Happy B'day Neha !!

http://www.spicynodes.org/a/67883428ce430b90d52fac3dc8358191 

What will Ajja Tweet About ?

Neha – "Ajja – Tumcha Khabar gotte ase ve ? Roopa Akka’s son Vishakale wife balanti javnu Ladki Kai ?" ( That was Neha Konkani – A Mix of Marathi and Hindi with a few Konkani words thrown in for the ‘good-bahu-trying-to-learn-husband’s-mother-tongue’ effect )  

Ajja - Vai Ve ?

Neha - "Haave kaali Tagele Facebookantu pallile"

 

Ajja - "Te Kasale go te Facebooke ? Itle voggi kassi photo poloyate ?

Ae Rohita - Tugele te Laptop ase nave – Tantu te photo kain asta ? Tittle saan dabentu titale paper kassi asta !?"

 

Conversation between my 90 Year Old Grandpa and my Wife and me.

I was amazed to notice how much Social networking has spilled over into ‘offline’ discussions and bridged the erstwhile generation gap !

My Dad saw the merits of facebook and the other day poked at me and then again smiled at me through facebook ! I hardly remember when was the last time he physically poked me !

Amma is raging to go and all set to Join Facebook as soon as she upskills herself from ‘one finger’ to ‘multiple finger’ Typing !

Then Came Ajja’s 88 year old Brother,Ganapati Ajja, in His TVS 50 ( Yes – He still drives his TVS 50 XL!).

Ganpati Ajja – Ugadike annane ashirvad ghevka monu Ram-mandirantu Pooja soronu ailo re.

Ganapati Ajja touched Ajja and Bapama’s feet and was visibly emotional – Something that I have rarely seen since the 30 Years I have known him. He is always known for his active as mercury ( Paadarasa) dedication to any activity he takes up and for always being on the move. The Conversations went on –

Rohit – "Ajja – Ram Navami divsu pulle varshe Shivrampeteche Ramale murthi ka bhari chand kornu shingarlele"

Ganapati Ajja – "Tu Kedana palaile re ? Tu Thai evnu mast kaal jalle nave ?"

Ajja – "Haave Flicker antu Palaile" and then showed him this from my Friend Chetan Hegde's flickr album.

Ajja1 , Ajja 2, Bapama and me closed our eyes looking at the beautifully decorated murthi of the lord and we all felt blessed !

Yesterday , I was going through my delicious bookmarks and chanced upon one on a Konkani wedding song and me and Neha heard our first Amchigele padya together !I even subscribed using the Link titled - 'twitter korya' !

Anna Makka Vardika | Upload Music

My Point - The net in general and social networking specifically is visibly helping us (Ajja included) go beyond the constraints of distance, time and space – at-least conversationally and emotionally if not physically…. Yet !

The Existential Question answered !

A few months back we had planned to be in Delhi with my in-laws for Holi. As it always happens with anything in life , plans changed when Nehan had to go to Paris for a training and our Holi plans went for a toss. After dropping Nehan to the BIAL airport early today morning and seeing the beautiful full moon disappear into the daylight , I came home and slept.. the rest of the day went in lazing around at home and channel surfing.Frankly,I did not look forward to today - being alone and without color on the festival of colors.While channel surfing, I stopped at Peace TV Urdu to watch this interesting discussion between Dr Zakir Naik and Sri Sri Ravishankar. I do not know much about either of these religious leaders or what they preach but my interest in comparative religion made me watch the entire program.I saw myself agreeing partly with both their points of view but what stayed with me is Love. Love for God and his creation in which He is present. The rest of the day with this at the background,I researched on both these folks and on related topics and suddenly when listening to I was once again the little innocent boy who wondered what is the purpose of the world ? Who am I and why am I here?The interesting piece is, I got the answer as well - Not one but 2 answers ! ... 1. I am the color of Love and God is my source.All I need to be to transform who I am at any instant of my life is to be connected to who I am -Love... Pure love for God and his creation.2.I am a sufi :).It is inexplicable but I am so peaceful, joyful and more fresh than I have been in Months ! I did not intend this day to be anything but banal and boring but lo! the divine seemed to have other plans to me and without any effort the Divine has dyed me in the color of Love! my plans did not work but sitting at home, I got colored in the most vibrant color ! Jai Maa ! Jai Maa !

