tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-174485082024-03-21T11:19:04.739+05:30Just SimpleJust Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.comBlogger164125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-13592772509456548012024-01-14T19:29:00.001+05:302024-01-14T20:44:30.244+05:30 Why I left the Indian Administrative Service?<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-47dc286b-7fff-8f50-2632-5ade2811792d" style="font-size: medium;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZOHC0W4B3Ej9FrcMp0_zcRBzeEVPzDvziwnz7zrtn-TOZ233EHZev-GH49iBYN3G5uzGHjJm7lNcr7SZOU2yv2k89jCOcXn56kWeXJchqOCdPELYtGGl4dppQ7H3gKQpmkCHM9RHT2jtq7TBSp8BlUXkMMSCn8-_Uvwm-JfioD2jg2Ky2c-DxA/s1024/be9e258b-661e-4292-9420-99773a2f041b.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZOHC0W4B3Ej9FrcMp0_zcRBzeEVPzDvziwnz7zrtn-TOZ233EHZev-GH49iBYN3G5uzGHjJm7lNcr7SZOU2yv2k89jCOcXn56kWeXJchqOCdPELYtGGl4dppQ7H3gKQpmkCHM9RHT2jtq7TBSp8BlUXkMMSCn8-_Uvwm-JfioD2jg2Ky2c-DxA/s320/be9e258b-661e-4292-9420-99773a2f041b.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span><p></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span id="docs-internal-guid-13a75ff1-7fff-a083-ec96-c71ae6f82004"><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1243" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">The present rage on the OTT platform is the movie ‘12th Fail’ that documents the struggles of Manoj Kumar Sharma in becoming an IPS officer. Lives of everyone may not have been as dramatic as that of Manoj, but most of us who gave UPSC Civil service exams certainly lived some part. The lanes of Rajendra Nagar with its bookstalls and tea shops, or the small pigeon hole rooms in Mukherjee Nagar/Jiasarai are all too familiar to any aspirant. All of us also remember pile of books that filled entire room and neatly pasted information posters on the wall.</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1244" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">The gruelling exam cycle went on for more than a year starting from filling the prelims form, then giving long subjective Mains exam and finally the terror of the interview board. I still remember that eternal struggle to clock 12-14 hours of study time and looking at pictures of toppers who cleared the exam. Their folklores survived in those Delhi bylanes while they moved on to the LBSNAA Mussoorie. Any successful or unfortunately not so aspirant can talk about these struggles on and on.</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1245" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">I felt like destiny's child when I cleared the exam in my first attempt and entered the hallowed Indian Administrative Service (IAS). I wonder if anything else can match the sudden orbit shift in an ordinary student's life when you turn from an aspirant to a small time celeb and newspapers and aspirants cannot have enough of your wisdom words. It touches not only you but your entire clan. I remember distant relatives distributing sweets in their neighbourhoods when someone with whom they hardly ever spoke cleared this exam.</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1246" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">So how does one reconcile with leaving something that one struggled for so hard? After reliving a part of that struggle watching 12th fail with family, my son incredulously asks me, "Why did you leave the indian administrative service?”. It was difficult to explain to my toddler what IAS officers did and it is even more difficult to explain why I left.</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1247" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">I owe this answer to many who have been a part of my life. Whatever it is, it was certainly not an easy choice. After 16 years in service, it doesn't remain a service but becomes a way of life, a sort of alter ego or identity that one cannot even imagine to leave. Many still ask what did your parents say? How could your family let you do that?</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1248" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">I do not say that the service did not offer what I was looking for. The kind of diversity, respect and exposure that IAS provides can rarely be matched by anything else. And IAS officers also serve. The exam selects brilliant people and despite challenges in everyone’s professional life, they contribute in different manners. Yes there are aberrations amongst IAS officers, but they exist in all walks of life.<span class="white-space-pre" style="background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre !important;"> </span></span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1249" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">Having been there and done that, I can say for sure that it is easier to enter the service than to leave. While one is preparing, you just need to work hard and everything is black and white, you either get selected or you do not. The decision to leave is mired with ifs and buts and everything appears grey. There is the persistent thought of this being a one way street, with no chance of coming back to this comfort zone of respect and assured career path. I could live what the poet Kunwar Narayan meant in his poem ‘Antim Unchai’:</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1250" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">कितना स्पष्ट होता आगे बढ़ते जाने का मतलब</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1251" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">अगर दसों दिशाएँ हमारे सामने होतीं,</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1252" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">हमारे चारों ओर नहीं।</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1253" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">कितना आसान होता चलते चले जाना</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1254" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">यदि केवल हम चलते होते</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1255" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">बाक़ी सब रुका होता।</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1256" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">शुरू-शुरू में सब यही चाहते हैं</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1257" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">कि सब कुछ शुरू से शुरू हो,</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1258" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">लेकिन अंत तक पहुँचते-पहुँचते हिम्मत हार जाते हैं।</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1259" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">हमें कोई दिलचस्पी नहीं रहती</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1260" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">कि वह सब कैसे समाप्त होता है</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1261" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">जो इतनी धूमधाम से शुरू हुआ था</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1262" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">हमारे चाहने पर।</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1263" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was difficult but I could also hear a clear voice inside my heart that it was time to move on. There are no rights and wrongs in life, but what matters is if we can hear our inner voice. In the end everything remains a personal choice based on what one is seeking in life. All the reasons I have can be argued equally against, but I present them in all humility to my friends and well wishers, who have often tried to understand my thought process.</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1264" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first reason was that I felt too comfortable in life. It is difficult to express that, but seeing the next twenty years of my professional life was unnerving in a sense. I had seen a good part of what service had to offer, and the chances of getting surprised were getting narrowed down. A sign of youth is that one is full of possibilities in life. You can be an entrepreneur or you can travel and explore the world. You can also think of joining the elite IAS. There is a thrill in finding new challenges in life, and continuing here was sort of accepting old age, metaphorically at least.</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1265" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">The next important reason was that I feel India is going to change in the coming decades. I remember how we waited for months to get a landline, and how the world changed with the advent of mobiles. Today's smartphone users cannot even imagine that time. I believe emerging changes would be far greater in the coming decades. I also believe that while the Government would continue to be a regulator and a facilitator, the private sector would be the real leader in this change. Indian per capita income has doubled in the last seven years, and we can only imagine how the next few decades are going to be like. While I had just begun to toy with this idea, I met a founder of a Unicorn. Realising that he could create a wealth of billions of dollars in such a short span of time was an attractive thought. The creativity, the pace and the horizon to achieve myriad things thrilled me beyond words.</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1266" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">Also, when we think of life in IAS, we often think about life in the field or in the districts. There one is closer to real India and creating an impact, however small, gives satisfaction. As one rises up the hierarchy, the canvas becomes large. It is difficult to conduct small experiments and see them succeed owing to the scale of impact. Working in the secretariat, be it in a department or any government corporation is somewhat closer to the work in the private sector.</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1267" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">A lingering thought also was that we have only one life. I had seen IAS for sixteen years and I felt excited with the idea of reinventing myself. Modern world is complex and people not only change jobs but their area of work.<span class="white-space-pre" style="background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre !important;"> </span></span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1268" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">I also felt that we called IAS to be the steel frame of the country but as democracy matures, real representatives of people i.e. elected politicians take charge. In today’s competitive electoral politics where the electorate are impatient for results, politicians love to work with a committed rather than a neutral bureaucracy. There can not be two power centres and thus there is nothing called ‘strong bureaucracy’ in modern times.</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1269" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">In most developed countries, bureaucrats are relegated to the background and civil services are rarely the first career choice. I believe in developing countries like ourselves where rule of law is still not perfect, being in the services makes certain basic services guaranteed. One is saved from unlawful harassment from the State or can be assured of finding a hospital bed in crisis times like Covid. As markets mature and a country progresses, these become less attractive. This may also be seen in career choices of children of serving bureaucrats, with very few opting for civil services.</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1270" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">It may also be said that a person needs to be self driven in services like IAS. Government jobs do not offer incentives to innovate and often officials fall in the mediocrity trap. The ecosystem makes it challenging to continuously upgrade oneself. There are other reasons like that of generating wealth and earning like my other IIT batchmates or having exposure of different kinds but I will not say they really mattered when I decided to move on.<span class="white-space-pre" style="background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre !important;"> </span></span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1271" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">It is not that I am not scared, I had more sleepless nights than I had while preparing for the UPSC exams. This was the most difficult decision of my life and I still get nightmares with thoughts like this isn't some आई मौज फ़क़ीर को, दिया झोपड़ा फूँक moment. May be this deserves a separate blog and one day I would pen that.</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1272" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">But I am happy and proud I could do this. It wasn't easy and it will not be easy but I am excited. Once again in my life I feel the sky's the limit and I again have a reason to dream. It has already been more than two months and everyday I have butterflies in my stomach. I asked GenAI to generate an image for me entering the unknown and it is the one you see at the top. Wish me luck on this ride!</span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1273" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">जल गयी है शमा, आ गए हैं परवाने<span class="white-space-pre" style="background: var(--artdeco-reset-base-background-transparent); border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; margin: var(--artdeco-reset-base-margin-zero); outline: var(--artdeco-reset-base-outline-zero); padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre !important;"> </span></span></p><p class="ember-view reader-content-blocks__paragraph" id="ember1274" style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.75; margin: 1.6rem 0px; padding: var(--artdeco-reset-base-padding-zero); pointer-events: all; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline);"><span style="font-size: medium;">आगाज़ तो अच्छा है, अंजाम ख़ुदा जाने</span></p><div><br /></div></span>Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-70428840632553621492023-06-04T16:25:00.002+05:302023-06-05T14:33:39.078+05:30Ek Choti Si (Love?) Story<p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;">He wondered what happened when they went on a vacation. Was it just about the place, or did they behave differently from their formal daily selves?</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;">They were in Darjeeling, and he had always been in love with this place. It was more about discovering the unknown; there were still new surprises about this place. He must admit though that he felt a pinch of pain when he visited the place. It had given him immense love once upon a time, and every time he was back, he doubted if it would still love him the same.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;">Having spent three days in the hustle and bustle of Darjeeling, they decided to go to Joey's pub. It was an eclectic place known for its selection of Beatles music and was a hit with foreign tourists. The place had changed from last time; it had more light, and in place of jazz and pop, there was a football match on. A group of male foreign tourists was rooting for their teams.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;">He tried to find the old Joey's pub in the newly renovated place, but his attention was captured by a beautiful girl who was now comfortably sitting opposite him at another table. She was a local and was accompanied by her male friend (boyfriend?). He couldn't help but notice her stylish sense, and his eyes got transfixed. She noticed him looking at her.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;">Now she was doing different things. She took off her jacket and was wearing a lacy top; there was also a tattoo beneath. She opened her hair and started playing with them gently, posing for pictures that her male friend clicked. Their eyes met many more times, and he was confident this was more than a coincidence.