A Toast to Y7@Aquatics IITK

They gathered together...from Hall 3, Hall 2, Hall 5 and still more. For 4-5 years the pool's walls roared. They lined up against one another and relished this a lot....a rainbow of colors together for sport. They sprinted, they shot, they jumped, they shouted and sometimes got hustled...somehow they seemed to work it all out. They smiled, they laughed, they learned life's lessons....respected one another regardless of differences. Their big and small arguments put together now seem awkward...but amazingly enough they pushed them forward. Now they've packed up the balls, and rolled up the towels.....soon they'll put on their best suits and the finest of hats...will wave goodbye...come this 28th May...and celebrate one another in a hell of a way. I imagine this and think..when this is all over, its as good as it gets....a lifetime of memories with zero regrets. A truckload of Cheers to you!

The Measure of a Man.

These battered hands are all you own

This broken heart has turned to stone

Go hang your glory on the wall

There comes a time when castles fall

And all that's left is shifting in the sand

You're out of time, you're out of place

Look at your face

That's the measure of a man

This coat that fits you like a glove

These dirty streets you learned to love

So welcome back my long lost friend

You've been to hell and back again

God alone knows how you crossed that span

Back on the beat, back to the start

Trust in your heart

That's the measure of a man

It's the fire in the eyes, the lines on the hand

It's the things you understand

Permanent ties from which you once ran

That's the measure of a man

You've come full circle, now you're home

Without the gold, without the chrome

And this is where you've always been

You had to lose so you could win

And rise above your troubles while you can

Now you can love, now you can lose

Now you can choose

That's the measure of a man

Survivor

Risin' up, back on the street

Did my time, took my chances

Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet

Just a man and his will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast

You trade your passion for glory

Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past

You must fight just to keep them alive

It's the eye of the tiger, it's

the thrill of the fight

Rising up to the challenge of our rival

Face to face, out in the heat

Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry

They stack the odds, still we take to the street

For the kill with the skill to survive

Risin' up, straight to the top

Had the guts, got the glory

Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop

Just a man and his will to survive.

The Fighter Within.

Some things are worth fighting for....Some feelings never lose their sheen,

I am thinking of what it was....I am thinking of what else could it have been.

We are not indestructible...we must better get that straight,

I think its unbelievable...the things that can happen in a battle of fate.

There's no easy way out...there's no shortcut around,

In such a mighty situation...its not all wrong to break down.

I am not asking for another chance...and don't want to pull you down,

All I am saying is...not everyone everywhere gets a chance for a rebound.

Some things are worth fighting for...some feelings never die,

Don't let it pacify...this fire that can make you try.

The fever is rising high...the moment of truth draws near,

I'm burning with determination...the rules have no more meaning here.

Some things are worth fighting for...some passions run down deep,

Lacking courage to face such odds...only makes you become obsolete.

I feel like a boy...who while playing 'snakes & ladders' might hit a 99,

So near yet so far...but won't give up until I cross that line.

Life is like a one way street...in a car with the windscreens gone,

If you can't see the road ahead...you'll still have to tag along.

Instead of going down an endless road...not knowing if you're dead or alive,

Some things are worth fighting for...some things deserve more than a try.

There's always hope...I believe tomorrow will be better than today,

It's when the chips are down...that the heroes rise to save the day.

The meaning of a flame of light...is found in the darkest night,

Some things are worth fighting for...no dark can quell your bright.

Not all can go wrong...I believe in this fate,

There is always room...boy you are never that late.

And in my final lines that I'd like to tender here,

In the fighter's code there is no surrender there.

Some things are worth fighting for...and I am an offender found rare.

Luck, Hardwork and Passion.

