Impostor’s On “Inspirational Hunt”

Last Sunday I and two friends, two other success aspirants, contemplated over our prevailing indolence and lassitude and concluded that we needed some stimulation to do away our sluggishness and start out to prepare to prepare to be prepared for the occasion called life. So we the young dreamers of becoming a great manager, a shrewd businessman or a high risk-taking entrepreneur searched for some stimulant. Finally we the wannabe the next Jack Welch, the next Warren Buffet and the next Richard Branson unanimously came to a decision. We decided to visit the campus of one of the premium Business School at national rank which happens to be at a local distance from our university.

After guzzling a good amount of fuel and raucously howling over few kilometers the auto rickshaw dropped us at a fair enough distance from the main entrance yet demanded full disbursement of the high enough fare. We walked the joining distance. Rather say, we sauntered, enthralled even by the peripheral boundaries. While we sauntered, few guys and even fewer gals swiftly passed by. Relative to their pace we appeared akin to an imprudent toddler ignorant that he was perambulating on a race track while the race was still on. Each passer by exuded confidence in steps, blazed shiny dreams in eyes and sanguine hope on face.

We paused a while facing the entrance, now mesmerized with the boulevard lying down. A long spotless and pothole less wide road bordered by, inverted conical shaped, shady green trees, each faithfully impossible to tell apart from others and thus communicated the consummate dexterity and acute meticulousness of the gardener. It appeared to be welcoming us and we responded according to our presumptions and stepped inwards only to be blocked by the guard or say an army sentinel trained to unwelcome the unfamiliar and uninvited faces.

Seeing his grim face, face to face and looking into his cold eyes, eye to eye, and affronted by a lofty depressing build silhouetted by a striking concourse was like being waked up in-between a marvelous dream with lots of blonds and brunettes. Though he did not voiced a sole word, yet every nuance on his grim face with cold eyes on a lofty depressing build tacitly conveyed us that he was interested to know the purpose of our visit, of we the unfamiliar faces in his very own very familiar workplace. I inanely told him that we have to go in, as if so far he was oblivious of this very key detail. He returned back a laconic ‘What for?’. The way in which he terse, made it apparent that lacking any defined intention we were not allowed in.

While I was busy googling my mind for a plausible excuse, one of my ambitious friend rambled ‘We have to meet someone in’. Next obvious question was ‘who?’. But this one coming from another individual, whose uniform and intonated accent certified him as a senior to the sentinel. This time I didn’t troubled googling out a suitable name rather I gawked at my ambitious and liar friend. He was an adept liar indeed; within nanoseconds he baptized the nameless virtual person as Vinay Pathak (a product of nanotechnology). But to our shock the senior associate happened to have a record of each student with all minutiae.

He offered us the database to figure out the dorm and room number of ‘Vinay Pathak’. We tensely drew nearer. My ambitious adept liar friend explored the list to find any ‘Vinay’ or any ‘Pathak’. He stopped at a name ‘Bijen Patnayak’, turned to me and asked ‘Saurabh. Was his name Bijen Pathak or Bijen Patnayak’. I silently admired his intelligence and said ‘I am certain of Bijen but not of patnayak’. Luckily the semi deaf guard and his even hearing impaired senior failed to appreciate the difference between ‘Vinay’ and ‘Bijen’.

So finally we were apprised of his dorm number (D-53) and courteously welcomed into the campus. Though we didn’t bother to meet this savior name, yet every face which I witnessed in made me wonder if he was Bijen Patnayak. Anyway we were back to business and crammed our vacant fuel reservoir with loads of motivating fuel, and swiftly (no sauntering) leaved.

Audacious hopes amid bleak time

Barrack Obama offered his worried countrymen a change from troubled times. He hoped audaciously to change the itinerary of things towards a prospective future, to recuperate the lost repute, to stabilize the ‘New world’. He allayed and overcame there colored apprehension with the heartening and inspiring phrase ‘YES WE CAN’. Americans demonstrated an awe-inspiring response and vindicated why they are titled the New World. This has been a great achievement for ‘US of A’ in general and Obama in particular. But with great victory comes great expectations. People have bestowed their faith in Obama’s words by empowering him. With great power comes great responsibility. Few of the daunting tasks beforehand are rescue world economy, tackle climate change and revive the United States. An elaborated view of these tasks could be as follows-

GUANTANAMO

The World will applaud if Mr. Obama keeps his promise of closing the Guantanamo detention camp but that will not fade away the Islamic extremist.

IRAQ

After training a decent Iraqi army, which has boosted the confidence of Iraq government, the assurance to withdraw combat forces seems attainable. But still Iraq is far from stability. Given the lack of space being provided to the pre-dominating Sunnis by present Shia dominated Iraqi government the possibility of a civil war can not be discarded.

