Leisure. Philosophy.

Har kise di koi shart si - they all had some condition

2009-03-22T12:39:00.001-07:00

Replaying Tere Bin by Rabbi Shergill

tere bin { Besides You }

sanu sohnia { my love }

koi hor nahio labhna { i shan't find another }

jo deve { who'll give }

rooh nu sakoon { peace to my soul }

chukke jo nakhra mera { and indulge my idiosyncrasies/coquetry}

ve main sare ghumm ke vekhya { i went around and saw it all }

amrika , roos, malaysia { america, russia, malaysia }

kittey vi koi fark si { nowhere was any difference }

har kise di koi shart si { all had some condition }

koi mangda mera si sama { some asked for my time }

koi hunda surat te fida { some were fascinated with my face }

koi mangda meri si vafa { some demanded my fidelity }

na koi mangda merian bala { none wanted my demons }

tere bin { besides you }

hor na kise { no one else }

mangni merian bala { will want my demons }

tere bin { besides you }

hor na kise { no one else }

karni dhup vich chhan { shall shade me in the sun }

jiven rukya { (the) way you paused }

si tun zara { slightly }

nahion bhulna { i shan't forget }

main sari umar { all my life }

jiven akhia si akhan chura { you said, looking away }

"rovenga sanu yad kar" { "you shall weep in my memory" }

hasia si main hasa ajeeb { i laughed a strange laugh }

(par) tu nahi si hasia { but you didn't laugh}

dil vich tera jo raaz si { the secret you had in your heart }

mainu tu kyon ni dasia { why didn't you tell me }

tere bin { besides you }

sanu eh raz { none shall tell this }

kise hor nahion dasna { secret to me }

tere bin { besides you }

peerh da ilaaj { my pain's cure }

kis vaid kolon labhna { lies with which doctor }

milia si ajj mainu { i found today }

tera ik patra { a note of yours }

likhia si jis 'te { on which you had written }

tun shayr varey shah da { a waris shah couplet }

park ke si osnu { upon reading which }

hanjnu ik duliya { a teardrop fell }

akhan 'ch band si { what was locked in the eyes }

seh raaz ajj khulia { was revealed today }

ki tere bin { that other than you }

eh mere hanjnu { these tears of mine }

kise hor { anyone else }

nahio chumna { will not kiss }

ki tere bin { that other than you }

eh mere hanjnu { these tears of mine }

mitti vich rulnha { will wither in the dust }

Unconditional Love, anyone?

Transformation on the Streets: Footpathshaala

2009-01-11T07:07:00.000-08:00

Shikha Khanna, a portrait photographer, specializes in Children Photography and loves working with street children including Photo presentations for social causes and would like to help society with her photography.

Debesh Banerjee reports (in Indian Express) that Shikha is launching an on-road campaign called "Footpathshaala" to teach basic life skills to street children using poetry and her photographs.

The poetry support comes from Delhi Poetree, an association of poets who have provided simple verses on "everyday subjects ranging from brushing one’s teeth and taking a bath to the importance of the environment, the Indian Constitution and the national flag".

Footpathshaala is expected to launch a pliot with 20 children in a month’s time. Shikha is in the process of enrolling street children to participate in the programme - she has already identified a family with eight children who sell newspapers at the Lodhi Road traffic signal.

This on-road campaign will use vans "supplying shampoo and toothpaste and a water tanker for clean water—where volunteers from Delhi Poetree will read out the poems and Khanna will illustrate them with her photographs".

She also plans to teach the children photography by hiring digital cameras! Khanna says:

It is simple. Every camera has an auto mode and they can pick up basic skills easily. Then they can paste their photos on Footpathshaala postcards and sell them. That will give them a respectable livelihood and stop them from begging.

How can we support her? People can donate digital cameras, volunteer to do the reading sessions, and, of course, donate money.

I would love to replicate this in the Dwarka sub-city of Delhi. What if people in every locality of Delhi conduct this programme?

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY for you to make a difference. Do you want to move beyond handing out coins or food from your car (or simply rolling up the windows) to street children?

Read the complete report here.

Bomb Blasts and Arithmetic Progression

2008-12-08T01:40:00.000-08:00

After having a near-close encounter with September 13 Delhi Blasts, the least expected was the shocking November 26 Mumbai Blasts.

Now, the mathematically inclined have 'discovered' an Arithmetic Progression of these blasts:

13 May 2008: Jaipur (nine blasts within a span of 15 minutes)

June 2008: ---

26 July 2008: Ahemdabad (21 blasts within a span of 70 minutes)

August 2008: ---

13 September 2008: Delhi (5 blasts within a span of 31 minutes, and a few more)

October 2008: ---

26 November 2008: Mumbai Mayhem

Indians seem to have FINALLY woken up:

Hopefully, INDIA WOULD NOT GO BACK TO SLEEP.