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;">He left his table and went to the smoking room (he was there with his group). Within minutes, the girl dragged her boyfriend to the smoking room (the manner in which she had control over him told him that he was not just a friend). She stood within a foot's distance and had an animated conversation with him. He was more confident now, and his gaze stayed on her for a longer time. He knew that she was well aware.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;">He lit another cigarette to buy more time; she did the same. It had now become a game, and no one else was aware. His friend joined the smoking room with his wife, and they reminded him that he was yet to finish his pint. The smoking room became crowded, and he came out; the girl did the same.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;">The bar closed at 10 pm, but he delayed finishing his beer. She also held on, and after a long wait when nothing happened, her boyfriend coaxed her to finish. His friends also wanted to leave as the barman was already turning off the lights.</span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white;">They left together, and she was now walking in front of him. She held on tightly to her boyfriend, putting her head on his shoulders and drawing him close. He was sure she was fully aware that he could see everything. It was a message that he must be punished for not reaching out, and he accepted his destiny. They slowly parted ways; he wondered if there could have been a different ending. She came in his dream that night, and by the next day, she just remained a pleasant memory. Darjeeling had its strange ways of expressing its love for him.</span></p>Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-61914184610221316552023-02-12T12:03:00.002+05:302023-02-12T12:12:16.121+05:30The Bridge and the Train <p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>The train journey began at six in the morning and I had to rise early at four o'clock to make it on time. As I stepped outside, the chilly morning air greeted me and I regretted my decision to take the train. However, the traffic at the railway station was a close call, and I breathed a sigh of relief as I settled into my window seat and the train started moving. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>The landscape changed rapidly, and soon the bustling city of Kolkata was behind us. The two iron tracks glided swiftly over the crushed stones, converging and diverging with speed and I marvelled at the smooth movement of the heavy train. The fog outside gave the world a mystical quality, and the gentle swaying of the train brought back fond memories. I felt a strong sense of nostalgia as if I had seen it all before. I had seen these vehicles waiting patiently at the railway crossings and children outside waving goodbye. I had also seen these large tracts of fields with lush green harvests and white lilies blooming in water bodies. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-QG6UjjifrkEWlhuS-YVb2BP6OxZr7UbyeuTliqk6tl7l-5VYRgL0adqN2OQXcOUIIj420CIIpFHWVVfc1xy3sfuo5KAcCX48jZSf7SSE2-g8aso1UnByS4Y-QBUKFrdmDD3nU3IUVVh3wKZDlmicdRbNIEdhumQrqmwYl31NLIcXntCeiI/s1170/33013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="1170" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-QG6UjjifrkEWlhuS-YVb2BP6OxZr7UbyeuTliqk6tl7l-5VYRgL0adqN2OQXcOUIIj420CIIpFHWVVfc1xy3sfuo5KAcCX48jZSf7SSE2-g8aso1UnByS4Y-QBUKFrdmDD3nU3IUVVh3wKZDlmicdRbNIEdhumQrqmwYl31NLIcXntCeiI/s320/33013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span> </span>My father’s job brought him from his mofussil town to a far-off township. This place had neatly constructed quarters with playgrounds in between and large chimneys of the thermal power plant that could be seen from all around. Our family moved miles but we kept on going back and train journeys helped us maintain that link. For nine months we lived in the cosmopolitan township where people had gathered from different regions. Most of them had roots in places like ourselves and they talked about villages and farms that sounded like the place where my grandparents lived. We spent three months of summer holidays with them and undertook two long train journeys for it. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEh6ZOMxkZrY5UaCAlHUvE6KzynlVzt4alNRPO1mV5lTLCFK7-NY4PanGiajFpBZPXd3NjmLRs4jHIX6-isQfvKhhqCa1kVNcMQ8bMeM_1HfFwwQARq4ZrMRg5EFQneHGw9e7Dg7wN9gueRCmjhWP70KI7PvFeOIu04et6VkiOYStz7s6UZj8/s4032/F1BA1250-63B3-4B04-9A78-243928311CBB.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEh6ZOMxkZrY5UaCAlHUvE6KzynlVzt4alNRPO1mV5lTLCFK7-NY4PanGiajFpBZPXd3NjmLRs4jHIX6-isQfvKhhqCa1kVNcMQ8bMeM_1HfFwwQARq4ZrMRg5EFQneHGw9e7Dg7wN9gueRCmjhWP70KI7PvFeOIu04et6VkiOYStz7s6UZj8/s320/F1BA1250-63B3-4B04-9A78-243928311CBB.heic" width="320" /></a></div><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKA94stdffYLdIozONuXIBf6TdxqyX_6cMzJe-q4RZskWl4lKlm6LMUdrbgMOOOY3ScD6HYKVy2rPigH-yzGtFUD_ixWRIOtEIDFvOrwY2IdIccXV9KlHE3aa3T_PeaVBtzGbsmTYyc1DQYtSzv4Y0sm-J8NhNKLsnn9AX8SVpKdxiOPUIq0/s4032/1DF77F21-7777-4526-98A6-A2B545C5369D.heic" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKA94stdffYLdIozONuXIBf6TdxqyX_6cMzJe-q4RZskWl4lKlm6LMUdrbgMOOOY3ScD6HYKVy2rPigH-yzGtFUD_ixWRIOtEIDFvOrwY2IdIccXV9KlHE3aa3T_PeaVBtzGbsmTYyc1DQYtSzv4Y0sm-J8NhNKLsnn9AX8SVpKdxiOPUIq0/s320/1DF77F21-7777-4526-98A6-A2B545C5369D.heic" width="320" /></a></div><span> </span>I remember waiting at the platform for hours with the sounds of coolies and trains passing by. When it became cold I comfortably lazed in my mother’s lap. If it was my lucky day, I also bought a toy along with some magazines that were always allowed. I never liked sharing things and fought with my sister who will get the window seat. You always wanted the view of the direction in which the train moved and those who got the window of the opposite side were doomed for the entire journey. Today train journeys are few and I cannot fight with my toddler sons to take the window seat; I felt relieved they were not there today with me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>As the train crossed a bridge, I hummed the lines by Dushyant Kumar: </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span> </span></span><span style="text-align: left;">Tu kisi rail si guzarti hai, </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Main kisi pul sa thartharata hoon </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Can the feeling of love when everything looks beautiful and butterflies flutter in the stomach ever be expressed more beautifully? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOF3KEQNksKPxtWRlzrlnNo9MO5WgYgNYHmFyyrBggoPuNwnIhUHxB9YGJdGwxG6fZAIApxdSK9T4uwEnOptVgYIgjfEpysQWR7HC3ekFyu8wRNzNY5XkAVBNGpQp9775TsG0fQLQVZcuMz-ILiUFZSlMql9VmyNmojP_wRRikZZDJzh7_vAk/s4032/BC7A5069-8A77-4705-8F70-BF85EA719CB9.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOF3KEQNksKPxtWRlzrlnNo9MO5WgYgNYHmFyyrBggoPuNwnIhUHxB9YGJdGwxG6fZAIApxdSK9T4uwEnOptVgYIgjfEpysQWR7HC3ekFyu8wRNzNY5XkAVBNGpQp9775TsG0fQLQVZcuMz-ILiUFZSlMql9VmyNmojP_wRRikZZDJzh7_vAk/s320/BC7A5069-8A77-4705-8F70-BF85EA719CB9.heic" width="320" /></a></div><span> </span>We crossed the Son River on our journeys, and the sight of the vast and beautiful yet menacing riverbed has stayed with me. The sound of the train on the bridge still evokes feelings of awe, fear, and excitement. There is no experience quite like a train crossing a bridge, just as there is no romance quite like life itself. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>The pace of the train journeys was peaceful, just like the pace of life at that time. We exchanged magazines with fellow travellers, learned about their lives, and made friends. We always brought food for the journey and often shared it with these new-found strangers turned friends. I waited for railway stations when ice cream vendors came and we relished in the small pleasures of life. My father used to get off the train to fill up the water bottle, causing us all to worry about the train starting before he returned. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>At times, the train would halt in desolate areas for hours, and we would simply look outside. At other times, when another train crossed from the opposite direction, we relished in the thrill of speed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span> </span><br /><span> </span>Back then, train journeys were a regular occurrence in our lives, but as I grew older and moved away, air travel took the place of these soothing journeys. Today, I was grateful to have taken the train. It felt like someone reminded me from a time that passed by that life is beautiful in so many ways. We just need to keep our eyes open to look for beauty. </span></div><p></p>Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-26436453248637576952023-01-19T20:38:00.002+05:302023-01-20T18:19:25.291+05:30Let’s Give Back to Society!<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">People say nothing gives more joy in life than giving back to society. You decide to serve humanity and start zeroing in on what you will give back to society.</span></span></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">You believe that children are the future of society, and you start teaching. You play with the kids to build a bond with them, but soon you realize that the games they play are boring, and neither the kids nor their parents are happy. The kids think you're bad at games, and their parents are <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a>not sure if you're a good influence. You decide to teach, but the children's books have information that is hard to explain. One plus one has been two since the beginning, and you become agitated when the kids question it. They say that not only are you bad at games, but you don't know mathematics. Even your own children opt out of your voluntary contribution to society.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">You then decide to bring poetry to people, believing that it will redeem a society that has lost touch with love and beauty. You invite guests to a party, and once they become spirited, you start reciting poetry from Ghalib and Makhdoom Mohiuddin. You explain to them about love, separation, and unrequited love, but they're not prepared to take it in. They're either flabbergasted or start laughing. No one is in the middle ground, and you sense imminent furore with people breaking out in angry singing. Poetry has become a chore, and you are tolerating them more than they're tolerating you.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">You then decide to motivate people, and an NGO for the homeless agrees to let you give lectures to the inmates. They ask you what they should do with their lives, and you reply, "whatever you like." They remind you that they've already been doing whatever they liked and it landed them in this home listening to your lectures, which is not exactly their idea of success in life. Some depressed people ask you what the point of this life is, and you get into deep thinking. This NGO isn't now so sure that you're the kind of motivation they want to instil in these people.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">You feel society is not accepting what you offer because you need to teach them something that you are best at and no one else can beat you. You realise that would be wasting time and not many may waste time to learn about it. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's difficult to find something that society is willing to accept from you. You make YouTube videos about your mundane life, but everyone is bored with their lives and refuses to waste more time in their life. You try to write stories, but you end up spending time in your own company. Only your wife has read your work, and now often asks you to give back those minutes of her life that she spent reading. She also tells you that by sparing the world the pleasure of your company, you are giving it back to society. You know she's joking, but you keep doubting.</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">This ping-pong continues for some days, but then you decide it's a loss to society. You then try to give back humour to society; you're still not sure if they will accept it!</span></div></div>Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-9830379474681666282022-11-20T18:08:00.003+05:302022-11-20T18:09:18.712+05:30On Aphorisms and Youth!<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQN6OGVg61ym4wnDOsaPgrmqub3AsleYj4vdwHtzwTfuEKukTjy_B1KiovRpdLm7Tc-aQt12LGy4xybu7S-fh8Ko88b_zXjoKJeakZp4gaVLGXfq9RAkqklo04lwFPqvuMGeZUcAbaAkvNqg3F-hLri8jbgWckwiuU9S7ecfEj_EbMUqT8Jw/s1280/IMG_1054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQN6OGVg61ym4wnDOsaPgrmqub3AsleYj4vdwHtzwTfuEKukTjy_B1KiovRpdLm7Tc-aQt12LGy4xybu7S-fh8Ko88b_zXjoKJeakZp4gaVLGXfq9RAkqklo04lwFPqvuMGeZUcAbaAkvNqg3F-hLri8jbgWckwiuU9S7ecfEj_EbMUqT8Jw/w320-h240/IMG_1054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">I love aphorisms. They are the best examples of the use of language and make you realize deep truths; they also establish your reputation in wisecracks. The same goes with Urdu Shayari; one can impress many by reciting a relevant (or maybe not) couplet.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">One couplet of Jaun Eliya has stayed with me:</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Kohinoor Devanagari"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">ज़िंदगी<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>एक<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>फ़न<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>है<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>लम्हों<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>को<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Kohinoor Devanagari"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">अपने<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>अंदाज़<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>से<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>गँवाने<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>का</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It may mean that the art of life is only in doing things you like. One should never live anyone else’s life; many will feel inspired by this in following their passion. Beauty is one can derive the meaning that one wants. If it doesn’t inspire you, the couplet can mean it is okay to waste time but have your way to do it. If you prefer this meaning, you would also love another aphorism: ‘time enjoyed wasting is not wasted time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If you insist on my take on this couplet, I bring another aphorism to my rescue. Oscar Wilde said all art is quite useless and this was a sort of revolution at that time. It means the objective of art (and aphorisms/couplets) is just an expression of a beautiful art form. Some things are just for enjoyment, one should avoid finding usefulness in everything.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A quote often attributed to George Bernard Shaw has got me thinking: ‘Youth is wasted on the Young.’ This gave rise to many questions; is this true, am I young and did I also get caught up in this?</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A memory that I often repent of flashed up immediately. There was a beautiful day in Paris and I was there for a couple of days in my early twenties. I felt extremely tired and the choice was to go out to explore or crash out on the couch. The choice was easy for me and I spent the day sleeping. My younger self never even felt that I might not be there again soon. It has been more than twenty years and I am still to visit the city again. As and when there is a time machine delivering messages, I would tell my younger self to prefer exploring Paris over snoring.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Before the scenario looks gloomy, my optimistic self assures me that I did crack two of the toughest exams (IIT and IAS) in my youth so I probably did not completely waste it. Leaving the humour aside, we often miss giving importance to things when time is on our side. Young are confident that life is only a one-way uphill drive and you can catch up with whatever you leave behind.