Kaise Mujhe Tu Mil Gayi...

Wonderful, deep meaningful lyrics by Prasoon Joshi for the movie Ghajini, the best lyrics from that movie. Well joined by music by A.R.Rehman... Soothing lyrics, and here it goes...

Hoo hooo oooo..
Hoo hoo hooo…
Oooo..hoo…hooo..oooo
Hooo hooo…
Kaise mujhe tu mil gayi, Kismat pe aaye naa yaakeen,
Utar aayi jheel mein jaise chand utarta hai kabhi,
Haule haule dheere se,
Gunguni dhoop ki tarah se taranum mein tum,
Choo ke mujhe guzari hu yu,
Dekhu tumhe ya mein sunu,
Tum ho sukoon, tum ho junoon,
Kyu pehle naa aayi tum?
Kaise mujhe tu mil gayi, hoo hoo..
Kismat pe aaye naa yaakeen, hoo hoo..

Mein to yeh sochta tha ki aaj kal,
Upar wale ko fursat nahi,
Phir bhi tumhe bana ke woh,
Meri nazar mein chadh gaya,
Rutbe mein woh aur badh gaya..

Aaaa..aaaaa…
Aaaa..aaaa….
Hoo..hoo…hooo..

Badle raaste jharne aur nadi,
Badli deep ki timtim,
Chedhe zindagi dhun koi nayee,
Badli barkha ki rimjhim,
Badlengi rituyein adaa,
Par mein rahungi sada,
Ussi tarah teri bahon mein baahein daalke,
Har lamha, har pal..

Aaaa..aaaaa…
Aaaa..aaaa….
Zindagi sitar ho gayi,
Rimjhim malhaar ho gayi,
Mujhe aata nahi kismat pe apni yakeen,
Kaise mujhko mili tum...

Waiting for Results?

"Waiting is a trap. There will always be reasons to wait. The truth is, there are only two things in life, reasons and results, and reasons simply don't count..." - Dr Robert Anthony

"In Life we can have Results or Reasons. If you are not getting the results you want, your reasons are the lies that you keep telling yourself..." - Harald Anderson

Such is LIFE... Enjoy It!

• Don't compare yourself with any one in this world. If you compare, you are insulting yourself.
• No one will manufacture a lock without a key. Similarly God won't give problems without solutions.
• Life laughs at you when you are unhappy… Life smiles at you when you are happy... Life salutes you when you make others happy...
• Every successful person has a painful story. Every painful story has a successful ending. Accept the pain and get ready for success.
• Easy is to judge the mistakes of others. Difficult is to recognize our own mistakes. It is easier to protect your feet with slippers than to cover the earth with carpet.
• No one can go back and change a bad beginning; but anyone can start now and create a successful ending.
• If a problem can be solved, no need to worry about it. If a problem cannot be solved what is the use of worrying?
• If you miss an opportunity don't fill the eyes with tears. It will hide another better opportunity in front of you.
• "Changing the Face" can change nothing; but "Facing the Change" can change everything. Don't complain about others; change yourself if you want peace.
• Mistakes are painful when they happen. But year's later collection of mistakes is called experience, which leads to success.
• Be bold when you loose and be calm when you win. Heated gold becomes ornament. Beaten copper becomes wires. Depleted stone becomes statue. So the more pain you get in life you become more valuable.

Gift of Life ...

Dot, dot and one more ...

"Even a small dot can stop a big sentence, but few more dots can give a continuity"... Amazing but true. Every end can be a new beginning.

This was a SMS to my mobile and it had a great linkage with the way I write my blog... I was thinking, well, this is the way I write my blog, each sentence is followed by 3 dots (or, more!)... The thirst to write it fully, to derive the most out of my heart, fully utilization of my thinking on the given topic goes forward than I actually do write... So just before completing one line, my mind says, this is not the ending, you have something more to write, thus it is not a small dot that can stop that line, a new line has to continue and the 3 dots in between comes clearly saying so...

The feeling while writing a blog is something like this: "Your heart says, write, write and write till you pen down everything that you think on a given topic/matter" and that 3 dots at end of each line rightly signifies that, saying, "Stay Tuned, lots to come..."...

IT ppl we are !

Don't Give Up !

Success Built To Last...

•Success mean I can make a difference and create lasting impact.
•Success mean I am happy.
•Success mean I am engaged in a life of professional fulfillment.
•Success do not mean I am achieving fame, money or power.
•Success mean I create strong relationship and connection with people.
•I learn more from my failure than I learn from my success.
•Balance to me is spending the right (not equal) amount of time on work, familiy, personal interest, and community.
•Success mean I have the freedom to do what is meaningful.
•Setback don’t make me abandon my passion or cause.
•I prefer to pursue one of two alternative rather than trying to make both work.
•My career has not followed a precise roadmap that I myself created.
•The main priority in my life is to do meaningful things.
•It is absolutely necessary for me to work in a job that I really love.
•Whatever I’m doing, I make sure to be good at it.
•I don’t believe that when thing go wrong, most people look for a scapegoat.
•People who count support me in following my passion.

