Dravid's knock has been overshadowed by the batting display of the two Jayawardenes.
An imposing total of 760/7 ensures that Sri Lanka has a fair chance to win their first test match in India.
More to follow on this once the match ends.
A post on the batting of the underrated Mahela and Dhoni's flawed captaincy will be published once the match gets over.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
First-Love and One True Love-Books
This post is inspired by Kavi's post
I have always loved reading books. All kinds of books except my school-books:)
Some of my earliest memories of introduction to reading goes to the journey I made from Pune to Calcutta; when my father had quit one more job and sent me and my mom to my uncle. I guess it was a Chandamama that my mother bought and silenced me. I kept looking at the pictures and was awe-struck by Vikram and Betaal.
At Calcutta, I met my elder sister after a gap of three years. She took me, I was five years old I guess, in her arms and promptly placed a peck on my cheeks. I got lots of Indrajal and Amar Chitra Katha Comics and my sister would explain the stories.
At school there was Ronnie madam who took English class and it was a real treat to attend sing-along classes when rhymes and lessons were held.
I guess I was seven or eight; when I got my first Tintin comic-"The Blue Lotus" from my uncle. I guess that fateful day marked the ignition for my life-long passion for books. My uncle was separated from his wife and son; perhaps to make up for his paternal los, showered all his affection on me. Sundays would be spent in Camac Street, Mirza Ghalib Street, Gariahat and lots of other places where we would pore over old books. The biggest attraction was the Calcutta Book Fair at the Maidan. I guess the venue has changed now. Enid Blytons were staple diet, by the time I was eleven I had completed-Famous-Five, Five-Find-outers, The Secret Seven and the Adventure Series.
There was healthy competition between me and my younger uncle's daughter. She loved Nancy Drew and I was mad about Hardy Boys and The Three Investigators. She had a massive book collection courtesy her uncle Mani mama who used to run a lending library when he was a teenager. As each new year dawned the seriousness of academic excellence dawned and everyone realised that I was an absolute misfit with Maths.
Classes six and seven were devoted to Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens, Jules Verne and Alexandre de Dumas. Sherlock Holmes, Captain Nemo, Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers were my heroes.
By the time I reached Class-8 I had switched to Sidney Sheldon, Jeffrey Archer and Desmond Bagley. I was a man trapped in the body of a boy. I had matured as a reader and as well as a teen who had realised that his father was an absolute failure.
Fast-forward to 1998-May 1
I am at Central Station in Chennai with my mother, waiting for my father. A last chance for him to redeem himself as a husband and a father.
Chennai is a book-lover's paradise. My dad could never fathom what I wanted. My mother would give me a hundred rupees once in every two months as pocket-money. I would pain-stakingly save money and make trips to Triplicane and Moore Market to buy old novels.
June 2002
After scraping through high-school; I finally joined college-R.K.M. Vivekananda College. A course in English Literature and a whole vast new world of drama, fiction and poetry. Shakespeare and Francis Bacon were read for marks, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams and Tagore were read for pleasure.
Poetry for me was a fine balance between Robert Frost, William Wordsworth and Emily Dickinson. John Donne and co. with their metaphysics were beyond me.
June-2005 -The Professional
An essay on Dickens won me a place in the corporate world and I started my career as an Instructional Designer. Now I had the luxury of a zero-balance salary account. After paying my mother my salary, a small portion of my pay would go towards buying DVDs and books.
Current Scenario
Five jobs later in different companies and different roles, my career continues to hang on at the precipice of uncertainty as I am contemplating one more switch. I have discovered police-procedurals in the translated works of Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo-the Inspector Martin Beck series. I have also enjoyed the Inspector Morse and Inspector Rebus books.
There is such a vast ocean out there and my room is already full of books. I have a huge list of books that I need to buy and read. My mother keeps warning me that my wife will come and throw away all my books. Well that is a veiled threat:)
An affair that never began and ended before it could start still hurts me.
But my passionate romance with books will continue till the very end.
Girl-friends may come,
Girl-friends may go,
A woman might actually end up being my wife
But my one true love shall be my books alone.
I have always loved reading books. All kinds of books except my school-books:)
Some of my earliest memories of introduction to reading goes to the journey I made from Pune to Calcutta; when my father had quit one more job and sent me and my mom to my uncle. I guess it was a Chandamama that my mother bought and silenced me. I kept looking at the pictures and was awe-struck by Vikram and Betaal.