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Does the question also remain what is youth? Is it the age when your hair is not grey, your waistline has not yet started bulging and you are in your teens or twenties? Is youth having immense physical energy and unbounded dreams? Is youth falling in love, picking up new hobbies or not being afraid to take risks? Or maybe youth is an insatiably desire to explore whatever is on offer in this life?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">It is said, When our memories outweigh our dreams, it is then that we become old.' I carry my share of good-bad memories but they still in no way outweigh my dreams. So, I have my answer now.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">When I am in doubt, I read these lines by Javed Akhtar:</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Kohinoor Devanagari"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">दिलों<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>में<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>तुम<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>अपनी<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>बेताबियाँ<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>लेके<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>चल<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>रहे<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>हो<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">, </span>तो<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>ज़िंदा<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>हो<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>तुम</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Kohinoor Devanagari"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">नज़र<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>में<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>ख्वाबों<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>की<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>बिजलियाँ<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>लेके<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>चल<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>रहे<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>हो<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">, </span>तो<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>ज़िंदा<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>हो<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>तुम</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Kohinoor Devanagari"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">हवा<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>के<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>झोकों<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>के<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>जैसे<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>आज़ाद<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>रहना<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>सीखो</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Kohinoor Devanagari"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">तुम<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>एक<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>दरियाँ<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>के<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>जैसे<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>लहरों<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>में<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>बहना<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>सीखो</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Kohinoor Devanagari"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">हर<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>एक<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>लम्हें<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>से<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>तुम<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>मिलो<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>खोले<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>अपनी<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>बाहें</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Kohinoor Devanagari"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">हर<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>एक<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>पल<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>एक<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>नया<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>समा<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>देखे<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>यह<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>निगाहें</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Kohinoor Devanagari"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">जो<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>अपनी<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>आँखों<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>में<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>हैरानियाँ<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>लेके<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>चल<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>रहे<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>हो<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">, </span>तो<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>ज़िंदा<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>हो<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>तुम</p><p class="p3" style="font-family: "Kohinoor Devanagari"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">दिलों<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>में<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>तुम<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>अपनी<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>बेताबियाँ<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>लेके<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>चल<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>रहे<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>हो<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">, </span>तो<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>ज़िंदा<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>हो<span class="s1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>तुम</p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">What is your definition of youth?</p></blockquote><p></p>Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-79435961080104710842022-07-30T18:09:00.001+05:302022-07-30T18:09:15.878+05:30To Covid, With Love!<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Covid,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I cannot even believe that it is going to be our second anniversary; the entire credit goes to your mutant agility. I would be economical with the truth if I don’t concede that we tried our best to shut you out but like a real dogged lover, you were determined to be with humanity. I realize we are destined to be together for a lifetime so let me open my heart, my dearest Covid.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> We imposed lockdowns, created hurdles of geographical boundaries to not let you in but you never left our pursuit. We often banged utensils and shouted ‘Go Corona Go’ on the streets, we made people bathe in sanitizing tunnels and sprayed gallons of toxic chemicals all around but there you were, just amused at the infallibility of human stupidity.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I was scared of you in the beginning. Yes, I do prefer seas to the mountains but that did not mean you would always come in waves. There were Delta and Omicron and it was no fun surfing these.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Of course, there were good parts of our relationship. You have put my mind at ease as earlier there used to be hundreds of unknown diseases to be dealt with. A fever could have meant dengue or a bacterial infection and a bout of loose motions or body ache matched myriads of fancy ailments on the internet but now all discomforts lead to Covid. Often when I do not feel anything, it might be the asymptomatic you. People think about you more than they think of their spouses.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Yes, I do not like going to the market with my wife but that did not mean you had to keep everyone indoors for such a long time. Do not openly display your favoritism for the asocial people!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> All of us had become selfish and mean and often forgot to acknowledge the almighty. You reminded us of our frailty and brought us closer to God. You also reminded us how closely we are all connected. A sample of our species hanky pankied with a bat in China and there you were, knocking off humans and embracing all countries.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You gave us a new language to communicate. Our youth was getting lost in social media memes and the elders were busy exchanging treasures of WhatsApp knowledge but you taught us a common vocabulary. Everybody had her own cure for Covid and now grand aunts and toddlers discuss zillion ways to treat Covid. Let me tell you the title of my next book is ‘One Thousand one ways of treating Covid’. Please stop smiling.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Because of you, I now do not have any vitamin deficiencies. I have improved upon my immunity through Allopathic, potions of homeopathic and bitter seeds of ayurvedic medicines. My liver and kidney cry more than they do filtering spirits but I am sure my body now has minerals that may not even exist.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I am also impressed by the immense respect you garnered in such a short time. Diseases that have been with humanity for hundreds of years shudder seeing you and worry that any spray of sanitizers may kill them when people are just acknowledging Covid.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> And after two years of our relationship, stop being a jealous lover who cannot get enough of humanity. People thought you would come once or twice but you never get bored of our bodies. Even vaccines are unable to keep you at bay.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Love is good but do not overdo it. Be mild and live like an occasional epidemic, not a pandemic. Live and let live!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Sick of you,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #050505; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Humanity</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-6ed5f346-7fff-c659-6f0c-d2dc22f05cd9"><br /></span></p>Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-66839082900942683992022-07-30T12:33:00.000+05:302022-07-30T12:33:15.459+05:301 Article You Must Read Before Turning 120<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-b6381fdf-7fff-d50c-f8e0-b5c9ea394647"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>“The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking spaces” said Will Rogers; you realise this man knew you well. Of course woods are lovely, dark and deep and you always rated sleep above everything else. You take a vow to succeed this time and not rest till you have checked all the boxes. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You ask Google what makes a person successful and it immediately presents Thirty books that you should read before you turn Thirty. You start checking the titles and you have read twenty nine. The moment you pick up the thirtieth book to become accomplished in life, your wife reminds you are nearing forty. Deflating balloons has been this woman’s hobby.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She shows you another article about 12 mesmerising tourist places that you must visit before you die. You read the article attentively and discuss places but chuckle inside; why would a person try to complete this list and what would they wait for when they have visited all these paces.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By now, you have spent enough time on the Google and the Artificial Intelligence jumps in joy shouting it knows what this man is looking in life. It bombards you with similar recommendations. You are told about 100 Movies that you should watch in your lifetime, you are asked to see 7 Motivational speeches and also 11 ways to remember names of people (why me Lord/AI?).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It puts neighbourhood aunts to shame in broadcasting secrets and in an instant Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn starts yelling numbers at you. Twitter tells you about 12 habits that will increase your wealth twelve times (did they discover my bank balance too?) and Facebook tells 6 healthy diets for a healthy life ( Wifey I know this is you). When you open LinkedIn is tells you about 21 Ways to succeed in life.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You challenge AI to surprise you but it is hardly intelligent if not stupid. It keeps relishing in repetitive data that it generates. You tell about the fallacy of number systems and the undue importance it is giving to the decimal system. You tell in today’s age one deals in binaries of 1 and 0. You ask AI to check the system in which it computes and also refer to the title of this article.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Next day you start getting emails from numerologists about your lucky number and how they will help you in not sleeping in the woods. You blame the AI for tracking your number system study. You also give up your efforts to find success on Google.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /></span></div><br /></span></span></div></div>Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-54675106931898325722022-07-17T11:13:00.001+05:302022-07-17T11:13:10.674+05:30Eklavya in the Modern Times!<p> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">If we can be certain of improving at least one thing from the past, it can be efficiency in human transactions. Even before Adam Smith could articulate the invisible hand of the market, people learnt to make better deals than they did in the ancient times.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3ce93176-7fff-6903-4a60-a9852a4ab0d9"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Take the case of Eklavya of the Mahabharata fame. He practised in front of the statue of Dronacharya and aced archery better than Arjuna. I doubt there was any contractual/copyright liability but he did offer Dronacharya anything (was it his vanity?) as Gurudakshina, a tribute for training. Now comes the part that does not make sense, Dronacharya asked for his right thumb. I wonder what utility could a dead thumb give and more I think about a lifeless blood-soaked thumb in custody of Dronacharya, gory things come to mind. Would he have displayed it proudly in his office or would he have given it to someone as a souvenir? I guess had Dronacharya been business wise, he could have asked Eklavya never to compete against Arjun, or to always lose even if he did. Maybe he could have altogether given up Arjuna and an even better Magnum Opus would have appeared in place of Mahabharata.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite the not so good ending, the above story proves India’s ability to have achieved every feat in the ancient age. This was our ancient version of commercialising Education, a feat that many institutions could master today. Not simply that, this was also an example of remote learning, an idea EdTech enterprises are trying out now.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many modern Dronacharyas are in the fray and Arjuna gets no monopoly over learning. Some Dronacharyas still sought blood in the form of hefty fees in lieu of issuing a certificate. Courses from Coursera, EdX still thought there was no difference between dollar and rupees; probably they were yet to discover the idea of Purchasing Power parity. There were also free avenues from Twitter/YouTube courtesy the money of dear Venture Capitalists. VC is a breed we all need to be deeply indebted. Sometime or the other, they did pay for our freebee.