Three essential elements of Success Built To Last... Meaning, Thought and Action.

Meaning: what they do must matter deeply to them

Thought style: sense of accountability, audacity, passion, responsible optimism.

Action style : taking action.Success : Becomes consciously aware of what matter to you and then rally your thought and action to support your definition of meaning –alignment.

The only thing that provides lasting success and happiness is the day-by-day practice and struggle to move the three circle-Meaning, Thought and Action-toward alignment in your life and work. It is an adventure that you are better off embracing with all of your heart and soul because it is a challenge that never ends as long ad you are here...

Happy Children's Day ...

Ignorant!

It was not long ago, when I was thinking of my surrondings and people around me, the things that I share with them and they do with me, and then my mind settled with a strong concluding line... "You know more when you start knowing and you are purely ignorant when you don't..."

It is always individual's wish to start knowing about something/somebody... You start, you get involved, you spend time and do get lot of information... On the other hand, you don't try and you are totally ignorant!

Now, the question is "Do I care?", "Do I need to know that?", "Does it anyway bother me?".. Lots of questions... Differnet people get different answers to these questions at different times and act accordingly... Sometimes, you feel good to know things about others and sometimes you choose to be just ignorant!

Nothing... Nov...

Poor Nov'08, One third of the month has gone, and nothing has come up to my mind to put up here, to make my blog alive! Actually I was "busy in being busy" and did not get time to write-up anything, though I am regular to see the hit-count of my blog pages daily (at least once), so today (oops! just 2 minutes before), it was 4370!!!
One good morning mail that I got today, thought, could fill this emptiness of this month's posts:
And here it goes... (I liked the last line, pretty true!)
Time does not wait for you or me… days pass and years pass, u miss your best ones, you move away from your close ones. Your life changes, friends change, people change but your heart has those precious moments etched in it whether you want it or not. It’s always there making u happy at sad time’s n sad even at happy times. You sit back, think about those happy days and smile and when somebody asks the reason of your smile, you just say...."NOTHING"…

Friendship Flower ...

Life is like a garden
And friendship like a flower,
That blooms and grows in beauty
With the sunshine and the shower.

And lovely are the blossoms
That are tended with great care,
By those who work unselfishly
To make the place more fair.

And, like the garden blossoms,
Friendship's flower grows more sweet
When watched and tended carefully
By those we know and meet.

And, if the seed of friendship
Is planted deep and true
And watched with understanding,
Friendship's flower will bloom for you...

-by Helen Steiner Rice

Happy Diwali 2008

Happy Diwali ...

Not alone...

Take care ...

Zindagi Zindagi ...

Beautiful lyrics by Gulzar from the movie "Yuvvraaj"... Music by A.R.Rehman and sung by Srinivas. Here it goes ...

Zindagi zindagi, Kya kami reh gai
Aankh ki kor mein...
Aankh ki kor mein, Kyun nami reh gai

Zindagi zindagi, Kya kami reh gai
Aankh ki kor mein, Kyun nami reh gai

Tu kahan kho gai....
Tu kahan kho gai, Koi aaya nahi
Dopahar ho gai, Koi aaya nahi
Zindagai zindagi ...

Din aaye din jaaye, Sadiyan bhi gin aaye, Sadiyan re ...
Tanhai lipti hain, Lipti hain saanson ki, Rasiya re ...

Tere bina badi pyasi hain, Tere bina hain pyasi re
Naino ki do sakhiyan re, Tanha re, Mein tanha re ...

Zindagi zindagi, Kya kami reh gai
Aankh ki kor mein, Kyun nami reh gai
Zindagi zindagi....

Subah ka khoara hain, Sham ki dhool hain, Tanhai hain...
Raat bhi zard hain, Dard hi dard hain, Ruswai Hain...

Kaise kate saanse uljhi hain, Raatein badi jhulsi jhulsi hain
Naina kori sadiyan re, Tanha re, Mein tanha re ...

Zindagi zindagi, Kya kami reh gai
Aankh ki kor mein, Kyun nami reh gai
Zindagi zindagi, Kya kami reh gai
Aankh ki kor mein, Kyun nami reh gai

Tu kahan kho gai, Koi aaya nahi
Dopahar ho gai, Koi aaya nahi
Zindagi zindagi, Kya kami reh gai
Aankh ki kor mein, Kyun nami reh gai....

The Last Lecture ...

On September 18, 2007, Carnegie Mellon professor and alumnus Randy Pausch delivered a one-of-a-kind last lecture that made the world stop and pay attention. It became an Internet sensation viewed by millions, an international media story, and a best-selling book that has been published in 35 languages. To this day, people everywhere continue to talk about Randy, share his message and put his life lessons into action in their own lives.

"The Last Lecture" is the book in English that I completed last week-end. Wonderful book it is. It really spells life story of a cancer person as a teacher, as a student, as a father, as a husband, as a son of his parents and so on... Every phase of life he has explained so well that the book is a must-read.

