The mobile kept ringing as I sat staring at it unseeing. It took few minutes before I was rudely jolted of the reverie by another call. Apparently from the same person. It was my flat-mate from his girlfriends place. And in a positively belligerent tone, he asked me, 'What the f*** are you doing so important that you couldn't pick the damn phone'. 'Nothing', I replied and my choked voice and tearful tone set the alarm bells go and in a concerned tone he asked me if everything was alright. In spite of me saying everything is fine, he rushed home sensing that everything was anything but fine.
He was greeted with my wails of 'XXXXX died' and he gave me one look. Who??? I could see him rack his brains trying to figure out who I was talking about. Maybe even feeling guilty that he couldn't remember someone whose death has so obviously shaken his dear friend. And then he saw me point at the book. And then... Well! Shit happens.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood prince rocks!!!
Sure, for a Potter fan this is no news! It doesn't matter. The narration was engaging and suspenseful, the ending heart-rending. I CRIED!!! (I am not disclosing who dies). HP&HBP is one of the most complete books that I have read in recent times.
Unlike the 'Boy-who-lived' who was so larger than life, that I was afraid to relate myself with him, the 'Chosen-one' is earthy, who just happened to have fame and responsibilty thrust on him. Somehow the teenager Harry (despite being the prick he was in Order of Phoenix) is more easy to connect to in HBP. Ron and Hermione are delightful, as usual.
For all you critics who believe JK Rowling is all about hype and marketing strategem... think again! Read HP&HBP. And my sympathies to all those hypocrites out there who wouldn't touch a Harry Potter book because it is 'Kids stuff'. You just don't know what you are missing. This is no more kids book than Lord of the rings.
As for the fans who like me have been anxiously awaiting this book, HBP delivers and worth 'squandering'(???) a fine sunny day sitting indoors reading and even being called a 'geek', 'baby' and 'bookworm'.
p.s. Undying gratitude to my colleague who lent me the book.
Time whizzes by and I, I write of glimpses I steal
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Monday, July 25, 2005
More bush walking
This weekend I went bushwalking again... Well! What else is there to do in Canberra.
Treated some friends at Tidbinbilla National Park (less than an hours drive from my place) to a day of Kangaroo spotting, Emu chasing, Koala watching and bush walking. As Australian a day as it can get. The weather was perfect; bright and sunny with just a trace of clouds and a wind that was still bearable.
The day wasn't anything spectacular but in its predictable normalcy and peaceful ambience, it was reassuring. Perhaps even invigorating.
******************************************
Life is full of surprises - I still have 'My Sisters Keeper' and 'Harry Potter and Half Blood prince' to read. And 'Suitable boy' too. But when a friend lent me Mario Puzo's 'The Godfather', a book I have wanted to read for a long long time, everything else took second place. Ended up reading the book all of Saturday and some of Sunday. And finished it.
Godfather finds itself in my Top 10 directly. Maybe in 3.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
I grew wings
The azure sky was clear - no clouds in sight. The windsock was down and the sun was bright. The far mountain had a white cap; snow from the week of particularly cold weather. But today, today it was a fine day. Just as the Forecast had predicted. The black ground whizzed under me as I soared. I was FLYING.
There is one thing that has never ceased to fascinate man - flight. I needn't remind readers that it took man a very long time (and innumerable efforts including tying a piece of cloth like wings) before he could fly. And he has been perfecting the art for the last hundred odd years.
My awe at flying has over the years transformed in to something quite similar to passion. Especially after I completed my Bachelors in Aeronautical Engineering. So, quite obviously when an oppurtunity to fly arose, I just couldn't say NO.
The chance presented itself when one of the lecturers at my place asked me if I could do some teaching assistance for his "Introduction to Flight". As a part of getting acquainted he offered to take me flying (it is a part of Flight Lab). And I jumped. The flight was just under two hours long and we flew around Canberra, nearby towns and the wilderness.