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When yours truly tried to study in the Ivy Leagues, they did admit but sought more than just kidneys (read tuition fees) to study. EdTech came to the rescue in my quest for knowledge and best professors from across the world appeared on my computer screen. Today I have learnt more by sitting in front of the computer screen that I have from physical classrooms. You can make a virtual Dronacharya repeat something a zillion times and they do not get irritated. You can also reject many or leave them mid-way and they do not seem to mind. The best thing is lack of structure and one can dwell in diverse subjects. A recent wonder that I discovered is a podcast and the list of avenues is unending. We love anything that is free and what can be better than Education that has a positive externality.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coming back to the efficiency of modern times, Eklavya and Dronacharyas are collaborating now to create value for both the parties. Dear Arjuna, practice hard; you will have much more competition in the modern times. Also, Dronacharya now can make a much better deal!</span></p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3ce93176-7fff-6903-4a60-a9852a4ab0d9"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><p><br /></p>Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-48758956700969902072022-06-26T23:18:00.001+05:302022-06-26T23:18:35.313+05:30How Less Can Be More!<p> <span> </span><span> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A child expects that her parents are omnipotent. She expects and demands everything from them and at times, parents surprise with what they can do for the child. In a democracy, citizens like petulant child expect the same from the government. Unfortunately, this time the consequences are not that good for both.</span></p><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> We always want perfect solutions and Government comes across as the Santa Clause that fulfils all wishes. For e.g. when we want to control crime against women, Government is expected to come out with the harshest laws that gives severest punishment to the perpetrator of the crime. So far, so good; but then comes the issue of capability. Do we have enough policemen to file a perfect charge sheet in the court and scientifically collect and preserve the evidence? A cursory glance at number of policemen per one lakh population and the images of any court Maal khana would tell world is far from perfect. Harshest punishment also means guilt is established beyond doubt and ultimately, we end up finding most accused not guilty.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit !important;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> My premise is that citizen expect everything from the government and in a competitive electoral polity, the government promises; without considering if it has the capability to deliver it. Let us take our labor laws as an example. Their formulation must be best in the world, which may even put developed countries to shame. There are penalties for paying less than mandated wage, daily and weekly limits for hours of work and compensation/punishment for accidents due to employers’ negligence. What we fail to put in place before is a perfect measure that can enforce it. The end result is arbitrary power in the hand of labor inspector for rent seeking. The labor laws end up hurting both the workers and the industry.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit !important;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> A policy is as good as its implementation mechanism. Government systems have their limitations and passing a law in the parliament may not change it. We need properly trained people on the ground implementing polices, technical support to assist it and grievance redressal mechanism to address problems if any. If a scheme is simple and its outcome is easily measurable, it can be enforced on ground. A best scheme that promises everything has more change of failing on ground that a good enough scheme with limited objectives.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit !important;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> The premise is that less can be more in such circumstances. If we have reasonable expectations from the Government, we may end up getting more. Responsible Governments may also estimate implementing capability and resist from promising the moon to the citizenry!</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: inherit !important;" />Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-40331833371475166552022-06-18T00:03:00.001+05:302022-06-18T10:56:47.231+05:30Mind is Restless Krishna!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The mock interview panel stared at me and there I was, sweating, stammering and uttering incoherent words. Bored faces of panel members betrayed the impression that I made. This was the third mock interview that I had bombed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">UPSC Civil Service exam process lasts for more than a year from the time you apply for prelims and when the final results come. I had done pretty well before, crossing hurdles of prelims and mains in my maiden attempt and now after getting an interview call, I dreamt of topping the exam. I was confident that it could only be a northwards graph from here on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But then came mock interviews and my performance was a disaster. My confident, articulate self was nowhere to be found and this needed to change fast. My strategy was not working and I reread what UPSC wrote about the interview: Personality Test is not a cross-examination but a natural, though directed and purposive conversation which is intended to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took a complete break and asked myself what was going on. I went on long walks, sat quietly for hours to introspect and reflect.And one morning while I was walking near a temple, I heard the shloka that cleared my doubts:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Eczar; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; clear: both; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: lohit, "serif"; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।</span></span><br /><span style="border: 0px; clear: both; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: lohit, "serif"; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भुर्मा ते संगोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥</span></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You have the right to work only but never to its fruits</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Let not fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was attaching too much importance on my result. I wanted to control the future, and thus I wanted to control everything else. It was difficult to get detached but then it made sense that other than doing my karma to the best of my ability, I could not do anything else. I internalised it and I did not get nervous during the real interview. I also cleared the exam and joined Indian Administrative Service (IAS). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Men are mortal and who can put all their efforts in something and not be worried about the results. Even today, I have a restless state of mind but I understand my limitations now. The verse though that is resonating now is one of Ghalib:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>phir kuchh ik dil ko be-qarārī hai</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>siina juyā-e-zaḳhm-e-kārī hai </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"> (My heart is again restless, it seeks a deeper wound.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-20754711571445877432020-06-01T23:05:00.001+05:302020-06-02T11:32:55.665+05:30On Being Self-Reliant!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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You were not taken by surprise this time. When the new task of becoming self-reliant was announced, you had already aced the game by then.</div>
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Your office made you self-reliant first. It decided to enforce lockdown on office staff and then asked you to ensure entire office’s job. You never realized you were so important in mankind’s struggle against corona virus. Everyday you felt like going to war expecting your wife to put tilak on your forehead. When you came back, everyone had the glance of ‘this is the person who can bring back corona virus’. You sat in office for days in company of masks and sanitizers and washed your hand with soap, then disinfected it with sanitizer and then cleansed the sanitizer bottle with sanitizer. </div>
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You were introduced to a world of Zoom VCs where ‘Am I audible’ accounted for 75% of words. You became an expert in entertaining yourself and laugh out aloud when participants displayed nasal hairs, showed closeup of their ears or tried to cross over to the other side of computer screen by coming close to the camera. </div>
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Your sons also became self-reliant. Their schools started classes online and they could manage all their homework during the lockdown. They learnt the art of all arts and started copy pasting from internet with panache. They became explorers of digital devices and soon every gadget had versions of exotic computer viruses they sheltered them with pride. Since lockdown meant both of them stayed indoors, you became expert in deciding who won their boxing bouts. </div>
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Your parents became corona experts. They found new cures averaging 2.7 in a day and between your family WhatsApp group, there were more than 10001 cures of Corona Virus. They also knew by heart, virtues of each ayurvedic medicine/Vitamins. You realized there was nothing new in Social distancing and you have led a socially distant life but your family learnt the art of being in a group even while being apart. They mingled with frenzied flat owners and joined competition of banging utensils or shining torchlights in this Corona War. </div>
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You never knew entire body building could be done inside the house. You could work up your biceps mopping floors and you could do all the stretching with broom in hand. You also became an innovator and designed ergonomically better Brooms and Mops. You relished in praising yourself on sparkling floors and claimed pro level but your better half could still show you fifteen missed spots. </div>
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Since everyone was becoming self-sufficient, your housing society decided it could not be left behind. It decided to interpret convoluted lockdown circulars in their own stride and found thirty-three explanations for each clause. There was a silent competition in RWAs to decide who was bigger Hitler in the town. They decided which essential item was essential at what time and when one was supposed to wear a mask and who was required to take a sanitizer bath. Residents found new ways to humiliate by clicking pictures of those walking out and naming/shaming them on WhatsApp. </div>
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Everyone could locate bacteria/viruses and they had 1001 ideas about where virus could hide. People poured disinfectant in the drains, they threw disinfectant on the road and battery of all microorganisms/insects cursed Corona Virus. People took smaller breaths in the lift, used toothpicks to push lift buttons and then lost sleep imagining if even those had a human touch. Sound of coughing/sneezing in the vicinity created tremors of flight and there were thermal guns at every check point. </div>
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People also became independent in finding cause of Covid-19. Some found it in bats, some in Chinese labs and many saw it emerging like all other evils (and ably aided by news channels), in particular creeds. </div>
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After valiantly fighting Corona Virus for so many days, everyone was self-reliant. They could explain it was for their own protection to stay indoors when there were 100 cases. They now also knew it was for their own good to go out and embrace the world when more than 1,00,000 were carrying Corona Virus. </div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(29, 33, 41); color: #1d2129; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">You felt you could either laugh or cry but then decided to recommend Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Masque of Red Death’ to everyone who could read this far!</span>Y</span></div>
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Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-460747629390111872020-03-01T01:13:00.001+05:302020-03-01T01:13:51.552+05:30MCTP Day 12: Promises are the Sweetest Lies!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWGFuV_CaIR0j3m6Opv1kgDkkvVSFiB5ZHjtArdMnDY_YnOVm36X1P-Iwsf1iCFA3V-BEo0uL_fvhequwN6QzAxqMbw6aWYK7NKsjHYcCFDRs_Vf4zcXWM7TKyNGt0mmEdGxq2w/s1600/IMG-4884.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="1600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWGFuV_CaIR0j3m6Opv1kgDkkvVSFiB5ZHjtArdMnDY_YnOVm36X1P-Iwsf1iCFA3V-BEo0uL_fvhequwN6QzAxqMbw6aWYK7NKsjHYcCFDRs_Vf4zcXWM7TKyNGt0mmEdGxq2w/s320/IMG-4884.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Mangal;">मैं </span><span style="font-family: Mangal;">अकेला </span><span style="font-family: Mangal;">ही </span><span style="font-family: Mangal;">चला </span><span style="font-family: Mangal;">था </span><span style="font-family: Mangal;">जानिब</span>-<span style="font-family: Mangal;">ए</span>-<span style="font-family: Mangal;">मंज़िल </span><span style="font-family: Mangal;">मगर</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Mangal;">लोग </span><span style="font-family: Mangal;">साथ </span><span style="font-family: Mangal;">आते </span><span style="font-family: Mangal;">गए </span><span style="font-family: Mangal;">और </span><span style="font-family: Mangal;">कारवाँ </span><span style="font-family: Mangal;">बनता </span><span style="font-family: Mangal;">गया</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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This couplet by Majrooh Sultanpuri somewhat describes the trainings in LBSNAA. When I made the promise that I would write a blog every day, I felt I would have a lot of time here, with not many batch mates around. But then I made friends. </div>
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Aren’t promises the sweetest lies!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQujZJPEZtI0EYGC0iMKrP3cNVuMvaK5WQmClJl2A_rEbY6GFcebnTu9750vuAd8Eq4Oypoc0Vc7sFyuih4v3HAnvqcG2CLQS7S2OwLRDhsZBxsQghf-z8kL5NinQe4tBOmHpNA/s1600/IMG-4977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQujZJPEZtI0EYGC0iMKrP3cNVuMvaK5WQmClJl2A_rEbY6GFcebnTu9750vuAd8Eq4Oypoc0Vc7sFyuih4v3HAnvqcG2CLQS7S2OwLRDhsZBxsQghf-z8kL5NinQe4tBOmHpNA/s320/IMG-4977.JPG" width="320" /></a>So here we are, learning through movies, learning through games and learning through our experiences. A day was spent in taking and receiving feedbacks and that was fun. Another day was dedicated to emotional intelligence. Days like that come in and go by and evenings are dedicated for long walks with friends.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz34KwILFIAd6lSwz4TGmdLFkxGhzYfI4EZeHbHvLQQzStXvwdgxC83hR_wZXQ966z2xX5isajivRnG8h00CtjO8oyhkwF2pt3Pp6sX1TA-081to9dgbZO_57By_ybEh_H9hSGKQ/s1600/eecf36d2-230a-4863-8020-2950b1ae0817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz34KwILFIAd6lSwz4TGmdLFkxGhzYfI4EZeHbHvLQQzStXvwdgxC83hR_wZXQ966z2xX5isajivRnG8h00CtjO8oyhkwF2pt3Pp6sX1TA-081to9dgbZO_57By_ybEh_H9hSGKQ/s320/eecf36d2-230a-4863-8020-2950b1ae0817.jpg" width="320" /></a>On last Saturday, we had a trek till Wishing Well (these destination names on hill stations never fail to amaze) and that was amazing. Most of the lectures were as good as they ought to be and we felt nothing less than being enriched. I guess academy is like parent’s place for a married girl; you may be whatever in the field, in LBSNAA you feel back in home.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">There is a world outside and there is a world in the academy, and if you ask me now which one do I like, this is the place! </span><br />