HOPEFULLY, NOTHING HAPPENS ON 13 January 2008.

Serial Bomb Blasts in Delhi

2008-09-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

5 Serial Bomb Blasts in Delhi; one of them 500 meters away from an Auditorium where I was watching a musical program performed by children associated with an NGO - Nritya Sangeet Natraj Kala Kendra.

I walked out and saw ambulances racing by. Decided to drive back home, and heard news of live bombs being diffused, 20 people getting killed, 90 injured....

So, that is what we have...a few people whose job, business and career is to plant bombs! Is it insanity? Do you think you and I are any better? Insanely, we rush through our lives, while these guys hold everyone at ransom....If we think that THEY are bad, them how has OUR BEING GOOD made situation any better?

Wanna be a writer?

2008-09-03T20:06:00.000-07:00

How to be a prolific writer?

Leo Babauta, shares in Learn from the Greats: 7 Writing Habits of Amazing Writers:

Stephen King is most prolific -writing 10 pages a day. Ernest Hemingway competes with 500 words a day.

Hard working writers are Vladimir Nabokov & Philip Roth.

Vladimir Nabokov wrote standing up, and all on index cards (to re-arrange later). Philip Roth works standing up, pacing around as he thinks and writes in an isolated studio.

Hardly working Truman Capote wrote lying down, in bed or on a couch.

James Joyce displays amazing freedom - A friend asked him if he’d had a good day writing. Yes, Joyce replied happily. How much had he written? Three sentences, Joyce told him.

My vote goes to James Joyce, though Truman Capote is close!

What would you vote for?

But, what will you REALLY TEACH & IMPART?

2008-07-10T22:44:00.000-07:00

Teach India | News and Features :You must be familiar with the street children who stare at you blankly (mostly, hopelessly, but, a few rare ones, mischievously!) at traffic signals, while you comfortably wait for the light to turn green! There was an interesting Hindi Movie on these 'special' children of our society: Traffic Signal (2007).

Now, you have a chance to contribute - Times of India has launched a social initiative that invites you to take out a few hours from your leisure to teach underprivileged children. Initially, this is only for the metros, but TOI assures us "that once the programme is up and running in the four metros, we will extend it to our other editions as well".

Over sixty NGOs, corporates, schools and social organizations have committed to this cause to target "a population of over 287 million illiterate Indians".

More that 10,00 have joined up - Delhi has shown the largest response, followed Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

So, we have all happily signed-up and WAITING for that CALL from Teach India Cell!

NOW, imagine you are in presence of, say, 20 underprivileged children, and you have started teaching a SUBJECT to them.

BUT, ARE YOU REALLY AWARE OF THEIR WORLD? WHAT ARE THEIR REAL ISSUES? Back home OR back on the streets WHAT ARE THEY UP AGAINST? A hostile world? Scared Parents (or, worse, abusive parents) ? How can they experience freedom from such severe conditioning?

WHAT DO THEY REALLY NEED?

Self Esteem? A glimpse towards a world of exciting possibilities? A concrete evidence that that they can CREATE an enriching life for themselves?

PLEASE SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS!

LET US GIVE OUR BEST TO THESE KIDS!
...............................................................................................
Anyone interested in participating can visit the Teach India website at www.teach.timesofindia.com. Alternatively you can also fill out the Volunteer Registration form submit it to The Times of India office in your city. To receive the form on email, SMS TEACH to 58888.

Thank God It is Sunday!

2008-07-06T00:39:00.000-07:00

Today is Sunday.

I can't enjoy it TOTALLY, because I am scared to wake up EARLY MORNING tomorrow!

Society allows us to rest today, so that we can run tomorrow.

If you are in a similar space, try the following tomorrow!
....................................................................................

Once, a colleague reached very late to our office on a Monday morning.

Someone taunted him, "You were expected here at 9 AM!"

He replied, "Why? What happened at 9 AM?"
....................................................................................

But, you may disagree and say that you have to RUN and complete a ton of things!

In that case, try the following!
....................................................................................
I was astonished to see a stream people RUNNING running on a SUNDAY.

I asked a volunteer, "What are these people up to?"

He said, "This a marathon."

I said, "So, what will they ACHIEVE from this marathon?"

He said, "The one who comes FIRST will be REWARDED".

I said, "But, why are the OTHERS running?
....................................................................................

Let me know how it turned out:-)

Gandhi's 10 Commandments

2008-05-30T08:16:00.000-07:00

How big a factor was Gandhi's philosophy in enabling India's freedom? How do you practice your Philosophy? How does your self-expression impact your society and world?

