Ragam, Taalam and Arsenal!

Couple of week's back, after a LONG time I had a chance to attend a kutcheri. As soon as I saw the promos on Instagram that Sanjay Subrahmanyan was going to sing, I decided that come hell or high water, I needed to attend. 

It was also a chance to overcome my FOMO of never having attended a traditional Madras Marghazi kutcheri. And so glad that I did. 

The program set out an interesting set of compositions. 

Keeping in with the theme of Valentine's Day, Sanjay very masterfully played on the words "Anbe... and Marupadiyum" during the song "Tiruvadi Saranam".

The concert program also mentioned 2 surprise songs - and it was worth the wait. I was swept off my feet by the song Ramasami Dootan Naanada - a composition by Arunachala Kavi. Then followed a beautiful rendition of Paayum Oli Nee Enakku - a composition by Subramanya Bharati.

Walking out happily, my only wish come May was Arsenal to win either the EPL or Champions League and Sanjay releases a special rendition of Theerada Vilayattu Pillai - cos that's what Arsenal has been to fans over the last few seasons - an endlessly mischievous kid! :-)

In a good cause, there is no failure - Isaac Asimov (via the voice of Richard Sayama Altman)

 The short story "In a good cause...." By Isaac Asimov is easily the best one of the complete stories so far that I've read.

It showcases how the end goals of the pacifist Altman align with that of the realistic, ready to serve and willing to fight Geoffrey (Jeff) Stock.

A lot of reviews that I found online speak about how the people of the United Worlds of the Galaxy realised that Altman's vision is the reality that they are living in; and in recognition of the imprisonment he's suffered they create a perfect statue.

However a deeper reading of the story shows how critical the character of Jeff is. He is militaristic, but is practical and understands human psychology much better than Richard. But he understands that with human nature as individualized as it is and with different nation states/human worlds being advanced in military technology, it needs a much nuanced approach than what the idealistic Richard has.

But the clincher as far as the persons character is concerned is the parting line he gives to Richard - " when the United Worlds is a reality and when generations of men and women look back to these days of war through their centuries of unbroken peace, they will have forgotten the purpose of my methods. To them they will represent war and death. Your (italics ) calls for union, your (italics) idealism, will be remembered forever"....."and when they build their statues, they will build none for me."

How many Geoffrey Stocks do we know? And in how many cases have we been one? Is it ever possible for history to be known completely? This is where a fresh look at history like what Manu Pillai does for instance has a key role. 

To produce such work and to keep track of and be interested by such work needs a lot of intellectual curiosity, and that is where a pragmatic approach to ideas like dissent, debate, disagreement is needed.

And for the personal self, developing the ruthless vision to see the end game like what Jeff demonstrates, along with the magnanimous acknowledgement and again - vision to step away from the limelight when it would have been so easy to celebrate the win - is a quality that I want to develop.

Muscle memory

My friend and my office operations manager recently asked me for help in writing out my organization's name in the Kannada script. I assumed it'd be a cakewalk; but when I started putting pen onto paper, my mind froze.

While I've been reading the odd Kannada book; reading whatever is written on buses, posters and hell even the occasional Government Order (GO) that some colleagues bring over for translation; when it actually came to writing my organization's name I struggled a lot, especially when it came to representing parts of words that are a combination of 2 or more letters.

Lack of practice, nothing else.

What happened next was something I can only credit my school teachers for. The years of dictation exercises, essays and exams ensured that my muscle memory just brushed aside the cobwebs in my mind. The words just appeared on paper and surprise, surprise they seemed correct.

I then discovered this transliteration tool http://kannada.changathi.com/ and verified that what I wrote was correct. Relief abounds :)

The rapid half life of the dream to live & work abroad

I'll be honest. Ever since I got married, the Mrs and I've always wanted to live and work abroad, for say 3-5 years before settling finally in India. And I applied like crazy to every damn opening that I found on LinkedIn, websites of companies/organizations that I dreamed of joining and seeking friends' help wherever possible.

Repeated failure and 2 near successful attempts later, nowadays I do not feel like making the attempt to apply. Tough visa regimes and possession of a skill-set that is not so easily transferred across borders are definitely a factor when I decide, but I feel there are the following points that sub-consciously play in my mind

1. Large number of important relationships - parents, friends, colleagues, relatives

2. Comfort in familiar settings

3. An improving lifestyle

4. Opportunity to directly contribute to the country's growth

Last but not the least - Seeing my little one bond so much with her grandparents; I just don't have the heart to take her 1000s of kilometers away to only meet her favourite people only once a year.

But, as the adage goes, if I'm contacted for a super stunning opportunity, I might consider it - why not? But have a 3 year return plan ready.

Volleyball, School and Sports

While returning home yesterday, I saw a HUGE poster for the Vajpayee Volleyball Cup - an inter-school district level tournament. My brother used to be part of his school team for this championship.

I somehow linked it to my era, when my batch mates used to go for a tournament (which I mistakenly thought was the Vajpayee Cup) and always used to run into a school called Gandhi School.

Gandhi school boys were massively built guys whose smashes would leave you reeling. In particular they had someone who could smash the ball almost perpendicularly; while the rest of us normal mortals could only smash it diagonally!

So, the story every year used to be this - we prepare well, go into the tournament with lot of confidence; but invariably run into these guys, put up a heroic fight and come back battered and bruised. The only parallel I can draw is to Arsenal in the Champions League. A good team which runs into Barcelona and Bayern Munich year after year and come back as heroic losers :-)

In the middle of all this reminiscing, a tinge of regret crept in. Why had I forsaken my budding tennis abilities for mere marks and in the quest to be popular? ( volleyball and cricket were the top sports at school then). What if I then had the guts that I have now - to do things I like and do it without caring for acknowledgement?

God, if I have to lead the same life again I promise I will work on my tennis right from school level!

south asian sojourns

For the first time EVER I am setting foot properly in another South Asian country. To add to it, I am staying in one for a few days.

Till now, the only claim to fame had been a furtive step across the border at Wagah unseen (hopefully) by the BSF and Pakistan rangers.

Flew into Maldives via Colombo - and it's been good so far. Pleasant weather, nice chilled out people. I even took an hour long walk around Male. I like the place.

I hadn't blogged in a long time. Thought I would record this event :-)

Sachin and the emotions

Let me be honest - I was not, am not and will not be a Sachin fan. Don't get me wrong - I respect the guy, and I admire him for the way he has handled enormous pressure while dudes like me blow off our top for every trivial stuff that happens in office; and for the squeaky clean image over a 24 year career.

There has been the odd "Maaki" (Australia 2008) or the "ball-tampering" (South Africa, 2008); but I will let those incidents pass - too many others have done far greater shit and walked away scot-free.

For me it is an honour that Sachin made his debut and batted last on my birthday (15th November 1989 and 2013). #ThankYouSachin for that :D

What is the best image of Sachin in my memory? I have 3

1. Operation Desert Storm

2. The stunning assault on the Aussies in the World Cup 1996. Nearly won us that match till he got stumped off a Mark Waugh wide

3. THAT innings in Chennai against Pakistan

Thanks for the memories Sachin :)