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Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-17466045691679074482020-02-19T22:53:00.001+05:302020-02-19T22:53:18.888+05:30Day 3 MCTP: The Story!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzhY4CyQgDikeq6t6BvdvLYXeHCmezA84dj3NhCzRLJ9yNC5WHBZ0d_sBay2YA4aDj_RccgdHPJyf0P-JIBq_ucoMWUN_K9XfM7M7U4Q85NGM8kkI6lGieqWpc5rD-1X8szUouA/s1600/IMG-4723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzhY4CyQgDikeq6t6BvdvLYXeHCmezA84dj3NhCzRLJ9yNC5WHBZ0d_sBay2YA4aDj_RccgdHPJyf0P-JIBq_ucoMWUN_K9XfM7M7U4Q85NGM8kkI6lGieqWpc5rD-1X8szUouA/s320/IMG-4723.JPG" width="320" /></a>Phase III runs has participants from different batches and you suddenly realise that your story was also their story. All batches had similar events, similar issues and similar memories. It is just that the actors change.<br />
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Again we had group photo session, again we had cultural societies and again people were rushing for Hot Maggi outside at Ganga Dhaba. For us, we continued with our walks and treks. Todays trek was to a nearby Buddhist Monastry.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-A7CrtR2P8CR1P3hH5FoxZ77oK5-UOQIuhlmBpxqWVcLUhSrNruWyoRFzAuEjb53QTki-kIjmInSESieh2E3chU3R2QHT2MC_xiUw2sWL0EVj1-dhJ4CYzaPxm0aPEStXEGDW6g/s1600/IMG-4742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-A7CrtR2P8CR1P3hH5FoxZ77oK5-UOQIuhlmBpxqWVcLUhSrNruWyoRFzAuEjb53QTki-kIjmInSESieh2E3chU3R2QHT2MC_xiUw2sWL0EVj1-dhJ4CYzaPxm0aPEStXEGDW6g/s320/IMG-4742.JPG" width="320" /></a>Academy on their end taught us or let us say tried to teach us Behavioural economics and art of giving feedbacks. Not all of us were convinced how feedback would be taken, including by the academy. This encouraged fellow officers to give honest feedback to each other creating social disharmony in an otherwise aloof group. But we should give credit where it is due and faculty did try their best to explain these concepts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhSZ5KgacuzDayew1cItCJFrTxW5yjR6bCrSDPLRio-vhJ0v5DQiu80zlc4q-uBCFMA1UCT0eesKfHTcHiYCyyARjJHIaNF8xJD6PRfZ7ZLSw8gMsCmewe6gPCPbRDtBfewIVDQ/s1600/IMG-4746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhSZ5KgacuzDayew1cItCJFrTxW5yjR6bCrSDPLRio-vhJ0v5DQiu80zlc4q-uBCFMA1UCT0eesKfHTcHiYCyyARjJHIaNF8xJD6PRfZ7ZLSw8gMsCmewe6gPCPbRDtBfewIVDQ/s320/IMG-4746.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
Taking liberty with a couplet of Abbas Tabish:<br />
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"ये academy की कहानी नहीं मरती लेकिन<br />
लोग किरदार निभाते हुए मर जाते हैं "<br />
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Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-71217825339460883682020-02-18T22:50:00.002+05:302020-02-18T22:50:56.369+05:30Day 2 MCTP: Academy is 'the academy'! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImNlJhFJcA5yN1YexO90xvQz4Ps9uc9sul3IHgV4-QsWdlArQf40KszDlgEHuXm3yHj1mJ_M5fShp_JOaVsYq0Xeq6c1StRKW1Iy7hM5DJLOK8MohKVBDnteUqHb_STbB_N07eQ/s1600/IMG-2720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImNlJhFJcA5yN1YexO90xvQz4Ps9uc9sul3IHgV4-QsWdlArQf40KszDlgEHuXm3yHj1mJ_M5fShp_JOaVsYq0Xeq6c1StRKW1Iy7hM5DJLOK8MohKVBDnteUqHb_STbB_N07eQ/s320/IMG-2720.jpg" width="320" /></a>And how can it be 'Happy Valley' when sleepy probationers are mandated to be there at 6 am in shivering Mussorie cold for morning PT? A big concern during our earlier phase in LBSNAA was mandatory morning physical activity. There, the roaring sound of PT instructor (mostly Ranaji, the big moustached, old young man) echoed. Mostly he was shouting at dozing Officer Trainees who tried to pass off uncoordinated limb movements as PT. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUu1qiM4bTjDnyeCUV0o5EDirR2nVHoc0oAsxa45JbKz90t_3ovWIyRM9KZ06v9Jd5tnyV1JpHRc-csCyPiN7ByABZQ3LN1qOlkZF4_aUGdRMIu7Gym7TmMaa4pzjdaWIEPhK1w/s1600/IMG-4715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUu1qiM4bTjDnyeCUV0o5EDirR2nVHoc0oAsxa45JbKz90t_3ovWIyRM9KZ06v9Jd5tnyV1JpHRc-csCyPiN7ByABZQ3LN1qOlkZF4_aUGdRMIu7Gym7TmMaa4pzjdaWIEPhK1w/s320/IMG-4715.JPG" width="320" /></a>This time we missed it and were there by ourselves for in the PT ground(timing though now was 6.45am). Academy also gives multiple options like Gym, Cycling, Yoga, PT etc and for the first day we opted for Cycling. There is a cycle that we have seen and then there is a cycle with 3*8 gears and welcoming steep slopes of the mountain. We negotiated with the terrain and cold, but came back happy (and often boasting) to the Happy Valley.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHhuVzF8BU4hvgDEMDNkL4AMT4M2Ee36f8YvDeYfdhZfD-Z-uBl8S4g22cqRxwBqBw62K6397f-paDNJZynW2_Yr5l64thosc1IFep1LErDUi7fZlbE8W6W7DHvn5YA92Zi6cpg/s1600/IMG-2718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHhuVzF8BU4hvgDEMDNkL4AMT4M2Ee36f8YvDeYfdhZfD-Z-uBl8S4g22cqRxwBqBw62K6397f-paDNJZynW2_Yr5l64thosc1IFep1LErDUi7fZlbE8W6W7DHvn5YA92Zi6cpg/s320/IMG-2718.jpg" width="320" /></a>Lectures reminded us that they still are the best lullaby. On a serious note, most were interesting. An instructor rated us the most critically analysing group in present politico-social eco system of the country. We were not sure what it meant but found it flattering. Then there were sessions on Eating right, iGOT and e-learning facility of DoPT. Always there are questions of fellow participants whose sole contribution is delays in tea break timing.<br />
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But despite all this academy is 'the academy'!<br />
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Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-79176314208309859022020-02-17T22:54:00.000+05:302020-02-17T22:56:41.488+05:30Day 1- MCTP LBSNAA<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6YT4cWdSnHnLLkiEjTR_Lob3bY-bWcfFO33g9kG_WqA8juPzWLJPUt9z2shS7pcj5vJkuz1kjafSt4uZvKF0BT0RHEGtMJNFO74rw6aBKDU4du4ZPy142mUKeJ7jd636bu3G8A/s1600/IMG-2703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6YT4cWdSnHnLLkiEjTR_Lob3bY-bWcfFO33g9kG_WqA8juPzWLJPUt9z2shS7pcj5vJkuz1kjafSt4uZvKF0BT0RHEGtMJNFO74rw6aBKDU4du4ZPy142mUKeJ7jd636bu3G8A/s320/IMG-2703.jpg" width="320" /></a>After more that ten years, I am back at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), this time for Phase III. I started blogging sometime in 2006 and most of my blog posts were during the period when I was at the academy (2007-09). This time let me try to write daily entries for four weeks I am at this place.<br />
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The first thought that comes being back is nostalgia of last time; oh here we sat sipping tea during session breaks, here we walked in the evenings and here was the last time we sat with a friend who is no more with us now. Also the thought that academy has changed significantly. The quality of rooms is much better this time (or may be we are somewhat senior). There are new hostels and buildings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81dTRvoxeeF2ldGtdG_Wp5ODbtjPAzNNvE4QBqEmS_w_6SE6MkOUT3SZF-XPpUYwLzIRideaWskm3y701IXENy2V-z_rQlx8OnLl_8aheT1sBz_zWwJ0NXHeYP7IbNezRGfFnag/s1600/IMG_4699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81dTRvoxeeF2ldGtdG_Wp5ODbtjPAzNNvE4QBqEmS_w_6SE6MkOUT3SZF-XPpUYwLzIRideaWskm3y701IXENy2V-z_rQlx8OnLl_8aheT1sBz_zWwJ0NXHeYP7IbNezRGfFnag/s320/IMG_4699.jpg" width="320" /></a>On the academic front, first day was not that hectic. Cabinet Secretary Sri Rajiv Gauba was here along with DoPT Secretary Sri C. Chandramouli. Their lectures were reassuring and they touched about the role and challenges for IAS as a service. Academy Director and other faculty were genuinely warm and good.<br />
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A long walk in the evening refreshed old memories. Mussoorie is beautiful (and cold too). It feels <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_5VlJ5G2md6zikT0V0bB3OKQPiSxlgok-Shx6NAhAQn-GJGDk1cV9KaxJtbA8ciwWxsvJC2y3lgiXhgV_F1o0y5SRDt7HYVqFyVj1pg52x9BiVTt7LSb8rkOdaqklZNj3P6SOg/s1600/IMG_4707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_5VlJ5G2md6zikT0V0bB3OKQPiSxlgok-Shx6NAhAQn-GJGDk1cV9KaxJtbA8ciwWxsvJC2y3lgiXhgV_F1o0y5SRDt7HYVqFyVj1pg52x9BiVTt7LSb8rkOdaqklZNj3P6SOg/s320/IMG_4707.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
good to be back at the learning desk, good to be a student again and great to be back at the academy!<br />
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Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-33004277718320087382019-11-03T20:07:00.001+05:302019-11-03T20:07:19.111+05:30Cakes and Kites of the Past!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPHxpJlYNpm-bAFzVMMRoPdX_rZYYXYQ2hWHXcmgqTNuHqB2ubn2dn4IzoAXAgtJNcL7DLuwqFphVCcawA2DOIC92Kqhd1msHNsNCcKspp9sziVOUdPOSwkvgj8AItjKjBfO_iA/s1600/IMG-1895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="739" data-original-width="1600" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPHxpJlYNpm-bAFzVMMRoPdX_rZYYXYQ2hWHXcmgqTNuHqB2ubn2dn4IzoAXAgtJNcL7DLuwqFphVCcawA2DOIC92Kqhd1msHNsNCcKspp9sziVOUdPOSwkvgj8AItjKjBfO_iA/s320/IMG-1895.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It used to be a ritual you
looked forward to, going to your grandparents’ place in the village during
summer vacations. Now you are there after many years; you still feel the house
is welcoming you with a smile. Soon the memories come in a flash, like a pack
of cards disregarding the order of time! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There you are with uncles
and aunts celebrating your 8<sup>th</sup> birthday and mom next to you beaming
with pride. You never noticed how beautiful she looked. You sit on a stool and
relatives come to put a tilak on your forehead and hand some cash. Through the
corner of your eyes you look at it and total the cash. A local sweet hastily
arranged in the form of cake is something you bargained as a boy from town. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">From being a shy child,
you turn into a performer next year. You had crammed some jokes form a children’s
magazine and at any request, you recite them to bemused aunts. Today you wonder
why they always laughed at the same jokes. Maybe you were their mirror to a
different world, maybe they just loved you with all their heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Your father has bought
you a kite but you do not know how to make it fly. An elder boy is given this
task by your mom and you are jumping with joy when the kite kisses the sky. He
hands it over to you and you pull the string suavely as if you are an
accomplished kites’ man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UjpyLlsDt0gt8_sCc8EwUIZu-ejVB-ehLpvP7glnn0GRPb6sawt4IEP530Y9P23FWFCofeg0atMBcHOYDTysy9MAUTv3U8AAkkQh6-P192iNZ0LesFZeedSQM44EQYzzw6kAHA/s1600/IMG-4260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-UjpyLlsDt0gt8_sCc8EwUIZu-ejVB-ehLpvP7glnn0GRPb6sawt4IEP530Y9P23FWFCofeg0atMBcHOYDTysy9MAUTv3U8AAkkQh6-P192iNZ0LesFZeedSQM44EQYzzw6kAHA/s320/IMG-4260.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This year your
grandfather has turned this into a pukka house. He is energetically giving all
of you tour of this house and there is a twinkle in his eyes. He has made this
house and you can sense his pride. Something tells you he left us years back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The new pukka stairs,
made of stone were pointed and steep and you had to be careful when you climbed;
mom kept repeating watch your steps. You loved to be there when roof was washed
with water after hot summer afternoons. All slept on the open roof and often
there were stories of spirits and shadows. Many vouched to have seen them and
shared their experience. With each story your interest grew and you held tightly
to your mom. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Once there was a
thunderstorm and it rained all night. All were squeezed in a small room and elders
hardly slept. They talked about their lives and when you woke up, they were
still discussing something. Your mom gently caressed your forehead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Now everyone is playing Holi,
and faces are hard to recognise. You are eleven this time. Everyone is smiling
and there are happy faces all around, you could sense a warmth that existed in middle
class extended families. You led a gang of children, hiding in the corners and surprise
people with your fish shaped water gun. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You now remember some of
them have left this world. Your aunt who was the most active one that day, gave
in to cancer. The family got six months to bid goodbye. A boy who was just
becoming a man would die before entering thirties. Wherever you looked at that
house, people smiled at you saying hello from the time passed by. It is an
eerie feeling, to realise so many people who are part of your memories are not around.
You are jolted out from your dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6lfWtoeLa4wYH2oAU3HlI9TVrKUTwZM66rP7_wA3h8TqzPW6LS1ScDtARxMk9W0HojMTP-g8-SgS_ZzO8M4zAHu2AfDDWR4zIB-M1tGpXDlBaa42nc_ND_TCnKfu6CmtwTSpew/s1600/IMG-4257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6lfWtoeLa4wYH2oAU3HlI9TVrKUTwZM66rP7_wA3h8TqzPW6LS1ScDtARxMk9W0HojMTP-g8-SgS_ZzO8M4zAHu2AfDDWR4zIB-M1tGpXDlBaa42nc_ND_TCnKfu6CmtwTSpew/s320/IMG-4257.JPG" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Now you feel house is not
same anymore. There are odd extensions everywhere, an extra room carved out
here, the open area behind covered to a great extent. Unknown tenants stay in
parts and they look at you curiously. You try to find a familiar face but you
cannot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You look at your
grandmother, she has wrinkled skin and every time your meet her, she grows even
older. She puts a hand on your forehead and mumbles something which you find
hard to decipher. She asks about an ailment that you had as a child and you
wonder if like your memories, she has also lost sense of time. Your son is
excited to meet her and asks her zillion questions. She hardly answers but is
happy at his exuberance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeEMGety32YmbA_4Pvs1rjKT865HpcGJNJqokmV5e6dWrAjiiLTLZHPbGcBStq-oIMaALdmKylXL5r_6BC9AOnWsfaBAA1lfs_cvcqx4nigQAVOTeu40_nBIrOxdSlWj0ISVVzA/s1600/IMG-4248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeEMGety32YmbA_4Pvs1rjKT865HpcGJNJqokmV5e6dWrAjiiLTLZHPbGcBStq-oIMaALdmKylXL5r_6BC9AOnWsfaBAA1lfs_cvcqx4nigQAVOTeu40_nBIrOxdSlWj0ISVVzA/s320/IMG-4248.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9zNp3cff37k5T1OoQdvFbhh4tBL0l7225V5PX8fclrGYH4ZJwBO3Si6vvfHU7SEZeNQTDRg3NFY8pthr80JFoRpodHP7Yl_FsNK1VSUYZ9qR3TXNl4RH3Rd3b-4YrUvoV3nDLg/s1600/IMG-4254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY9zNp3cff37k5T1OoQdvFbhh4tBL0l7225V5PX8fclrGYH4ZJwBO3Si6vvfHU7SEZeNQTDRg3NFY8pthr80JFoRpodHP7Yl_FsNK1VSUYZ9qR3TXNl4RH3Rd3b-4YrUvoV3nDLg/s320/IMG-4254.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">She came in pair with
your grandfather and after he left, you find it difficult to accept her
individual existence. She needs support for everything, to sit, to walk. She
cries when you leave and so does your mom; you feel a growing lump in your
throat and avoid looking at her for long. Every time you see her, there is an unsaid
thought that this meeting might be the last. She is a gateway to your childhood;
she is your gateway to a time gone by and you want her to carry on and on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-51591363137687277552019-08-31T14:29:00.003+05:302019-08-31T14:29:37.488+05:30A Housemaid for the Vastavas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Life has never been more
exciting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
get up at 7 in the morning and stand in the balcony overlooking colony’s gate.