Luck, Hardwork and Passion were three friends,
Luck and Hardwork fought as if there were no other ends.
Passion alone stood in the corner,
watching it all with little to bother.
They fought and fought with no result,
blaming one another for no fault of the other.
Hardwork complained in success that Luck stole his credit,
Luck vetoed seeking an apology for failure leading to his discredit.
To help solve it needed someone else's nod,
so with Passion alongside they sought the help of God.
Luck thought that now he had an upper hand,
Having forgot that God didn't favour anyone's stand.
God said, "I am supreme of'em all,
Who then for success is the cause?"
Luck and Hardwork roared, "It must be us",
as they made God who he was.
God asked again, "I am supreme of'em all,
Who then for failure is the cause?"
Both stood still as they didn't want the blame,
but up rose Passion the hero that he was.
Passion said, "Its me who is to blame,
failure comes to those whose passion does not flame".
God smiled and replied, "To revel in success is everyone's ask,
but to burden the failure is a more difficult task."
Luck and Hardwork had now understood,
the story is not complete had Passion not withstood.
--
Pawan
All credit to Chetan Taneja for the original story of the 3 friends.

Quotes and Thoughts.

Smile.
If someone said that you've wasted your time...that you've not gained any practical knowledge in this time...that reading, hearing or studying theories doesn't really help much in real life situations. The best response to that someone would be to smile and appreciate the difference of opinion. What reading, studying and discussing can do. A freedom fighter in our independence struggle had first read, studied and discussed India for more than a year before joining the movement. He went on to become 'Mahatma' Gandhi. He created a new weapon the world had never seen before...a weapon that alone could have united us in the Movement...the weapon of Non-Violence. All this because he had read, studied and discussed. In the end it is you yourself who defines what constitutes a waste of time for you, the views of nobody else should matter or make you angry. That learning if you have come to acquire would constitute true Wisdom.


We Will Prevail.
Our stay on earth, if we place it with the timeline of the universe or for that matter even earth's existence, is smaller than a needle in a haystack...or a dot we make on that line. Given this, why don't we all try to create something that lasts long after we are gone. We have been fighting over petty issues in this scheme of things. I mean how can we place "Climate Change" and such other issues on the back burner. I address you today as a citizen of humanity. We are faced with the very gravest of challenges. We know this could very easily be the end of all things. And for the first time in the history of the planet, a species has the technology to prevent its own extinction. The human thirst for excellence, knowledge; every step up the ladder of science; every adventurous reach into space; all of our combined modern technologies and imaginations; even the wars that we've fought have provided us the tools to wage this terrible battle. Through all of the chaos that is our history; through all of the wrongs and the discord; through all of the pain and suffering; through all of our times, there is one thing that has nourished our souls, and elevated our species above its origins, and that is our courage. The dreams of an entire planet should be focused now. Every one counts. Make yourself that one among everyone. And may we all, citizens the world over, see these events through. God bless us, and good luck to you for being that one.


It is an irony that even when most people think and assume themselves and their thoughts and actions to be the most rational, moral, ethical, intelligent, educated, integral, sincere and honest still we somehow as a species are the most selfish, conniving, unethical, immoral, irrational, dishonest and corrupt. There is something seriously wrong somewhere and no one seems to be man enough to either point it out to us or if is man enough then gets the opportunity to affect such change. God! please give us what is necessary to heal as humankind or we will choke in these solitary spaces we have created for ourselves believing it to be otherwise.


Life is a interwoven sequence of emotions. Courage, fear, joy, sorrow, confidence, diffidence, love, hatred, honor, shame etc all emotions, plain and simple emotions. Every emotion can be intentionally generated at will and you alone are their master. You, therefore, my friend have all the power required to change all that you want about yourself or your life. You, therefore, are the master of your destiny.

As one journey ends...another begins. So is college, so is a job, so is life.

Forrest....life is a box of chocolates....you never know which one you'll get.

Failure in life is inevitable...it teaches you that you have stronger will than you had imagined...it brings you in touch with your true priorities...it makes you humble...it teaches you, inspires you, strips away the inessential, gives you a fresh new platform to build upon...and those who say they haven't failed are either dumb or have lived their lives so cautiously to not have lived it at all.

http://siddheshagashe.blogspot.com/2011/05/tragedy-of-being-25-in-indian-bschool.html

Its not what you do under pressure...its what you do when you are free that defines you.

Insaan bhi ajeeb cheez hai....har cheez ki aadat bana sakta hai!

Why isn't it allowed to marry oneself? I mean people marry each other and they marry God too (nuns, devadasis etal)..the only one you can't actually marry is yourself! Now, that's demeaning...It's like saying you aren't even good enough for yourself. Isn't it ? :P

Why isn't everything as simple as it was when I was a child?

