India First ...

Myths and Logos

Myth is truth which is subjective, intuitive, cultural and grounded in faith. Ancient Greek philosophers knew myth as mythos. They distinguished mythos from logos. From mythos came intuitive narrations, from logos reasonable deliberations. Mythos gave rise to the oracles and the arts. From logos came science and mathematics. Logos explained how the sun rises and how babies are born. It took man to the moon. But it never explained why. Why does the sun rise? Why is a baby born? Why does man exist on earth? For answers one had to turn to mythos. Mythos gave purpose, meaning and validation to existence.

Myth is essentially a cultural construct, a common understanding of the world that binds individuals and communities together. This understanding may be religious or secular. Ideas such as rebirth, heaven and hell, angels and demons, fate and farewell, sin, Satin and salvation are religious myths. Ideas such as sovereignty, nation state, human rights, women’s rights and animal rights are secular myths. Religious or secular, all myths make profound sense to one group of people. Not to everyone. They cannot be rationalized beyond a point. In the final analysis, you either accept them or you don’t.

Happiness !!!

1. 1. Your life has Purpose and Meaning

   2. Use a strategy for Happiness

   3. You don't have to win every time

   4. Your goals should be aligned with one another

   5. Choose your comparisons wisely

   6. Cultivate Friendships

   7. Turn off the TV

   8. Accept yourself - Unconditionally

   9. Remember where you came from

   10. Limit yourself to thinking about one subject as you lie down to sleep

   11. Friendship beats money

   12. Have realistic expectations

   13. Be open to new ideas

   14. Share with others how important they are to you

   15. If you are not sure, guess positively

   16. Believe in yourself

   17. Don't believe in yourself too much

   18. Don't face your problems alone

   19. Age is not to be feared

   20. Develop a household routine

   21. Don't be overprotective

   22. Pay attention. You may have what you want

   23. Don't let your Religious beliefs fade

   24. Do what you sat you are going to do

   25. Don't be aggressive with your friends and family

   26. Root for the home team

   27. Don't confuse stuff with success

   28. Every relationship is different

   29. Don't think "What If"

   30. Volunteer

   31. If you can’t reach your goals, your goals will hurt you

   32. Exercise

   33. Little things have big meanings

   34. It's not what happened, it's how you think about what happened

   35. Develop some common interests with loved ones

   36. Laugh

   37. Don't let your entire life hinge on one element

   38. Share of yourself

   39. Busy is better than bored

   40. Satisfaction is relative

   41. Learn to use a computer

   42. Try to think less about the people and things that bother you

   43. Keep your family close

   44. Eat some fruit every day

   45. Enjoy what you have

   46. Think in concrete terms

   47. Be socially supportive

   48. Don't blame yourself

   49. Be a peacemaker

   50. Cherish animals

   51. Make your work a calling

   52. Never trade your morals for your goals

   53. Don't pretend to ignore things your loved ones do that bother you

   54. Get a good night's sleep

   55. Buy what you like

   56. Accomplish something every day

   57. Be flexible

   58. Events are temporary

   59. Be your own fan

   60. Join a group

   61. Be positive

   62. There will be an end, but you can be prepared

   63. How we see the world is more important than how the world is

   64. Keep a pen and paper handy

   65. Help the next person who needs some minor assistance

   66. Take care not to harshly criticize family and friends

   67. Some people are like the big picture, and others like the details

   68. Do things you are good at

   69. Go visit your neighbor

   70. Smile

   71. Don't accept television's picture of the world

   72. You always have a choice

   73. Be agreeable

   74. Don't ignore one part of your life

   75. Listen to music

   76. Let your goals guide you

   77. Use your job positively

   78. Don't forget to have fun

   79. Believe in ultimate justice

   80. Reminisce

   81. Be conscientious

   82. Don't dwell on unwinnable conflicts

   83. Enjoy the ordinary

   84. Focus not on the world's tragedies, but on the world's hope

   85. Get a hobby

   86. Envying other people's relationships is pointless

   87. Give yourself time to adapt to change

   88. Focus on what really matters to you

   89. Realize that complete satisfaction does not exist

   90. Surround yourself with pleasant aromas

   91. Don't let others set your goals

   92. You are a person, not a stereotype

   93. Know what makes you happy and sad

   94. Keep reading

   95. We must feel needed

   96. Say "So What"

   97. Have a purpose

   98. You have not finished the best part of your life

   99. Money does not buy happiness

Love your Life!