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Flashback May 2003 Mungeri Lal ke haseen Summers 3

oh no...the worst has arrived ....Time for ..........Mungeri lal ke haseen summers episode 3.......
( Read Mungeri Lal ke Haseen Summers 1 & 2 before this )

Ab tak ke episodes mein aapne dekha …… Trip To Munger, background of ITC Munger ….silence for a looooong time …….ab aage ….
The lull before the storm ? Are you alive ? Are you kidnapped ?
These are some of the mails I received during this period of silence
Contrary to all your beliefs , I am still well , alive and kicking and even putting on lots of weight ! The event that I was eagerly anticipating didn’t happen . The management put forward some “ Munger shattering” proposals …anticipating the retaliation from the workmen , all security arrangements were beefed up ….but …We waited and waited and nothing happened .
Meanwhile , I am now well aquainted with Munger tradition . My official welcome into Munger was with a cocktail of strange looking colourful liquids …..during a Club night … a regular feature in ITC Park .The drink they call ‘roomali’ ( A concoction made by placing various liquids layer by layer in a glass using a thin piece of cloth) and forcing any new comer to gulp it down ..bottoms up is a munger tradition .With so many guys staring at you …you don’t even realize its taste ….thank God for that .
It was on one such club night where I met the big guys from Head office of ITC ( H.O ) that got myself into big trouble .You can guess the magnitude of the trouble by the fact that I cannot mail you the details ………I can just give you a hint …Booze as usual was on the house and I am a teetotaler …
Yet another occasion for fun was the inauguration of the swimming pool ( the same one where the xlri guy kicked the bucket ) ..…what started off as quite a formal occasion became a war game in the water ….. four guys would come forcibly lift a fully clothed person wearing formals and splash ! throw him into the water ….the drenched guys then take revenge on the remaining … a drench for a drench makes all of munger managers …… soaking wet .We even threw the Branch Manager ..’biggest guy ‘ in munger ….into the pool ..and needless to say , he continued the chain .
On the work front ( read project ) I’ve lots of fun experiences . I asked the doc in the ambulance room for some “ qualitative information“ about the workmen under him ..he looked around ….closed the door ….and whispered into my ear …” Come later when there is nobody here. you cant ask such info in public ….you’ll put us both into trouble !”
I didn’t understand what “ trouble “ he was talking about till a workers name got deleted from my database …he was shot by a fellow worker for no obvious reason…Where did he get the gun you ask me ? starting from 500 bucks you get all types of cheap and also expensive guns here ….. I’m planning to visit a gun factory here….( clarification : I’m not buying anything there ) . This is the fifth death since I have been here !
Another club night ….a Very well built , young ,popular manager was getting transferred to B’lore … in true Munger tradition….there was a baarat for him , We all danced and brought him to the club in a tractor filled with all the ladies from the park with 20 cars slowly honking their horns as part of the procession . Then came the time for lifting him and throwing him in the air amidst cheering voices “ hez a jolly fellow, hez a jolly fellow, and so say all of us “ but who would lift him ? So they got a forklift used for lifting tobacco …lifted him up and the entire crowd went to the dance floor leaving him hanging 12 ft above the ground ! He joined us soon and the party went on till 3.00 am as usual . Got up at 6.30am the next morning for Golf …in Jamalpur golf course …half an hours journey from Monghyr . Anyway ..that’s the last Sunday I got up so early and needless to say ..never again played golf !
While I have had my moments of fun here ….this place also gets to you ….can you imagine a life from factory to a protected oasis in the desert and back …with the same faces everyday ….the same places ….and worst of all ..the same cooks ( except for the parties) ! Thank God I’m outa here in about 20 days from now but God save the ones who stay here for something like a decade !
All these ‘ same faces ‘ from all over India got together and put up an Indian food festival on “ mazdoor divas – may day”…..food stalls from the four corners of India …..what a variety ….great food …great dessert and best of all …all unlimited and all free ….
In office , I share my room with an old ex-union leader who is now completely with the management ...but all the union guys come to discuss stuff with him ...these guys just look like the rowdies in movies ...and i am supposed to keep my work confidential ...you can guess the tight spot which i often get into .

