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Showing posts from 2008

Advantage India

A NICE MUST READ ARTICLE": India in particular, for all its complexity, is a country that is as much an idea as it is a nation. The years of colonialism have meant that India has not evolved through a natural arc; disparate regions were brought together by the ideas, good and bad, of British administrators and Indian leaders. My first glimmer of the power of these ideas came when I was five years old. ... Growing up in those days, it was very easy to believe in the idea of a nurturing government and public sector. A paternal, socialist state would own companies which would create wealth and the wealth would be used for the betterment of society. Why allow wealth to be created in private hands where it would probably be used for nefarious purposes? It all made perfect sense. Many Indians believed in these ideas then; few of us believe in them now. ... This ebb and flow of ideas, and how this has shaped the changes in our economy and politics. For example, through the early days of

Girl!

When a GIRL is quiet, Millions of things are running in her mind. When a GIRL is not arguing,She is thinking deeply. When a GIRL looks at u with eyes full of questions, She is wondering how long you will be around. When a GIRL answers "I'm fine" after a few seconds, She is not at all fine. When a GIRL stares at you, She is wondering why you are lying. When a GIRL says I love you, She means it. When a GIRL says "i miss you", No one in this world can miss you more than her.

Empty vessels....

I have heard of the proverb "Empty vessels make more noise." I saw it for the first time in live yesterday.He was a very interesting person.I take analysis of fellow humans quiet seriously mark you!Well the analysis of this person was a fun ride trust me. I had the opportunity to meet Mr Showoff(This is how I am going to call him in this post..to hide his identity...not that he might read it but just for the mystery intrigue and fun of it) in Aynavaram.My father is building a home there.So Mr.Showoff is our new found neighbour.I don't want to talk about the boring intro as I usually do:)...Lets skip the details and go to the comedy in it.There are 3 characters-Me,Dad,Mr.Showoff(S.O. for short). He was all husk and no grain.His nature and character did fascinate me a lot.He was a contractor for buildings by profession or so he said.He was not the annoying type.He was the funny jobless type.His English was the most fascinating thing.The word he used most often is "Back

The longest 60 minutes

November 28th 5.00: Sanjay"Go in sweety daddy will come after attending this call" Maya smiled and went into an ice cream parlor. "Hello! yes I had asked you to put..." Sanjay's words were cut short by the sound of a blast.To his horror the ice cream parlor was burning! He called the police immediately from his phone.He was terror struck "Hello is it the police?" 5.20pm: Sanjay felt miserable.He felt that as if his whole world was crumbling in front of his eyes.He was waiting outside an ice cream parlor or what was left of an ice cream parlor.Five minutes ago he was in his car with his daughter Maya.A pretty girl who was in the age of rainbow.That's how Maya used to say her age.A very bright 7 year old girl.She was Sanjay's friend,enemy,companion,competitor,student,teacher ... shortly his world even more aptly daddy's favorite girl. All that was ten minutes before.Now his whole world seemed to fall.He didn't know who to blame fate of h

Oh Brother

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Surya just stared at the display screen in Dubai airport.His flight was delayed by an hour.He mechanically stared at his Diesel watch.It showed 12 midnight.His flight inbound to Chennai was postponed from 1a.m. to 2a.m.Well he had nothing much to do other than to start reading his novel.He was a big fan of Robin Cook.Surya moved to gate 5 and found a calm place and sat down there with his book. He was just in his second page when he heard"Excuse me sir! are you going to Chennai?"Surya is by nature a nice person.But not at fist acquaintance you can't even get a smile form his lips till the third meeting.His physique contributed to that mystique feel.He was almost the perfect example for the phrase tall dark and handsome.He was not a beauty contest winner but in some way did have all the charms required to make any girl go gaga.Surya just nodded as a reply to the man who asked the question.Ramu was the man who asked it to him.He was a married man.He was around 35 years of a

Loving someone??? Express it immediately...