When most people reach the twilights of their lives, they will tell you it's not about having a bigger house or better job, or about the car they drove or the clothes they wore. They will tell you it was all about investing in themselves and their relationships with other people. How many times have we heard people say with regret, "If only I would have taken better care of myself.... if only I would have have spent more time with my family and the people I love." That does not have to be you. Loving your life is being willing to make changes, to let go of old ways and unhealthy habits so that you can be the best you can be. It's about having the right perspective and understanding the value of who you are and what you have.

It's learning to love others and learning to love yourself so that you can get more out of your relationships. It's about recognizing the gifts that God has given to you and making the most of these gifts.

Ultimately, loving your life is about discovering the greatness that is inside of you and the influence you have on the world around you. You will be amazed at the impact you will have when you tap into those treasures within.

No matter where you are today, you have the potential to have better relationships, to increase in confidence, to overcome obstacles, and to celebrate the life God has given you. Perhaps some unfair things have happened in your past, but those things don't define you and they don't determine your future. It's not what happens to you that matters most, it's what happens in you. You don't have to let your experiences draw confidence from you; instead you can draw confidence from your experiences. Be encouraged today because there is no much more in you that is waiting to be discovered. There are new options for your future, and opportunities to be recovered. Now is the time to leave the past behind and make room to embrace the destiny that lies ahead for you...

MP3- Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar

A lovely (love!) song from the movie MP3-Mera Pehla Pehla Pyar translated into English. Here it goes:

I just said what was in my heart
I was unaware of it myself
I was lost in your melody, I was so crazy
I could not understand what had happened
Why everything looks new
Everything has changed
Yes, this is what you call LOVE

You are my love, I know just that
I do not know anything else.
You are my life; I do not know anything else.
Crazy about you, the one I want to hold in my arms.
Mad about you, you are only one that the heart likes.
Yes, that is what you call LOVE.
Yes, that is what you call LOVE.
Yes, it is… LOVE LOVE LOVE...

You have gone, I am still here.
Still I am not here!
Do you know when you are not there,
Nothing seems to be right
Everything that is happening
I cannot understand anything
My heart is where you are
I cannot tolerate this distance
You have gone, I am still here.
Still I am not here!
Do you know when you are not there,
Nothing seems to be right
Yes, this is what you call LOVE
Yes, this is what you call LOVE

Facts about India ...

Surprise! Today I was browsing through the books in the nearest book store here in Milpitas, CA, USA and came across a book which looked interesting and I grabbed the book; mainly because of its low price and eye-catching title. The title of the book goes as "WHY we want YOU to be RICH". Back to my hotel room, when I flipped through the book, I rested on page-57 and on one line which read as, "India is important to our future" ! I was surprised to see that line in a book written by DONALD TRUMP and ROBERT KIYOSAKI. Being curious, when I just glanced on the previous page, it listed few facts about India and I am proud to list those points here for the readers of this post:

1. India is the world's largest, oldest continuous civilization.
2. In the last 10,000 years, India has never invaded any country.
3. India is the world's largest democracy.
4. India is one of the few countries in the world that gained independence without violence.
5. The art of navigation was born in the river Sindh 6,000 years ago.
6. Sanskrit is the mother of all the European languages.
7. India was the richest country on earth until the 17th Century, when the British invaded.
8. Chess was invented in India.
9. India invented the number system. Albert Einstein said, "We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made."
10. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus originated in India.
11. The value of "pi" was first calculated by the mathematician Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Phythorean Theorem. He discovered it in the 6th Century, which was long before European mathematicians.
12. India is the largest English-speaking nation in the world.

Now, are you proud to be an Indian? I do... [:)]

LOVE is a Cycle !

Who will cry when you die ?

"When you were born, you cried while the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you die the world cries while you rejoice."