Flashback Apr 2003 Mungeri Lal ke haseen Summers 2

Hi babuas ,

Quick recap ..journey to Munger via patna jamalpur art..peek joy ride safety starts from here .

Episode 2 begins

The Amby enters a huge Gate with 6 well durwans .I see huge british Bunglows with vast gardens , green trees and wide shining roads . We zoom into Netley (south ) ..I enter my name the register and I am escorted into Wimbledon 2 ..where Ill stay for the next 2 months . I dont believe my eyes ! This bungalow has a huge dining table , a TV , big kitchen , balcony overlooking the club and my room has an AC !

All my meals are at netley . These guys r still in the british times ..we r treated like kings ..order anything you like for breskfast ..it appears soon . Is this a resort ? My Guide Thomas Mathew calls up and tells me to visit the club meanwhile . The club is just a 100 m walk from Wimbledon 2 . There is free internet , billards , snooker , a bar ,A home theatre system, a well stocked library , a video library , everything u need here .

Life here is limited to the factory and the nearby park that I just described . There are bout 1700 workers and 40 managers and this unit gives about 500 cr per annum in excise tax alone ..what bout sales and profits ? Each manager has a huge bungalow for himself . The british have strict heirarhies There r two circles of bungalows ..the outer cirle for smaller managers and the inner one for the big guys at the center is the burra bungalow read.bada bungalow where the BM ( Branch manager) stays. He is practically the king of Munger ! Parties r a regular feature , They have everything you need for a party .right from disco lights , great cutlery to superb food from Chefs trained at the ITC welcome group .I just missed going with the guys for a game of golf ..im bored now .so thought I’ll bore u guys with a looooong mail .

The picture I have just given you is a goody goody one at the surface level .now for some shock statistics bout summer trainees ..

1) one of them was found dead in the swimming pool next to my quarters .

2) another got into dope ( the drug called grass ) and is still an addict .

3) yet another guy got lost and has not been found after 10 years .


In 1993 , a manager was shot dead just before the negotiation with the union ..

Kya rohit survive karega / kya who zinda Munger se niklega ? dekhte hain mungeri lal ke haseen sapney episode 3 mein .To padna na bhuliyega ..Mungeri lal ke haseen summers