The Cessna that we flew in transformed itself in to a Time Machine. I saw the world as it should have been hundreds of years back. Barren lands as far as the eye could see with one cluster of houses here and another cluster there. The bush, the mountains, the outback. The horizon. The end of the world. I was in a trance and only the drone of the engines prevented me from journeying from this world.
It was by far, a levitating experience. I am flying.
There is one thing that has never ceased to fascinate man - flight. I needn't remind readers that it took man a very long time (and innumerable efforts including tying a piece of cloth like wings) before he could fly. And he has been perfecting the art for the last hundred odd years.
My awe at flying has over the years transformed in to something quite similar to passion. Especially after I completed my Bachelors in Aeronautical Engineering. So, quite obviously when an oppurtunity to fly arose, I just couldn't say NO.
The chance presented itself when one of the lecturers at my place asked me if I could do some teaching assistance for his "Introduction to Flight". As a part of getting acquainted he offered to take me flying (it is a part of Flight Lab). And I jumped. The flight was just under two hours long and we flew around Canberra, nearby towns and the wilderness.
The Cessna that we flew in transformed itself in to a Time Machine. I saw the world as it should have been hundreds of years back. Barren lands as far as the eye could see with one cluster of houses here and another cluster there. The bush, the mountains, the outback. The horizon. The end of the world. I was in a trance and only the drone of the engines prevented me from journeying from this world.
It was by far, a levitating experience. I am flying.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Addendum to Classics....
People! Hold your breath for what I am going to declare may slap you on the face like the Canberra winter and turn you pale as my backyard lawn; a friend has lent me "Half Blood Prince". Yaaaahhhhhooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
This generous colleague is busy (apparently!!!) writing up his thesis (but couldn't resist buying the book on the first day). If you are wondering how another poor researcher afforded the book - he had to forego his beer, fuel (he bikes) expenses for the fortnight. What do I care, I got the book.
Sadly though, I am still into Jodi Picoult for the Bookclub and don't want to start on Harry Potter as yet. Or... you never know!
This generous colleague is busy (apparently!!!) writing up his thesis (but couldn't resist buying the book on the first day). If you are wondering how another poor researcher afforded the book - he had to forego his beer, fuel (he bikes) expenses for the fortnight. What do I care, I got the book.
Sadly though, I am still into Jodi Picoult for the Bookclub and don't want to start on Harry Potter as yet. Or... you never know!
Monday, July 18, 2005
Of classics, phenomenons and princes
Saturday dawned like any other day; cold but sunny, windy yet quiet. There were no owls hooting on my roof and broomsticks lay still in my muggle closet. And a pity they were. Because this was not another day... it was the release of the much awaited 'Harry Potter and the Half blood prince'. Eeeeeks!
Australia being on the east end of things and Canberra on the east end of Australia, we were one of the earliest to lay our hands on it. I am told that there were throngs of people at the bookshops by 9 AM. Children threatened to go on fasts if their parents didn't buy them the Harry Potter as soon as it was released and the threats I am told worked like magic (you know how adamant they can get). And there were events organised in all bookshops (people dressed as witches and wizards).
I am as Dudley as it can get and I didn't get to the bookshops until 4 and even then satisfied myself looking at the hard-bound book longingly, inhaling the fresh scent and holding it close to my heart (it was $22 and I am a poor researcher).
A trip to the lakeside yesterday was greeted with a line of Potterians thumbing the book, an unofficial congregation. It was a sight, I tell you. I may have to wait for some months before I can pore through it in some library. Until then, Patience - I tell myself.
Will it be worth the wait!
*********************************************
The next phenomenon is also a prince... I am not sure if he is half-blood but he is a wizard nevertheless. A wizard in stature as great as Dumbledore, sans the beard of course. Sunday, I finally listened to Thiruvasagam in Symphony. My parents had sent the original CD (not pirated or downloaded stuff this) and were raving on the phone about how Ilaiyaraaja rocks.