Inspired by Mohandas Karamachand Gandhi's thoughts, Henrik Edberg posted Gandhi’s Top 10 Fundamentals for Changing the World:

1. Change yourself.
2. You are in control.
3. Forgive and let it go.
4. Without action you aren’t going anywhere. More tips on this at How to Take More Action: 9 Powerful Tips.
5. Take care of this moment. More at 8 Ways to Return to the Present Moment.
6. Everyone is human.
7. Persist.
8. See the good in people and help them. More at Do You Make These 10 Mistakes in a Conversation?
9. Be congruent, be authentic, be your true self.
10. Continue to grow and evolve.

The last one quotes Gandhi:

”Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to
maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false
position.”

The fourth one quotes : “An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.”

Hmm..let us get some practice on the above ten points now....

Which ones are you planning to practice?

Freedom From Pain!

2008-04-11T02:01:00.000-07:00

In her latest post, Sirensongs shares, "I am having "problems" (mostly health related....horrible migraines and backaches)."

Come to think of it, many of us have been in this place and it is NOT always "easy" to "BE AT EASE" all the time! You have 'internal' dilemmas, relationship conflicts, pressures from 'society', and so on!

So, here is some help. There is an online "The Pain Relief Center", which is not-for-profit and invites everyone to "Use the power of the mind to eliminate pain regardless of the cause, heal the body, and improve your quality of life".

They use an integrated psycho-spiritual-physical approach to help you free yourself from pain.
Apart from other products, they offer free pain lessons. An excerpt from "Using Meditation for Pain Relief / Variations":

At the first sign of pain, say a migraine attack or back spasm, try to relax and bring yourself back to a meditative state. The more you practice relaxation and meditation training, the easier it is to do this. Pain naturally causes us to fight and struggle, or try to escape. This is itself unpleasant, and it also causes physiological effects that make pain worse, particularly headache and backache. Our fight or flight defensive reaction creates changes in hormones, blood flow, and muscle tension that make headache and backache much worse.
If we can relax and stop struggling, fighting, or trying to escape, we can break this "spiral of agony" and defuse the pain. You must experience for yourself that trying to fight the pain or to escape from it makes the pain worse. You can also experience that the pain changes when you stop fighting or trying to escape.
One of the best ways to stop fighting or trying to escape is to turn your attention TOWARD the feeling of pain in your body, and to stay with it. This works particularly well with headache, backache, gastrointestinal pain, and other types of pain that are especially made worse by the emotional component.
When you learn to turn your attention toward the pain, to examine the sensation of the pain, and to examine the emotion associated with the sensation, you will experience a most extraordinary thing. The pain will change in quality, move around, or abate entirely. Most people continue the fight -- they never stop struggling with the pain, so they never see what happens when they stop fighting.
A variation of the above technique is to try to locate the pain precisely, and to determine its size, shape, and quality. For example, when your back hurts, try to describe exactly where the pain is in your back. Imagine a picture of your back and try to localize it exactly on the picture. How spread out is it? What kind of pain is it? Is it burning, crushing, dull, or prickly? Pay attention and make sure you are right, particularly about location and extent. This forces you to bring your awareness to the pain.
A related technique is to use imagery. For example, if you have a headache, you might imagine a window opening in your head and the pain leaving through the window. Or you might imagine cool water flowing over the pain. This also forces you to bring your attention to the pain.
If you do any of these exercises while remaining relaxed it will counteract the emotional component of pain -- the tendency to fight or escape. In many cases the results are dramatic. Some people find they cannot localize the pain at all, because when they pay attention to it, the pain moves away. They find themselves chasing the pain around, and it eventually dissolves.

TRY IT OUT and share your experiences.

Say "YES" to freedom from pain.

Feringhee: The India Diaries

2008-04-06T02:05:00.000-07:00

Feringhee: The India Diaries

Checkout photos of monks from Tibet expressing themselves: photos by Sirensongs who lives "somewhere on the Great Asian Road between Kathmandu, Kailash, & Kashmir, India".

Her disillusionment and childhood memories of "Tintin In Tibet" have led her to adventures throughout India, Nepal and Sri Lanka (Tibet and Bhutan are next on the list).

Sirensongs is "inordinately proud of her ability to read street signs and argue (successfully) with taxi drivers in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, French and Nepali languages. Her Tibetan, however, is still a total disgrace. She's working on it."

Quote: "Why do people go to India to find themselves? India is where you go to LOSE yourself."

Amen.

Don't hesitate! Go out, express yourself FULLY!

2008-04-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

Dan Kretschmer, is the author of a book called “Masters of the Renaissance,” which takes a look at 18 of the most important artists of the Renaissance in Europe.

He has talked about "What is Art"?

The wiki entry puts it as "The term art is used to describe a particular type of creative production generated by human beings, and the term usually implies some degree of aesthetic value. An artist makes a work of art for various purposes, such as creating an experience for others or as part of a ritual. ..."