End of episode 2

Flashback Apr 2003 Mungeri Lal ke haseen Summers

For those who have missed the premier : I am doing my summers with ITC at Munger , north east Bihar famous for its illegal gun factories and dacoities.
From today I start my story , a real life story , a tale of suspense , horror , thrill , joy and one from which I’ll gain immense experiencua ( as the bihari says , all behari words in italics ) in short , I presentua to you my story from Munger .
Every journey begins with the first step , says the SIBM brochure , so the first stepua …its 5.45 and I have to catch Indrayani to Bombay . I just stuff all my luggage into my suitcase and 2 bags and tell the auto driver ….fast janar ahe .
I somehow catch the train 3 minutes before it leaves .A3 –3 copassengers : rich heart surgeons from mumbai ….ok so I reach kalyan Jn . Wait for my Patna –LTT superfast express ….journey uneventful thus far
Now starts the journey to Patna . My co-passengers in 3rd AC .A failed bollywood Movie star , A Guy who has illegal businesses in Patna and a Wholesale cloth merchant with plenty of ties with laloo . All of them tell me the dangers in Munger …how unsuspecting passengers are abducted never to return again , how they use the desi use-and-throw pistols to kill people for money , how deaths are never reported , how gangs of dacoits operate in that region . Then we discuss politics lalua politix , then they tell me to take care of my sammanua , they call me babua and even give me tips on how to buy a good desi gun and how I can buy cheap dope from there and make a lot of moolah .one proper person I meet on the train happened to be the Bangalore labour commissioner : Susheel Kumars Sister , She told me there are good guys In Bihar …but most of them become Bureaucrats and leave Bihar !
I reach Patna Junction at 7am . My next train to Jamalpur is at 11.50 ….5 hours in patna ..what do I do there ? fortunately I had my friends including surbhi and pallavi who told me ‘bout the hangouts in patna .I just visited hanuman Mandir and ate their wonderful laddus ( the claim in english : laddus are made by the skilled artisants of Tirupati …tastes similar …but artisants ? ) and not to forget took hanumanji’s blessings for a safe and successful summer training .
Ghutka is banned but people seem to survive on that stuff … they just ask everyone “ pan khaiyeyega ?” and put some into their own red mouths for the nth time and produce beautiful red pieces of art around them .Patna is a city for the modern art lover .art at its peek .the station is full of …dare I say ..new sounds , sights and smells …not all of them pleasant …I didn’t dare to venture into the tastes .somehow I spend time till 11.50 . Actually it wasn’t as bad as People say it is .
Then I boarded Vikramsila express .. my next train to jamalpur …30 km from Munger . Munger has only one train a day ..so I took the jamalpur train .The train was packed with armed policeman ..they were escorting some commissioners family . These guys began their round of warnings for me …don’t move out in the night , dacoits just kill guys for fun ,their desi guns never miss their mark blah blah .One of them happened to be posted in Karnataka to provide protection to deve gowdas family . I got pally with himand offered Him some hanuman Ji ka prasad . Curiously he told me to eat some of it first . Only later did I come to know that this is how you check if your food is poisoned ..ask the guy who offers it to you t o have some of it !
Then came jamalpur at 6.15 trembling with fear I got down and what do I see ….A huge placard “ ITC MUNGER WELCOMES ROHIT SENOY “ ( that’s the spelling they got ). I enter the amby for the last lap of my journey . What a joy ride ! the roads have such gr8 terrains ….At last I see the board ITC MUNGER ….SAFETY BEGINS FROM HERE .Whatever that means .
Find out this and more in the next episode of Mungeri lal ke haseen summers .
till then ,
milte hain babua

Flashback October 2004 at Kutch

Continuing my old habit of peeping outside the aircrafts little window , I peeped outside to see a birds eye view of Bhuj . Deserted hillocks , a smallPatch of green and more desert ! I was greeted by a Tractor at the airportcarrying my luggage to the newly installed conveyer . As I was settling into my pick up vehicle, on the way to Gandhidham, I was shocked by the colors on the road ....... Saffron , Saffron and only Saffron ( Thank God I didnt have my french beard ! ).Later I understood they were not Shiv Sena Guys but pilgrims seeking Darshan of Maa Ashapura Devi .The Roads were lined with make shift tents with free shade , water ,food and even bedding along the roadsas seva for the pilgrims . Gandhidham being in the middle of a desert is more expensive than Bombay and I'm definately feeling the pinch. But I'm not complaining about the Indica andBolero which are ready to hit the sand at my beck and call .The agency office has just 2 P & O Nedlloyd Guys . My Boss Anindya chakraborty is outstanding ( Though Currently he must be standing in some Durga Puja in Cal ) No Seriously hez very good .I was quite surprised by the Hep crowd at the dandia's here . I got to know that the entire crowd is connected to shipping in some way or other and the richest among them are those that deal with ... .. guess ... guess ..... Scrap!My Current profile is a mix of customer operations and sales support .Next week I'll bevisiting the 3 ports here and also make a round of all Gujrat Customers . MindyouGujrat is like a different state this is Kutch- Gujrat .... This is wha tthe locals tell me .Thats it from Kutch - Hope to see the Rann of Kutch and Pak Border and all the places were we have missles aimed at Pak ( Local legend has it that a blackmountain here has enough ammo to blast whole of the sandy district and rest of Gujrat twice over)