1. Discover Your Calling
2. Every Day, Be Kind to a Stranger
3. Maintain Your Perspective
4. Practice Tough Love
5. Keep a Journal
6. Develop an Honesty Philosophy
7. Honor Your Past
8. Start Your Day Well
9. Learn to Say No Gracefully
10. Take a Weekly Sabbatical
11. Talk to Yourself
12. Schedule Worry Breaks
13. Model a Child
14. Remember, Genius Is 99 Percent Inspiration
15. Care for the Temple
16. Learn to Be Silent
17. Think About Your Ideal Neighborhood
18. Get Up Early
19. See Your Troubles as Blessings
20. Laugh More
21. Spend a Day Without Your Watch
22. Take More Risks
23. Live a Life
24. Learn from a Good Movie
25. Bless Your Money
26. Focus on the Worthy
27. Write Thank-You Notes
28. Always Carry a Book with You
29. Create a Love Account
30. Get Behind People’s Eyeballs
31. List Your Problems
32. Practice the Action Habit
33. See Your Children as Gifts
34. Enjoy the Path, Not Just the Reward
35. Remember That Awareness Precedes Change
36. Read Tuesdays With Morrie
37. Master Your Time
38. Keep Your Cool
39. Recruit a Board of Directors
40. Cure Your Monkey Mind
41. Get Good at Asking
42. Look for the Higher Meaning of Your Work
43. Build a Library of Heroic Books
44. Develop Your Talents
45. Connect with Nature
46. Use Your Commute Time
47. Go on a News Fast
48. Get Serious About Setting Goals
49. Remember the Rule of 21
50. Practice Forgiveness
51. Drink Fresh Fruit Juice
52. Create a Pure Environment
53. Walk in the Woods
54. Get a Coach
55. Take a Mini-Vacation
56. Become a Volunteer
57. Find Your Six Degrees of Separation
58. Listen to Music Daily
59. Write a Legacy Statement
60. Find Three Great Friends
61. Read The Artist’s Way
62. Learn to Meditate
63. Have a Living Funeral
64. Stop Complaining and Start Living
65. Increase Your Value
66. Be a Better Parent
67. Be Unorthodox
68. Carry a Goal Card
69. Be More than Your Moods
70. Savor the Simple Stuff
71. Stop Condemning
72. See Your Day as Your Life
73. Create a MasterMind Alliance
74. Create a Daily Code of Conduct
75. Imagine a Richer Reality
76. Become the CEO of Your Life
77. Be Humble
78. Don’t Finish Every Book You Start
79. Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself
80. Make a Vow of Silence
81. Don’t Pick Up the Phone Every Time It Rings
82. Remember That Recreation Must Involve Re-creation
83. Choose Worthy Opponents
84. Sleep Less
85. Have a Family Mealtime
86. Become an Imposter
87. Take a Public Speaking Course
88. Stop Thinking Tiny Thoughts
89. Don’t Worry About Things You Can’t Change
90. Learn How to Walk
91. Rewrite Your Life Story
92. Plant a Tree
93. Find Your Place of Peace
94. Take More Pictures
95. Be an Adventurer
96. Decompress Before You Go Home
97. Respect Your Instincts
98. Collect Quotes That Inspire You
99. Love Your Work
100. Selflessly Serve
101. Live Fully so You Can Die Happy

5 years completion @ KT

The day was of 4^th May 2010, 3 PM. All my teammates joined together to celebrate my 5 years completion at KLA-Tencor India. Actually Ranjith too had joined on the same day when I had joined, that was back in 5 years, on 2^nd May 2005. So this meeting became a joint celebration for both Ranjith and me.

As a customary celebration, everybody (Or, most of the team) says a word or two about the person who has completed 5 years, the experience that they share with the person. The person, too, briefs his experience in his last 5 years. Though, none of this sharing experience is compulsory, people usually get one or two words (Sometimes funny, sometimes directly from heart, sometimes some hidden revenge, so on, so forth) to express before the team.

Usually, in earlier occasions of 5 years of completion, it so happened that the meeting started with the person who completed 5 years sharing his experience and that was followed by the team sharing their few words. But things were different that day. People jumped in sharing their words before we (Ranjith and I) sharing our experience and concluding the meeting.

Here are the comments that I got from the team:

Harikishan V:

The good thing about Chinmaya is that he never binds himself to any domain. He takes opportunity in whatever comes in the way, works in various domains that is really good. Also, his interactions with new-joinees were wonderful. He helped them grew. All the new-joinees personally appreciated his efforts in terms on the training that he gave and regular help in their daily activities.

Vamsee R:

We share a bond beyond language; we usually speak in Hindi language, where we both are good at. And when we talk in Hindi, lot more things come out, both on the personal front as well as professional. He is a real software engineer. Many a times, he just writes a piece of code and says, “It got to work” and it works. I really appreciate his confidence level. Also, he is a good blogger and a voracious reader. He has shared with me lots of books that he reads. Because of him, I could read lots of interesting books. Thanks Chinmaya for this.