Dan says:

To understand the art of the world we must first define “culture.”

Culture, anthropologically speaking, is everything about humanity that hasn’t been inherited biologically.

In short, it is our human expression.
... ...

Ever since man became a cognitive entity, homo sapiens sapiens, or “Thinking thinking man,” he has needed to express himself in one way or another. The origins of language could have been a series of grunts and gestures, a way of communicating thoughts and ideas in tangible ways. Long before alphabets and writing came into play, symbols were created to represent ideas, and were painted on the walls and other surfaces to convey messages. This early way of putting ideas into visible cues is the origin of art.

Art, therefore, is and has always been a means of self expression.

The power to ponder and associate thoughts and ideas, the ability to differentiate dreams from reality, and the assigning of perceived value and significance to real objects are what separates us from our chimpanzee cousins.

Since the beginnings of humanity, our feelings and ways to express them have been a staple for our survival as a species. Once the basics of communication have been established, ways of showing others a higher form of feeling must be achieved.

This is art as we know it. Individuals with their own unique thoughts are expressing it in ways their fellow people can understand.

...

The leaps and bounds of art throughout history, however, have been a challenging of such readily accepted ideals. Society as a whole has their own set of values of what is acceptable and many pioneering artists who were ahead of their time were shunned.

...

So, in a nutshell, art is what you make of it. You, as an individual, have the power to decipher art, and to express your own art in any way you see fit. Art can exist anywhere.... ....Artists of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds produce their art in their own way. Not all art is going to be as great as Michelangelo‘s David, and this is important in your critiques of what art actually is. Good art, crummy art, corporate art, scribble drawings, advertisements, finger paintings, rug designs, body painting, found art, digital paintings, you name it- it’s all art. So it is unfair to the artist to say that something simply isn’t “Art” because you don’t understand it, and it may not smile back at you like the Mona Lisa.

He concludes:

One thing is for sure, no one can predict the future, therefore it is impossible to say where the art of tomorrow can be headed.

I say:
One thing is for sure, no matter who and where you are, ART is about WHO YOU ARE!

In a survey conducted in schools, kids were asked to raise hands if they thought they were artistic. RESULTS OF SURVEY: With every progressive class, number of hands went down and hesitation in raising the hand increased!

Someone has said, "Hesitation is sin". Now, we know why there are so many sinners:-)

So, don't hesitate! Go out, express yourself FULLY!

And, raise your hand (by commenting) IF YOU THINK YOU ARE ARTISTIC;-)

[Check Dan's articles about how learning art doesn’t have to be boring, and how you don’t need TV when there’s art.]

Tibet - Global Day of Action, March 31

2008-03-29T00:07:00.000-07:00

Avaaz.org - The World in Action

China has got it all, except love and respect. Can it FREE ITSELF from a "negative" past?

Would Chinese President Hu Jintao CHOOSE freedom and peace FOR China?

Members of Avaaz - the organization that has collected more than a million signatures in the last week calling on Hu Jintao for dialogue with the Dalai Lama - will join Tibet organizations around the world in a Global Day of Action for Tibet on March 31st.

Please see here to find an event near you.

Sign the Petition to Chinese President Hu Jintao -it will be delivered Monday, March 31st to Chinese embassies and consulates worldwide:

As citizens around the world, we call on you to show restraint and respect for human rights in your response to the protests in Tibet, and to address the concerns of all Tibetans by opening meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Only dialogue and reform will bring lasting stability. China's brightest future, and its most positive relationship with the world, lies in harmonious development, dialogue and respect.

Celebrating February 11: A Story of Freedom

2008-02-13T10:20:00.000-08:00

Around 100 years ago, one of the earliest thoughts on freedom of South Africa came from Gandhi. In the year 1908, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi spoke to a gathering at Johannesburg:

"If we look into the future [of South Africa], is it not a heritage we have to leave to posterity, that all the different races commingle and produce a civilisation that perhaps the world has not yet seen?"

Fast forward to February 11, 1990: Nelson Mandela is freed from prison after 27 years (Watch video). Thousands danced and celebrated on the streets of Cape Town. Addressing 50,000 people assembled outside the balcony of Cape Town's City Hall, he declared:

"Our struggle has reached a decisive moment. Our march to freedom is irreversible."

He was the 466th prisoner at Robben Island in 1964 - he was anointed as prisoner number "46664". After his freedom, he immortalized this number by using this number as an icon for a global HIV AIDS awareness campaign.

In his book, Long Walk to Freedom he said:

I have walked that long road to freedom.
I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way.
But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill,
one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.
I have taken a moment here to rest,
to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me,
to look back on the distance I have come.
But I can rest only for a moment,
for with freedom comes responsibilities,
and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended.