A history here..a mystery there...everything is 'disclamatory' everywhere. A world desires...someone conspires...someone perspires...but eventually everyone retires. To a better tomorrow...no more of this sorrow...we believe in hope before someone pulls the rope. And that's all it has been or will be....like a history here...a mystery there...everything is 'disclamatory' everywhere.

I've come to believe that there is good in every heart. There is a joy in everyone's smile. A friendly hello in everyone glance. There's passion in everyone's eyes. And for the first time we can relate and appreciate each other. That's all it takes. That's where it starts...because I know if I do this then you'll do this...and all the rest is easy.

Zinda rehne ke mausam bahut hain magar jaan dene ki rut roz aati nahin.

Do pal ruka khwabon ka kaarwaan. Fir chal diye tum kahan hum kahan.

Don't drink and d(e)rive :D

I've always wondered why someone would like me!

We judge this world through the prism of our eyes...some things get refracted and some coloured...giving everyone their own version of reality. It takes wisdom and empathy to see what lies in the alternate paradigms of reality others live in...and as these are virtues not easily found still we wonder why things confound?

Life is Beautiful :)

His judgement cometh...and that Right soon.

I love you.

The greatest simple cause of a poor self-image is the absence of unconditional love.

Zarre zarre me chhupa hai hausle walon ka josh,
Paida hote hain issi mitti se hi Sarfarosh...

Urdu is such a beautiful language. I wish I knew it well enough to write it.

Afraad ke haathon main hai aqwaam ki taqdeer ,
Har fard hai millat ke muqaddar ka sitaraa . . .(courtesy Abid)
Translation:
In the hands of each man lies the destiny of a people ,
Each man therefore the guiding star of a nations future . . .(Abid)

Zindagi ke dorahe per chalte chalte baaz dafa aise lamhat bhi aate hain jab insaan ko apne jazbat ko kuchal kar doosron ke jazbat ka aitraam karna padta hai. Yehi woh manzil hai jahan insaniyat takmeel pati hai.

Zindagi ki asli udaan abhi baaki hai,
Zindagi ke kai imtihaan abhi baaki hai.
Abhi to napi hai muthi bhar zameen humne,
Aage abhi saara aasman baaki hai.

It is in the darkest hour that a ray of light gets its meaning. A single candle can light up thousands of others without losing a single minute of its own life...and all the darkness of this world cannot extinguish this single candle.

The feeling of contentment seems scarce in this bizarre rat-race leading us nowhere. Somehow the shallow consumerism and "social esteem" has eroded the much deeper humanity. Celebrating ourselves has been forgotten....I guess I miss a friend.

Yunan, Misr, Roma sab mit gaye jahan se.
Phir bhi magar hai baki, namo nishan hamara.
Kuchh baat hai ki hasti mitati nahin hamari,
Sadiyon raha hai dushman, daur-e-zaman hamara.

Everything could have been anything else, and it would have just as much meaning.

True love is only when u can clean the shit of the person when he/she is bedridden by bad health or age.

Facebook brings your friends close....but your enemies closer. I guess it serves the purpose!

My A.B.C of life: Accept, Believe, Create. Amazingly it fits everywhere :)

On the surface life is only a play of words. Beneath the surface, well...this frontier still remains unexplored.

Words can change everything. Everything! And anything can change the words.

“Ask what you have done for your country, not what your country can do for you” [JFK]
I guess an individual can make a big difference, Anna Hazare being the most recent such role model.

Its better to create history than quote it.

The power of a Sport was felt over the World yesterday, unprecedented in human history. It united Indians at home & abroad, forcing them onto the streets as much in Melbourne or Miami as in Mumbai, celebrating with otherwise strangers, transcending the barriers of age, ethnicity & gender making one another a proud Indian. A salute to the humble Little Master & the Team which gifted it to him and the nation.

(After India won the Cricket World Cup 2011)

"That which has no existence in the beginning and in the end,must be merely illusory in the interim,and shall not therefore be allowed to have any influence upon the mind"....Verse 28,chapter 2 [Geeta].