IRAN

It will be easier said than done for next president to restrain Iran from developing nuke power, which in spite of all US coercion and economic sanctions is yet busy enriching its uranium store. Mr. Obama is willing to initiate talks with Iran. Given Iran’s interest in energy exports from Gulf nation, hostility with Taliban and security of Iran itself the chances of fruitful talks are fair enough. An Iran in peace with US implies abating of Iran’s nuclear pursuit and lessening its voice for dissolution of Israel and it might end it support for Hamas in Palestine and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Yet given Iran’s unsurpassed record US must be vigilant.

AFGHANISTAN

Winning the war in Afghan would prove even harder. Given discontent of Afghani people with its inefficient and corrupt government chances of restoring peace there looks dim. Mr. Obama may hope that US policy of counter insurgency which worked in Iraq may work in Afghanistan.

PAKISTAN

One of the most worrying fronts is Pakistan which is being used by afghan insurgents as a sanctuary. The US-Pak relations have gone scratchy under Musharaffs time and are further deteriorated under Asif Ali Zardari. Pak is at the verge of democratic collapse because of political crisis, an economic crisis, a jihadist insurgency, a coup prone army having links with Taliban. Only time will tell whether or not, Obama will take a tough stance against it as promised.

To be continued.......

Audacious hopes amid bleak time contd.

MIDDLE EAST

Engagement in Palestine-Israel which galvanizes the whole Muslim world can not be overlooked by the incumbent of oval office. Obama has supported the Jewish state and seeks it security sacrosanct. But at the same time he had shown more empathy for Palestine than former US presidents. Whether he can transform this support for Israel and empathy for Palestine into a peace initiative is another matter.

EUROPE

Shifting to Europe, to many in Europe Obama offers a chance to restore relationships with US. The Two Lakhs Germans who gathered at Berlin to welcome him vindicate this belief. Yet Europeans are tired of supporting US in Iraq and Afghanistan. They would like to preserve NATO but they are now more apprehensive of their own security with Russia invading Georgia.

RUSSIA

America can no longer overlook Russia’s grudging compliance. But with a nuke powered Russia controlling gas supplies of Europe and its arms sales to likes of Iran and Venezuela and its ability to veto any move of Security Council Russia has plenty of ways to cushion its troubles. It would be interesting to watch whether Mr. Obama stations a missile defense in Poland or not.

CHINA

Rise of developing nations in general and China in particular is going to be a matter of deep concern. Predictions are that china may overtake US in terms of economy and military supremacy. US had been using China’s saving to buy what China makes. Now they need a quick reversal of policy. Also it will be hard for US to persuade the developing nation for carbon control, given the fact that average American propels four times more pollutants than an average Chinese.

In the nineteenth century Britain ruled the globe. The two world wars led to a power transition and US emerged as the leading force of 20th century. Sometime in this century the balance of power will change again. Mr. Obama now has to prepare for the day when America will no longer be the superpower. To maintain the transition peacefully and still being able to propagate the ideals of liberal democracy and free market will be the mark of a truly great President.

The Color of Money

Indian social order is one which is fundamentally classified into various intricate echelons. The foundations of these stratifications are plentiful. Broadly the society has been divided on religion basis, and then re-divided on caste root, then again subdivided on economical factors. The term ‘Broadly’ verbalize that the list is not exhaustive, and given the umpteen ramifications and scriptures of the segregation it could never be. The most despondent divisor had doubtlessly been caste system. There is nothing so unique in India, nothing as all-pervasive in India as caste. A great deal has been debated over its genesis, and even more on it’s dismantling. But we still lack the fundamental information on how and why it was introduced and we still lack the imperative knowledge on how it should be brought to a conclusion (read end).

The Hindu caste system is based on an assumption that lies at odds with the assumption of Western democratic ideals: that all people are created equal. According to classical Hindu perspective people are born with different intellectual and spiritual qualities and capabilities. These differences dispose different people to different sorts of occupations and responsibilities in society. There are theories illuminating how the Vedas advocated the division of society on the basis of work in order to effect specialization which later on was restructured on birth basis. If that is to be accepted then given razor sharp specialization of todays highly competitive world we don’t need it anymore and should shorn it off.

The only purpose which the caste system seems to dole out in the 21st century India is to serve as a decisive tool in the hands of the valueless demagogue to divert the flow of votes. The Mandal commission and recent reservation hullaballoo are shining example.

The societal is such that even in a well educated family where the head has been taught that racism is an immoral concept the lessons of this system are tacitly passed to the younger ones. One is straightforwardly or circuitously made conscious of his position in the social hierarchy. One is taught what he should lay his hand on and what Untouchables thing one should avoid. Given the narrowing economical gap between the different castes (due to reservations) one is confronted with situations where you have to play host to an untouchable guest, so people developed the practice of maintaining separate utensils to serve them.