His ideas on freedom:

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."

Read this line again - "respect and enhance the freedom of OTHERS"!

Amazing!

Now, how would you define freedom?

Man versus God: The Truth about Us

2008-02-11T08:14:00.000-08:00

Peter Legge has a copy of an anonymous poem which "often seems to fit the struggle of humanity".

He shared the poem in "How to Soar With The Eagles".

The poem takes us through pain, sin, hate, hell, wars, despair and disaster ....but, finally reveals the truth about us - Who is to blame and who is to take responsibility?

I walked today through the slums of life,
Down the dark streets of wretchedness, and of pain.
I trod today where few have trod
and as I walked I challenged God.

I saw the sots in the bar rooms.
I saw the prostitutes in the dance halls.
I saw the thieves as they picked pockets.
I saw men and women devoid of life,
living in a world of sin,
and above the din I whispered, "Why God, Why?"

I walked today down the lanes of hate,
Hearing the jeers of bitter men,
Hearing the names as they cursed and spat
"Dago, Nigger, Kike, jap."
I saw the defected men they stoned.
I felt the anguish of their cries.
I saw them as they slapped the lonely,
as they turned their backs on human needs.
Snarling, growling were the fiends of hell.
These, God called his sons!
Gasping for air, I cried "Why God, Why?"

I walked today through wars of grim dregs...
over graveless men.
I saw the dead, the crucified, the headless,
the limbless, the pleading, the crying.
I saw the pain, the waste.
I smelled the odor of rotted flesh.

I saw the children gathered round..watching naked, hungry, weeping, diseased, dirty....
The baby trying to nurse from a dead mother.
The ruins...the agony...the despair!
Disaster..........disaster............all around!

Blinded with tears, I fled down these streets.
I stumbled, then stopped.
I shouted "Why God, Why?"
Why do you let man sin, hate and suffer?
Unmerciful Father! God, are you blind?
Are you wicked and cruel?
God, can you watch and do nothing?
Why must this be?

The world grew silent.
I awaited reply.
The silence was heavy.
I started to tremble.
I waited long..haft rebuking, half fearing,
Then I heard from close behind me
"Why.....Man.........Why?"

~Anonymous

Foreign Brand Names!

2008-01-15T04:06:00.000-08:00

For years, I have smiled at small Photocopier outlets in some regions like Maharashtra displaying, "Zerox" instead of Xerox.

But, when a recent visitor from "The Auto Expo 2008", Delhi told me that her friends loved the "VOKS-WAGON" car, I thought a quick look at the pronunciation of some Foreign Brand Names could be useful to many!

He were go!

Adidas :AH-dee-dass
Bayer :BYE-er
Blancpain :Blahn-pa(n)
Braun :Brown
Cartier :Kar-t-yay
Christian Dior : Cree-st-yaa(n) DEE-or
Hermes : Air-mez
Louis Vuitton :Loo-wee Vee-tuhh(n)
Piaget :PEE-uh-jay
Porsche :PORSH-uh
Renault :Ray-NOH
Tissot :Tee-SOh
Versace :Ver-sah-cheh
Volkswagen :Folks-VAH-gn
Yves Saint Laurent : Eaves-sahn Lore-rahn

The above pronunciations are indicative only. For accuracy or wherever you are not sure, please download specific sound files which are available at many sites.

And then, there are many more brands out there!

Please feel free to add to the list!

The Calendar Girls!

2008-01-02T06:15:00.000-08:00

Aalochana! In Sanskrit, it means Critical Review. As a NGO, it is the Centre for Documentation and Research on Women, set up in 1989 by "five feminists".

Their Vision:

"Our vision is to work towards the creation of a gender just and democratic society based on equality and freedom for all. To achieve this we have committed ourselves to the creation of awareness amongst women about their rights and what they can do to change their lives and the lives of their communities. It
is towards achieving these goals that Aalochana was set up."

Their annual calendar features 12 women achievers from rural areas in Haryana, Uttaranchal, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. Freelance writer-cum-photographer Vidya Kulkarni travelled for a month across these states to capture "the strength and the confidence that the women exuded" on camera.

The list includes Bele, a zilla parishad member and chairperson of Women and Child Development Committee from Latur, and Latifa Sheikh, sarpanch of Raimoha gram panchayat in Beed.

Is Photography Dead?

2007-12-06T23:20:00.000-08:00

Is photography now threatened by "Pixelization" of Media and use of Animation in movies?

Read it all in Newsweek, where Peter Plagens, says:

The last art form to be tethered to realism, its factual validity has lately been manipulated and pixelated to the point of extinction.

Photography is the easiest art, which perhaps makes it the hardest.~Lisette Model

Drop The Mask

2007-12-05T01:02:00.000-08:00

Unless you drop your personality you will not be able to find your individuality.

