Plight of Hindi...

Spanish seeking entry level positions, Cantonese speaking wanted, Mandarin speaker needed, Portuguese trader needed... God where are Hindi speaking jobs???

Damm you firangs from the empire where Sun never used to set !! You came, plundered our resources, took away our diamonds and left a legacy of sorry and corruption. If that was not enough the killer blow was their absolutely un-scientific language that makes P U T p'uu't but B U T b'a't .. D O D'uu , T O T'uu but G O Go...Why not G'uu ?? Aah I can seem some smirks et.all. For more check out various hilarious and logical conversations between Pyaremohan and Pujaniya Jijaji..

The whole idea is just because the entire nation reads, writes and speaks this avagyanik bhasha and do it very well, infact most of spell-bees are Desis. Any Tinku Dinu & Hariya can transform into Tom Dick & Harry without even betting an eyelid. It would be tough to find a pocket in India where English is an alien language. Entire nation understands it and take pride in patronizing it .. Hindi or anything regional is so downmarket. Its economy booster too after all this is the language that is running 'lifestyles' of so many college going teens and hip-hop-trans-rock-techno brigade in the country though .... कितने घरों के रात का ओह नही दिन का चूल्हा नही जलता अगर ये नही होती तो.. रात को तो पता नही क्या क्या जलता हैं ;-)

But what ! Considering a very small universe , i.e. mine, who the hell is paying the cost.. Poor students caught in this downturn searching for the edge to sneak their foot in the door. Second ...should I say first language could have been a great asset to have considering the jobs as mentioned on top floating in the market :-( Everyone has Master's, everyone has 4.0 GPA, everyone knows Black Scholes or Monte Carlo, everyone know Ingliish, but not everyone know Mandarin, Spanish , Cantonese, Portuguese etc etc..

However, Sun is already setting for the Empire, probably right time to pull out the likes of Sumitra Nandan Pant, Maithili Sharan Gupt and Harivansh Rai Bachchan..

Mrigtrishna

Setting expectations for life, pump in all that you have to accomplish those goals reached tantalizingly close to them and yet when you reach out to touch, its all gone - Mirage

So close yet so far, sums up the life in last few days. Worked sincerely for all that I ever dreamed off, came agonizingly close to and then when the air in between was the thinnest, other side pulled out. Nothing that I did wrong, never had wrong intentions but still ended up with Zot. Why does it happen? Why the world around is like this -- throwing offers one day and next day 'not hiring', claiming loyalties to walk with you one day just to walk off the next day .. came back to do it again and again. Guess some really love to play around at other's cost !

On the other hand, I wish I was so close and yet so far the day I ran into a major accident. With no fault of mine but ended up having my beloved Basanti crushed... :-( Poor lady, took the entire impact just to save me...

कभी किस्सी को मुक्कमल जहाँ नही मिलता

कभी ज़मीन तो कहीं आसमां नही मिलता

Back from hibernation.....

Its a strange feeling since morning today. Woke up with hangover from yesterday's night party at Eli's place with exotic booze & babes. I just had one of the two btw ;-) . Whatever it was, its bad, usually I have infinite appetite for both but God knows, its different today. Out of practice may be, tried to chastise my soul a lot in last few months but guess its not worth if its worth is not recognized by those for whom you are doing it. Old ways are better...

Anyway despite of hanging along the edge, I still feel like a free floater. As light as a ping-pong ball probably, why it is.. I don't know. Is this the effect of some lovely music from 80's and 90's playing full throttle on my BOSE speakers in background since yesterday 6 PM? May be, but that is something not very uncommon with me.. Is it because India reached the pinnacle in test cricket for first time ? Naah... no matter what the ranking says I think they still not deserve the spot unless they overcome Kangaroos , Kiwis and Safari challenge at their home turf. Is this the ACC championship for Tech? Nopes.. the pain of loss from Bulldogs will haunt always. Is it because this because of CFA getting over ? Now dont ask me how was it if you really dont know it was there at first place .. and for those who cares, they will know anyhow. I must say it was some sort of load...felt good to pack back tons of study material to hut again. Thanks Manuj and Daksh for your guidance all the way not to forget my PE and Corp teams. Is this CFA level good for job? Probably not, but I owe the later one to Eva. Probably by Monday that front would be closed for the time being.

May be its a case of too many cooks making my meal delicious , not spoiling for a change :). Mom Dad are already on their maiden international flight and will be here by the clock takes two full circle from now. Its gonna be long day tomorrow, meeting two Chris within a span of 3 hours..One for coffee and another for end semester exam. Hopefully will have absolute clarity by tomorrow to graduate or not.