I have two left ears, if you know what I mean, but I still enjoyed the compositions. Bavatharini especially was amazing in her rendition of Poeru Konum. Ilaiyaraaja, needless to say was soul-stirring. This is my inititaion to the wonders of Thiruvaasagam and Manickavaasagar (barring some passages in Sivagamiyin Sabadham) and it has created in me an urge to lunge deeper. A religious experience.
Australia being on the east end of things and Canberra on the east end of Australia, we were one of the earliest to lay our hands on it. I am told that there were throngs of people at the bookshops by 9 AM. Children threatened to go on fasts if their parents didn't buy them the Harry Potter as soon as it was released and the threats I am told worked like magic (you know how adamant they can get). And there were events organised in all bookshops (people dressed as witches and wizards).
I am as Dudley as it can get and I didn't get to the bookshops until 4 and even then satisfied myself looking at the hard-bound book longingly, inhaling the fresh scent and holding it close to my heart (it was $22 and I am a poor researcher).
A trip to the lakeside yesterday was greeted with a line of Potterians thumbing the book, an unofficial congregation. It was a sight, I tell you. I may have to wait for some months before I can pore through it in some library. Until then, Patience - I tell myself.
Will it be worth the wait!
*********************************************
The next phenomenon is also a prince... I am not sure if he is half-blood but he is a wizard nevertheless. A wizard in stature as great as Dumbledore, sans the beard of course. Sunday, I finally listened to Thiruvasagam in Symphony. My parents had sent the original CD (not pirated or downloaded stuff this) and were raving on the phone about how Ilaiyaraaja rocks.
I have two left ears, if you know what I mean, but I still enjoyed the compositions. Bavatharini especially was amazing in her rendition of Poeru Konum. Ilaiyaraaja, needless to say was soul-stirring. This is my inititaion to the wonders of Thiruvaasagam and Manickavaasagar (barring some passages in Sivagamiyin Sabadham) and it has created in me an urge to lunge deeper. A religious experience.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
BLOG as a weapon
Rediff ran a story on an amazing blog. A blog of a young Iraqi girl. Baghdad Burning.
In August 2003 she started the blog with: 'A little bit about myself: I'm female, Iraqi and 24. I survived the war. That's all you need to know. It's all that matters these days anyway.'
Some excerpts from her blog
On a typical day when Bush opened his excuse of a mouth and rattled on about the Iraqi occupation
'Abroad’ in his speech seems to indicate a land of inferior people- less deserving of peace, prosperity and even life.
Three decades of tyranny isn’t what bombed and burned buildings to the ground. It isn’t three decades of tyranny that destroyed the infrastructure.
Do the Americans continue to believe such speeches? I couldn’t help but wonder.“They’ll believe anything.” E. sighed. “No matter what sort of absurdity they are fed, they’ll believe it. Think up the most outrageous lie… They have people who’ll believe it.”
On the state of affairs in America-occupied Iraq
We’re so free, we often find ourselves prisoners of our homes... We are so free to assemble that people now fear having gatherings because a large number of friends or family members may attract too much attention and provoke a raid by American or Iraqi forces.
Water has been a big problem in many areas all over Baghdad. Houses without electric water pumps don’t always have access to water.
The electrical situation differs from area to area. On some days, the electricity schedule is two hours of electricity, and then four hours of no electricity. On other days, it’s four hours of electricity to four or six hours of no electricity.
The least pleasant situation is to be caught in mid-day traffic, on a crowded road, in the heat- waiting for the next bomb to go off.
We spent some of yesterday and a good portion of today washing clothes, rinsing them and speculating on how our ancestors fared without washing machines and water pumps.
On Condeleza Rice
She's such a contrast to Bush- he simply looks stupid. She, on the other hand, looks utterly evil.