Time goes by and so does the remaining part of your fingernail. You oscillate
near the door and look out of the peephole even at illusion of footsteps. A
tense half an hour has passed and your better half is grumbling about overall
misfortune in life. You play ‘would she come-would she not’ in your mind and
your finger pleads it won’t grow again like nail and you should stop eating it
NOW. There is melancholy all around and you can hear saddest opera music in the
background.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Suddenly
far across the gates of your housing, a silhouette appears. It is a good day
today; the maid has arrived. World is now a Yash Copra movie dream sequence
with songs and dancing. You again have the courage to walk up to your better
half and look at her with ‘you were unnecessarily worried’ look in eyes. From
the day you relocated to this new city, this daily excitement is part of your
life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Your
primary objective while renting a house was availability of house helps in the
location and still no maid looked at you house for a fortnight. You decide
there is no ethical dilemma in unconventional methods if you want change of
fortune and you try the roadside fortune teller.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Just
by looking at your face he confirms there is serious issue with your stars. He
prescribes proved cure of killing enemies in their sleep, improving chances of
random coitus and giving birth to obedient children but he is amused by your
problem. He gives you seven ugly rings to fix your stars. The fortune teller
also tries to sell treatment of your black magic curse but you are a scientific
man and do not fall in that trap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Next
day morning, a maid rings your doorbell to ask for job; people underestimate
astrology and occult. You point your rings towards the sky and tease celestial
bodies. The maid is so good that you thank good karmas of your past life. She
can cook Mouglai, Chinese and also that tasteless mix of vegetables and grass
that your better half had customised for your paunch. The maid is decent and
refuses to talk about money. She keeps on repeating to just honour what was her
work’s worth. For next one month, life is perfect and your better is the
kindest and calmest woman on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">At
the end of the month, when you plead and cajole, the maid drops an amount. You
either need a telescope to see the stars or you can pay such an amount to your
maid and see stars in front of your eyes during daytime. You thank her
profusely, beg her forgiveness and take a small loan to pay her out. Seeing her
earnings, you wonder career change for yourself at this point of your life.
While leaving she drops a card of her agent in case you want her back and it
has a picture of smiling fortune teller.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Your
mother recommends giving ad in the newspaper. She even lists out qualities that
a maid should have: punctual, skilled, honest, hardworking, dedicated, polite,
intelligent, docile, right mix of traditional and modern, seeking reasonable
remuneration. She reasons that good maid is key to good life. When you banter
if her daughter in law has these, she immediately ends the discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
have better sense than giving a newspaper ad and decide targeted advertising.
You daily get up in the morning and stand at colony’s gate to poach maids
coming to the housing society. Other residents recognise you and become
possessive, slowly people are escorting maids all around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
have a string of maids who came and leave without even giving you a chance to
prove you are a worthy employer. Family members are given lessons in etiquette,
how to dress, talk and behave when maid is around. You need to visit a
therapist to get over these rejections and to keep trying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">It
is not that everything is negative in this whole affair. Soon new residents
start coming to you to look at your detailed catalogue of housemaids around.
Your database has all important details including their quirks, likes and
dislikes. You have also learnt nuances of advertising, image building and
developing customised CV format that any employer should have for prospective
house helps. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You now know that maids are the most effective medium to spread
any message in the society, just you need to add an element of secrecy. You
also learn that maids are the mirror of residents of the housing society and you
are only as good as your maid thinks you are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">People
may tell you nothing is impossible in this world and you should ask them to
find an ideal maid. If they then say even impossible has, ‘I am possible’
without physically producing a good maid, slap them hard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Modern
day modern day Swamvaras would not be about some fish and its eye but the
ability of finding a perfect maid and only the real modern Arjunas would
qualify!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">PS:
Dear housemaid, if you are anyhow reading this article, kindly accept my
highest regards and reverence. This article is work fiction and is in no way
related to you. Even after that if you feel offended, I hereby apologize, just
don't leave our house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-22181704117974714612018-09-09T12:41:00.001+05:302018-09-09T12:41:52.955+05:30Being Human<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I always
believed I was human. I guess people around me concurred with that or in case
they didn’t, no one ever mentioned it in my life. So, I was happy being human
and probably relished at that till one day I opened Google on my laptop and it
said I needed to prove that I was not a Robot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I had a lump in
my throat and surge of emotions inside. A part of me said since I was too
efficient, google was confusing me with a robot. Another part felt a machine
was asking me to prove I was not a machine myself. After a decade of failed
programming efforts, my wife would have vouched I was anything but a robot but
I guess google also knew she underestimated me hence did not ask.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I thought for a
long time on this question of principle and then concluded I should do what I
did best on most occasions, that is swallowing pride. I acquiesced to the
google CAPTCHA challenge. To my further embarrassment, I later had to google to
learn CAPTCHA meant ‘Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers
and Humans Apart.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I took a deep
breath, prayed to my guardian angel and braced myself for the test. The test
presented multiple square boxes and asked to tick ones with traffic signals. I
revisited my Driving licence test in mind and then realised it is best avoided
to mention how I got my Driving licence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The boxes
presented by Google had signals written in Chinese language and now I had real
doubts about the intentions of google. I kept ticking boxes and it kept
replacing them with news ones fast. Language was not the only doubt. What about
the box having pole of the traffic signal?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Probably I was
as good as a robot or not as bad a human, it gave up on me and now said I
should tick boxes with cars. I diligently kept on checking boxes but google
google was for sure biased. It gave Vans and now I was confused if Van was also
a car.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">For a moment I
felt like breaking the laptop but gave up the idea on imagining my better half
in the aftermath. I felt if google was man enough, it should ask me in person
if I was human. Google would have thanked its stars that day at not being a
man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">After a long
time, and multiple failed attempts, existential questions started coming to my
mind. I now had doubts if I was indeed a human. The ghost of Ghalib presented
itself and said he had written this sher for this day:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 108.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt;">
<span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">बस</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">-</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">कि</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">दुश्वार</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">है</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">हर</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">काम</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">का</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">आसाँ</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">होना</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">,<br />
</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">आदमी</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">को</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">भी</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">मयस्सर</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">नहीं</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">इंसाँ</span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="color: black; font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">होना</span><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The irony is as
soon as I got doubts about being human, google sensed my confusion and
immediately declared that since I was so unsure, I could only be human. I felt
like celebrating for days to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Next day google
said it would take my Math test to declare me a human. I was better at Math
than I was at Traffic signals but google missed the basic premise that only
humans were supposed to make computing errors, not computers, so technically
wasn't I was more human when I gave wrong answers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 4.5pt; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">But then, who
has ever in this world appreciated a feedback. I took the only option
available, swallowed pride and acquiesced!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-72854557549816087992018-06-25T23:13:00.000+05:302018-06-25T23:13:03.973+05:30Because Commitment means Everything!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
were always committed to whatever you did. You also believed that first step to
be serious in anything was committing yourself financially, so that you automatically
give your best into it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When
you decided to learn Lawn Tennis, you were so serious that you coughed up three
months’ salary to buy best racket. Though you gave up the game after three days
and decided to first build up stamina instead, (and though you dread to mention
it in front of your better half) you are till date committed to the idea of
learning Lawn Tennis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">So</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">,
after taking Guitar lessons on a not so good borrowed instrument, you realised
main reason for your less than satisfactory progress was lack of serious
engagement. You had your eureka moment when you realised westerners played
Guitar well due to the quality of their set. You immediately knew you had to
buy an imported equipment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">After
doing online survey half the night and then accepting Grammy award in the
remaining half while sleeping, you were fully prepared to own up new set.
Online Samaritans had warned about salesmen tricking people into buying
unnecessary accessories and you chuckled at being too smart to be fooled by
such things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
entered the famed Kolkata showroom of this famous brand and realised it was
somewhat smaller than in your dreams. It ended almost as soon as it began, but
then you realised the proprietor was a Bengali and hence, the simplicity. You
were happy that you will not be billed extra for externalities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">If
you ever have been to a Marwari or Sindhi shop, you will realise how they
scream customers are God and then show you entire stuff of their showroom. You
end up buying unnecessary items but Bengalis are egalitarian and they may even
refuse to sell you something they deem you are not fit to use.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
thanked your stars for finding this economical showroom but wondered how four
salesmen were stuffed into such a small space. You know any professional help
you needed was now just next to you. You took your time observing various
Guitar sets and took mental note of it. After thirty minutes when you had
minutely observed everything, you realised any salesman was yet to express an
iota of interest in you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
one at the cash counter was seriously playing solitaire on his computer. By the
look on his face you realised he was defending some international championship.
Two others were debating American imperialism and hateful policies of Donald
Trump. You were amazed by their knowledge and could not help but appreciate the
overall awareness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
decided to intrude into the space of fourth salesman who was aimlessly
loitering in the showroom. You encircled him like a bee and gathered courage to
ask him</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> for Guitar sets.
He wasn’t exactly pleased yet asked what you exactly wanted. You mentioned a
price cap and he took out a Guitar and handed it to you. Buying anything was
never so simple.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
wondered if you should ask for opening the wrapper but he was now busy talking
on his mobile. You played the polythene above guitar strings for complete
fifteen minutes and displayed you were no novice. As soon as he ended the call,
you pointed towards another Guitar set gesturing him to take it out. In a
fraction of a second, myriads of expressions crossed his face all of which
screamed you had betrayed him. He curtly said that Guitar was expensive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
now felt offended and wanted to tell him your credit card limit. You also
wanted to say your spectacles though thick and unattractive were Ray Ban and
you were wearing Calvin Klein Shirt and Levis jeans. Before you could react, he
suddenly left the shop screaming to the guy on computer that it was lunch time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
only thing that mattered in this world now was salvaging your pride. You told
the guy at counter in stern voice that you wanted to buy the same Guitar that
the salesman had termed as expensive. There was an authority in your voice and
you never felt more confident in life. The guy at the counter nodded politely
as if he had at last understood your worth. Your back was erect and your neck
was so straight that you examined the ceiling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
waited and waited and waited and then realised Bengal was the first province to
get bureaucracy in the British times. Billing was some serious business and
something that they deeply respected. All three salesmen combined their
strength</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> and settled on the
model number after verifying hundreds of documents. They were also extremely
cautious in writing the bill and you could not help but appreciate their neat
handwriting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">All
three of them bowed gently when you left and started discussing strengths and
weaknesses of Irish Football team. You sort of liked them now. You confidently
carried the imported Guitar with a swag and were now committed to it for your
whole life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
quietly tear the bill before entering the house lest your better half one day
discovers it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 200%; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 36.0pt; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Disclaimer:
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">इस</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">कहानी</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">के</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">सभी</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">पात्र</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">और</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">घटनाएं</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">काल्पनिक</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">हैं</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">. </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">इसका</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">उद्देश्य</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">किसी</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">भी</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">व्यक्ति</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">,
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">धर्म</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">, </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">समुदाय</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">अथवा</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-language: HI;">जाति</span><span lang="HI" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">को</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">ठेस</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">पहुँचाना</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">नहीं</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">है</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">.