The Goddess.

The Goddess

Kolkata it was. The City of Joy. The City of Bongs. The City of many more things that he, our protagonist, Shaan Ved, an MBA graduate, recently recruited into a small start up-firm, had heard of during his internship days at a factory in Durgapur. Born and brought up in Delhi, he was a ‘Delhi’ite at the core of his heart. When he first came to know about his posting at Kolkata, he was devastated. But, he did not – or rather could not – complain because for the campus interviews, he had very conveniently and mindlessly memorized one statement, which he repeated at every chance that he got – “I can tell you why you should hire me. Everyone would want and love to work for a start-up firm like yours, just for the sake of experiencing work in its truest sense. But, I have something more to offer. It does not matter what salary you give me or what job location you decide for me or how many hours you make me work daily. If it’s in the firm’s interest, it’s in my interest.” Asshole!

The last 10 days of Booze parties with parting friends had made him forget the forthcoming lonely chapter. Finally, it was time. With a heavy heart, he boarded the Rajdhani. He felt as if everything was falling apart. He was never so sad, never so dejected, ever in his life. He was so depressed that till half an hour after boarding the train, he was not aware who was sitting to his immediate next. All of a sudden, his state of inactivity was broken when he saw a figure climbing down from the upper berth.

It was momentary; the exchanging of glances. He felt as if she had looked at him a fraction of a second longer than normal. Just then, he started feeling better; he didn’t know why. She came back after washing her face. He just could not stop staring at her. Everything about her was mesmerizing, just too perfect – her hair, her sharp facial features, her curvy body, and her voice, when she answered a call from probably her mother.

One of his friends, during one of those several job treats, had said, “Shaan, you are an introvert! The Kolkata job is an opportunity, a challenge. Make the most of it. Meet new people. Make new friends. I am sure you will have a good time.” He decided. The girl was very pretty. He had to talk to her.

She was already talking to someone sitting beside her, and he could be her husband, her brother, her cousin brother, basically someone who is accompanying her to wherever she is going. They were talking very intently to each other, and more importantly, they were talking in Bengali. He could not just cut in.

Idleness makes you think and do crazy things. Shaan had had several casual flings but had never entered into a relationship. He thought, “Can’t she be the one? She’s a Goddess. What if that guy is some random person she’s talking to? Let me talk to her, and for long. And finally when we are just about to reach Kolkata, I will ask her out for dinner over the weekend.” He did not even spare day dreaming, about all the good things that can happen to him if something materializes. It was love at first sight.

Just when he was thinking to ask if she had some magazine or newspaper to kill time, she said, “Hi. My name is Anisha. Going to Cal?” “Thank God!” he thought “that guy cannot be her husband”. He initially stammered, “Sorry? … Err… Hmm??... Yeah”

“Oh Great! I am also going to Cal. Was in Delhi for the weekend attending a friend’s marriage. Do you work in Cal?”

He was perplexed. Was it really happening? “No. I mean yes. I have recently got a job offer there. Joining tomorrow. What do you do?”

“Cal’s my hometown. I am a fashion designer.”

“Oh cool! It’s not at all hard to believe – your chic top, the small tattoo behind your neck, the fashion magazines in your bag, and in general, your stylish poise.”

“OK. That’s a compliment. Very flattering. And, I must say you have a sharp eye. Which firm are you joining?”

“I am joining Capillary Technologies, in the Sales and Marketing division. Its product portfolio includes some of the latest technological breakthroughs, like Automated Customer Relationship Module which is very popular among the high end retail giants, and ….” She cut off.

“Oh shit! I completely forgot. Had to make an urgent call. Please excuse me.”

He thought, “What? I am such a loser. Why the hell would I have to talk about my job description? Great. I pissed her off. Now who the hell is she talking to over phone?”

“Hey Hi. I should reach Cal by 5. You are coming, right?”…. “Ok. Dinner at your place?” …. “Oh…. You are a sweetheart. I cannot believe we are going to La Cucina.”….. “Movie should be fine tomorrow”

“Shit! She has a boyfriend. She visits his place for dinner, and probably stays over. They go to nice restaurants. They go to movies. They have a lot of fun.”

