever been born such
in the elf kindred
Daughter was she of Elrond the Great

A day it was when he saw her and fell
Loving her ever from that day
Evenstar was she to her people
AS bright as the evening

He sang the song of tinuviel
Asked she to him
Who he was
Said he was the the heir to the great thrones
That he was Aragorn

She fell in love with him
Who was as tall as the kings of men
Who came from yonder across the sea
Great he was
Called by many
Dunadan MAn of The West

He strode many lands even to harad
Where the stars grow strange.
He protected and ruled.
The sword he had
crushed many

He served many kings
Under different names
Under different guises
To the help of many

A friend he was of Gandalf the Wizard
The only person who knew him well.
An air he carried of greatness and pride
Though he was kind

Through the land of Lorien he passed
Welcomed by Galadriel the Elven White
There met he The Evenstar

Upon the hills they took the plight
That she would shun the western light
Threatened the Great Shadow in the east
Ever to stand against it

Many journeys he took and
Many enemies he slew
Was held as one of the greatest elf friends
of middle earth which ever was doomed by war

The doom was found
Help he gave to them
The four halflings
Strode with them many leagues to the
House of Elrond Halfelven
His sword reforged
And it looked as sharp as of old

There a council took
to decide the fate of the ring
Nominated he was to the great fellowship
Caradhras he faced
and to the dungeons of moria he went.
Lost he did his friend
To the Balrog of Khazad-dum

To Lothlorien he led
And recieved a blessing
upon his sword
The great river he rowed
Through Argonath he came and to Rauros
He came also

He fought many and beheld his kindred dying.
He journeyed with elf and dwarf
over the leagues of Rohan
to rescue the two
The halflings
Overtaken was he by the riders
Sought for help he did
Horses he rode
as far as Fangorn

The wizard alive he met
He had become the white
Counsels taken and counsels gave
To Edoras they rode
There they met the king
Of the golden hall

War there was of the Hornburg
ORcs he slew
Enemies fled
For his sword shone of the light of the sun

He it was that dared challenge the great shaddow
A palantir he had
Dared he take the dead paths
Where the dead army lingered
Oaths he sought
To help him
in quest of saving minas tirith

He came to Pelargir by many nights unslept
He defeated the ships
Which had come from the south
The army he took to the Great city
The fortress reclaimed

He marched with war to the Black Gates
There he fought the dark lord's army
Huge it was
The ring destroyed
and he was made king
Peace he gave
The cities prospered

Long he ruled
Gifted was he of long life
Died he in the great years
Who people remember even till now
Elessar was he the great king
The Crowned Jewel.

An Ode To A Best Friend

Friends!!!Every one has them, even the introverts of introverts, someone to share with, both joys and sorrows, friendship is eternal, always stand by you in your bad times. But not all are that close, there is a breed among them called Best Friends. You, I and everyone have at least a set of friends who come in the Best Friends category. Yes, I have one. The one who I know, with whom I can open my heart, who I know can stand by me, who I know can vouch for me.

There are some, not one but yes, I seem to pour out my feelings in front of this one more than others. And the fact being that this one is a girl is something great. Sometimes I feel, it is hard to fathom her, one cannot understand her so easily and other times, I feel I can think what she is thinking. That is what best friends are all about. To understand each other and stand by. They will never fail you. (Please do not consider this as LOVE!!!coz then u r mistaken....Love can fail you but not friendship).

This last year has been very trying, the year of 2009. Many problems had beset me, both medical and career wise. In the mid-year, I had thought my life is doomed. Once I was an optimist, then I became a pessimist. I had lost all hope, for my decisions had long gone awry, I had taken my worst decisions. Life was all rolling apart, plans remained plans, everything was getting dull and dreary. I did not know what to do and started inculcating a negative attitude in my life. I started to think of more abominable solutions I could ever imagine. I did not let even my friends get close to me, I started living in solitude, withdrawing into my shell, closing my mind and heart to all else that moves in the world. I stopped having fun, I started sulking in the very environment that I had built for myself. Visits to shrines did not help in a major way. But opening my heart to this friend of mine helped a lot.

It was she who helped me concentrate on my life, she who revived my optimism in some way or atleast inspired to, it was she who almost revived me again. And in the end I started taking it all in the positive. I learnt from my mistakes in the past, I recouped my blunders, I realised my dreams and ever since, I have started working towards them. Now I feel somewhat satisfied.

On an ending note, I would say I am lucky to have my friends with me, and I am grateful to life that this girl is my best friend. She is as her name suggests, which means friendship, affection and care.