Given a chance to give a lecture, Randy was in confusion whether to give the lecturer or spend the little time that life has bestowed upon him with his family. Above that, the day before the lecture was his wife's birthday and the topic of the lecture was not decided yet in his mind. Trying to find something unique in himself, he came up with the title of the lecture as "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams"... Amazing title it was and the content was really matching the title. His parents loved him very much and he wanted to show the same to his family, but he had limited time and he has put all his efforts to make the lecture memorable and to be viewed/followed by his kids...

Lots more in the book... Get a copy and read it... You will know how to live a life ...

Youtube link for the lecture: http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

My Love ...Akhila

Akhila, my niece, my love and my life these days... Day begins with her cutie smile and day ends with that. Amazing feeling when I am with her, feels like whole worldy happiness is with me, I just forget everything when I am with her. She makes me feel good, brighten up my day. I'm full of joy, since she came into my mind. Love you so much.... Chinmaya

Make you better ...

When you see yourself doing something badly and nobody's bothering to tell you anymore, that's a bad place to be. You may not want to hear it, but your critics are often the ones telling you they still love you and care about you, and want to make you better. -- Randy Pausch

Living and Life...

We make a living by what we get,
we make a life by what we give ...

First Thing ...

The first thing that an individual should learn is taking care of
himself/herself, self-respect and self-support.

Where is the time?

Where is the time to hate, when there is so little time to love...
Come on, lets sing, sing, sing, Come on, lets dance, dance, dance!

Power of Positive Talk - by Abdul Kalam

I remember my dad teaching me the power of language at a very young age. Not only did my dad understand that specific words affect our mental pictures, but he understood words are a powerful programming factor in lifelong success.
One particularly interesting event occurred when I was eight. As a kid, I was always climbing trees, poles, and literally hanging around upside down from the rafters of our lake house. So, it came to no surprise for my dad to find me at the top of a 30-foot tree swinging back and forth. My little eight-year-old brain didn't realize the tree could break or I could get hurt. I just thought it was fun to be up so high.
My older cousin, Tammy, was also in the same tree. She was hanging on the first big limb, about ten feet below me. Tammy's mother also noticed us at the exact time my dad did. About that time a huge gust of wind came over the tree. I could hear the leaves start to rattle and the tree begin to sway. I remember my dad's voice over the wind yell, "Bart, Hold on tightly." So I did. The next thing I know, I heard Tammy screaming at the top of her lungs, laying flat on the ground. She had fallen out of the tree.
I scampered down the tree to safety. My dad later told me why she fell and I did not. Apparently, when Tammy's mother felt the gust of wind, she yelled out, "Tammy, don't fall!" And Tammy did… fall.
My dad then explained to me that the mind has a very difficult time processing a negative image. In fact, people who rely on internal pictures cannot see a negative at all. In order for Tammy to process the command of not falling, her nine-year-old brain had to first imagine falling, then try to tell the brain not to do what it just imagined. Whereas, my eight-year-old brain instantly had an internal image of me hanging on tightly.
This concept is especially useful when you are attempting to break a habit or set a goal. You can't visualize not doing something. The only way to properly visualize not doing something is to actually find a word for what you want to do and visualize that. For example, when I was thirteen years old, I played for my junior high school football team. I tried so hard to be good, but I just couldn't get it together at that age. I remember hearing the words run through my head as I was running out for a pass, "Don't drop it!" Naturally, I dropped the ball.
My coaches were not skilled enough to teach us proper "self-talk." They just thought some kids could catch and others couldn't. I'll never make it pro, but I'm now a pretty good Sunday afternoon football player, because all my internal dialogue is positive and encourages me to win. I wish my dad had coached me playing football instead of just climbing trees. I might have had a longer football career.
Here is a very easy demonstration to teach your kids and your friends the power of a toxic vocabulary. Ask them to hold a pen or pencil. Hand it to them. Now, follow my instructions carefully. Say to them, "Okay, try to drop the pencil." Observe what they do.
Most people release their hands and watch the pencil hit the floor. You respond, "You weren't paying attention. I said TRY to drop the pencil. Now please do it again." Most people then pick up the pencil and pretend to be in excruciating pain while their hand tries but fails to drop the pencil.
The point is made.
If you tell your brain you will "give it a try," you are actually telling your brain to fail. I have a "no try" rule in my house and with everyone I interact with. Either people will do it or they won't. Either they will be at the party or they won't. I'm brutal when people attempt to lie to me by using the word try. Do they think I don't know they are really telegraphing to the world they have no intention of doing it but they want me to give them brownie points for pretended effort? You will never hear the words "I'll try" come out of my mouth unless I'm teaching this concept in a seminar.
If you "try" and do something, your unconscious mind has permission not to succeed. If I truly can't make a decision I will tell the truth. "Sorry John. I'm not sure if I will be at your party or not. I've got an outstanding commitment. If that falls through, I will be here. Otherwise, I will not. Thanks for the invite."
People respect honesty. So remove the word "try" from your vocabulary.
My dad also told me that psychologists claim it takes seventeen positive statements to offset one negative statement. I have no idea if it is true, but the logic holds true. It might take up to seventeen compliments to offset the emotional damage of one harsh criticism.
These are concepts that are especially useful when raising children.
Ask yourself how many compliments you give yourself daily versus how many criticisms. Heck, I know you are talking to yourself all day long. We all have internal voices that give us direction.
So, are you giving yourself the 17:1 ratio or are you shortchanging yourself with toxic self-talk like, " I'm fat. Nobody will like me. I'll try this diet. I'm not good enough. I'm so stupid. I'm broke, etc. etc."
If our parents can set a lifetime of programming with one wrong statement, imagine the kind of programming you are doing on a daily basis with your own internal dialogue. Here is a list of Toxic Vocabulary words.
Notice when you or other people use them.
Ø But: Negates any words that are stated before it.
Ø Try: Presupposes failure.
Ø If: Presupposes that you may not.
Ø Might: It does nothing definite. It leaves options for your listener.
Ø Would Have: Past tense that draws attention to things that didn't actually happen.
Ø Should Have: Past tense that draws attention to things that didn't actually happen (and implies guilt.)
Ø Could Have: Past tense that draws attention to things that didn't actually happen but the person tries to take credit as if it did happen.
Ø Can't/Don't: These words force the listener to focus on exactly the opposite of what you want. This is a classic mistake that parents and coaches make without knowing the damage of this linguistic error.
Examples:
Toxic phrase: "Don't drop the ball!"
Likely result: Drops the ball
Better language: "Catch the ball!"
Toxic phrase: "You shouldn't watch so much television."
Likely result: Watches more television.
Better language: "I read too much television makes people stupid. You might find yourself turning that TV off and picking up one of those books more often!"