What next, probably about time to take on the world once again but not alone, with a companion in the road ahead now on.. Tough job. My professor says 90% of your happiness is depended on just 1 decision - whom you decide to chose as your partner in crime. Very important decision for a vagabond like me because of the sheer devotion it requires. "Don't marry someone just because you love her, marry only if she loves you back with same passion" You'll find grey hairs often giving this gyan and for a change think they are right this time. Compassion, Trust, Respect, Compromise and Scarifies is what constitute the definition of love and should be the base of the relationship. Agreed Rome was not built in one day but someone started it one fine day ! Its the will to work towards a relationship that is more important rather than hoping for one magic wand to create the fairy land in a blink. Love unconditionally and marry without conditions, if you love as per the above 5 constitutes you'll work around almost everything. Nothing is impossible but the will to say -I -m -possible is required and its not one way ! Someone listening?

Aah, quite a random blog, started with something and ended with something. I cannot recall when I was this entrapped in muddleness of life and yet felt so free of its intricacies....

ज़िन्दगी तेरे ग़म ने हमे रिश्ते नए समझाए

मिले जो हमे धुप मैं मिले छाव के ठन्डे साए !!

तुझ से नाराज़ नही ज़िन्दगी हैरान हूँ मैं..

Its 30th November Again

Quietly stepped into the next decade. Traveled more than 100 miles in day still spent the day in hibernation, extremely less than normal phone calls - some expected some not, not a single greeting in person, no cakes and no candles.. Probably everyone is deep entangled in their own webs.. or may be they just don't care ....Feels bad? may be.. Whatever !!

Off late all my birthdays have some sort of uniqueness attached to them.. None celebrated in a typical ala birthday fashion.. Different experience always. Is this some sort of indication of the year ahead... Who knows.. have to live another year for that.. :-)

24 International Hours

Around the world in less than 24 hours ! Last 24 hours of my life have witnessed extensive international encounters. People, culture and food from civilizations across the globe. Should be an interesting blog I guess.

It started with the birthday party of a sweet girl at an exotic Balkan food joint belonging to people from the Ottoman land. The belly dance was a sort of let down though, imagine any eroticism in dance without a curvaceous midriff, if you can ? The show stealer ? On the house Hukka aka Hooka and curious conversations on an odd threesome...My first tryst with Zatar and Budemjune, I must say I relished the food. Save the best for the last, ended up enjoying hardcore Punjabi music at the Mediterranean land. Barely managed to save my esteem else birthday girl had all plans to hit the G-bar at closing hours of the day err night...

Thanksgiving Day. One of my QCF senior - Abe Riazati (03 batch) invited us for Thanksgiving lunch. Couple of my friends were suppose to join me at my place for the lunch. Poor fellas, selected a day on public holiday to use public transport. Anyway thanks to $ power they cabbed. Already late by some 1 hour, we searched hard to buy some wine, flowers and candies for the host. Phew, never go shopping on day before Black Friday! Anyway, once at Abe's place it was a different world. Iranian Host , Indian Guest, American Festival and loads of food to eat :). To my surprise there were more vegetarian dishes than Turkey and Co. Couple of rounds of main course packed with 7-8 variety of deserts made the meal more than sumptuous. Thanks Mrs Abe..

The rats settled down and it was time for some engrossing conversations. We talked about everything. We talked history - Journey from Persia to Iran, involvement of Tigris & Euphrates and Missouri & Mississippi in this process, rise and fall of Shah's regime , Revolutionary Guards uprising and current cost of living at Tehran. It was informative. We talked religion - Zoroastrian aka Farsiis (yeah, famous Tatas et. all and its F not P), Islam, Baha'i and Hinduism. I got answer to a question that was floating since long in my mind, If Farsiis in India are the original inhabitants of Iran then why do they follow Zoroastrianism ? Focus then shifted to literature and it was captivating to listen others taking deep dive into Indian literature. We discussed Bhagwat Gita, we discussed Kamasutra , we discussed Yoga. Abe was in particular more exited in sharing his Indian experience , mini bus ride from Political Heart to Love Tomb , chicken driving and importance of birth time, place and horoscope in life of an Indian. Horoscopes lead the discussion to Indian wedding and finally a question about my single status :( . You talk India, you need to talk its troubled neighbor -P. Abe's friend, sorry his name slipped out of my mind... talked of his life , escape from Iran via Pakistan and his experience in Pakistan. Quite insightful and and contrary to perception , an average Persian's thought about Pakistan and Co. He smartly did some pre-sales job for his yet to publish book - My Life , his stories with people and culture of countries he had seen specially Iran and Pakistan. What made conversation more productive was the sheer diversity of the group involved - Indian, Iranian and Americans.