On the bombing of Baghdad in 2003
What followed was almost a month of heavy bombing. You get to a point during extended air-raids where you lose track of the days. You lose track of time. The week stops being Friday, Saturday, Sunday, etc. The days stop being about hours. You begin to measure time with the number of bombs that fell, the number of minutes the terror lasted and the number of times you wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of gunfire and explosions.
On the reality shows aired in Baghdad... Americanisation of the media
Take 15 Bush supporters and throw them in a house in the suburbs of, say, Falloojeh for at least 14 days. We could watch them cope with the water problems, the lack of electricity, the check points, the raids, the Iraqi National Guard, the bombings, and- oh yeah- the ‘insurgents’. We could watch their house bombed to the ground and their few belongings crushed under the weight of cement and brick or simply burned or riddled with bullets. We could see them try to rebuild their life with their bare hands (and the equivalent of $150)…I’d not only watch *that* reality show, I’d tape every episode
Her blogposts on the Shias and Sunnis, specifically a misinformed Friedman's article were scathing at the least. Her readership has swelled, after people overcame their doubts, that an Iraqi could write so well and realised that there was more to news than from the conventional media.
Read her first-hand accounts of the war. Even if nothing else, it is MOVING.
In August 2003 she started the blog with: 'A little bit about myself: I'm female, Iraqi and 24. I survived the war. That's all you need to know. It's all that matters these days anyway.'
Some excerpts from her blog
On a typical day when Bush opened his excuse of a mouth and rattled on about the Iraqi occupation
'Abroad’ in his speech seems to indicate a land of inferior people- less deserving of peace, prosperity and even life.
Three decades of tyranny isn’t what bombed and burned buildings to the ground. It isn’t three decades of tyranny that destroyed the infrastructure.
Do the Americans continue to believe such speeches? I couldn’t help but wonder.“They’ll believe anything.” E. sighed. “No matter what sort of absurdity they are fed, they’ll believe it. Think up the most outrageous lie… They have people who’ll believe it.”
On the state of affairs in America-occupied Iraq
We’re so free, we often find ourselves prisoners of our homes... We are so free to assemble that people now fear having gatherings because a large number of friends or family members may attract too much attention and provoke a raid by American or Iraqi forces.
Water has been a big problem in many areas all over Baghdad. Houses without electric water pumps don’t always have access to water.
The electrical situation differs from area to area. On some days, the electricity schedule is two hours of electricity, and then four hours of no electricity. On other days, it’s four hours of electricity to four or six hours of no electricity.
The least pleasant situation is to be caught in mid-day traffic, on a crowded road, in the heat- waiting for the next bomb to go off.
We spent some of yesterday and a good portion of today washing clothes, rinsing them and speculating on how our ancestors fared without washing machines and water pumps.
On Condeleza Rice
She's such a contrast to Bush- he simply looks stupid. She, on the other hand, looks utterly evil.
On the bombing of Baghdad in 2003
What followed was almost a month of heavy bombing. You get to a point during extended air-raids where you lose track of the days. You lose track of time. The week stops being Friday, Saturday, Sunday, etc. The days stop being about hours. You begin to measure time with the number of bombs that fell, the number of minutes the terror lasted and the number of times you wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of gunfire and explosions.
On the reality shows aired in Baghdad... Americanisation of the media
Take 15 Bush supporters and throw them in a house in the suburbs of, say, Falloojeh for at least 14 days. We could watch them cope with the water problems, the lack of electricity, the check points, the raids, the Iraqi National Guard, the bombings, and- oh yeah- the ‘insurgents’. We could watch their house bombed to the ground and their few belongings crushed under the weight of cement and brick or simply burned or riddled with bullets. We could see them try to rebuild their life with their bare hands (and the equivalent of $150)…I’d not only watch *that* reality show, I’d tape every episode
Her blogposts on the Shias and Sunnis, specifically a misinformed Friedman's article were scathing at the least. Her readership has swelled, after people overcame their doubts, that an Iraqi could write so well and realised that there was more to news than from the conventional media.