A good article which I read: IT'S 7TH GRADE.. I stared at the girl next to me... She was my so called "best friend"... I stared at her... Long, silky hair... And I wished she was mine... But she didn't notice me like that... I knew it... After class she walked up to me and asked me for the notes she had missed the day before... And I handed them to her... She said "thanks"... And gave me a kiss on the cheek... I wanted to tell her... I want her to know that I don't want to be "just friends"... I love her but I'm too shy to tell her... And I don't know why... IT'S JUNIOR YEAR.. My phone rang... On the other end it was her... She was in tears... Mumbling on and on about how her love had broken her heart... She asked me to come over because she didn't want to be alone... So I did... As I sat next to her on the sofa... I stared at her soft eyes... Wishing she was mine... After 2 hours... I Drew Barrymore movie... And 3 bags of chips

Nationality

American Attitude A man is taking a walk in Central park in New York. Suddenly he sees a little girl being attacked by a pit bull dog. He runs over and starts fighting with the dog. He succeeds in killing the dog and saving the girl's life. A policeman who was watching the scene! walks over and says: "You are a hero, tomorrow you can read it in all the newspapers: "Brave New Yorker saves the life of little girl". The man says: "But I am not a New Yorker!" Oh then it will say in newspapers in the morning: “Brave American saves life of little girl” the policeman answers. "But I am not an American!" - says the man. "Oh, what are you then?" The man says: "I am a Pakistani!" The next day the newspapers say: "A Terrorist Kills Innocent American Dog!".

Smile when it hurts the most!

I am having my university exams now.I am a II year student in B.Tech.Information Technology.Now I am having my third semester examinations.Well I am not extremely brilliant or a prodigy but I have set my own standards.I got 86.7% in my last semester and 96.25% in my plus two.It is not by luck of chance that I got both but with hard work.But sadly that sincere part of me has not been rewarded lately.By reward I don't mean recognition or a praise but here I talk of satisfying the nagging old levels and position that I have set for myself. I have written only 4 of my 6 exams.Generally the exams give me a happy feeling of achievement.I feel that I have done justice to to position I am in and the work I have done.But sadly this time all my four papers were not up to my expectations.I am a person who does not sit thinking of my present failure for long.I do analyze it and find fault in me but after a point I let it go and think of the next task ahead of me.Better that way then crying ove

I cant count my money!

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Money seems to be such an important thing in our life as a matter of fact it is.Day in and day out we handle money.We use it to buy things and get it when we sell.It rotates much faster than any planet around its access and revolves more gracefully that any other entity in phase of this earth.For the people who are taught what is 2+2 and table in mathematics at school all this might be very easy.But I have always wondered how it is for the less fortunate people.Let it be my local vegetable vendor or any other uneducated business man have always astonished me with their knowledge they are as fast as my calculator.I am proud of them.With no actual basic education they do this with practice.Iv heard that practice makes perfect well here is a perfect example. However there is another side to this tale.What about those who didn't get the external exposure as well?I mean those petty house maids and house wife's.In a country like India men make the monetary rules of the home irrespect

My faith

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I was on the way to my home from a temple with my dad in the car. I had nothing much to do and hence was tampering the music player. My dad was silent and didn't mind my child like naughty work with the player. On the way my father saw a coconut vendor and stopped the car to get some.I decided not to get down but thinking dad would need a hand I got down to help him. I was staring without a blink at the trade center in the opposite side.Not that I like it much just that I like to do that.As the saying goes in this life full of care there is no time to stand and stare. Lucky me I had that time. Well not for long. I heard a lady's voice call out "Sir!" Her voice transported me back to the present age.She had addressed to my father. "Yes!" said my father."Sir, I think that you are a Hindu."My dad did say anything he just nodded. Our religion was very obvious because of the kum-kum on our fore head."Sir! then you are among the unlucky!"Again

A chat to remember

Exams have drained me out but I still have 3 more to go.I thought that a break from all this will be good.So I freaked out today.I went for a movie,temple,now online.My first intention was to blog.But then I saw ma anni(Sister in law) online and decided to have a small chat.It was like no other chat.Then we started to speak about life and friends here is an extract form if.Please do excuse the abundant use of short cut and Tamil:).Viji I hope you read this,I dedicate this to ma dear anna(I know her because of you) and anni(you are too nice a person):) viji.rajendran: i always used to be in the company of friends madhumitha: new place w/o anna n others tuff viji.rajendran: always surrounded by friends when am away form home madhumitha: but its an experience viji.rajendran: yes yes and i have started enjoying it :) madhumitha: dats the spirit ;) viji.rajendran: :) vera enna Madhu keerthu studies eppadi poradhu? madhumitha: good viji.rajendran: hope shes not taking too much of pressure ma

Monsoon times!