Everything alienated to avoid any physical contact. One marvels is there something which is above these social boundaries. Something such, which is permeable through the walls of these social barriers. Something which is not minded even it is being transferred from an untouchable. Yes there is one thing in my observation. We just accept it happily. We may mind giving it back to them. No its not respect or submission from there part and not any other abstract object. It’s purely materialistic. In fact it is the pedestal of materialism. Its polish seems to over shine any shadow of prejudice on caste basis or whatsoever. Its color is so glinting and lucrative to let you care about any discrepancy. Such is the color of Money.

Mind your grammar

Try out this rather unconventional yet esoteric joke.

A foreign tourist was swimming in an English lake. Taken by cramps, he began to sink. He called out for help: “Attention! Attention! I will drown and no one shall save me!” Many people were within earshot, but, being well-brought up Englishmen and women, they honored his wishes and permitted him to drown.

If you didn’t get this joke, don’t be embarrassed. Many won’t get it. Just go and check http://www.dailywritingtips.com/the-difference-between-will-and-shall/

If you did, I am greatly impressed.
P.S. Plz write in comments section what you understood.

Akram bowling for US

The title above for sure would have intrigued you. You perhaps possibly would be puzzled linking Wasim Akram and cricket with the United States of America. One might have wondered is he setting up to play in ‘The Super Bowl’, well as of now certainly he can’t. To end up your queries let me apprise you that the above title is a misleading or more fittingly it is deceptive. The US is not U.S., but it’s us (India) amid CAPS LOCK.

No. Wasim is not playing in any champions or premiere league. I am talking about his swing against Hayden’s statement of calling India a third world nation and blaming poor ground conditions for their series loss. Wasim hit back by calling Australians sore loser and stating that in front of the 21st century India Australia is no more than a village.

Though once it was media mogul Kerry packer, an Australian, who revolutionized the world of cricket by filling colors to this white pajama sport and made even gentleman like Imraan Khan be dressed in those T-shirts with double entendre of “Big Boys play at night”, but right at this moment it is India which defines the destiny of cricket and success of IPL despite the initial cynicism of ICC is a fine illustration of it. Australian cricketers in spite of being world champs are lesser celebrated than their rugby team.

Let’s not go into the veracity of Wasim’s remark. It was pleasing to witness a neighbor from Pakistan coming in straight support for us. Wasim had always been a well admired person in India and this is why his request to buy sugar free sugar appeal Indians and he is accepted by the public for judging the dance steps of our “Khiladi’s and Haseena’s”along with Sushmita. He is one among the very few players who played from the heart. His ferocity on the field is in sharp disparity with his affability and sociability off the field. Hat’s off to you sir.

Grow up kids

After two and a half tedious and lingering hours, of mindless scribing and arduous scrimmage with my newfangled awareness developed just yesterday, I finally called it a day and left the hall. Though still half an hour was left, I didn’t bother to have another look at my performance. I believe I am impeccable at vomiting down the otherwise worthless set of information’s which I have assimilated for the day. To add reason to my excuse I must admit that I just want to end the entire trauma as early as possible.

Right outside the hall I was forcefully drawn in in what I genuinely hate. Peers and few peerless strangers greeted with the “How was it boss? So brother you are fetching an O grade” chestnut and started discussing the questions. I nevertheless managed to skip the futility. On my way back to dorm I found few inhabitants of my nest acting as robotically as they could, holding the paper with stretched hands while keeping the eye either on questions or on the other guys (or gal) and vocalizing the answers garrulously. I noticed that the guy with guys sounded conceited on scoring more and the one with gal sounded pathetic as if he is responsible for her scoring lesser. Anyway they were enjoying the moment (I wonder how or why) not concerned to glance frontward as if they don’t mind whatever they might bump into.

Back at dorm my primary desire was to assuage my appetite, closely chased by the secondary wish to catch the highlights of Yuvi’s centurion innings against England and then to shape a long serene sleep. I was peacefully having my lunch sitting in front of the T.V. when those morons emerged there too and started examining, re-examining and re-re-examining their answers. At once the lunch which was till then palatable became insipid. Given my hunger I anyhow swallowed it and left immediately.

Finally I entered my room in hunt of solace only to locate the assiduous and diligent ‘maggu’ of my room busy analyzing his performance lively with few others. Now that was the limit. I couldn’t stand it any more. For sometime I doubted whether I was missing something by not being a part of it, Is something wrong with me for I am not able to even minutely praise what they so immensely pursue. I thought for few minutes only and the apprehensions evaporated. I re-realized this is so juvenile to be involved in.

I think somebody should soon ask these ‘kid Engineers’ around me to GROW UP. May be I should make them listen to Floyd’s ‘Another Brick In The Wall’ but I guess they won’t appreciate that.

What's in the name?