Phew..Need a break..Earl Grey tea make it easy to move to advancement of technology and generation Z of kids. Needless to say current economic condition and life of Quant was also discussed at a somber note. We talked of Punch Cards ,Wimax 4G , Dos, Windows and what not. It was moment of self realization about my technical illiteracy when a I learned how a 11 year kid controls his Mac from Iphone. God, where is the world heading to ?? 2012 is playing closeby in Dollar Theater.

Finally time to call off the 24 hour cycle, goodbye - thanks a lot Abe. Truly 24 happening international hours. Back home, its CFA time.

BTW: What do you say about the look of the day ?

Coming Back To Life..

After a long time, listening to my Pink Flyod's favorite number.... Reminds me of good old hostel days...Special mention to the last 4 lines of 1st stanza ..

Where were you when I was burned and broken

While the days slipped by from my window watching

And where were you when I was hurt and I was helpless

Because the things you say and the things you do surround me

While you were hanging yourself on someone else's words

Dying to believe in what you heard

I was staring straight into the shining sun

Lost in thought and lost in time

While the seeds of life and the seeds of change were planted

Outside the rain fell dark and slow

While I pondered on this dangerous but irresistible pastime

I took a heavenly ride through our silence

I knew the moment had arrived

For killing the past and coming back to life

I took a heavenly ride through our silence

I knew the waiting had begun

And I headed straight..into the shining sun

I wish Roger Water had played this Gilmour's song at Boston that day.. But then there are so many things I wish..

Poetic Truth

सर झुकाओगे तो पत्थर देवता हो जायेगा...
इतना ना चाहो उसे वो बेवफा हो जायेगा !

हम भी दरिया हैं हमें अपना हुनर मालूम हैं ..
चल पड़ेंगे जिस तरफ़ रास्ता हो जायेगा ॥

~ बशीर बद्र

Zero Sum Game

Traveled miles, crossed seas , scaled peaks all hunting for dreams , newer heights and ego fueled ambitions. What if you look back? Empty barren fields, isolated shores and lonely peaks ! A zero sum game ?

In quest for victory, you ran hard, left everyone behind ..... practically everyone ! Achieved what you want and throw a party ...only to find you are left with no one to share your success and joy... All those who matter, all those who would be happy for you and not your success are left behind..Nothing else, No-one else matter !! Its only ME and no WE. Everyone you see around are your own relfections....detached , self-indulged souls busy redefining happiness using wealth, power and credentials... Poor Guys.

May be you need to experince this first hand.. Probably then only you will realise it...but who knows, it may be too late then.

Chase aspirations, but beware - Dont go there alone, nothing is worth alone!

Chinese Humming!!

A relatively unknown Chinese automobile maker (even in China) hailing from lesser famous western part of mainland, dealing in Heavy Industrial Machinery i.e. selling the likes of dump trucks bids $200M for the probably most obscure symbol of American muscles - The Hummer. Why and How would anyone like to touch this sulking guzzler at this time that too someone who is total outsider to the passenger vehicle segment. Considering the buyer has no established footprints in the market to sell this monster in this atmosphere, is it a brave move or a stupid one ? Or, wait a minute, the deal is not for free, it cost $200M . Why on earth (China) would one like to hit the hammer for this?

It's interesting rather fishy scenario for me. How about a cover up by Chinese Military to get hold of the tried and tested Humvee for the rough Himalayan terrain? Well they already have national highway, railway station , sea port, air base right on the Indian fences covering Nepal, Tibet, Burma, Sri Lanka and off course the trouble child -P. Humvee will add some more teeth :-B

*Hope it remains just a work of my imagination and not convert into an actual conspiracy theory

High Dynamic Range Photography

It was long due, just because of sheer laziness I was giving it a skip for long. Finally inspiration crept in from an unexpected corner and I had my first stint with HDR photography technique. Results , well not exactly as expected but then its a good start and an iterative process. Am hopeful !! :-)

BTW: Also tried the same using CS3 but failed miserably... think I am good with my camera itself :)

Sunny Side Up

The final part of my GE-2009 Trilogy !!

Heck, who cares about past, lets look ahead. Majority of UPA in the lower house without the crutches of LLLL - Lalu, Left, LJP and Leeches (Just analogical with the earlier 3 Ls) is still very refreshing news for the country. Development at a reasonable and unhindered pace is expected in this apparent stable environment (Assuming the lady in center can tame the fire-ball lady from east). Indexes are climbing up the hill and hopefully without any sharp U-turn we'll see India emerge out of desolated shadows of world economy.

The Pees of Politics, Policies, Performance & Pressure (PPPP)

Second part of my GE-2009 Trilogy !!

