H1: 2008

Hello

2008 is half done or as they say H1 is over. If you look at it , it has been a year full of surprise, shock and awe. At the beginning of the year, I don't think anyone could have predicted what a H1 2008 would turn out to be ( even LK Advani's astrologers). Let me share what I think have been the highlights:

• Nano got unveiled and took the world by storm ( making every Indian proud)


• Power changed hands in Russia and new president actually asserted himself and showed he was no more a puppet in Putin's hands


• Tata (again!!!) bought Jaguar & Land rover and The english pride as the saying goes


• Bear Sterns fell ... and it resonated all across


• Sub prime became the most known and lethal economic term of the year


• Citi got sleepless nights and while it remains awake has been selling off everything it can from assets to business and it isn't over yet. The day break for them is still far


• Gordon Brown who could do nothing wrong last year can do nothing right this year. "As you sow, so shall you reap " they say dear


• Inflation in India almost touched 12%


• Sensex fell from 21K to below 13K in 7 months


• Petrol prices almost kissed the 150 USD mark


• Barack Obama won( has almost) the democratic nomination for Presidential candidate. Anyone remember Hillary ?


• Iran did the unthinkable: tested nuclear and got away


• Manmohan Singh came on is own as PM. He pushed the nuclear agenda and finally for now 'Singh is king'


• Indian politics saw an economic / security issue uniting people across political affiliations


• F1 has 3 drivers almost tied for number one slot


• Fedrer got beaten by Nadal on grass at Wimbledon. Is it beginning of an end of Roger Fedrer era ?


• Its raining more in Delhi than in Mumbai (global warming effect) this monsoon

Well am sure if you start thinking the list could just go on. The idea is not to have as long a list as one can , but to think and ponder. Do we realise what we are witnessing? Economic re-organisation or should say realignment of vectors, climate changes, emergence of India, new heroes in sports etc These events are bound to have a significant effect on shaping our world going forward.

Look at all of the above and think , we still have H2 of year remaining.



2008 is saying folks "It ain't over yet!".



Will love to update this once we change the calendar post H2.

UK Dairy 1

13 May 08 8.40 am

Star bucks - Heathrow airport

As I sit to write i realise what a date ... to reach UK. my first time ever and hoping first time in a series of visits. I am optimist ... always .... I have always read and learnt about England / UK and also wanted to visit for some time now. Planned it in Aug 06 but Malaysia happened instead. Classic case of Man proposes God disposes.

Had a great flight. BA first class is quite good must say. wish i could travel first class always .... ( wishes were horses .....) Landed at 6.20 am and here is my first impression in last 2 hrs and 20 mins.

Like all airports heathrow is impersonal and not so friendly. Its a beautiful english summer day with lots of sunshine. I am looking around to watch english people as I sip my frapuccino - caramel coffee .... reminds me of Surbhi. She loves starbucks coffee... unfortunately not available in India. Surbhi & I have very fond memories of KL and starbucks. Amazing how small things remind you of people and dear ones.

The lady at immigration asked me lots of questions, first time questions : what are here for ? where do you work? designation? where will you stay?

As i think about it , was she profiling me ? maybe i did feel so ... and was thinking why? Maybe because of my family name .. for these people here very muslim .... god knows or the lady at the immigration. I am in and that what matters.

BA staff not very helpful. reminds me a lot of how Air India staff is. Old ladies ... lots of attitude, answering is like doing favour thus not very welcoming and helpful.

must tell you this .... lady at starbucks was taking orders as you queued up and shouting it out to the guy across --- reminded me so much of back home. have we indainised Britain??? too early to answer.

10.30 am

Just saw Amartya Sen . he was walking towards me and the we got to walking alongside. As close as one could get to him without entering his personal space. I wanted to stop him and say hi! it seemed so inadequate . He is a frail old man and was really having trouble pulling his heavy bag.
He was walking so nondescript . like any other traveller and it made me think - if he was in India would he travel like this or if he would have , police escorts , get VIP treatment, privileges at airports and then it occurred to me why should it be so? He may be an Indian but he has made his name here , he lives here, became a celebrity here and then when he is treated normally here why in India do we give him such a huge celebrity status ??? I never for once am saying that we should not admire him, or not celebrate his achievements, all i am saying is lets treat him as an equal. lets respect and not become sycophant. lets not go overboard. Something to thing about , what say.

Are you religious?

I have been asked this question quite often. A lot of times I really don’t know what or rather how to reply. I have also thought of this question many a times and every time I get to encounter different thoughts. I think answer to this lies in another a more basic and fundamental question that stares at me. What is religion?

• Is it something that I was born into – incidentally Hinduism?
• Is it worshipping gods and goddesses that my parents have made to believe since childhood?
• Is it following rituals and traditions?
• Is it going to temple every Tuesday and on all festivals?
  