He could not bear that. He got up and went out to wash his face; he returned after five minutes, to find her still on the phone. 5 more minutes, and she was done.

“Sorry. What were you saying about your company? What do they do?”

He was not interested anymore. “Han? Yeah. They develop some cool products which are technologically advanced.”

“Ok. I think I broke your line of thought. By the way, that was my sister. She has come from the States after 2 years. And, she has already made all the arrangements. I have a rocking week ahead.”

“Why do I always have to jump to conclusions? Stop being judgemental”, he said to himself. And, he was back on track, with all his energy, focusing on one single thing. “Oh really? That’s good. What does she do there?”

“She’s an Assistant Professor in the University of Illinois. She’s there since last 7 years”

That conversation went on for a while, and then, they started running out of topics. After a pause of 5 minutes, she asked, “What are your hobbies?”

Before thinking of an answer to that question, he thought, “Wow! She’s totally into me. She just cannot stop talking to me. This is my day. I am too good.”

“I like reading, and, at times, writing.” There was a pause. “But one thing I am really passionate about is dance”

She almost yelled, “Seriously? I am crazy about dance. I am an Odissi dancer. What kind of dance are you interested in?”

“I do Western Hip Hop. Add to that a bit lock-pop, a tad crumping, some B-Boying. And what you get is me”

“Wow! That sounds so amazing. Have you joined any dance group?”

“Oh no, no. I just do it for fun. Was in the dance club during college. You know what, we have won many inter-collegiate competitions. But I have never really thought of joining a professional group“

“You should join one. You can find many in Cal. I am in the “Nupur Dance Group”. Heard of it?”

He thought, “God is great. Everything is going just in the right direction. Dance, one of the closest things to my heart, is going to unite us. What more can I ask for?” “Oh, who hasn’t heard of Nupur Ma’am.? As far as I know, they also conduct international stage shows, right?”

“Yeah they do. I haven’t got a chance, but I should, some day.”

“Hmm. Nice. Dance is probably the purest, truest and noblest form of human expression.”

“Yeah…. It is. Rohan always says this. He is the one who made me join Nupur Dance Group, long back when we had started dating.”

He was thunderstruck. And, speechless. He wanted to ask, “Are you still dating him? If not him, then do you have any other boyfriend? Are you interested in me? Remotely?” He just managed to say, “Ok.”

“I suffered a huge setback when my father passed away four years back. I was not being able to concentrate on anything. Rohan was the one who lend me support. He did not show sympathy, he inspired me to move on. He spent a lot of time with me; that was the time when I actually started liking him. He is a Bharatnatyam dancer, but knows a bit Odissi too. We have performed together in many stage shows.”

“Hmmm” And then, it was a deafening silence. He could not bear her sight. Something made him feel that she was still thinking about her boyfriend. After about half an hour, he said, “I am so sleepy. I will go wash my face”, and got up and started walking towards the compartment door. He looked at himself in the mirror. His face looked weary. He pulled the outer door open, stood at the edge, to feel the blowing air past him, to feel the air zoom past his ears making it impossible to hear anything else; this somehow brought him pleasure, in his state of oblivion, after being drubbed by some guy named Rohan.

When he went back to his seat, she was on phone. No prize for guessing who was at the other end. They kept on talking for a long time. Finally the call ended; she did not hang up, the network failed. Shaan said to himself, “That lucky bastard. So what if I don’t have her. I will have someone better. I will ……… do this, do that …….. ” He kept on blabbering to himself.

She said, “Just called Rohan. Good news for you. His girlfriend is directing the next stage show to be held in Mumbai. They need one dancer, someone who can do hip hop. I suggested your name. They have a few other options; so they will hold auditions that might happen anytime next week. Will you be free?”

‘His girlfriend’ – he didn’t take notice of anything else that she spoke. That was enough to bring him back on track, again.

“Will you? Will you take part in the auditions?”

“Han? What auditions?”

“Are you even listening to me?” She repeated what she had said, to which he replied affirmatively.

The smile on his face couldn’t be more childlike, more innocent. He again prepared himself to dive into the ocean of hope, the ocean of love.