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">बावजूद</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">इसके</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">,
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">किसी</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">भी</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">real
or imagined </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">असुविधा</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">के</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">लिए</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">खेद</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">
</span><span lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Nirmala UI",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">है.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> </span></div>
</div>
Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-19895446459221230292018-06-03T18:31:00.003+05:302018-06-03T18:32:32.448+05:30How to make the most of Meetings!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">No
other event in any organisation is productive as its meetings. The number of tasks
that are accomplished through meetings are infinite and seven of them are
listed now:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Your
boss has made life difficult in office and daily dose of Lauki, Taroi and Palak
for dinner at home doesn’t help. There was an odd nostril hair peeping in and out
but never had the ‘me time’ to take care of that. Once you are in a meeting
with a promising power point, lights slightly dim to let northward pointing graphs
(each taller than its predecessor) leave their mark and optimistic sound of the
speaker acting as a lullaby, you get the perfect ‘me time’ you were waiting for.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Despite
your deep sense of meditation all this time, something still penetrated your
eardrums and you now know what your organisation is working on, what you are
working on and what you have always been working upon. You get that perfect ‘Eureka’
moment and feel excited about whatever work you have been doing/ not doing for
a long time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
notice gloomy faces of your office colleagues, their increasing waistline, receding
hairline and now you feel that you are not the only one with a dull life. You try
to fool your heart that you are not missing out much on life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Imagination
is the most important ability needed to survive in life. You craft a story why
something did not work in the past, pull out reasons/excuses why present
performance is bad and boast ‘acche din’ all have been waiting for a long time.
You realise there was a philosopher inside you waiting to come out for a long
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Meetings
help to scratch each other’s back and celebrate trifles like achievements. You
can cut cakes, celebrate success and pose for pictures for the annual magazine.
You may further agree on new ways to waste each other’s time and list out
subjects on which further meetings are required. In case something has gone
wrong, you can minute it in the meeting and claim ‘I told you so’ alibi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Meeting
are like those free periods in school that allows you do whatever you have
wanted to do for a long time. You can sketch, write and catch some sleep during
this time. You can also utilise this time on social media, post pictures with
#deepinwork/#amazingteam and update your profile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Meetings
provide a reason to utilize the departmental budget to eat, distribute exotic stationary
and just to make sure participants feel valued shower souvenir(gifts) at times.
You try new sandwiches, cashews and devour candies. As mentioned in <a href="https://anuragsbuzz.blogspot.com/2017/02/ten-habits-of-highly-effective-meeting.html">this article</a> before, meetings also provide a perfect opportunity to prove you
are smart!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br /></div>
Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-21604200299376102962018-05-01T12:30:00.000+05:302018-05-01T12:30:32.587+05:30Welcome, you have Arrived!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAc_UNDlKuKdC_PItYyd6JEHmUQacaxr7cUsflPGK8joP5vt-j1Wcu2SdatAT6YQRbkorYSQLxdX-Y3ud5e6QSlex4xISwpmLHXNs7oJ3SsQ1zEvFifiMGRnBTQOb9BfSIpISZw/s1600/funny-tourist-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAc_UNDlKuKdC_PItYyd6JEHmUQacaxr7cUsflPGK8joP5vt-j1Wcu2SdatAT6YQRbkorYSQLxdX-Y3ud5e6QSlex4xISwpmLHXNs7oJ3SsQ1zEvFifiMGRnBTQOb9BfSIpISZw/s320/funny-tourist-sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
had more faith in Newton’s law of Inertia than Newton himself and state of rest
was all you ever wanted in life. This was not the world of your dreams and you
have wife and kids who have been applying an external force to take them out.
You sustain the force for a long time but it grows exponentially with time. You
soon realize world peace is more important and even Newton would have chosen it
if given a choice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Your
wife says she wishes to go to a place that is popular yet pristine and you tell
her that was an example of oxymoron. You complement yourself on wisecrack but anyways
suffer the consequences for voicing that. You are now family’s odd one out and even
the kids are on the other side of this divide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
demonstrate your seriousness and surf the internet for a long time looking for
various tourist sites. You search for hotels and flight discounts. During this
time, you have gifted yourself spams for a lifetime. You start getting deals
for hotel/airlines and there are even offers for baggage loss insurance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
show all this to your wife as an alibi in being helpless in locating any site
and you are reminded of ‘one that should not be named’ popups that have been receiving
without any complain for a long time. You quietly open your laptop and book the
first exotic holiday that appears on the website. You feel a large hole in your
pocket and show the amount to your wife to salvage some pride. You get a consolatory
pat on the cheek. Next few days are spent in shopping for suitable dress, hats and
goggles and you are ready with an attire that screams ‘See how a tourist looks
like’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The
D-day arrives and you board the flight. Your kids punish the flight attendant for
committing the mistake of offering a candy one time. They also compete in who
can press the flight attendant call button more number of times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">After
a long arduous journey, you are at the hotel and it does not disappoint. All
you want to do in the hotel room is to sleep on the soft bed and wonder why there
is no such mattress in your house. You have competitive kids and they treat the
bed as a Bouncy and demonstrate their high jump capabilities. You remember the
fortune this booking has cost and do not ask your kids to stop. They also
scribble their names on the hotel walls. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Next
day, you request the hotel to book a Cab and your driver is an English-speaking
man. You now can only get impressed. He confidently tells you about the not to
be missed sites and for next three days, you are his ungrudging hostage. You visit/do
not visit places that he recommends and you sincerely want to live up in his
eyes. You eat, drink and shop at places that he says befits your stature and you
enviously calculate his cut in your mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Long
traffic snarls in the place tell you that it is anything but pristine now. You
buy chips packet, water bottles and cold drink cans like all other tourists to leave
your own mark at the tourist spot. You still have to negotiate a long queue in
entering tourist attractions and you haggle with salesmen and beggars during
that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Your
kids take toilet breaks at odd places at odd times and locating a public toilet
is now your favourite pastime. Soon you have experience of sniffing public
toilets of various kinds and you realise finding a clean toilet would be the
ultimate dream of any Indian voyager. You have also started appreciating Graffiti
on the toilet walls. There are complex biological concepts demonstrated, love professed
in pure primal forms and simple copulation described. You are confident that A
L Basham named his book ‘Wonder that is India’ after having a look at graffiti
on toilet walls. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
reach a historical site and since you already have been tricked, you do not
mind becoming a fool one more time. You hire a tourist guide at an exorbitant
price. Soon you realise hearing him may spoil chances of your kids studying
history any time. You spend rest of the time in reading information written at
the spot to your children and the tourist guide. You extract your revenge by
not buying anything from the souvenir shop that he guides you outside. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">On
last day, you buy Souvenirs for neighbours and relatives. One cannot miss
telling them about the great time that you had and see their envy of not being at
this site. You also duly click pictures at all places and make funny smiling
face. You realize breathing out when the picture is clicked helps as it hides
your family pack. You keep on doing that all the time. Once you are back, you get
an uncanny feeling that your trip was a waste. You still post pictures on your Facebook
wall. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You
finally feel that your trip was a success when you have attained the objective
of getting maximum likes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-4167433913294418932018-02-13T20:51:00.003+05:302018-02-13T23:00:59.253+05:30How (not) to Learn Swimming in Three Days Straight!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You dreamt about being
Jack of all trades but you are already in mid-thirties and bereft of any skill
in life. Being good in studies was your alibi for quite some time and now you
have a strong urge to learn something but you happen to be shy; you also happen
to be District Magistrate of the place where you reside. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You think about exotic
hobbies like scuba diving, or something refined like learning Urdu but then you
notice your ascending waistline. You zero on Swimming and casually mention it
to someone in the town. He tells you how he totally approves it, where one can
begin and why swimming is important for one’s overall well-being in life. He tells
all those he meets why you have made the right choice. You feel happy inside and
promise yourself that once you are done with swimming, you will continue to
learn new skills in life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Next day a group of professional
swimmers come for a friendly chat. They explain how joining them may be better
and there is logic in their argument. Same day three other groups come and
demonstrate their teaching abilities. You choose a pool which belongs to the
government and by virtue of being District Magistrate, you also happen to be
the President of its Swimming Society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">As you reach the pool, members
of managing committee along with their family members (and some distant cousins/neighbours)
are there to make you comfortable. They warmly take you inside and as you come
out from the changing room in your swimming tracks, you feel their piercing
eyes scanning your not so perfectly chiselled body. You are suddenly conscious
of the long hairs emanating from various corners of your body and rush to get
inside the pool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The coach is extremely
warm and tells you how simple it is to learn this art and shows you simple
water exercises. You imitate them fast and he profusely praises your
spontaneity. He prophesises you will learn swimming in three days straight. You
dream about your sculpted body after days of swimming and toy with the idea of an
Olympic gold but for the moment, keep it on hold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Next day you are chief
guest in a public program and are suddenly woken up from your slumber by generous
praise that speaker has unleashed about your swimming capabilities. He repeats
the prophecy that you will perfect swimming in three days straight and now you can
feel the weight of expectations of entire town. You sheepishly smile and wonder
if anyone is still left to learn about your new endeavour in life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Being diligent learner, you
reach the swimming pool again on time and again a horde is there to welcome you
inside. You enter the pool and find the coach smiling warmly. He today ups the
swimming lessons and you find them difficult. You also realise that breathing
water is not something that lungs like and your eyes complain that water of the
pool has chlorine inside. Your performance today was not that you dreamt but you
still have a day to master this art.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Next day, there is pain in
muscles you never knew existed in your body. You still
go to the swimming pool and the coach is there to teach some new tricks but you
find them completely impossible. You feel that only thing that loves you in
this world is gravity of swimming pool calling you inside. In your naivete, you
share this thought with the coach who tasks you with touching the swimming pool
floor with your hands. You try and try and try and fail at that. The coach murmurs
words of motivation and ask you to continue but you have missed the three-day
target.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You take a break for couple
of days and decide to compromise Olympic dreams. You internalise that you enter
the water to rejoice and learning to swim is incidental. You are back with full
enthusiasm and the coach smiles at you but you feel he has chuckled. You behave
with him like estranged couple and ignore him rest of the time. You keep punishing
water by your slaps and you also try to slap it by your feet but gravity still
wants you inside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You go to the pool off
and on but avoid looking coach in the eye. You find others who tell what you
have been doing wrong and they make perfect sense every time. You discuss with
them politics, climate change and career choice of their niece and rejoice. Soon
you have discovered 10001 ways in which one cannot swim and feel like writing a
book about that. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Winter comes to your rescue
and the pool shuts down. You blame it for not being able to learn this new
trade but now you confident that your actual interest was in
Badminton. You still wonder if you should mention it to someone in your town. Meanwhile
members of the Swimming pool management committee (and other swimming clubs) visit
you every alternate day and remind that pool would reopen next month.</span></div>
</div>
Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-66481828533151414882018-02-10T12:57:00.000+05:302018-02-11T11:40:05.679+05:30Since You Have Been!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The flowers always
bloomed, and were colourful too <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">The birds chirped
on the trees, and sailed in far off skies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">But since you have
been, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Flowers glow in
radiant colours, and smile at me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Birds now chirp
melodies, and when I listen carefully<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 3.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There are love songs in their humming<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I adored winter
mornings <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When I could wrap
myself in the blanket, and hold soft pillow for company<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">But now when you
are next to me, mornings are welcoming, cosy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When I wake up
from my dreams, I am happy, often smiling, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">and I try to lull