At Calcutta, I met my elder sister after a gap of three years. She took me, I was five years old I guess, in her arms and promptly placed a peck on my cheeks. I got lots of Indrajal and Amar Chitra Katha Comics and my sister would explain the stories.
At school there was Ronnie madam who took English class and it was a real treat to attend sing-along classes when rhymes and lessons were held.
I guess I was seven or eight; when I got my first Tintin comic-"The Blue Lotus" from my uncle. I guess that fateful day marked the ignition for my life-long passion for books. My uncle was separated from his wife and son; perhaps to make up for his paternal los, showered all his affection on me. Sundays would be spent in Camac Street, Mirza Ghalib Street, Gariahat and lots of other places where we would pore over old books. The biggest attraction was the Calcutta Book Fair at the Maidan. I guess the venue has changed now. Enid Blytons were staple diet, by the time I was eleven I had completed-Famous-Five, Five-Find-outers, The Secret Seven and the Adventure Series.
There was healthy competition between me and my younger uncle's daughter. She loved Nancy Drew and I was mad about Hardy Boys and The Three Investigators. She had a massive book collection courtesy her uncle Mani mama who used to run a lending library when he was a teenager. As each new year dawned the seriousness of academic excellence dawned and everyone realised that I was an absolute misfit with Maths.
Classes six and seven were devoted to Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens, Jules Verne and Alexandre de Dumas. Sherlock Holmes, Captain Nemo, Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers were my heroes.
By the time I reached Class-8 I had switched to Sidney Sheldon, Jeffrey Archer and Desmond Bagley. I was a man trapped in the body of a boy. I had matured as a reader and as well as a teen who had realised that his father was an absolute failure.
Fast-forward to 1998-May 1
I am at Central Station in Chennai with my mother, waiting for my father. A last chance for him to redeem himself as a husband and a father.
Chennai is a book-lover's paradise. My dad could never fathom what I wanted. My mother would give me a hundred rupees once in every two months as pocket-money. I would pain-stakingly save money and make trips to Triplicane and Moore Market to buy old novels.
June 2002
After scraping through high-school; I finally joined college-R.K.M. Vivekananda College. A course in English Literature and a whole vast new world of drama, fiction and poetry. Shakespeare and Francis Bacon were read for marks, Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams and Tagore were read for pleasure.
Poetry for me was a fine balance between Robert Frost, William Wordsworth and Emily Dickinson. John Donne and co. with their metaphysics were beyond me.
June-2005 -The Professional
An essay on Dickens won me a place in the corporate world and I started my career as an Instructional Designer. Now I had the luxury of a zero-balance salary account. After paying my mother my salary, a small portion of my pay would go towards buying DVDs and books.
Current Scenario
Five jobs later in different companies and different roles, my career continues to hang on at the precipice of uncertainty as I am contemplating one more switch. I have discovered police-procedurals in the translated works of Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo-the Inspector Martin Beck series. I have also enjoyed the Inspector Morse and Inspector Rebus books.
There is such a vast ocean out there and my room is already full of books. I have a huge list of books that I need to buy and read. My mother keeps warning me that my wife will come and throw away all my books. Well that is a veiled threat:)
An affair that never began and ended before it could start still hurts me.
But my passionate romance with books will continue till the very end.
Girl-friends may come,
Girl-friends may go,
A woman might actually end up being my wife
But my one true love shall be my books alone.
Musings
Again and again I rue my decision of having quit my job on writing about cars. I feel like kicking myself for becoming greedy and tempted by the designation of a "Manager". I got a decent offer from another company but I rejected it.
I honestly am at a self-created mess or yet another career-crossroad. A couple of fellows left without serving any notice; just a farewell. I do not have the heart to do that as I am a sentimental bloke. I respect a director of the company for her intelligence and her strength.
The way things are going with no signs of any major improvement I think I will have to "abscond". My resume looks shabby and although I have worked in various roles in diverse areas the "drifter" tag is becoming prominent.
I think I will end up again at SS Earnley or at some of the other companies where I have worked earlier. The process of sending resumes, taking up tests, attending interviews is all set to start again. I need to find a job without shifts!