Happiness !

Happiness comes of the capacity

to feel deeply,

to enjoy simply,

to think freely,

to risk life,

to be needed.

Be who you are ...

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

"Be who you are, and be that well". - This is one of the quotes that I love and often follow. Often there are cases, when we change or tend to change from what we actually are and the way we behave. This could be because of many reasons; because others don't like the way we are, or we are trying to be like somebody, or we trying to show others that we can be like him or her. As long as we understand the real meaning of that, it is fine. If I am trying to change myself from X state to Y state, I should be better knowing what forces me to do so, what are the problem in state X and what additional things that I can have or I can achieve in state Y. The point what I want to mention here is, most of the cases, we don't understand that rationale behind the change. We just try to imitate others, sometimes we do pass and most of the cases we fail. We really don't want to be in the new state, but still try sometimes just to show others that we can! Silly! Who cares! If you don't like that change, better not to try, don't be silly. There are hunderes/thousands of ways to be happy. We just see some big 10-20 happy things, and forget those small small happy things that we can achieve easily. For some future, we are wasting our present. It is very easy to get happiness and we are complicating ourselves to get that easiness !

Love you...

Beijing Olympics ...

Hey Aditi !

Wonderful lyrics from the movie - Jaane Tu Yaa Jaane Naa... Here it goes ...

Kabhi kabhi Aditi zindagi mein yuhi koi apna lagta hai.
Kabhi kabhi Aditi wo bichhad jaaye to ek sapna lagta hai.
Aise mei koi kaise apne aansu o ko behne se roke?
Aur kaise koi sochle everything's gonna be ok?

Kabhi kabhi to lage zindagi mein rahi naa khushi aur naa mazaa.
Kabhi kabhi to lage har din mushkil aur har pal ek sazaa.
Aise mein koi kaise mushkuraye, kaise hasde khush hoke?
Aur kaise koi soch de everything gonna be ok?

Soch jara jaaneja tujhko hum kitna chahte hai.
Rotein hai hum bhi aggar teri ankhon mein aansu aate hai.
Gaane to aata nahi hai magar phir bhi hum gaate hai.
Ke Aditi maana kabhi-kabhi saare jahan mein andhera hota hai;
Lekin raat ke baad hi to sabera hota hai.

Kabhi kabhi Aditi zindagi mei yuhi koi apna lagta hai.
Kabhi kabhi Aditi wo bichhar jaaye to ek sapna lagta hai.
Hey Aditi Hasde hasde hasde hasde hasde, hasde tu zara.
Nahi to bus thoda thoda thoda thoda thoda, thoda mushkura.

Tu khush hai to lage ke jahan mein chhaayi hai khushi.
Suraj nikle baadlon se aur baatein zindagi.
Suun to jara madhosh hawa tujhse kehne lagi.
Ke Aditi wo jo bichhad-te hai ek na ek din phir mil jaate hai;
Aditi jaane tu ya jaane na phool phir khil jaate hai.

Kabhi kabhi Aditi zindagi mei yuhi koi apna lagta hai.
Kabhi kabhi Aditi wo bichhar jaaye to ek sapna lagta hai.
Hey Aditi Hasde hasde hasde hasde hasde, hasde tu zara.
Nahi to bus thoda thoda thoda thoda thoda, thoda mushkura…

You've got a Friend !

I Wish ...