myself to sleep to relive that dream<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I always loved poets
and poetry, and felt I understood it<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">But now when I
recite them to you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Those myriads of
couplets, lost ages ago, come rushing to greet you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Those verses open
their heart <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">And I live the
poet and poetry, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I was happy in
life, and enjoyed the solitude<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I walked on
deserted streets, or sat down and gazed the evening sky, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Now when I am
alone and look at the sky, stars twinkle in glory <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">There are new constellations,
seen and unseen and if I stay there for sometime<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">They whisper
pieces of poetry<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I often think how
to describe you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">As earthy smell of
first rain, or morning dew in lush garden<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Or silence of the
mountains, or may be as gushing sound of a hasty spring<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You are also like
the colour of sky, with myriad hues on different times<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">And then I
remember your laughter on a dull day, spreading cheerfulness all around<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I feel you are
like the sound of a train, waxing and waning<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">You are also like
view of the world outside, from the window of a train <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Lush green fields,
Kids playing carefree, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Lotuses blooming
in a deserted pond <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">When evening
falls, passing lights of small towns<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">And a frail old
couple, holding hands and walking <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I always hated
words but since you have been<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I do not need them
to talk to you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Since you have
been<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I believe in hope,
kindness, beauty, eternity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I believe in all
the beautiful things in life, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">And did I tell
this ever to you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Since you have
been<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Love makes much
more sense to me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-17988428126225101882017-12-30T00:26:00.001+05:302017-12-30T00:26:48.483+05:30Eighteen Wishes for 2018!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
you party like never before on new year eve and be sober next morning, may you
always get complimentary drinks and may you eat pasta/ice cream and still
reduce your waistline!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
you click the perfect selfies, may you get hundreds of likes when you post it and
may your life be as glorious and happening as on Social media profile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
your Angel Priya be as beautiful in real life as in profile pic!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
your internet history always remain discreet, may you never find a TRAI blocked
website and may you easily download whatever you are seeking! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
IRCTC website never hang when you book rail tickets, may you find cheapest
online air fares and may you never have travel/hotel deals popping up days after
you have completed the journey. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
your mobile never lose charge/balance whenever you need, may you find 4G
internet at all places and may offers of Jio 4G internet be as good as they
appear to be!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
you win One Billion Pounds in online lottery, may your long lost relative in
Honululu actually bequeaths you ten million dollars and may no one ever
question your forwarded WhatsApp hoaxes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
you find cheap Popcorn/Coffee in cinema halls, may your chips packet have less
air and more of chips and may you never repent midway during a movie loss of
time and money. May your favourite actress/actor remain single even in 2018!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
you never blink an eyelid when your wife/girlfriend asks if she is looking
fat/pretty and may you never mix Yes and No in such scenarios. May you have a
peaceful domestic life! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
you be never disturbed when you are doing nothing and ‘doing nothing’ is
treated respectfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">11.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
you find socks matching your trousers and matching tie without even looking for
it, may you always find the traffic signal green and may you get thirty minutes
more of sleep and still reach office 15 minutes early. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">12.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
your snores never be discovered while you attending a lecture, may plagiarism
tracker fail to find anything wrong in your reports and may you never be caught
plucking your nose during a meeting, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">13.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
your weekends be free, may you go for exotic outings and may your vacation
pictures be source of your social media friends envy. May you always find clean public toilets when
you are need it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">14.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
you successfully link Aadhar with PAN, Aadhar with Mobile and Aadhar with Bank
Account. May you link anything with everything. May you be stupid enough never
to feel stupid! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">15.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
no items on new year resolution need to be repeated next year and may you not
feel guilty after watching same repetitive ‘follow your passion’ movies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
you win debates on religion and politics and yet not lose any friends while
debating. May your memory be good enough to recall anything you want and yet
bad to keep your conscience clean. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">17.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">May
the mosquito that bites you not be a carrier of Malaria, Chikangunia or Dengue,
may you enjoy smoke if you want but are not forced to smoke smog like Delhiites
and may you grow more hair than you lose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;">18. May you find readers
who appreciate satire and you are not asked to explain it. May in this new
year, you have your cake and eat it too. Happy 2018!</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><complete id="goog_1241609239">@Anurag_Sriv1983</complete></span></div>
</div>
Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17448508.post-83696721720976928752017-12-25T21:12:00.000+05:302017-12-25T21:13:33.569+05:30Dear Students II<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Chairman
Shemford School, Principal, Faculty, Parents and Dear students, a Very Good
evening! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6j_33RoD67iYLPnTQJEIDfQ2othTH4HhXANVkGwgSsa147Ew5Q6xD9nKYHyxsOCxuYYTmfwkGPzO3NCF_yR3bQNXWjj_nTUwcEM5QVAModbJYmBNdBZTuUj8gQu8H1qmTvOsfTQ/s1600/IMG_2151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6j_33RoD67iYLPnTQJEIDfQ2othTH4HhXANVkGwgSsa147Ew5Q6xD9nKYHyxsOCxuYYTmfwkGPzO3NCF_yR3bQNXWjj_nTUwcEM5QVAModbJYmBNdBZTuUj8gQu8H1qmTvOsfTQ/s320/IMG_2151.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I
am extremely happy and honored to be present here with you tonight. I am as
excited as you all are as I am not just a Chief Guest here but a father whose
son performed tonight. I had butterflies in my stomach all the time. I
compliment the students for putting up such a great show tonight. I am amazed
by the potential that I see in all these kids and I am sure they are going to
attain great heights in life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">And
now coming back to my formal speech, I have been strictly instructed by my wife
not repeat what I have already said so many times. I was also advised that if I
want to tell anything to the children, I can tell them a story instead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipINeBR91pZsQp5CQgZ3bzSXsKkXNv0f2nrxI92L3oYxkZwn9_E6CqOFVHpxU-4HYkQeuTxq_qGtQV2LOwDIpC60nu9HETTjIDr_kh3sJpiwLtbtfS7h2xlHPrJpbhP6QytLmaqg/s1600/IMG_2179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipINeBR91pZsQp5CQgZ3bzSXsKkXNv0f2nrxI92L3oYxkZwn9_E6CqOFVHpxU-4HYkQeuTxq_qGtQV2LOwDIpC60nu9HETTjIDr_kh3sJpiwLtbtfS7h2xlHPrJpbhP6QytLmaqg/s320/IMG_2179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">So,
I will tell you a story about a boy. He was like you all in all respects, minus
the special talent that you exhibited tonight. He watched TV cartoons, ate lot
of candies and was little rude sometimes. I guess he was also slightly lazier
than you all. He had loving parents who told him he should behave well with all
and great teachers who told him he should work hard. They sometimes made sense
to him and sometimes they did not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">One
night when he had just got into his bed, he saw from his window that the
weather was pleasant outside. There was cool breeze blowing and someone was
humming a song. His eyes grew heavy and just then he saw a boy smiling. The boy
said his name was Dream and he was here to be his friend. Dream was with him
when he was sleeping but he could also see Dream with open eyes. Dream took him
to the world of Cartoons, Chocolates and Cakes. Dream could also summon Super
heroes, Monsters and Ghosts sometimes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXt6usfZA0gjW4Jk9laUolnGrqVWUciVGDsXYWY4YUHpY1UAppWe6yz0v1rdZ8mqE9Vy8xqgnyG-yc-2ZjXCwz2_O9G0wTgyfsmo0l8aBPST_CWLveHPX4h2g9dVJwz3Tx8XNS4Q/s1600/IMG_2255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXt6usfZA0gjW4Jk9laUolnGrqVWUciVGDsXYWY4YUHpY1UAppWe6yz0v1rdZ8mqE9Vy8xqgnyG-yc-2ZjXCwz2_O9G0wTgyfsmo0l8aBPST_CWLveHPX4h2g9dVJwz3Tx8XNS4Q/s320/IMG_2255.JPG" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">As
he grew up, Dream told him that he should be successful in life. Dream also
told him to learn new things or at least try but the boys was extremely shy. He
slowly tried to run away from Dream. One-day Dream asked him to perform in the
school play, like you all did just now but he did not like it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">He
wanted to avoid dream and kept looking outside the window. It was raining
heavily and he saw there was another boy getting wet in the rain outside.
Before he could say anything, the boy came and said his name was Fear and he
wanted to stay with him for some time. Since he wanted to avoid the Dream this
time, he agreed to that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Whenever
Dream told him to do something big and not be shy, Fear said he won’t be able
to succeed. Fear also told him that if he failed, others will laugh. Fear said
only those who were lucky or extremely talented when they were born could do
all that. Slowly Fear also brought his
two friends, Ignorance and Arrogance. Ignorance advised you should never worry
about what your Parents or Teachers said and you know everything that is
required. Arrogance told him that it was OK to be rude and bad. They whispered
in his ears that no one loved him in this life. Slowly he was not a good boy
and everyone wondered what had changed in his life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Vf8o4bIQeAnqdu61Y95ahIVfWWHEeLkp-A_LLiJ72Q-wTdRAMp8AU-3iOPnRIcGOuJAbLWJ3Y3fsTfFeTy2g8Mw0ZFTZtuRo_Z1NieSLLU5vuC_dr4spZa_I6xXYrD4q2KX8nQ/s1600/IMG_2295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Vf8o4bIQeAnqdu61Y95ahIVfWWHEeLkp-A_LLiJ72Q-wTdRAMp8AU-3iOPnRIcGOuJAbLWJ3Y3fsTfFeTy2g8Mw0ZFTZtuRo_Z1NieSLLU5vuC_dr4spZa_I6xXYrD4q2KX8nQ/s320/IMG_2295.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">One
day it was a bright sunny day and he was playing outside. He saw Dream was just
around and he asked Dream if he could come and sit nearby. He told Dream he
wanted to do so many things in this life and if Dream could bring him Aladdin’s
lamp through which he can realize all that. He had recently read the story of
Aladdin and his magic lamp. Dream said he could invite Aladdin but his lamp was
not of much help in real life but he knows someone who can help him achieve
whatever he desires. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlarO-vBxLcqp-DpWSum6VnloMdm_9XK_nip_4lsCIW9rCkj4kB2eSTDMpEV1xnJwyTAtagGNanbtRgtpVQNe_u5tumIH5wwoDbB_npBDPEHe7KodlaDOkBIrqepYPpDCar2KuZA/s1600/IMG_2298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlarO-vBxLcqp-DpWSum6VnloMdm_9XK_nip_4lsCIW9rCkj4kB2eSTDMpEV1xnJwyTAtagGNanbtRgtpVQNe_u5tumIH5wwoDbB_npBDPEHe7KodlaDOkBIrqepYPpDCar2KuZA/s320/IMG_2298.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Dream
called Hard work who told him that there was no magic in this world and if he
wants to succeed in life, he has to believe in what his teachers, parents and
his good old school text books said. Now whenever he felt shy or was not sure
in life, he called hard work and took its advice. So, before his class tests he
practiced many times. During play, he rehearsed his lines many times. Now Fear
did not come nearby. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Slowly
being with Hard work, he realized that one needs to work upon how you are. You
need to improve upon your weaknesses and play upon your strengths. You can do
that if you try to understand yourself. He did not get all the answers but
realized that asking questions was what mattered in life. He also learnt that
if you know then you cannot and if you do not, then you keep knowing on and on.
He decided to retain the twinkle in his eyes for new things of life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDdLpbIeWOOMxEGYACjDSRiQ9FTMo_ICk-dLd6Y-aRvVKsKZnd86U854InSc60N8NkXmT4-ZpAvgrjRo3DSD65lhlvbI8i31XefUNvWFfaAYYIijbsTF8rHuPpMOc7pWX3yjAzw/s1600/IMG_2224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDdLpbIeWOOMxEGYACjDSRiQ9FTMo_ICk-dLd6Y-aRvVKsKZnd86U854InSc60N8NkXmT4-ZpAvgrjRo3DSD65lhlvbI8i31XefUNvWFfaAYYIijbsTF8rHuPpMOc7pWX3yjAzw/s320/IMG_2224.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">If
I think about it now, this boy did what he did because he worked hard, played
on his strengths and believed in what dreams told him in his life. Friends I
was that boy and I am so happy to share this tonight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">All
these children performed so well tonight that I am humbled. Being here with
such talented kids, I am reminded of the song by Louis Armstrong:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I hear babies cry, I watch them grow <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">They will learn much more, than I will
ever know,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">And I think to myself,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">What a wonderful world!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">This
was all I wanted to say tonight. And like it is done in all good old books, let
me mention three morals of the story before I end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">1. You will never find Aladdin’s lamp in
this life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">2. Dream and Hard work can be your only
true friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">3. On cold dark nights, Fear will try to
become a part your life but take help of Hard work to keep it out!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Thank
you for listening to me patiently, wishing kids all the best in life!</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
Just Simplehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05911964095054180004noreply@blogger.com2