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However long it may take, The long hours that I may stay awake, I put all that I have at stake, All this for the smell of success! I will climb over all hurdles, The strength for victory is within us. I will not hide inside like turtles, I will fight hard and tough, I will blow against the storm, Till my last breath huff and puff. Only victory will retain the calm! I know that it is not all over, Even after I win, New clouds of challenge will hover, No worries in heart like trash in bin. With courage I will face, Each storm one at a time, For to battle is this place, I'll do it with a cheerful hymn. For this life is to experience it all! Both high and low, What ever may be the fall, Or rise make if an ally not a foe, For there is only one life to love!

Emote our Emotions?

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It happens to everyone. You open a present and find a gift of so little personal interest that you wonder if you got the wrong package. The classic may be clothes presented to a preschooler; who can expect a 3 year-old to smile and say, "Thank you!" upon receiving a sweater? Somehow, we learn the rules about how to accept a gift, regardless of personal interest. Is it just a question of age? Older children are much better at politely thanking the giver than younger children. But gender seems to play a role, too. Girls are also more likely than boys to appropriately thank Aunt Margaret for that ugly sweater. Jessica Kieras and her colleagues at the University of Oregon wondered if something beyond age and gender would predict children's reactions to bad gifts. Specifically, how able was the child to control behavior in general? Perhaps it's not about knowing the rules, or being a girl, but being able to control your behavior that allows some children to remember their

The woman in me

I have long pondered why god put man and woman as one species?They have nothing alike.I have been dazzled and lost by the way the the opposite gender thinks.If you are a guy please don't mistake me I m just puzzled.Long gone are the days when people say"A woman's heart can never be unveiled!"Now a days women are very loud on their thoughts.If they don't like a certain aspect of like the say it out it the blue.Worst case the can at least cry and howl.But my poor men are brought up saying"Crying is for women!""Being sentimental is weak!" Are the above statements true.Before we implore all of the general concepts held by men let us discuss the myth"Women are weak!"I am a girl born in India.Since my birth I have been brought up in a male patriarchal society.Even in a chart in school on the topic"Family" till date has a mother cooking father reading a newspaper, son playing and daughter sweeping the floor.In India and most other

Lift Manners?

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I had been to city center in mylapore Chennai recently to see a movie.The show timing was at 7.10 and it got over at around 10.We decided to take the lift because our 67 year old grandmother was rather scared to take the escalator.It seemed to be an endless wait.I am a person who doesn't mind taking the stairs that waiting endlessly.But I did wait as per my mothers instructions.I did insist that I and my sister should take the stairs instead of waiting.But my mother wanted all of us to go together.At long last the lift came but alas! it was full of people.There were a bunch of rural folks who were waiting near the lift.The were like a pack of hyenas guarding the lift entrance.The did not even let people from the lift get out.It was a pitiable sight.I thought that man was evolving to be more civilised and here we are fighting to get into a lift?Are we going to die if we wait for another 5 minutes?I know money is time but I also know that manners make a man humane. It is not where al

Diwali

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Diwali is the festival of lights.It brings both inward and outward joy to one and all irrespective of their religion.The word Diwali might have meant only new clothes or good food and family get-together for me 1 years back.But my view on Diwali was changed by a old lady who was my co-passenger in a local train. It was 10 in the morning.I was waiting in the Guindy train station in the ticket counter.I wanted to go to central station to get books.I got my ticket and went to the platform-1.I was rather impatient as I waited for the train.I kept glancing at my watch regularly.I was already late.My day did not have a great start.I got up only at 9 that too due to my mothers persistent effort to wake me up.Then after finishing my morning rituals the time was around 9.50.Then I asked my mother to drop me in the train station ten minutes form my home.I had promised to be in the station at ten.I am a person who likes to maintain my promise and punctuality.Well may be today was one of that exce

Better to have loved and lost...

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Aradhana a woman 23 years of age.Her looks can make any man go gaga.You cant say if it was her slender figure of the long black hair neatly tied into a pony or those bright beautiful eyes which attracted us to her.All this might be for the first timers but it was her heart of gold or so her friends would say.She was blessed with deep bronze complexion.It was a gift form her paternal end.Her father was from Andhra Pradesh.He had multiple business.His daily life went about taking care of it.Her mother had a beauty saloon.Aradhana form her childhood wanted to pursue her engineering.She might have been inspired by her uncle who was an electrical engineer and working in the U.S.A. If it was any other day you can see that bright smile on her face.She was always a pleasure to be with.her smile gave that beautiful dimple on her tender cheek.But today all was wrong or so she thought.Her smile was upside down.It was a frown.Her eyes were all swollen with tears.Aradhana was one of the brave kind.