Read her first-hand accounts of the war. Even if nothing else, it is MOVING.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Love
"What does Love mean?"
A group of professionals posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, the answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:
"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." - Chrissy - age 6
"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." - Billy - age 4
"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." - Karl - age 5
"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." - Danny - age 7
"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate," - Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)
"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." - Noelle - age 7
"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." - Tommy - age 6
"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." - Rebecca - age 8
"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." - Elaine-age 5
"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." - Mary Ann - age 4
"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." - Lauren - age 4 (hehehe kiddish innocence)
"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image) - Karen - age 7
And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"
Monday, July 11, 2005
A Vow... and other 'rubbish' things
Someone on the web, some unknown faceless blogger picqued me (I wasn't the intended recipient of it) with a comment on how 'Indians' are so obsessed with movies and how more than half the content on the Indi-blog scene is related to cinema. Can't speak for all Indian bloggers but I sadly admit that cinema has had very high coverage in my blog (even if my previous post was on Indian Astronomy).
So, on this day, the 11th of July of 2005, I make a vow that I shall not write about cinema (and anything related to it) for one month. One whole month. No cinema, whatsoever.
*And the air rings with cries of all the Devas claiming me 'Bhishma' for my brave vow*
-------------------------------------------------------------
I was shocked when I read this in The Hindu this morning. (You can take a Tam Bram away from India but not The Hindu from him)
It was about the garbage disposal system in Chennai and how it is touted as the model for other cities in India. While I have been away from Chennai for a long time and am not aware of improvements in garbage disposal (telephone conversations with home were limited to more noble things - like Rajini's daughter marrying Dhanush - Oh! my GOD!!! or AnandhaVikatan's review on Anniyan), I have some early days 'graphic images' of Chennai rubbish in my mind.
Foremost of these vivid pictures is the ragpicker who used to salvage everything that is anything from the concrete cylinders that were rubbish bins. (To think recycling is just that - in a more refined, more organised, much larger scale: ellam times of India).
The second image is of the housemaid flinging the plastic cover (full of yucky stuff) like a National Basketball champion. Believe it or not, 8 times of ten she used to get them perfectly outside the bin. It was another story that the bin was divinely inaccessible; what with a fortress of impregnable waste (thrown by other wannabe basketball champ housemaids) complete with a moat of urine.
Images of the reeking garbage lorry which distributed the wastes throughout the street as it travelled and the cartoons in AnandhaVikatan (or Kumudham) about it were dark humour at its blackest.
The subsequent images are less repelling - thanks to ONYX and their glow-in-the-dark uniforms.
Taking care of the environment is not a matter of choice anymore - it is an abso-bloody-lute necessity. I am glad that Chennai is on its way to fulfilling its dream of a 'Singara Chennai', if it is! (Chennaivaasigal comment seyga).
I hope we would also become 'Green' Chennai. The pollution levels in the city as I remember it were itchingly high.
Singara Chennai - here I come. In 88 days.
So, on this day, the 11th of July of 2005, I make a vow that I shall not write about cinema (and anything related to it) for one month. One whole month. No cinema, whatsoever.
*And the air rings with cries of all the Devas claiming me 'Bhishma' for my brave vow*
-------------------------------------------------------------
I was shocked when I read this in The Hindu this morning. (You can take a Tam Bram away from India but not The Hindu from him)
It was about the garbage disposal system in Chennai and how it is touted as the model for other cities in India. While I have been away from Chennai for a long time and am not aware of improvements in garbage disposal (telephone conversations with home were limited to more noble things - like Rajini's daughter marrying Dhanush - Oh! my GOD!!! or AnandhaVikatan's review on Anniyan), I have some early days 'graphic images' of Chennai rubbish in my mind.