Monsoon Fiesta - Employee referral program

Monsson Fiesta - This Cool and Catch employee referral program was developed by me along with the MARCOM team . This is just one of the 7 posters we made.The direct mailer with a mirror was the most unique one people have seen for a long time.It says something like this -
" You are looking at an High performer - now refer more high performers like you " 

P & O Nedlloyd Reunited

The MTs of 2004 met again at Geoffrey's Ansal Plaza Delhi over lots of Vodka.

From Left to right its -
Sonal ( whos put on a few pounds),Rohit ( Whos put on a LOT of pounds),Garima ( Charming as ever),Amita ( in her new Avatar as Mrs Amita Nitin Jain Maheshwari) and Nitin.

Great Fun getting back to our Shipping - Teu -days ! 

Lisa as Aishwarya !

This is Lisa from Accenture US along with Ashok ( Lead of my current project) in an Enterprise workforce party.
You really have to see her dance to the tune of 'Kajara re' and 'Salaam Namaste' She is better than Aishwarya and Preity Zinta put together !

My "Mini tirth yatra" in-between jobs

One of the best times for contemplation is the phase when one is in-between jobs. I have been fortunate/unfortunate to be in the second such phase in my career. This phase is the best time to sit down and think – Sit down and think about what went wrong in my previous job, what went right, what did I learn, What could I have learned better? Answers to these and a hundred more questions (both on a personal and professional level) come automatically in this phase. Some of the answers sound weird – Maybe my boss was not that bad after all or does it SEEM so in retrospect now that I don’t have to report to him! …. But this post is not about these questions or answers – this post is about a unique experience I had when I went to a Mini-Tirth yatra during my present “in-between jobs” phase.

My parents and me had heard a lot about the now famous temple of Goddess Annapoorneshwari nestled in Chickamagalur District in the western Ghats in Horanadu Village.These stories drew us to this temple.

Goddess Annapoorneswari or Annapoorna is a form of Parvati. Annapoorna literally means "She of Plenteous Food."

We reached Horanadu from Sringeri at 6.30 in the evening. The bus stops right in front of the temple, which is surrounded by the Western Ghats from all sides. Just next to the temple is the simple but elegant guesthouse. The newly constructed guesthouse costs just Rs 60 for a double bed room! We entered our room had a refreshing bath and proceeded towards the temple.

As soon as we entered the temple premises we were greeted by the friendly smiles of the villagers who forced us to go to the dining hall. Our protests stating that we would like to follow the traditional sequence of Darshan followed by dinner were of no avail. We were almost forced to sit and have dinner. The logic they seemed to give us was very simple – “ when you come back home after a tired day at work, what does your mother do first? Feed you (remember 2 minute maggi?!) - that is what goddess wants us to do”. But tradition being hard wired in us, we managed to have darshan and then proceed for dinner.

It was a simple meal of rice, beetroot Sambhar, Masala Majige (Chaas) and Payasa served with great love absolutely free of cost. This is the way everyone coming to this temple is treated. Dinner was over by 8.30 and we went back to the temple.

While waiting for the 9.15 Evening Arati to begin, my mother and me began singing Shankaracharya’s Annapoorna Ashtakam.

In this stotra Shankara repeatedly pleads to the divine mother – “bhikshaam dehi krpavalambanakaree maataannapurneshvaree” “Grant us alms oh maintainer of mercy Mother Annapurneshvaree!”He asks her not just for Alms of food for the body ( anna) But Gyana( Knowledge) and Vairagya ( Dispassion)- Food for the Soul.