Individuality is given by existence; personality is imposed by the society.

Personality is social convenience. Society cannot tolerate individuality, because individuality will not follow like a sheep.

Individuality has the quality of the lion; the lion moves alone. The sheep are always in the crowd, hoping that being in the crowd will feel cozy.

Being in the crowd one feels more protected, secure. If somebody attacks, there is every possibility in a crowd to save yourself. But alone? - only the lions move alone.

And every one of you is born a lion, but the society goes on conditioning you, programming your mind as a sheep.

It gives you a personality, a cozy personality, nice, very convenient, very obedient.

Society wants slaves, not people who are absolutely dedicated to freedom. Society wants slaves because all the vested interests want obedience.

~Osho

Sources of Inspiration for Photography

2007-11-28T21:12:00.000-08:00

Checkout 60 Sources of Inspiration for Photography !

Sample:

6. Shop at a Farmer’s Market
You never know what you might find at a flea market. At a farmer’s market, you know you can find colors, spheres, people and displays. And dinner too.

8. Hit the Water
You don’t have to be a scuba diver to shoot underwater images. You just need waterproof housing and access to the sea, a swimming pool or even a pond. And once you’re wet, don’t forget to look up as well as down. Some of the most inspiring images can be taken at the point where the light hits the surface of the water.

10. Join a Demonstration
Demonstrations are full of flags, banners, placards and crowds. You can lose people in the mass or pick out expressions in the crowd. The only cause you have to support is photography.

Let me add mine!

#61: Hit the the Nature - The leaves, the butterflies, the insects!
#62: Spend time with children - The jumping, the laughter, the mud!

What are yours?

Effective way to copy past (some random thoughts)

2007-09-12T01:22:00.000-07:00

How can we copy an idea effectively? Hold on! What is an idea? Is it the flow of thoughts or is it a meaningful thought?

Since I am associated with IT, let me take an example of a software project. What is a project?

Can there exist two similar projects? Technically NOT.

Can there exist two similar ideas? I believe the answer is still NO.

(Assuming you are in mid 75 percentile of professionals)Your boss has given you a new task and the next thing you notice is that your mind started looking for ideas, may be a at google.

What is an idea? Is it an inspirational thought or a catalyst? If yes, what is inspiring me to write this blog? At least I am investing my time here if not money.

Copying an idea seems easy however the difficult part is to identify what you want to copy. For example, msn.com is a good concept which can be copied has a good visual design which can be copied, uses good technology which can be copied, has great data that can be copied etc. etc.

It is not important to identify the source. It is important to understand the destination

cheers
-MV

Intel trying to DE-RAIL the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative?

2007-05-29T21:10:00.000-07:00

Lora Bentley reports:

Nicholas Negroponte is accusing Intel of trying to drive the One Laptop Per Child initiative out of business. The OLPC founder says the only reason the chipmaker is selling its Classmate laptop is because the OLPC machine uses AMD processors. And “Intel and AMD fight viciously,” Negropronte said.

This really heats-up the discussion with socialists and free-market proponents not knowing whom to support and whom to criticize!

Have fun with the discussion:
http://www.itbusinessedge.com/blogs/bpi/?p=487
http://www.itbusinessedge.com/item/?ci=28722

But, will the child win?

The 10$ Laptop!

2007-05-04T02:52:00.000-07:00

Prof. Nicholas Negroponte, the founder of MIT's Media Lab, had announced the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in 2005.

In 2006, the project spun out of MIT into a nonprofit called One Laptop Per Child. That June, the team demonstrated a working prototype.

The $100 machine is labelled "XO-1" and Quanta Computer, the project's contract manufacturer, plans to ship 5 million to 10 million units this year because seven nations have committed to buy the XO-1 for their schoolchildren, including Argentina, Brazil, Libya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Thailand and Uruguay.

Sometime next year, economies of scale are supposed to bring the manufacturing cost of an individual laptop down to $100. It's now somewhere around $150.

But, the India's HRD has rejected Prof. Nicholas Negroponte offer of $100 laptops.

They want to make $10 laptops for schoolchildren.

As per Indian team's current calculation, the cost is coming out to be $47.

The two designs with the ministry are from a final year student of Vellore Institute of Technology and a reseacher from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

Six anchor groups set up by the ministry have been meeting regularly and IITs and IISc have been entrusted with the task of research and development of cheap laptops.

The estimated time for it to become reality is 2 years.

So, what happens to such low-cost mass technology initiatives?

For example, the Simputer was conceptualized as a machine costing around US $200 was desgined for the rural India. Ethan Zuckerman reports that by 2005, two manufacturers, PicoPeta and Encore Technologies, sold a total of only 4000 Simputers.