MISSING THE INDEPENDENCE

The holidays have begun, exams over and I heave a sigh of much needed relief. I had to come back home, craving for home cooked food, reclaiming of my addiction to the internet especially the social networking sites like Orkut and Facebook which I never imagined I could live without but I have lived without them for a 1.5 yrs or so and proved me wrong. I only get access to such sites, either when I am home in Bangalore or when I go for a small vacation in Mumbai. But where I live, that is in Pune, I rarely orkut or I rarely fb.

In spite of all these, I miss that life. The independence is evergreen. Though I sorely miss home cooked food, the internet, the missing affection of my parents, and all such stuff which could make an emotional git cry, I miss my independent life. The freedom to roam anywhere in the midnight, the responsibilities one has to shoulder, the proper handling of finances, the cautious behaviour towards people, hanging out with friends all the tym, the group studies, everything there has an aura wound about itself. It gives me an adrenaline rush, it is just the feeling when India got freedom from British rule. This independence is costly yes, but it is an enlightening experience. I believe, once in your life, you need to have this experience.

Holidays have just started, I have just reached home, but I miss those days, I am looking forward to going back. There are no restrictions, no barricades to how you live (if you are mature enough, you will live it good). So far, I have enjoyed these days, though the environment there is a little shabby than my home. The cleaning of the room, the washing of clothes, everything is a part of life.

It is an audacious life, you live the way you want to and there is no one to tell you that what you are doing is CRAP!!!

Above all, I am missing my independence. But Home is HOME and you cannot beat it. So I have to enjoy this also for a while. Because someday I, you and everyone will be having a HOME!!!!!

Monday, December 21, 2009

Praises And Critics

Every movie gets a review, every music album gets one, and every book gets them all. So why should'nt life? People say life is a book. Then it should get a review too.

My life has been straightforward, till now I have been helpful, to others and myself. I have been practical all along my life, trying to gauge which situations, which paths would be more profitable and cost saving. Sometimes I gained, sometimes I lost. But I always took it Bindaas. That has always been my philosophy in life.

I have had my set of praises and my set of criticisms. Many people seem to like my attitude towards life, some have been straightforward in saying so. They seem to like my positive attitude. Well, that is because maybe I act positive, but on the inside I am overtly pessimistic towards many things in life. I dont share my troubles and pains with anyone. I keep them to myself and try to solve it all alone, like one man taking on a 300.

The critics have been less of now, trying to make me concentrate on full thing. And I have no fitting reply for them. Some things they say are really true, like me being an ambivert for one. I am an introvert most of the times, but can be an extrovert when necessary. As I said, I gauge the situation before expending energy(As it is I am Kandi!!![:p]) Some say I am overambitious..maybe its true, but to fulfill my dreams, I have to be, I have been under-ambitious till now :D

My life is a sad book, there are some happy moments though, but there are many sad moments, many mistakes that I made, from some I learned, from other I did not. But I would not say I have lived my life in vain. I love myself and my life, though it has been beset with many problems. Many people tell me,"I would like to live the way you live" but I always reply, "Why, whats wrong with the way you live?"

THE IRONY OF MY LIFE

Life has woven fantasies around me. In spite of many problems, I have come so far. Either I have avoided problems or I have negated them. But, seemingly, like a normal collegiate, I had no clue before in all these 22 years of mine as to what I really wanted to do. I knew what I wanted. I wanted to build a business of my own, to take care of it as if it were my own child. But plans remained plans, they never got implemented.

I have myself to blame. I took subjects that I was never comfortable with. First, my little tryst with science which was never what i wanted to be in the first place. Then I chose computers, though I must say I have a good aptitude in it, but that was my hobby, although I must thank it since I secured a distinction. But actually speaking, has it mattered till now? I don't think so. In the last year of my graduation, I was in doubt, whether to continue on in this field, or whether to join the rat race for a MBA degree from the ivy leagues. This confusion dealt me a huge blow in my life, the after-effects I am feeling even till now.

I decided to pursue the same field despite the so called recession. But I ask myself now, what happened to my dreams? Why did not I pursue them? During graduation, I had made plans for a small event management start-up (which as usual remained plans) which, after some time, would maybe grow big and my dream of doing business would be satisfied. But that plan caught dust, and life went on, me locating myself away from home in Bangalore to pursue my hobbies in Pune. I laugh at myself now, since though I am enjoying my hobbies and the last days of my college life, my dreams are not satiated. Life has already played much into it, now after 22 years, I am hell bent on reviving my dreams. Seeing the upcoming markets for my business in Pune and the already developed market in Mumbai, I see another oppurtunity for me to reclaim myself, to rise above all problems and whatever be the roadblocks in my life, to overcome them instead of stalling them or avoiding them. My conscience beckons to me, sometimes laughs at me, asks me why I didnt heed it? I had it all planned, but why didnt I follow it? This is the irony of my life. But I am not going to let it affect me in the future. I am not going to let it down me, instead, I am going to learn the positives of it all.