Just as we completed our singing the temple doors were opened for the evening Arati.The whole scene was so divinely electrifying, I seemed to be in a trance like state.The Golden hued goddess looked completely motherly. The entire outer Sanctum Sanctorum was lighted with lamps for the Deeparadhana (Prayer through lamps). Arati Started with the loud chanting of Mantras, The Auspicious sounds of bells drums and the naadaswara. The religious fervor among the devotees reached a peak as the lamps were waved in front of the goddess. I could not help thinking of what I had read about Goddess Annapoorna -

“The conception of Divinity as the Mother is unique and inspiring. In human relationship the affection of a mother for her child is unsurpassed. Similarly, the depth of the Divine Mother’s love for her devotees is unfathomable. The grace that flows from Her is spontaneous and irresisble. That is why Sri Annapoorna is depicted as carrying a vessel containing ksheeraannam (rice mixed with milk) in one hand and a ladle in the other. She is ready to distribute this food to those who pray for it. In the abundance of Her mercy, She gives us not only food that sustains our body, but also jnana that nourishes the soul. When Sri Adi Sankara prayed to Mother Annapoorna to give him alms, he prayed not only for himself but for all mankind. We are all members of one family., being the children of the Divine Parents, Paravati and Paramesvara. It is our duty to love, help, and serve one another.”

It seemed that each of the volunteers at the temple were doing exactly that.

For a brief period we completely forgot who we were – All the distinctions – Rich, poor – Brahmin,Non-Brahmin-Tamilian,Telugu,Kannadiga and so on- All seemed to have disappeared.We had just these words to describe ourselves- “The divine Mothers Children”. Each of us got back to our real state – the state of being a child adoring the universal mother begging her for her grace , understanding our position of utter helplessness in this sea of darkness (bhavasagara) and understanding that she is the only one who can help us.Our souls seemed to be echoing Shankara’s words –

Annapoorna Sadaa Poorne Shadkarapraana Vallabhe
Gyaanavairagya Siddhayarta Bhikshan Dehi Cha Paarvatee

O Soul Beloved of Lord Shiva!
O Fullness everlasting!
O Devi Parvati, ever full
of nourishing food!
O Mother of the universe!
Bestow upon us alms of your grace
as divine knowledge and dispassion for
the attainment of our spiritual perfection.

At about 9.40 the Arati Ended and we had to get back to sleep.We had two options – Go back to the guest house or sleep in the temple premises.The tmple has a unique tradition of allowing devotees to sleep within the temple premises.All arrangements are made within the temple corridors for devotees to sleep.About 300-350 Beds are neatly made.Devotees are allocated places to sleep.One of the volunteers comes with a Huge rug that covers about 8-10 people !

I was fascinated by this and decided to sleep within the temple.Within no time it was morning.I didn’t even realize there were at least 50 people sleeping in the same row as meside by side – No disturbance from snoring devotees,no mosquitoes no april heat nothing ! It was as if the goddess wanted us to ensure we had a great sleep ( and if she did , she was quite successful at it ! ).The first instinctive thing that I did when I got up is looked at the Image of the Goddess just outside where I was sleeping and Said “ good Morning”.She seemed to say “good morning to you too son” have a look at the great day I have made for you outside. I turn out of the temple and see the mist covered peaks and open my mouth in wonder – fog coming out of my mouth in April! Truly Amazing!

A few hours later it was time to leave. I was returning to my mundane life – But with a new strength – with a renewed vigor that comes from the firm belief – “I am not alone in my daily struggle - I have a mother a divine mother to help me who is always by my side”.

P.N: My Spiritual fervor and the contemplative phase of being “in-between jobs”might have amplified my version of Horanadu’s magnificence but it is nevertheless a great place for a visit!