Friendship Week

Friends, you and me ....
You brought another friend ....
And then there were 3 ....
We started our group ....
Our circle of friends ....
There is no beginning, there is no end ....

HAPPY FRIENDSHIP WEEK !

Keep the Spark Alive - Chetan Bhagat

Inaugural Speech for the new batch at the Symbiosis BBA program, Pune - 23rd June, 2008 - By Chetan Bhagat.
Good Morning everyone and thank you for giving me this chance to speak to you. This day is about you. You, who have come to this college, leaving the comfort of your homes (or in some cases discomfort), to become something in your life. I am sure you are excited. There are few days in human life when one is truly elated. The first day in college is one of them. When you were getting ready today, you felt a tingling in your stomach. What would the auditorium be like, what would the teachers be like, who are my new classmates - there is so much to be curious about. I call this excitement, the spark within you that makes you feel truly alive today. Today I am going to talk about keeping the spark shining. Or to put it another way, how to be happy most, if not all the time.
Where do these sparks start? I think we are born with them. My 3-year old twin boys have a million sparks. A little Spiderman toy can make them jump on the bed. They get thrills from creaky swings in the park. A story from daddy gets them excited. They do a daily countdown for birthday party – several months in advance – just for the day they will cut their own birthday cake.
I see students like you, and I still see some sparks. But when I see older people, the spark is difficult to find. That means as we age, the spark fades. People whose spark has faded too much are dull, dejected, aimless and bitter. Remember Kareena in the first half of Jab We Met vs the second half? That is what happens when the spark is lost. So how to save the spark?
Imagine the spark to be a lamp's flame. The first aspect is nurturing - to give your spark the fuel, continuously. The second is to guard against storms.
To nurture, always have goals. It is human nature to strive, improve and achieve full potential. In fact, that is success. It is what is possible for you. It isn't any external measure - a certain cost to company pay package, a particular car or house.
Most of us are from middle class families. To us, having material landmarks is success and rightly so. When you have grown up where money constraints force everyday choices, financial freedom is a big achievement. But it isn't the purpose of life. If that was the case, Mr. Ambani would not show up for work. Shah Rukh Khan would stay at home and not dance anymore. Steve Jobs won't be working hard to make a better iPhone, as he sold Pixar for billions of dollars already. Why do they do it? What makes them come to work everyday? They do it because it makes them happy. They do it because it makes them feel alive. Just getting better from current levels feels good. If you study hard, you can improve your rank. If you make an effort to interact with people, you will do better in interviews. If you practice, your cricket will get better. You may also know that you cannot become Tendulkar, yet. But you can get to the next level. Striving for that next level is important.
Nature designed with a random set of genes and circumstances in which we were born. To be happy, we have to accept it and make the most of nature's design. Are you? Goals will help you do that. I must add, don't just have career or academic goals. Set goals to give you a balanced, successful life. I use the word balanced before successful. Balanced means ensuring your health, relationships, mental peace are all in good order.
There is no point of getting a promotion on the day of your breakup. There is no fun in driving a car if your back hurts. Shopping is not enjoyable if your mind is full of tensions.
You must have read some quotes - Life is a tough race, it is a marathon or whatever. No, from what I have seen so far, life is one of those races in nursery school, where you have to run with a marble in a spoon kept in your mouth. If the marble falls, there is no point coming first. Same with life, where health and relationships are the marble. Your striving is only worth it if there is harmony in your life. Else, you may achieve the success, but this spark, this feeling of being excited and alive, will start to die.
One last thing about nurturing the spark - don't take life seriously. One of my yoga teachers used to make students laugh during classes. One student asked him if these jokes would take away something from the yoga practice. The teacher said - don't be serious, be sincere. This quote has defined my work ever since. Whether its my writing, my job, my relationships or any of my goals. I get thousands of opinions on my writing everyday. There is heaps of praise, there is intense criticism. If I take it all seriously, how will I write? Or rather, how will I live? Life is not to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up? It's ok, bunk a few classes, goof up a few interviews, fall in love. We are people, not programmed devices.
I've told you three things - reasonable goals, balance and not taking it too seriously that will nurture the spark. However, there are four storms in life that will threaten to completely put out the flame. These must be guarded against. These are disappointment, frustration, unfairness and loneliness of purpose.
Disappointment will come when your effort does not give you the expected return. If things don't go as planned or if you face failure. Failure is extremely difficult to handle, but those that do come out stronger. What did this failure teach me? is the question you will need to ask. You will feel miserable. You will want to quit, like I wanted to when nine publishers rejected my first book. Some IITians kill themselves over low grades – how silly is that? But that is how much failure can hurt you. But it's life. If challenges could always be overcome, they would cease to be a challenge. And remember - if you are failing at something, that means you are at your limit or potential. And that's where you want to be.
Disappointment's cousin is frustration, the second storm. Have you ever been frustrated? It happens when things are stuck. This is especially relevant in India. From traffic jams to getting that job you deserve, sometimes things take so long that you don't know if you chose the right goal. After books, I set the goal of writing for Bollywood, as I thought they needed writers. I am called extremely lucky, but it took me five years to get close to a release. Frustration saps excitement, and turns your initial energy into something negative, making you a bitter person. How did I deal with it? A realistic assessment of the time involved – movies take a long time to make even though they are watched quickly, seeking a certain enjoyment in the process rather than the end result – at least I was learning how to write scripts, having a side plan – I had my third book to write and even something as simple as pleasurable distractions in your life - friends, food, travel can help you overcome it. Remember, nothing is to be taken seriously. Frustration is a sign somewhere, you took it too seriously.
Unfairness - this is hardest to deal with, but unfortunately that is how our country works. People with connections, rich dads, beautiful faces, pedigree find it easier to make it – not just in Bollywood, but everywhere. And sometimes it is just plain luck. There are so few opportunities in India, so many stars need to be aligned for you to make it happen. Merit and hard work is not always linked to achievement in the short term, but the long term correlation is high, and ultimately things do work out. But realize, there will be some people luckier than you. In fact, to have an opportunity to go to college and understand this speech in English means you are pretty damm lucky by Indian standards. Let's be grateful for what we have and get the strength to accept what we don't. I have so much love from my readers that other writers cannot even imagine it. However, I don't get literary praise. It's ok. I don't look like Aishwarya Rai, but I have two boys who I think are more beautiful than her. It's ok. Don't let unfairness kill your spark.
Finally, the last point that can kill your spark is isolation. As you grow older you will realize you are unique. When you are little, all kids want Ice cream and Spiderman. As you grow older to college, you still are a lot like your friends. But ten years later and you realize you are unique. What you want, what you believe in, what makes you feel, may be different from even the people closest to you. This can create conflict as your goals may not match with others. . And you may drop some of them. Basketball captains in college invariably stop playing basketball by the time they have their second child. They give up something that meant so much to them. They do it for their family. But in doing that, the spark dies. Never, ever make that compromise. Love yourself first, and then others.
There you go. I've told you the four thunderstorms - disappointment, frustration, unfairness and isolation. You cannot avoid them, as like the monsoon they will come into your life at regular intervals. You just need to keep the raincoat handy to not let the spark die.
I welcome you again to the most wonderful years of your life. If someone gave me the choice to go back in time, I will surely choose college. But I also hope that ten years later as well, your eyes will shine the same way as they do today. That you will Keep the Spark alive, not only through college, but through the next 2,500 weekends. And I hope not just you, but my whole country will keep that spark alive, as we really need it now more than any moment in history. And there is something cool about saying - I come from the land of a billion sparks.