Wish me luck folks! The game is afoot !
I honestly am at a self-created mess or yet another career-crossroad. A couple of fellows left without serving any notice; just a farewell. I do not have the heart to do that as I am a sentimental bloke. I respect a director of the company for her intelligence and her strength.
The way things are going with no signs of any major improvement I think I will have to "abscond". My resume looks shabby and although I have worked in various roles in diverse areas the "drifter" tag is becoming prominent.
I think I will end up again at SS Earnley or at some of the other companies where I have worked earlier. The process of sending resumes, taking up tests, attending interviews is all set to start again. I need to find a job without shifts!
Wish me luck folks! The game is afoot !
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Bride-Hunting and Horoscope-Matching
Thirty horoscopes from my sister.
After many permutations and combinations, five show signs of matching. Five e-mails have gone to different parts of the country with my details.
Let us see if a favourable reply comes.
After many permutations and combinations, five show signs of matching. Five e-mails have gone to different parts of the country with my details.
Let us see if a favourable reply comes.
Friday, November 13, 2009
A Time to Study
Need to start studying with more interest and energy as exams are in December.
I am worried about one paper called Quantitative Methods.
Maths has always been my weak-point and the ghosts of high-school are back to haunt me.
God give me strength to study well and clear all papers in the first attempt itself.
I am worried about one paper called Quantitative Methods.
Maths has always been my weak-point and the ghosts of high-school are back to haunt me.
God give me strength to study well and clear all papers in the first attempt itself.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Team India-What went wrong?
Team India-What went wrong?
Before the start of the seven match India-Australia ODI series, things were pretty much gung-ho and we looked for an interesting series.
The so-called second-strung Australian team has once again proved how an effective and efficiently run Cricket Australia churns out match-winners who are up to the challenge and snatch victory from the mouth of defeat.
Two very closely contested matches. It was India's cocky approach that cost them the series. Today's match is likely to be canceled because of heavy rains. Sachin will once again be disappointed as his 175 a master-class of batting went in vain. Memories of the Chennai test conceded to Pakistan will echo again.
Dhoni's captaincy and the lop-sided batting of the team has caused a lot of heart-burn.
A banner held by a spectator "INDIA MISSES THE WALL" is proof of what is needed.
Why Sehwag or Sachin did not get to bowl remains a mystery. Sehwag's failure to get a good start and an unsettled opening batting pair troubles India.
The one true positive from this debacle was Praveen Kumar surprisingly for his batting.
The Sril Lankan series starts soon can India regain some respect. Let us see.
Before the start of the seven match India-Australia ODI series, things were pretty much gung-ho and we looked for an interesting series.
The so-called second-strung Australian team has once again proved how an effective and efficiently run Cricket Australia churns out match-winners who are up to the challenge and snatch victory from the mouth of defeat.
Two very closely contested matches. It was India's cocky approach that cost them the series. Today's match is likely to be canceled because of heavy rains. Sachin will once again be disappointed as his 175 a master-class of batting went in vain. Memories of the Chennai test conceded to Pakistan will echo again.
Dhoni's captaincy and the lop-sided batting of the team has caused a lot of heart-burn.
A banner held by a spectator "INDIA MISSES THE WALL" is proof of what is needed.
Why Sehwag or Sachin did not get to bowl remains a mystery. Sehwag's failure to get a good start and an unsettled opening batting pair troubles India.
The one true positive from this debacle was Praveen Kumar surprisingly for his batting.
The Sril Lankan series starts soon can India regain some respect. Let us see.
Public Enemies-Politicians
Look at the mess:
In Karnataka a chief minister and a national party are held to ransom by two brothers.
Madhu Koda a former minister is accused of a scam running in to thousands of crores.
Maoists continue to create mayhem as ministers look dumbfounded.
Maharashtra Assembly is disrupted as MNS members attach Abu Azmi for taking oath in Hindi.
Water wars emerge as Tamil Nadu and Kerala are at loggerheads over Mullai Periyar Dam.
God save this country!
In Karnataka a chief minister and a national party are held to ransom by two brothers.
Madhu Koda a former minister is accused of a scam running in to thousands of crores.
Maoists continue to create mayhem as ministers look dumbfounded.
Maharashtra Assembly is disrupted as MNS members attach Abu Azmi for taking oath in Hindi.