  

I could go on but that does not help me and thus every time I asked ‘Are you religious?’ I have no answer.

Whenever I have asked my family and friends they all have come up with different thoughts and different view points. If you have seen a Hindi movie ‘Dharm’ directed by Bhavna Talwar, its protagonist Pandit Chaturvedi played admirably by Pankaj Kapur does try to define religion. It resonated with me to some extent but not fully and then I realized it is something that each one of us defines for ourselves as we go on.

Basis my values, beliefs, and experiences of till now 33 years I have formed an understanding of religion which is “A way of living”. This way can be illustrated by

• Treating all other human beings with respect and dignity no matter what
• Being kind to life whether it is in form of humans, animals or plants
• Being tolerant of other traditions, practices, forms irrespective of which faith they represent
• Being honest and true to ones feelings and views
• It is about giving: this could take form of love, money, things or time
• Finally it is about acknowledgement of a power irrespective of the manifestation that power may take
  

If I look at my own understanding mentioned above, I try to live them everyday and at every opportunity. When I say live I mean I try to make sure my actions confirm to them. Honestly not all my actions always confirm and when ever I do something that I regret, I resolve not to do it again.

Now I know if I am asked ‘Are you religious?’ next time, I can truly say ‘I am practicing to be religious’. What about you?

If you are thinking you already knew this, sure idea is not about giving a new perspective but it is about making you think and putting you on a path to find your own answers

Have you stopped recognizing your friends?

Hi! am back with another one. Pls leave your comments and say it as you feel , honest and open that's what my verandah is for ...

I have always believed in the fact that one does not make friends but recognizes them. The question that I have now is "what you do when you stop recognizing them?"

With time you change and so does the friend. There comes a moment when you realize while you had set out as friends, today you don't know each other , as much as you did earlier. What was common , what you liked, had shared has manifested in a new form that you maybe don't like, don't subscribe too or are not interested in any more.

Though the friendship is there, it is now more about the past and has little for the future just because in the new order both of you have changed. It is at this point the dilemma sets in as to what do you do? There are some options :

• You can let things be as they are, let time decide the course and you can flow with the tide
• You decide to talk about it with your friend and see what is the outcome or result, if there is any
• You make efforts to understand the other person, changes that have taken place, focus on things that have been important in the relationship and build on them

Most of us do nothing much and first option becomes the default option. We just flow with the tide and keep it alive in our memories where we think of moments of happiness and fun or hold on to a grudge and re-live it whenever we think of these friends.

Option to talk with a friend is a difficult one as there is very little or no control on the outcome. Most of us are also afraid to bring the issue on the table as we too have changed and not always for the better. Also at some point most of us realize our own failings that have also lead us to this point and we avoid acknowledgement of the same and the conflict it can give rise to. While this should be a preferred option because discussion could help you decide the future of the relationship it not always is the chosen option. I say this because a lot of times even when friends talk and feel its time to end and move on , they just keep it inconclusive and hope it will reach its end.This is most of the times painful and gradually leads to feeling of hurt and betrayal in one or both parties. Even if they realize they can rebuilt it one waits for the other person to say it or take the initiative. Call it ego or whatever but while the intent maybe to rebuild, it does not happen.

Last option to understand changes and focus on things that can take the relationship forward is ideal and thus the most difficult. This could also be the reason that if each one of us looks in our lives there are very few relationships which sustain change and time.

As you look back on the years gone by , its time to look at friends of now and also those long gone. Sit back, think, there may be some friends who you have let go because of waiting for them to call you, mail you, for something that was important then but today may not even be relevant or be inconsequential. If the memory of the moments spent together brings smile to your face , makes you feel good.

Its time to put that ego in the box, let go of things you have held on to for so long and its time to connect again . Its time to stand up and say I value you, thank you for all that you do and lets build on it together. Lets be friends!!!

I found this and realized it was an echo of my feelings .... so here it is for you to enjoy and relate and savour ...

I was thinking of old friends today and how many of them have slipped away. Moved, got busy, or stopped calling so much, Found new friends, got busy, and just lost touch. It reminded me of falling leaves. Every autumn the leaves fall from the trees.
Some stay longer than others, but eventually - Each leaf must fall, I'm told, leaving the tree alone to face the cold. Why is it that in the time of utmost need the leaves would seek to leave the tree?

And when we need our friends around us, We look and they cannot be found? Of course these friendships come and go and in the spring new leaves will grow. But I prefer autumn friends of old with crackling laughter and colors bold. And then I thought of you.
That one stubborn leaf that won't let go. That clings despite the winds that blow. Fighting ice, and snow, and winter's stings hanging on right through till spring. So I guess that's what you are to me - The very last leaf to leave the tree. I know it seems silly, but it's true. When I see that last leaf...I think of you. ....don't drift away.... will you?

Hi

Just made this blog thus had to write something random..so y not ..Welcome to my Verandah , my world .......