-Chetan Bhagat

Flowers - the beauty!

Be Happy !

• Happiness is not an ideal of reason but of imagination...
• Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life...
• Happiness... it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort...
• Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony...
• When what we are is what we want to be, that's happiness...
• Success is getting what you want; happiness is liking what you get...
• You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of..
• Happiness is living by inner purpose...
• Happiness should always remain a bit incomplete. After all, dreams are boundless..

Teach India...

Great and Inspiring video... Really liked it [:)]

Pink Beauty !

Made by Food !

The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls...

The tide rises, the tide falls,
The twilight darkens, the curlew calls;
Along the sea-sands damp and brown
The traveler hastens toward the town,
And the tide rises, the tide falls.

Darkness settles on roofs and walls,
But the sea, the sea in darkness calls;
The little waves, with their soft, white hands
Efface the footprints in the sands,
And the tide rises, the tide falls.

The morning breaks; the steeds in their stalls
Stamp and neigh, as the hostler calls;
The day returns, but nevermore
Returns the traveler to the shore.
And the tide rises, the tide falls.

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The hand of Friendship ...

A hand that reaches out in friendship
Takes a firm hold and gives a little tug
To lift up your soul
And your heart feels a hug

This hand of a friend
Is letting you know
They're holding on tight
And never letting go

Thank You for Holding my hand
When I've needed it the most

Real friends stay by your side,
Always showing you their true self...never anything to hide.
Some put on a mask...but in the end God knows their task.

Backup Friend ...

Have you ever felt that you should share your good times that you have spent with someone special with somebody else? That someone special could be your best friend in college, best friend in school or may be your Girl friend/Boy friend or could be somebody from your family! You have cherished good moments of your life with them, or may be still ... But, suddenly, you needed a friend with whom you thought you should share, may be, because you got the right meaning of the phrase, "Happiness increases and sadness decreases when those are shared". Well, you do not do that with each and every friend, but to someone you feel you should, "Backup Friend !?"...

Well, the word "Backup" does not sound too good with "Friend", the word that we use for something secondary, something that is needed only in case of non-availability of something that we are looking for; but, here it is a special word along with Friend, that is, "Backup Friend"...

You share everything, you feel happy, they make your life happier and life becomes better to live ... Great feeling and great life...

Friend - a means of life! and Backup Friend - Guess what not!

Have a nice time with your "Backup Friend"/s !!!

The 3 mistakes of my life ...