It took a while for the moment to sink in. But soon, he was restless to start chatting with her again.

Yet again, it was she who broke the silence, “So, do you have any friends in Cal?”

He wondered, “This is not luck. There is no such conception. The lady is as fascinated by my presence as I am by hers. And she is as anxious about knowing more about me as I am about her” He had two friends who were in IIM Calcutta and one friend who worked with ITC. But, something made him victimize himself so that he is projected as a lonely, poor soul in Kolkata who would need to make new friends. Probably then, he could invite her to a movie the next weekend.

“Absolutely no one.”

“Oh that’s sad. How do you plan to spend your weekends? Oh. But it’s always fun making new friends. I love making friends….. By the way, are you, by any chance, planning to put up in Salt Lake?”

“Yes. My office is located in Sector 5, Salt Lake. So, most probably, I will look for a place in Salt Lake. I will be staying in a Guest House in Salt Lake for 2 weeks.”

“Fantastic! I also live in Salt Lake. Sector 1. Hmmm …. Let me plan something. How about dinner at my place coming Sunday? I’ll also invite Rohan, so you can meet him before the auditions and inquire about what exactly they are looking for.”

He was being invited for dinner by her, the Goddess. There were many such instances during the conversation when he felt like pinching himself to ensure that everything that was happening was real, and hence irreversible.

“Yeah. Sure. Why not? I shall keep myself free on Sunday….. And what is there in Salt Lake for recreation?”

“Oh there are a hell lot of things to do. If you are interested in sports, then there is a Tennis Club, a swimming pool, and the Sports Authority of India complex having various sports facilities. The City Centre mall is very big and is the best place to hang out. You can find many good restaurants. And there are CCDs, Baristas, Subways. Night life is also buzzing with 4-5 lounge bars and discotheques. Do not worry. You will have a rocking time.”

“Oh she is so beautiful”, he thought, “I have to ask her out. Should I wait for the dinner at her place and then invite her for a movie, or is now the right time? The train would reach Kolkata tomorrow early morning. Oh yeah. I will ask her tomorrow. Just when we step down, I will say, ‘Anisha. It was nice meeting you. Would you want to meet me again at the CCD?…. The one in Salt Lake?’ What a train journey it has been! I hope I can get some sleep today.”

He woke up several times in the night, had a quick peek at Anisha, soundly asleep, each time. He wondered whether she was dreaming about him.

The train was scheduled to reach at 7. It was 6:30 when he woke up. All the other people had woken up. He quickly got up, went out to freshen up, and by 6:45, he was sitting in front of her thinking of some small talk to start with. They had just exchanged polite smiles. And they did just that. It was 7, and the train had slowed down, and soon it hit the platform. Suddenly, his heart was beating faster, his palms were moist, and he couldn’t maintain eye contact with her. “All the while during the journey, she was the one who broke off the silence”, he thought, “why was she not saying anything now? Was yesterday’s dream a nightmare? Is she expecting me to take it forward from now on, to be a man, to ask her out?” As each second passed by, he was growing more nervous.

Finally the train stopped. He was looking at her constantly now, gulping every now and then. All the while walking through the aisle towards the door, he was looking at her; her fanciful tattoo, her shiny hair, a little frizzy, though, from a night’s sleep, her beautiful hands struggling to lift her big suitcase. When they stepped out, she turned to him and said, “So, you have my number and address. Will see you on Sunday then.” He was blank. He just could not recollect anything of what he had rehearsed the day before for this big moment. There had been many situations during the journey, when he had almost lost her; he cannot lose her now. He had to do it.

He said, “Err … yeah …. Sure. Hey can I ask you something?” He froze. “Err … I was thinking …. If you … errr …. If I could help you carry that suitcase till the Taxi”

“Oh. Don’t bother. My husband should be here any time. Oh there he is”, she said, pointing away behind him, “Heyyy …. darling, missed you so much…. By the way, meet Shaan”

“Hey. I am Vishesh.”

He was looking at him, through him, past him. He just smiled, and said, “Hey. Hi. See you guys on Sunday then. I must hurry up to catch the Pre Paid Taxi queue”, turned and started walking. He never called her again. He never met her again.