The majority in Lower House give Congress an opportunity to set the stage for the coronation of the Prince. Party had promised and now they have power to fulfill. Along with 'Power' they should also have 'Will Power' to fulfill, something that historically lacked. If not will power, how about ‘Pressure’?

What the heck, why pressure when you have numbers to relax for next 5 years? Well the key is the journey from Prince to King is not yet over. If government do not perform this time, anti-incumbency is sure to creep it. Given the above reasons (see Post 1 of Trilogy - The Enlightening: Indian Voters & Media) one may argue that another set of cheesy promises and the game is set for the next round. Well very much possible but would a canny player like the Prince leave it to the last? The Prince as far as I can understand is not going to gamble on this. He knows, he is probably in best position to create his road for the crown and all he needs to do is just be persistent. He had the entire government machinery to his disposal; all he need is to make sure that it delivers. 5 years, if they can deliver even half of promised, stage is set. Rightly so, he had opted out of ministerial responsibilities in order to concentrate and persuade the PPPs. Even for personal ambitions, the success of the Plan might prompt - Advantage Nation!

The Enlightening: Indian Voters & Media

"No matter what, the Indian voters will always surprise you, they are much more intelligent than what you think of " - Rajdeep & Co.

With so much of noise created by Dear Rajdeep & Co. over the Rahul's charisma and young brigade in Parliament for 18th Assembly, I think it’s about time to take a deeper dive in it. First, is the General Election 2009 (GE'09) was a tactical win for congress, is it a vote for stability and performance of Manmohan Singh's team? Is the satisfaction, sense of stability or the so called 'surprising intelligence of the voters of India' (Thanks Rajdeep for considering people of India intelligent) spread across evenly in the country? Does the GE'09 saw the gap between voting pattern of rural and urban India narrowing? Well, in my humble opinion, it’s not the case.

This inspired me to look beyond the projected reasons for the UPA’s gain over NDA. Polarization of votes, nuisance value of Marathi Manus Raj, Media's so called 'secular' bias, pre-poll alliance and break offs this is what I believe caused a 2.5% swing in votes and thus the visible difference in parliament seating arrangement.

Digging deep, let’s take the rural India first, where even now voting pattern is still very much the same as it was at 1952. Years over years 'panchvarshiya yojnas' have promised and not delivered the same BSP (Naah, not the elephant but Sadak Bijli & Paani). Why? Do we lack budget to do so or man power to do so? Well we are the second largest population in the world and probably the richest too considering the wealth of nation lies in foreign bank accounts of our beloved politicians. It’s the political will that is lacking. If you deliver what you promise this time, then what would you promise for next time? Just bring in some popularistic schemes of Rs 2 / Kg Rice or waiving off loans right before the onset of next elections and you are through. So Mr Rajdeep , is the voter intelligent or the Politicians in that sense ? It’s a pity that the most deserving population of this country is exploited shamelessly by the leaders of the nation over and over again. This time too the rice was there, so were loans and icing on the cake was the ‘prince’. We still believe in dynasty rule, don’t we?

The Urban India specially the educated youth of India of which media is bolstering a lot. Its not that old that we saw a mindless egoistic HRD 'Raja' Minister who 'sanitized' the most prestigious education institutions of nation for the sake of some political mileage. Spare them Mr. Minister (Ex Minister now), no need to chastise 'the few good men' the country perpetually produce. Agitations, strikes, boycotts across the nation did nothing much to alter the ego, Singh was still 'The King' and this king care a lot about his pupil ;-). If that was not enough, another loyal dynasty servant (he also claims to serve the nation by the way) stole the limelight. Heir to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhai Patel was probably the man with no spinal chord, honorable ex-Home Minister Shivraj Patil. The less we say about national security the better it is, thankfully Pakistan is more of less consumed with its internal crisis now a days, else we might have seen more of 26/11 in India. If this was not good enough of to instigate the educated population, there is some more. The National Highway project, broadband spectrum sale..... List is big. All said and done , the urban India is still happy but is it happy because of secure and efficient administrative environment it hope to breath in or because of the greenbacks its earning ? Agreed, economic environment has improved in the nation and the current government can stake a piece of the pie from that. However not the entire Pie.

But then who want to do this in-depth analysis when one can earn brownie points simply by shouting out loud and clear ' as we predicted its UPA in majority'. Intelligent or not, who care about the voters and the voting pattern, let’s give the credit to the voters and crown them 'smart'. Let them be proud of themselves from being tagged intellectual; we’ll enjoy our golden biscuit of revenue. How intelligent is that move? Or more so, how arrogant is that move? A bunch of smart asses sitting in glass chambers passing judgment of billions of fellow countrymen!!

Disclaimer : Rajdeep represent the entire gamut of media men mushroomed for 'masala' across the nation.