I and one of my roommates who also shares my first name are cheek and jowl when it comes to confer on generally social/political issues and sporadically asocial/apolitical ones. Many a times this discussion goes ad nauseam and many of our dorm’s neighboring colleagues join us in it. My second roommate, a pure maggu, habitually engrossed deep in his books and often reluctant to these enduring deliberations, at times gets thrilled by the nature of the subject matter and jumps on the bandwagon to place his outlook. Among all the numberless solemn and silly issues which we thrash out we recently had a debate on the significance of a persons name in determining his success.

He declared that name matters a lot and in this matter he is in doldrums as his name (Saurav) doesn’t sounds resembling the name of a high profile achiever with too many feathers in his cap. Given my name (Saurabh) and measuring my aspirational dreams I had to disagree. He then asked me to name a single incredibly eminent personality with a name as silly as ours. I instantly replied Sourav Ganguly, thinking that the discussion was over and all. But he argued that the surname Ganguly worked for him and he is better known by that name only. Well, there was a point. I tried my hands on few other names but all in vain. Though I figured out few silly names among small achievers, but not a single one amongst the crème de la crème.

I placed forward numerous optimistic points in favor of my ideology but my words of wisdom were falling on a deaf ear. We sustained this juvenile talk for few additional minutes and then came to a full circle. Having a semester examination the very next morning and still not having been able to conquer half the colossal syllabus we decided to end the conversation and toggled back to burn the midnight oil. But however hard I tried I was incapable to confine my thoughts to the Xerox in my hand and kept on thinking back over our plausible contemplation.Then out of the blue I remembered the very famous lines from Shakespeare’s masterwork ‘Romeo and Juliet'.

To Quote-
--“What’s in the name? That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet.”

I hadn’t reflected much over these lines when I read it for the first time. According to my roommate poor Juliet seems to be absolutely oblivious of the intricate complexity of the real world. Only had she not been born in an elite family. His answer to Juliet would be 'A Lot. Trust me.'

Anyway, I still take a sanguine view in spite of my name. Don’t worry Juliet, even Romeo may defer but on these lines I am with you.

The Woody Allen View

Yes this is the same Woody Allen, the creator of some of the finest wacky comedy classics of all time. In fact there is no other Woody Allen which we can together talk of. Recently I had a lucky chance to enjoy his masterwork ‘Annie Hall’. The movie, considered semi-biopic, consolidated his signature cinematic style. Woody Allen himself played the protagonist, a fixated and neurotic personality who is unable to derive gratification from an in general happy life. The very nature of the character is set in the opening scene where Alvy (Woody) breaks the ‘forth wall’ and talks to the audience directly about his neurotic psyche. He quotes two jokes which instantly set the chords. According to him they together best describe his vision of life (And perhaps mine too, till this point).

First One: “Two elderly women are at a Catskill mountain resort, and one of them says, "Boy, the food at this place is really terrible." The other one says, "Yeah, I know; and such small portions."
Final One: “I would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member.”

Truly, such is life. Mostly: Intricately complex, raucously chaotic, scarily lonely, consistently demanding, terribly excruciating, awfully painful and at times acutely embarrassing. You may go ahead and add few more adjectives but yet you too regret how quickly it ends and are perhaps as fond of life as I am, cause somewhere between those entire derogatory annotations lie few heavenly moments which heels the soreness of the journey till that moment.

No matter how high one could have escalated age and experience wise yet they all can still count off the moments of exaltation and ecstasy that they would like to breathe again. But even then we are prepared to go through all the countless commotions of life for those few easily countable instants.

Hope Floats

Sometimes It appears to me that life has come to a momentarily standstill. Last five years have been so akin. The visages around may have altered but the similar milieu of mayhem prevails. They say ‘All it takes to win is a well organized solicitous mind’, but in my case disorder seems to be the order of the day. Nothing is at its place; a whole pandemonium is sensed in every sphere of life. Perplexed in all this mayhem yet fanatically desperate to win I try to nourish my plummeted desires, dreaming exotic tryst with destiny. Yes, I do believe everyone has a destiny. A divine providence which steers us all and anyone can arrive at what is destined to them provided they appreciate their fate before time plays it decisive character. The moment time outshines its limitation the destiny becomes the master.

A good number of stuffs in my case have gone really bad. I blame it to myself as it was always me who finally makes the choices. It is me who chooses my pals, my dreams and my path; so it has to be me who am to be interrogated. May be I was so sluggish that the itinerary seemed so demanding. Or may be the mark which I have set for myself is not an ordinary one. Nevertheless still hope floats, somewhere but where exactly I am not convinced about. Tenaciously I search for it in my gloomy heart, which in itself holds myriad paradoxical desires conflicting sporadically. But I know I will find its whereabouts. My conjecture at this point is may be this little hope is the one which provides me my oomph of life. But to quote Morgan Freeman from The Shawshank Redemption, 'Hope is a dangerous thing my friend.'