Today, the Amida Simputer costs $130 to $260, depending on screen size.

The Simputer fell far short of its rural target and became just another option for mobile, urban professionals.

So, would rural India get the $10 Laptop?

What say?

References:
1. Tekla S. Perry, http://spectrum.ieee.org/print/4985
2. Ethan Zuckerman, http://spectrum.ieee.org/apr07/4986/2
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/$100_laptop.
4. Akshaya Mukul, akshaya.mukul@timesgroup.com

वक़्त नहीं

2007-04-27T03:19:00.000-07:00

हर ख़ुशी है लोगों के दामन में,
पर एक हंसी के लिए वक़्त नही।
दिन रात दौड़ती दुनिया में,
ज़िन्दगी के लिए ही वक़्त नही।

माँ की लोरी का एहसास तो है,
पर माँ को माँ कहने का वक़्त नही.
सारे रिश्तों को तो हम मार चुके,
अब उन्हें दफनाने का भी वक़्त नही.

सारे नाम मोबाइल में हैं,
पर दोस्ती के लिये वक़्त नही.
गैरों की क्या बात करें,
जब अपनों के लिए ही वक़्त नही.

आंखों मे है नींद बड़ी,
पर सोने का वक़्त नही.
दिल है गमों से भरा हुआ,
पर रोने का भी वक़्त नही.

पैसों कि दौड़ मे ऐसे दौडे,
की थकने का भी वक़्त नही.
पराये एहसासों कि क्या कद्र करें,
जब अपने सपनो के लिए ही वक़्त नही.

तू ही बता ए जिन्दगी,
इस जिन्दगी का क्या होगा,
की हर पल मारने वालों को,
जीने के लिए भी वक़्त नही.......

The Ice-Cream Vendor

2007-04-24T12:31:00.000-07:00

I had reached half-an-hour early. At a deserted place in the outskirts of Dwarka (Delhi) waiting to pick-up the special one in my life and there was nothing for me to do, except WAIT....

Then I saw an ice cream vendor.

Thought, lets eat an ice cream. I yelled, “arrey bhaiyya” and called him towards myself and he rattled off the menu. I chose Pista Kulfi.

As I was paying him I noticed he was also free with no customers around.

बन्दे को क्या चाहिए! एक मुर्गा !!

So, I leggo!

Here are excerpts translated from Hindi:

Me: What is your name?
Vendor: Vijay
Me: How old are you?
Vijay: Sixteen
Me: How long have you been selling ice-cream?
Vijay: 1 1/2 years

Me: Who else is there in you family?
Vijay: Parents and younger brother.
Me: How much do you earn?
Vijay: Rs. 100 plus a day
Me: How much have you studied?
Vijay: Fifth standard
Me: Do you know English?
Vijay: No

Me: Why did you leave school?
Vijay: In the village, I had a fight with my cousins, so left village and came here.
Me: Want to study again?
Vijay: Perhaps
Me: See, if you study, you can earn much more. Maybe not immediately, but after sometime. So, get enrolled in a school.
Vijay: OK

Me: So, you want to study?
Vijay: Yes
Me: Which school will you take admission?
Vijay: Mount Carmel School, where I sell ice cream.
Me: Hmmm. OK, try more schools also.
Vijay: Can you help?
Me: Uh..Uh…OK let me check. Give me your telephone number.
Vijay: Here it is. Can I have yours?
Me: Sure. When will you take admission?
Vijay: After summer vacations.
Me: No, you have to talk to schools now. Not later.
Vijay: OK
Me: When will you go?
Vijay: Day-after-tomorrow
Me: OK, I will come back and ask you.

So, what I do with a 16 year old, who wants to start studying again almost from scratch.

He wants to work and study.

Any suggestions?

My visit to Ranipur Village

2007-04-17T03:57:00.000-07:00

Two days ago, from Babatpur Airport, Varanasi, I took a waiting car (generously sent by my Brother-in-law, Mr. Anand Prakash) towards Ranipur Village near Jaunpur, UP.

Somehow, at the back of my mind, I thought this would be a "small town" type of place with the hustle-bustle of rickshaws, tempos, tractors, etc.

But, just before our destination, when I saw a series of mud-houses and crops, I realized that I was about a visit a "true-blue" village with mud-houses and no public (and very few private toilets).

Now, a confession...I never been to such kind of village... Considering that there are 6,38,365 villages in India (including the uninhabited villages, as per the Census of India 2001, www.censusindia.net/results/eci6.html), that is an unbelievable depravity in my part. But, more on that part later.

I always wanted to visit such a village. So, it was turning out to be a “dream” visit. At that moment, it was exhilarating to pass through those mud-houses and crops across barely two-meter wide roads with friendly villagers guiding us to our destination.