Foremost of these vivid pictures is the ragpicker who used to salvage everything that is anything from the concrete cylinders that were rubbish bins. (To think recycling is just that - in a more refined, more organised, much larger scale: ellam times of India).
The second image is of the housemaid flinging the plastic cover (full of yucky stuff) like a National Basketball champion. Believe it or not, 8 times of ten she used to get them perfectly outside the bin. It was another story that the bin was divinely inaccessible; what with a fortress of impregnable waste (thrown by other wannabe basketball champ housemaids) complete with a moat of urine.
Images of the reeking garbage lorry which distributed the wastes throughout the street as it travelled and the cartoons in AnandhaVikatan (or Kumudham) about it were dark humour at its blackest.
The subsequent images are less repelling - thanks to ONYX and their glow-in-the-dark uniforms.
Taking care of the environment is not a matter of choice anymore - it is an abso-bloody-lute necessity. I am glad that Chennai is on its way to fulfilling its dream of a 'Singara Chennai', if it is! (Chennaivaasigal comment seyga).
I hope we would also become 'Green' Chennai. The pollution levels in the city as I remember it were itchingly high.
Singara Chennai - here I come. In 88 days.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
India - Among the stars
Just attended a seminar on "Astronomy in India - new initiatives" by Dr. Ravi Manchanda of TIFR. I am so totally bedazzled; he was brilliant like a supernova. Frankly I had as much interest in Astronomy as I have on the mating habits of the great white shark - which is nothing.
Nevertheless, Astronomy in India touched a nerve and I was curious to know why someone would want to deliver a seminar on Indian Astronomy in an Australian University, even one with a fairly decent Astronomy department, that too on a Friday morning during semester break. I was curious to see if anyone did turn up. Not only did academics, enthusiasts, students and the have-nothing-better-to-do s forwent their precious tea-break (I had my tea an hour earlier) to attend the seminar, they were attentive and appreciative.
Dr.Ravi enlightened us on the capabilities, research projects and current proposals of India in the field of Astronomy. For one, I learnt today that there are several branches within Astronomy - Optical, UV, IR, X-ray, etc. Until today, Astronomy was sleeping in the terrace while looking at the stars. So the seminar was a collection of A-ha!! experiences, a true eye-opener.
Did you know:
Nevertheless, Astronomy in India touched a nerve and I was curious to know why someone would want to deliver a seminar on Indian Astronomy in an Australian University, even one with a fairly decent Astronomy department, that too on a Friday morning during semester break. I was curious to see if anyone did turn up. Not only did academics, enthusiasts, students and the have-nothing-better-to-do s forwent their precious tea-break (I had my tea an hour earlier) to attend the seminar, they were attentive and appreciative.
Dr.Ravi enlightened us on the capabilities, research projects and current proposals of India in the field of Astronomy. For one, I learnt today that there are several branches within Astronomy - Optical, UV, IR, X-ray, etc. Until today, Astronomy was sleeping in the terrace while looking at the stars. So the seminar was a collection of A-ha!! experiences, a true eye-opener.
Did you know:
- Mt. Abu has a solar observatory that is one of its kind.
- Ooty has a Radio telescope that is the largest of its kind.
- India has a Balloon facility for research on the upper realms of the atmosphere and astronomy and is the only facility in the world where the balloons are produced in-house.
- Universities and Research institutes from around the world are competing each other to collaborate with an Indian consortium (of TIFR, ISRO, IIA and several other organizations)
- ASTROSAT, the proposed satellite for Astronomical purposes, scheduled to be launched in 2007 (Dr.Ravi is incharge of the satellite) will have world space agencies 'buying' time of the satellite for their own research.
- Chandrayaana, the proposed Moon Exploration programme will investigate the side of the moon away from us (apparently the moon always shows one face to us and the other side is always hidden from view and has not been studied)
- Research is being undertaken in India that will validate (or disprove) the Big Bang theory and we have a whole heap of dishes (nothing to do with food), 35m dia. that is helping us do it. (I am a bit sketchy on the details... sorry)
- A new minor planet discovered by India Institute of Astrophysics in 1988 has been named Ramanujan (it is the first such discovery by modern India).