Bubbles

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Sitara a pretty young girl just 7 years of age was very happy.She was going to see her nani(Grandmother).Her grandmother lived in a very remote village in the foothills of the Himalayas.Every year in her summer vacation Sitara would go there with her parents.She was the only child of Rahul a stock broker in Mumbai and Radha a classical singer by profession.So Sitara's life was mostly spent with her friends and neighbours.The summer vacations were the only time when she got to spend some quality time with her near and dear. But Sitara was not ready to complain.She loved her nani very much.Every time she went she had something new to learn from nani.This is one such a story of compassion between sitara and her nani.It would be better if I narrated it to you as an extract for nani's dairy. EXTRACT FROM NANI'S DAIRY: DATE:12.10.1995 Today was all hassle and joy.I do know that my words sound like an oxymoron but that is what I felt.It is the time of the year when my daughter her

Princess of the rain....

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Some of you might think that I have some kind of eternal love for rain or some thing what to do it seems to enthrall me and drag all my attention.But this is not a tale about rain but a little girl who made me feel humble.Here it goes. My water proof fast track watch showed 7.30pm.I was caught in traffic.The traffic in Chennai's suburb is very bad.I was on my trusty green scooter.It was drizzling hence I was on full gear with my raincoat and helmet.I had kept all my so called prized possessions like my cell phone and books safe and out of the rain.It was getting late.I kept staring at my watch since I had nothing better to do other than that.As if staring at my watch could make time run faster of make the traffic clear.Well I didn't have anything else better to do anyway. The rain god became more furious hence all people sought refugee under roofs of shops and trees or what was left of it.There has been illicit felling of trees in Chennai in recent month.Well coming back to my

T.V...Boo Hooo

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One of the worlds favorite pass time is the TELEVISION. The T.V. is the soul entertainment which does not involve any strain or burden all you have to do is sit and stare.Some may argue that it is just a sort of 'relaxation'.Yes indeed it serves that purpose only for some time.Beyond which it gets irritating same old shows same old people.It is indeed a powerful tool.Any good or bad news happening anywhere in the world is conveyed within seconds.However all is not fair and good. My mother tongue is Tamil.So I generally prefer Tamil channels to English.However I do not see anything creative in them.Some reality shows were good but such shows have been copied by other channels and has caused an aversion.The worst of all are these so called MEGA SERIALS.The height of stupidity.It can contaminated the mind of any innocent soul.The portrayal of women is very wrong.OK let us let alone the entertainment.What about news? Most news channels or channels them self are owned by a

Thank you anand

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This is a big thank you to my cousin brother,mentor,friend,role model,enemy,and everything else Anand Nataraj:)I thank you for this article http://www.anandnataraj.com/sonata-for-a-good-writer [Sonata for A Good Writer - To MM, with recommendation I’d like to dedicate this blog to my first cousin Madhumitha, she is doing her graduation but she has lot is oratorical and narration skills. She has helped me to do my MBA assignments even when she was in her school. I don’t mean to say her whiz kid, but she has an odd one out in our family, I often wondered if she originally hails our genes ;). She is an avid reader of books and we have often shared our thoughts on the books we read. In my busy schedule I asked her to read books and share the crux with me, which she promptly does. Having seen her narration in writing I’ve asked her to take up writing as a career and also made arrangements for her to pursue that. But she has not taken those thoughts seriously. I’m happy that she at least too

Worth a read..

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Possessed by Love The Ghostly Shadow Kathryn Keats awoke in a panic, convinced she'd heard the curtains in front of her bedroom's French doors swaying. In the dim glow from a bathroom night-light, she made out a ghostly shadow on the wall and froze, terrified. The suburban wife and mother had spent much of her adult life eluding a man bent on killing her, and now she was certain he had finally found her. I am going to die, she thought. The figure lunged toward her. But instead of the assault of a murderous stalker, Keats, 43, felt her seven-year-old son wrapping his arms around her. Frightened by a bad dream, he'd come to his parents' room for comfort. "All I could think was, If I'd had a gun, I would have shot him," Keats says today. "No one could understand how scared I was." Photographed by Tim Tadder Kidnapped and tortured by her schizophrenic boyfriend, Munger found a way to survive. No one could understand because not even her closest frie