Although, comparing that with the explosion of flyovers, malls and cineplexes in Delhi and rest of urban India, I didn’t know which emotion to choose.

Should I celebrate truly being in natural surroundings OR do something about the wealth and infrastructural gap? I certainly didn’t miss the first part…

But, what about the second option?

What do you say guys?

Let us brainstorm…I know we may be doing our bit by paying taxes and lot of people and institutions (incl. govt and NGOs) seem to be doing something at least…..But, let us see WHAT IS MISSING…Are there any GAPS, not being plugged….Are we doomed or are we progressing?

ये अंग्रेजी में अपुन को बात करना नहीं आता

2007-04-14T03:56:00.000-07:00

क्या यार आदमी आराम भी करे तो वो भी फोरेन भाषा में?

मुझे तो बचपन कि वो कविता याद आ गयी
--------------------

एक मित्र मिले, बोले, "लाला, तुम किस चक्की का खाते हो?
इस डेढ़ छँटाक के राशन में भी तोंद बढ़ाए जाते हो।
क्या रक्खा है माँस बढ़ाने में, मनहूस, अक्ल से काम करो।
संक्रान्ति-काल की बेला है, मर मिटो, जगत में नाम करो।"
हम बोले, "रहने दो लेक्चर, पुरुषों को मत बदनाम करो।
इस दौड़-धूप में क्या रक्खा, आराम करो, आराम करो।

आराम ज़िन्दगी की कुंजी, इससे न तपेदिक होती है।
आराम सुधा की एक बूंद, तन का दुबलापन खोती है।
आराम शब्द में 'राम' छिपा जो भव-बंधन को खोता है।
आराम शब्द का ज्ञाता तो विरला ही योगी होता है।
इसलिए तुम्हें समझाता हूँ, मेरे अनुभव से काम करो।
ये जीवन, यौवन क्षणभंगुर, आराम करो, आराम करो।

यदि करना ही कुछ पड़ जाए तो अधिक न तुम उत्पात करो।
अपने घर में बैठे-बैठे बस लंबी-लंबी बात करो।
करने-धरने में क्या रक्खा जो रक्खा बात बनाने में।
जो ओठ हिलाने में रस है, वह कभी न हाथ हिलाने में।
तुम मुझसे पूछो बतलाऊँ -- है मज़ा मूर्ख कहलाने में।
जीवन-जागृति में क्या रक्खा जो रक्खा है सो जाने में।

मैं यही सोचकर पास अक्ल के, कम ही जाया करता हूँ।
जो बुद्धिमान जन होते हैं, उनसे कतराया करता हूँ।
दीए जलने के पहले ही घर में आ जाया करता हूँ।
जो मिलता है, खा लेता हूँ, चुपके सो जाया करता हूँ।
मेरी गीता में लिखा हुआ -- सच्चे योगी जो होते हैं,
वे कम-से-कम बारह घंटे तो बेफ़िक्री से सोते हैं।

अदवायन खिंची खाट में जो पड़ते ही आनंद आता है।
वह सात स्वर्ग, अपवर्ग, मोक्ष से भी ऊँचा उठ जाता है।
जब 'सुख की नींद' कढ़ा तकिया, इस सर के नीचे आता है,
तो सच कहता हूँ इस सर में, इंजन जैसा लग जाता है।
मैं मेल ट्रेन हो जाता हूँ, बुद्धि भी फक-फक करती है।
भावों का रश हो जाता है, कविता सब उमड़ी पड़ती है।

मैं औरों की तो नहीं, बात पहले अपनी ही लेता हूँ।
मैं पड़ा खाट पर बूटों को ऊँटों की उपमा देता हूँ।
मैं खटरागी हूँ मुझको तो खटिया में गीत फूटते हैं।
छत की कड़ियाँ गिनते-गिनते छंदों के बंध टूटते हैं।
मैं इसीलिए तो कहता हूँ मेरे अनुभव से काम करो।
यह खाट बिछा लो आँगन में, लेटो, बैठो, आराम करो।

- गोपालप्रसाद व्यास

Take the Chill Pill!

2007-04-12T19:31:00.000-07:00

I was thinking, "Why are people running around?"

In fact, Why DO ANYTHING at all?

Then I realized, Leisure is my favorite occupation!

Let us see what people have said about this...

Agnes Repplier supports me:
It is in his pleasure that a man really lives;
it is from his leisure that he constructs the true fabric of self

Laurence J. Peter go ahead and motivates the lazy bum inside me:
The best intelligence test is what we do with our LEISURE

However, Gene Perret tries to warn!
Leisure: A fancy word for people who don't want to admit they're bored.

Let me choose Thomas Hobbes

Leisure is the mother of Philosophy.

AAAHHH....Philosophy, the ULTIMATE LUXURY!

What say?