Indian Astronomy and Astrophysics research is comparable to any country's in the world. Our expertise in Space technology is helping it in a big way.
Now, we don't have to sing past glories; of astronomical treatises written by Aryabhatta. The glory is here.
I am mighty proud of our accomplishment. And so should you.
Tam Bram on the web
There has been so much written about the Tam Brams (for the uninitiated - Tamil Brahmins) on the web and some of them are outright funny (even if, as a Tam Bram myself it is at my expense). The Tam Brams have been called "An interesting race".
Puja writes about them: "I can spot a tam bram from a hundred yards. Neatly combed oil hair, wheatish complexion but sparkling white teeth, an aura of intellect( imaginative), gold plated thin rimmed glasses, nicely tucked in check shirt in Levi's blue jeans, belt and Nike" and sagely adds "He will go to a pub, but won't drink. He will goto a disco and dance like a robot. He will slyly look at the pretty young gals, but pretend as if he is much too mature and dignified".
This one has gone through several rounds in the e-mail circuit - Tam Brams and their obsession with Maths and Science.
"Centum, Math, Science, BrilliantTutorials, Engineering, IIT, B.Tech., Computer Science, USA, Financial Aid, I-20,Student Visa, M.S., San Jose, California, Oracle, Microsoft, Intel [add Green Card, stock options]. These words and names are like carefully arranged furniture in the mental landscape of a Tam Bram boy-and increasingly girls".
Another important (distinct) feature of the Tam Bram is their insatiable thirst for frothy Filter Kaapi in Dabara Tumbler (You wouldn't imagine how people used to stare at me when I say I don't drink coffee - it is as if I have turned a heretic). The complicated process and the procedures to be followed are explained by Gapsa.
There are heaps of literature available on the 'Adventures of the Tam Bram' but let me conclude with this poem on Tam Brams.
Tam Brahm Blues
The Tam Brahm is an antique creature
Pompous thinking his fancy feature
Takes big crises in lighter vein
Looks down on fun, in disdain
Thinks too long, thinks too wide
Not more than curd-rice on his side
Likes to soar, over the worlds
Has a weakness to hear his own words
Frets on the future, of humanity
Has property rights on sanity!
But curls up then, in foetal grace
Sacred ash, upon his face
In a jiffy makes those numbers tally
Goes forth to conquer the Silicon Valley
But misses his roots, all the same
Sambar and cricket, entirely to blame
Seeks power in ideals, ideals in wealth
Adores simplicity, loves some stealth
Three thousand years, upon his genes
Amuses oldies, annoys the teens
He still might change the new millennium
With the excess packed, in his cranium!
*********************************************
I have been writing my Literature Review and the effect is evident in my style of writing. Please forgive.
Puja writes about them: "I can spot a tam bram from a hundred yards. Neatly combed oil hair, wheatish complexion but sparkling white teeth, an aura of intellect( imaginative), gold plated thin rimmed glasses, nicely tucked in check shirt in Levi's blue jeans, belt and Nike" and sagely adds "He will go to a pub, but won't drink. He will goto a disco and dance like a robot. He will slyly look at the pretty young gals, but pretend as if he is much too mature and dignified".
This one has gone through several rounds in the e-mail circuit - Tam Brams and their obsession with Maths and Science.
"Centum, Math, Science, BrilliantTutorials, Engineering, IIT, B.Tech., Computer Science, USA, Financial Aid, I-20,Student Visa, M.S., San Jose, California, Oracle, Microsoft, Intel [add Green Card, stock options]. These words and names are like carefully arranged furniture in the mental landscape of a Tam Bram boy-and increasingly girls".