Water wars emerge as Tamil Nadu and Kerala are at loggerheads over Mullai Periyar Dam.
God save this country!
Monday, November 02, 2009
UP!
I finally got to see "UP" this Sunday evening. This gem from Pixar had a long delay in reaching India.
The movie is a departure from previous offerings from Pixar and has human emotions as a major factor.
The movie recounts the story of a young boy who wants to be an explorer. He meets a girl who has similar ambitions. They become friends and they grow older and get married. They plan to reach the fabled Paradise Falls and start saving for their trip. The sequence extends and the childless couple have grown old. The man Carl and the woman Ellie still love each other deeply.
Carl gets two tickets to Venezuela but Ellie has fallen ill and eventually she dies. Carl sits all alone in the church after Ellie's burial.
Carl's old house is in the middle of a construction plan. A series of events leads Carl to be arrested and forced to move to an old-age home.
Carl plans something else and blows loads of balloons fixed to his roof and flies away. The only problem a small chubby boy Russell is unwittingly also at the doorstep when the house flies.
The duo face problems and finally reach Paradise Falls.
Here they meet talking dogs, a strange bird and an explorer Charles Muntz who was presumed to be dead.
What follows next is an interesting mix of the duo outwitting the old explorer who wants to capture the bird alive with his coterie of talking dogs.
There are chase sequences in the air, a zeppelin kind air-ship and Carl's humble home.
Watch the movie on the big-screen.
Thumbs-up!!!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Public Enemies
I expected a lot from this movie.
A chance to see Christian Bale and Johnny Depp trying to outwit each other.
This is a movie which traces the history of notorious bank-robber John Dillinger and the story of how law-enforcer Purvis manages to trap him and kill him finally.
The movie was good from the cinematography and background music-score point of view. A couple of jail-breaks and chase sequences.
The movie was entertaining but the feeling that I did not get my money's worth continues to bother me.
Christian Bale was wooden while Depp was average.
The lady who plays Depp's love-interest has done a good job.
Sadly only a 2.5 star rating!
A chance to see Christian Bale and Johnny Depp trying to outwit each other.
This is a movie which traces the history of notorious bank-robber John Dillinger and the story of how law-enforcer Purvis manages to trap him and kill him finally.
The movie was good from the cinematography and background music-score point of view. A couple of jail-breaks and chase sequences.
The movie was entertaining but the feeling that I did not get my money's worth continues to bother me.
Christian Bale was wooden while Depp was average.
The lady who plays Depp's love-interest has done a good job.
Sadly only a 2.5 star rating!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
District-9
DISTRICT-9
What a movie!!!!
A formulaic concept of a man on the run that has been rewritten with an alien twist.
This movie needs a detailed review, but I am pressed for time.
A situation where aliens land in Johannesburg, they are pushed to a colony in the city termed District-9.
A company is given the task of moving them to another area. One of the officers gets infected and mutates into an alien.
Now the authorities and a group of Nigerian gangsters are after him.
Does the officer escape?
Does he become a full-fledged alien?
Is he reunited with his wife?
Watch the movie for answers.
Worth watching on the big screen
A Decision
Musings.....
Well I do not know who all are going to read this post.
May be someone from my current office might read this!
To cut a long story short, I got an offer from a leading company. A good offer too.
But with all the problems and short-comings that are here, I chose to continue here.
Let me see how things progress.
The 2-year clause continues to weigh heavily on my mind.
I am trying to bring in changes, clarity and a systematic approach to work. Two months more to go for completion of probation.
If things continue to move downwards then it will be "quits".
There is a gut-feeling that good-times are around the corner.
Let us hope for the best.
Well I do not know who all are going to read this post.
May be someone from my current office might read this!
To cut a long story short, I got an offer from a leading company. A good offer too.
But with all the problems and short-comings that are here, I chose to continue here.
Let me see how things progress.
The 2-year clause continues to weigh heavily on my mind.
I am trying to bring in changes, clarity and a systematic approach to work. Two months more to go for completion of probation.
If things continue to move downwards then it will be "quits".
There is a gut-feeling that good-times are around the corner.