Anbarasu S:

Chinmaya was the one who took my interview. By that time, I had already attended 5 interview sessions, and it was the last technical interview that he took. It was good. He helped me a lot in trainings. When Hari was not around, he made sure that I undergo all the trainings scheduled. In all my technical discussions, I go directly to him and he helps me in all those directions. Thanks Chinmaya for this. Also, he reads a lot of books. After seeing him, I too got inspiration to read books and I am trying for that.

Vishnu J:

Chinmaya is a one amongst the few who have knowledge in all domains. I think, we should properly utilize his talent.

Rajeev C:

Many of you guys may not know that he has started writing a book. I was the first reviewer of his book. It was good.

Ranjith C:

He is a cool guy. He also has shared his writing with me, but have not got chance to read that. Also, we have an agreement that I do not want to disclose here. He is a man with smile, please keep up the smile. He is technically very good, helping and surely has ability to move to next level. Keep up the good work Chinmaya.

Aditya B:

Chinmaya is very intelligent. He is good in software and mathematics. When I joined here, he helped me a lot in understanding the domain and various other work areas. I used to go to him for any doubt I had. Even today, if I have any doubt, I go to him.

Muthukumar K:

Chinmaya would have eaten his nails, or fingers by now, always he keeps himself busy biting nails. I have told many a times, not to do so, but still he continues to do so. In his blog, some of the posts are copied and pasted. When I told him about that, the good thing is that, he took it positively and said, “I liked those articles good and informative enough that I put in my blog”. He is a very helping guy; always with a smiling face. If you need solution with smile, go to Chinmaya.

Ranga S:

Apart from all of the qualities he has one more quality. Many of you guys may not know that, he is a good singer.

Hema N:

I have not directly worked with Chinmaya, so I cannot comment much on his technical abilities. But when we were cube-mates, I was surprised to see the number of books that he used to read. That is a very good quality in him, I feel.

Veera G:

I have worked in 3 different companies so far, but I have not seen a person like him. He is very good in technical side and as a person too. He is master in Diagnostic domain. He helps a lot to others and he knows how to talk to people. When he talks to a fresher, he behaves as a fresher and explains in very detail; and when he talks to an experienced person, he behaves so.

Dhruba M:

Chinmaya is “Darling of KTI”. He is a great mathematician; he has a small calculator in his brain. After joining KLA-Tencor, the greatest achievement in my life is “Getting Chinu as a friend.”

Surya T:

A good trainer. Whenever I have any hardware related doubt, I approach him.

Varadha M:

He has a small gang with Anil, Ravi. I always treat him as a kid.

Senguttuvan S:

He always smiles. If we have any frustration, we just need to go to him and talk for 2-3 minutes, we will feel relaxed.

Jagan S:

Chinmaya is one among the few who have impressed me in very short span of time. When he was in US and was delivering the first feature, we had a meeting with GSS. As usual, GSS wanted some feature in the final review and I was not happy. I asked Chinmaya to come up with the design, estimation and the plan. But, at the end of the day, when I again met him, he was done with the feature; he had coded and updated the design document too. I was impressed.

When I ask people about NGS architecture, many of them say that it is too complex and difficult to understand. But, Chinmaya, on the other hand, took it as an opportunity, he said, that we have lots of things to learn out of NGS and that really shows his positive attitude.

Also, he is a good architect (painter).

Alex C:

Chinmaya was onsite when I was managing NGS 5.3 project; that time APPs were testing NGS and there were lots of problem with KLARF. I was on fire and I took Chinmaya help in resolving problems. He was real fast in finding the problems and solving those problems one after another. Actually, it was a rare combination of those 2 qualities; finding problems and fixing them too in that tough situation. Thanks Chinmaya for your support and I wish many more years in KT.

Anilkumar J:

It’s been five years working with Chinmaya. He is the only person who does not differentiate between testing and development; that is a very good thing. One thing I got after joining KLA-Tencor is a friend like him.

Swaminathan A:

I agree to all the points being told. All the best for your future.

Mahesh S:

Chinmaya has helped me a lot when I had joined here. Thanks Chinmaya for this.

Hari R:

Well, lots of things told about Chinmaya and it is a good quality to have all of them. What I feel is everything that people told correlates to his software activity. If you are a good painter, you can design good UI; if you are a good mathematician, you can put better logic and algorithm.

Apart of that, I think, Chinmaya can work across tools, SP2, SP3. It is really a good thing. Thanks Chinmaya, keep up the good work.