Another important (distinct) feature of the Tam Bram is their insatiable thirst for frothy Filter Kaapi in Dabara Tumbler (You wouldn't imagine how people used to stare at me when I say I don't drink coffee - it is as if I have turned a heretic). The complicated process and the procedures to be followed are explained by Gapsa.
There are heaps of literature available on the 'Adventures of the Tam Bram' but let me conclude with this poem on Tam Brams.
Tam Brahm Blues
The Tam Brahm is an antique creature
Pompous thinking his fancy feature
Takes big crises in lighter vein
Looks down on fun, in disdain
Thinks too long, thinks too wide
Not more than curd-rice on his side
Likes to soar, over the worlds
Has a weakness to hear his own words
Frets on the future, of humanity
Has property rights on sanity!
But curls up then, in foetal grace
Sacred ash, upon his face
In a jiffy makes those numbers tally
Goes forth to conquer the Silicon Valley
But misses his roots, all the same
Sambar and cricket, entirely to blame
Seeks power in ideals, ideals in wealth
Adores simplicity, loves some stealth
Three thousand years, upon his genes
Amuses oldies, annoys the teens
He still might change the new millennium
With the excess packed, in his cranium!
*********************************************
I have been writing my Literature Review and the effect is evident in my style of writing. Please forgive.
Shankar and Anniyanism
I find Shankar's premise that only fear; fear of death is the solution to the societies' ills intriguing. In my humble opinion, a solution found thus is totally temporary. As soon as Indian and Anniyan leave the scene, people will revert to doing their things again. What is needed, is not stimulate fear but stimulate an interest, pride and ownership in the progress of society. And education. An education on how individuals can make a change, how drops make an ocean.
However, I think Shankar's movies are laudable. The anger that his protagonist possesses at the indifference of the general public to the plight of the country is inspiring.
Sometimes I fear that most youngsters have no set of beliefs, no personal ideals. I fear they are all empty and their creed is whatever is the popular trend. I fear that we are breeding a generation of conformists and followers. I don't know who is to be blamed for it or how we can remedy it. For now, let me just say that Shankar's expression of rage with Indian and Anniyian are welcome.
However, I think Shankar's movies are laudable. The anger that his protagonist possesses at the indifference of the general public to the plight of the country is inspiring.
Sometimes I fear that most youngsters have no set of beliefs, no personal ideals. I fear they are all empty and their creed is whatever is the popular trend. I fear that we are breeding a generation of conformists and followers. I don't know who is to be blamed for it or how we can remedy it. For now, let me just say that Shankar's expression of rage with Indian and Anniyian are welcome.
Monday, July 04, 2005
My previous life
My past life diagnosis:
I was a male in my last earthly incarnation, born somewhere in the territory of modern South New Zealand (let me see if I remember it when I travel to NZL next year) around the year 1150. My profession was that of a dancer, singer or actor.
My brief psychological profile:
I had the mind of a scientist (actor with a scientific bend - great!!!), always seeking new explanations. People often misunderstood me, but respected my knowledge (I am beginning to believe this crap).
Lesson from past life:
Magic is everywhere , even in the most usual, most ordinary situations. My lesson is to understand this magic and to help other people to see it, too. I am a magician! (Yipeee! I feel like I got an admit card from Hogwarts!)
At least I wasn't a nun.
I was a male in my last earthly incarnation, born somewhere in the territory of modern South New Zealand (let me see if I remember it when I travel to NZL next year) around the year 1150. My profession was that of a dancer, singer or actor.
My brief psychological profile:
I had the mind of a scientist (actor with a scientific bend - great!!!), always seeking new explanations. People often misunderstood me, but respected my knowledge (I am beginning to believe this crap).
Lesson from past life:
Magic is everywhere , even in the most usual, most ordinary situations. My lesson is to understand this magic and to help other people to see it, too. I am a magician! (Yipeee! I feel like I got an admit card from Hogwarts!)
At least I wasn't a nun.
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