No, I am not going to tell the 3 mistakes of my life here, I doubt whether I can do so ever here... May be 3 is too less (or, more!) a number for me and at the same time, I do not remember those seriously; I am talking about the novel by Chetan Bhagat. An Indian novelist, all the 3 books of him have some numbers in their titles... Five (5) point someone, One (1) night @ the call center, The 3 mistakes of my life..

Just finished reading the novel the day before... As usual an interesting novel to hang on, but could not create the attachment I have towards the other 2 books by him.

The story revolved around Govind Patel's life with his 2 best friends, Omi and Ishaan. Vidya and Ali were 2 more characters adding sweetness to the plot... Overall, a good story to read... Felt, Chetan could have done better at the end of the story when the reader feels that the title of the book is no more valid... Well, that is life, we do mistakes and we do learn from that. And at the end of the day, we want a better life with family, friends and beloved ones around...

WIN-WIN Negotiation ...

The Win-Win Negotiator is a great book by Ross R. Reck and Brian G. Long. They explain:

There are 4 steps to Win-Win negotiation that almost anyone can perform with ease. These steps include Plans, Relationships, Agreements and Maintenance.

Establishing Win-Win Plans is simple... You need only to:

• Agree on your own goals
• Anticipate the goals of the other party
• Determine areas of probable agreement
• Develop Win-Win solutions to reconcile areas of probable disagreement

Developing a Win-Win Relationship is easy. You need only to:

• Plan activities which allow a positive personal relationship to develop
• Cultivate a sense of mutual trust
• Allow the relationship to fully develop before discussing business in earnest

Forming Win-Win Agreement is easy. You need only to:

• Confirm the other party's goals
• Verify areas of agreement
• Propose and consider Win-Win solutions to reconcile areas of disagreement
• Jointly resolve any remaining differences

Performing Win-Win Maintenance is simple. You need only to:

• Maintain Commitment by: Providing meaningful feedback based on performance and Holding up your end of the agreement
• Maintain the Relationship by: Keeping in contact and Reaffirming trust

Life ...

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards ...

Gardening...

The Rainy Day ...

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the moldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the moldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary...

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Kal ho naa ho ...

Sach hai ke dil to dukha hai
Hamne magar socha hai
Dil ko hai gham kyun
Aankh hai nam kyun
Hona hi tha jo hua hai
Us baat ko jaane hi do
Jiska nishaan kal ho naa ho
Har pal yaha ji bhar jiyo
Jo hai sama kal ho naa ho ...

Life ...

Natural Beauty ...

How Tech. changed us...

Build fire within...

Actions Speak ...

May God give you...

May God give you...

For every storm, a rainbow,

For every tear, a smile,

For every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song,

And an answer for each prayer...

Journey back from home...

After spending one week at village (Celebrating village festival), it was the time to come back to my work place. Train was sceduled to reach station at 9:10 AM and leave by 9:15 AM.
Hello ... When is Chennai mail train arriving today?
9:50 AM
Is it late ?
Yes.............
That was the response I got when I called railway enquiry... So started bit late from home and reached hy 9:20AM at the station. Was waiting for the announcement of my train... 3 trains passed on that track, still there was no news of my train... Finally at 11:10 AM, it arrived and started by 11:15 AM (So exactly 2 hours late journey it was...)

17 hours long journey it was ... I had 2 things with me for time pass. 1. Novel "Talkative man" by R.K.Narayanan and 2. MP3 player . After sitting idle for sometime, I started with option 1. I took the novel and started from page-21 from where I had left before. Went till 34 page, but did not feel like going more than that... Then opted 2nd option.. Started MP3 player.. Random songs started playing ...

Soothing voices in my ear... What a feeling... Luckily, all my favourite songs (Slow music) came in line, all songs reminding some past moments in my life... For some songs, I remembered my college life, for some my Bangalore Honeywell life, for some my US stay period and for some Chennai KLA-Tencor life... Wow, in one train journey I went through all the experiences of my life through those songs... Thanks to the MP3 player...

Sometimes it feels good to involve oneself in his/her past... Remembering all the happy moments and sad moments and how we passed (or, forgot) those... And the good feeling becomes better, when we are alone and it just comes into mind through some music as it came in my case...

A lonely journey it was ... But I enjoyed being in my past life through those songs...

Two new members ...

Two new members to my family... Ronu and Akhila.

For my village festival, I was in my village and took this photo... My mother holding both the kids...

Ronu - On her right hand side - My elder sister's 2nd son

Akhila - On her left hand side - My younger sister's daughter

Joyous moment to be with them... Playing with them... Those little crying moments of them... And little try to please others by showing new smile on their faces... Really miss all of them..

Best wishes Ronu and Akhila...

Chinmaya ...

Pyar Bhara Geet ...

"Pyar Bhara Geet" is an extremely sweet, endearing and touching song that instantly makes its way to your heart. Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghosal have done a commendable job in singing this one with right amount of emotions thereby giving it the required tenderness and poignant feel. Apart from this, soft musical arrangements and subtle notes by chorus make this number very special and worth listening more than once ...