Let us hope for the best.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Friday, October 09, 2009
Crisp Movie Reviews
Crisp Movie Reviews
Managed to see some movies:
Kandaswamy-Over-hyped, time-pass, Shriya looks stunning and anorexic at the same time, Vikram is cool, Vadivelu is crass, the movie bends all notions of "Wilful suspension of disbelief".
Eeram-Great potential, starts of well, loses steam in trying to balance itself as a horror movie or a suspense thriller. Definitely worth watching once.
Unaipol Oruvan-Mohanlal outshines Kamal, but the movie lacks suspense for folks who have seen "Wednesday".
Managed to see some movies:
Kandaswamy-Over-hyped, time-pass, Shriya looks stunning and anorexic at the same time, Vikram is cool, Vadivelu is crass, the movie bends all notions of "Wilful suspension of disbelief".
Eeram-Great potential, starts of well, loses steam in trying to balance itself as a horror movie or a suspense thriller. Definitely worth watching once.
Unaipol Oruvan-Mohanlal outshines Kamal, but the movie lacks suspense for folks who have seen "Wednesday".
Dare House
All these years in Chennai, I used to look at the imposing Dare House at Parrys Corner.
The European-style architecture and a chequered history behind the building.
Later this evening I shall be visiting the building to meet a client.
Wish me luck:)
The European-style architecture and a chequered history behind the building.
Later this evening I shall be visiting the building to meet a client.
Wish me luck:)
Searching for The Divine
Searching for The Divine
One wanders in temples, mosques and churches, trying to find the Divine One.
It takes a long time for one to realize that the Divine One exists in oneself.
One wanders in temples, mosques and churches, trying to find the Divine One.
It takes a long time for one to realize that the Divine One exists in oneself.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
An Emotional Outburst
All the frustrations at home, my mother's illness, father's irresponsible behaviour and the pressures at work-took their toll and I had an emotional break-down at work. I was practically in tears and mumbling incoherently.
The folks at office were worried and promptly sent me home.
A colleague dropped me at the railway station and I reached home in a dazed state.
I do not know how things are going to go on.
Life keeps springing surprises at every stage.
The quest continues...
The folks at office were worried and promptly sent me home.
A colleague dropped me at the railway station and I reached home in a dazed state.
I do not know how things are going to go on.
Life keeps springing surprises at every stage.
The quest continues...
Monday, September 21, 2009
Missing Kolkata
Lines Composed on the City where I was Born
I do not know why!
But I am missing Kolkata a lot.
The Navaratri season has started.
It is time for Pujo in Kolkata.
The pandals with the various forms the goddess.
The crowds, the jhal-muri and puchka.
The stalls with the shooting games.
I just don’t know why!
Why I had to leave the city where I was born!
Chennai has given me a lot!
Moulded me in to a man,
From the gawky adolescent that I was!
Given me praise, friends, fame and a job!
Somehow the winds of change,
May destine me to return to the city,
Where I was born!
May be a bride from the land of sweets!
Who knows?
An offer to work!
In a land of bandhs and strikes!
A chance to travel by the trams and the Metro!
A chance to visit the maidan in the evenings!
Wish that some things,
Fall in to place soon!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
The Quest Begins!
So the quest shall start all over again!
The surprise being the seeker might return to an old haunt again!
Wish me luck folks!
The surprise being the seeker might return to an old haunt again!
Wish me luck folks!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Musings
Musings
I wonder,
As I sit trapped,
In this place.
Bereft of any joy or humour.
Pretending to be happy,
And enjoying what I am doing.
Another charade-
To play my role.
Will there be a change?
The darkness that continues to haunt me
Is puzzling!
Will the shining light!
That I aspire for,
And dream in drug-induced sleep
Brighten my life-
In reality?
I wonder,
As I sit trapped,
In this place.
Bereft of any joy or humour.
Pretending to be happy,
And enjoying what I am doing.
Another charade-
To play my role.
Will there be a change?
The darkness that continues to haunt me
Is puzzling!
Will the shining light!
That I aspire for,
And dream in drug-induced sleep
Brighten my life-
In reality?
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Salary:)
Salary:)
Finally we have got our salary.
Funny thing is have not got a message from the bank yet.
One of my colleagues checked his account online and passed the news around.
Finally we have got our salary.
Funny thing is have not got a message from the bank yet.
One of my colleagues checked his account online and passed the news around.
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