Pyaar Bharaa Geet Koi Dekho Piyaa Tumko Gaanaa Hi Hogaa
Hey Hey Samjhaa Karo Mushkil Meri
Chaahoon Na Chaahoon Mujhko Jaanaa Hi Hogaa
Piyaa Mere Tan Man Mere Pyaar Ke Bandhan Do Pal Tumhein Rokte Hain
Koi Jaataa Ho To Pichhe Se Usko Aise Nahin Tokte Hain
Sautan Meri Kyaa Hai Koi Jaldii Hai Kyun Samjhaanaa Hi Hogaa
Aa Aa Aa

Jaanaa Pade Jo
Jaanaa Pade Jo Mujhko Kahin To Aise Na Roothaa Karo
Na Sar Ko Jhatko Na Pair Patko Na Thandi Aahein Bharo
Haan Jaao Tumhe Kyaa Jaise Rahoon Main
Sunte Nahin Ho Jo Bhi Kahoon Main
Jaane Kaa Gham Hai Mujhko Bhi Is Gham Ko Lekin Bahlaanaa Hi Hogaa
Piyaa Mere Tan Man Mere Pyaar Ke Bandhan Do Pal Tumhein Rokte Hain
Koi Jaataa Ho To Pichhe Se Usko Aise Nahin Tokte Hain
Pyaar Bharaa Geet Koi Dekho Piyaa Tumko Gaanaa Hi Hogaa

Khilte Raheinge
Khilte Raheinge Phool Dilon Ke Jab Tak Hai Ye Gulsitaan
Jalne Lagaa Jo Apnaa Chaman To Jaayeinge Ham Tum Kahaan
Ho Lekin Meraa Jo Dil Jal Rahaa Hai Kyun Nahin Tumko Uskaa Pataa Hai
Jo Aag Hai Dil Mein Lagi Kuchh Din To Uspe Qaaboo Paanaa Hi Hogaa
Piyaa Mere Tan Man Mere Pyaar Ke Bandhan Do Pal Tumhein Rokte Hain
Koi Jaataa Ho To Pichhe Se Usko Aise Nahin Tokte Hain
Pyaar Bharaa Geet Koi Dekho Piyaa Tumko Gaanaa Hi Hogaa
Aa Aa Aa

Aayenge Phir Se
Aayeinge Phir Se Din Ye Milan Ke Phir Aayegaa Ye Samaa
Chhaayeinge Baadal Ham Premi Paagal Yun Hi Mileinge Yahaan
Vaadaa Kiyaa Hai Dekho Na Bhoole Aake Jhulaanaa Saavan Ke Jhoole
Baat Aisi Hai Tumne Kahi Saavan Mein To Mujhko Aanaa Hi Hogaa
Piyaa Mere Tan Man Mere Pyaar Ke Bandhan Do Pal Tumhein Rokte Hain
Koi Jaataa Ho To Pichhe Se Usko Aise Nahin Tokte Hain
Pyaar Bharaa Geet Koi Dekho Piyaa Tumko Gaanaa Hi Hogaa

Humility ...

"There is nothing noble in being superior to some other person. True nobility is being superior to your former self." - Hindu Proverb

"A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is by saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday." - Alexander Pope (1688-1744)

"He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals." - Ben Franklin (1706-1790)

A certain amount of humility is helpful in moving on through the stages of life. It gives us a realistic approach to interacting with other people in our lives.

Sometimes competing with others or stressing ourselves to prove that we are better, can be a lot of fun and provide enjoyment and rewards. Friendly competition with friends, when all are participating with goodwill, is entertaining. There is a downside in trying to win or achieve more just for the sake of feeling superior to another person. The result can be a loss of much needed self-esteem in the long run.

Accepting that we made a mistake puts it behind us, and we can then quit pretending or wishing that it hadn't happened. We should realize that we make mistakes just as others do, and we will make more in the future. So there's no need to be embarrassed or worried.

By not acting better or more important than other people we will receive respect and friendship that is so worthwhile. Over-confidence can get us into trouble as we will appear conceited, and prospective friends will be wary. But have respect for yourself and take pride in doing good things.

How you made them feel?

Sometimes in Life, We come across people whom we can't forget till the end of our Life!!!
Whenever we look back the days spent with them, memories taste sweeter every day...
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, will never forget how you made them feel...

My Village Festival...

A village in Ganjam district of Orissa goes by name "Kukudakhandi"... Every 5 years, there is a custom of celebrating village Goddess here in this village... It is being celebrated very pompously and largely... Lot of people come to see this festival... Relatives, Friends, Near and dears are of no exception... All get some time from their busy schdule and never miss to be in village for this grand occasion...

2008 came after 5 years of last celebration in 2003. Same spirit among village people, same enthu to do the festival and what not... All assembled in village without fail... Each street were lighted heavily, glorified with a big stage of spiritual plot, tremendous art work and light settings... Looked like all the families in the village were having Marriage celebrations in their houses... Houses were colored with new look, lit by brightest color lights and decorated well inviting their relatives and friends... What an atmosphere it was...

I am sure, the spectators would have wished the next festival to come in next year, not after 5 long years ....