Random Monologues

The Railroad Station - Wislawa Szymborska

2011-11-13T16:46:00.001+05:30

(Translated from the Polish the by Stanislaw Baranczak and Clare Cavanagh)

My nonarrival in the city of N.
took place on the dot.

You'd been alerted
in my unmailed letter.

You were able not to be there
at the agreed-upon time.

The train pulled up at Platform 3.
A lot of people got out.

My absence joined the throng
as it made its way toward the exit.

Several women rushed
to take my place
in all that rush.

Somebody ran up to one of them.
I didn't know him,
but she recognized him
immediately.

While they kissed
with not our lips,
a suitcase disappeared,
not mine.

The railroad station in the city of N.
passed its exam
in objective existence
with flying colors.

The whole remained in place.
Particulars scurried
along the designated tracks.

Even a rendezvous
took place as planned.

Beyond the reach
of our presence.

In the paradise lost
of probability.

Somewhere else.
Somewhere else.
How these little words ring.

The Gandhian Way

2011-10-16T01:57:00.000+05:30

Occupy Wall Street, a peaceful series of demonstrations is spreading worldwide, this time against three particular classes that most people think were responsible for the global recessions - bankers, lobbyists and politicians.

According to their website,

"Occupy Wall Street is a horizontally organized resistance movement employing the revolutionary Arab Spring tactic to restore democracy in America. We use a tool known as a "people's assembly" to facilitate collective decision making in an open, participatory and non-binding manner. We call ours the NYC General Assembly and we welcome people from all colors, genders and beliefs to attend our daily assemblies."

" .... restore democracy in America"! - Wait, Don't they take every opportunity to boastfully proclaim themselves as the most powerful democracy in the world? The truth is, America has lost her economic freedom a long back - to a bunch of bankers, lobbyists and politicians.

And today, yet another peaceful protest is brewing up across the countries, in a true Gandhian way.

Here is Julian Assange addressing the protesters today, in London.

The Next Bite

2011-10-09T17:14:00.001+05:30

A rather offhanded prediction on the next top 10 to lead Steve Job's legacy of iNnovation -

1. Mark Zuckerberg

2. Larry Page

3. Zeff Bezos

4. Jon Rubinstein

5. Jonathan Ive

6. Jack Dorsey

Would you like to suggest the rest 4 names?

Happy Birthday

2011-10-08T23:49:00.001+05:30

As the moment approaches fast and the clock strikes twelve,
Coming out of the bedlam, removing the blanket of pain,
He smiles in his wandering thoughts and,
As promised, he sings to her "Happy Birthday" again!

Yes, he hurt her many times, its true!
But doesn't she know - how much did he rue;
And doesn't she know, how many times,
Was he rived inside - lonely and blue.
How many times did he want to say
Those three words, and night and day
Will pass by in vain,
Before does he ever speak again.

Never mind, my angel, sail away, ahoy!
Let you be full with bliss and joy.
As you set off on the new journey of life,
You never get hindered by the fear and strife.

And a thousand miles away, will be a dope
With a heavy heart still caressing a lost hope.
Nobody cared for him ever; but perhaps you,
Lost in the wilderness in an early morning dew,
May pick up his lonesome tunes - into the wild green,
Along the mossy road or beside the lake
In a moonlit night glowing with a silvery sheen.
On the way to the misty mountains,
In the drizzle or in the autumn rain -
Look there my friend, may you find him again!

The End of the Net-War?

2011-07-05T16:56:00.000+05:30

Google+ user statistics taken from http://socialstatistics.com/ as on July 5, 2011

21 things to do before I turn 30

2011-05-07T17:48:00.010+05:30

1. Spend a week at a distant place, far away from the civilised world.

2. Dedicate Baba and Maa my first proud possession.

3. Meet Seth Godin.

4. Perform Sarod on stage.

5. Witness The Great WildeBeest Migration from Serengeti to Masai Mara.

6. Make close bond with some like-minded people.
7. Start mentoring at least one poor kid till her higher secondary exam.
8. Go Scuba diving in Koh Tao, Thailand.
9. Help Olive Ridley hatch-lings make their short journey to survival.
10. Spend a night alone at a ghostly place.
11. Learn to play Guitar.
12. Spend a night in a launch in Sundarban.
13. Listen to Ustad Amjad Ali Khan Live at Dover Lane Music Conference.
14. Finish reading everything written by R.K. Narayan.
15. Witness Aurora.
16. Learn Spanish.
17. Witness Prem Joshua performing live in Goa.
18. Work for 24 hours at a stretch.
19. Learn the basics of wild-life photography.
20. Write a book.
21. Create another list of '21 things to do before I turn 40'.

Inspiration : Saurav Arya's '101 things to do before I am old/tired/dead'

Haiku

2011-04-22T10:38:00.001+05:30

"Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry, consisting of 17 moras (or on), in three phrases of 5, 7, and 5 moras respectively^. Although haiku are often stated to have 17 syllables,this is inaccurate as syllables and moras are not the same. Haiku typically contain a kigo (seasonal reference), and a kireji (cutting word). In Japanese, haiku are traditionally printed in a single vertical line and tend to take aspects of the natural world as their subject matter, while haiku in English often appear in three lines to parallel the three phrases of Japanese haiku and may deal with any subject matter.hokku, haiku was given its current name by the Japanese writer Masaoka Shiki Previously called at the end of the 19th century."

- Wikipedia

Of late I've been exploring one form of Japanese poetry - Haiku. I've been fascinated by the succinct but powerful expressions oozing out of it. The first Haiku I read, is a famous one by Matsuo Basho
"Furu ike ya
kawazu tobikomu
mizu no oto"

Translated in English by R.H. Blyth
"The old pond;
A frog jumps in —
The sound of the water."

Some further research revealed that Rabindranath Tagore, after a short visit to Japan, introduced this form literature to Indian poetry and did some translations. I wish to read some of his creations in near future.

That day at Taj Bengal, I saw a bubble like miniature hanging from the ceiling. It was the occasion of ISB interview and I was really tensed. To divert my mind from anxiety, I tried to create something which in turn became Haiku-esque -
Frozen ocean bed
Bubbles of hope rising to feel
Warmth of bright sunshine.

The Pursuit of Happiness

2010-11-13T08:48:00.001+05:30

All of us, mortal beings, desire to live a good life. But there's a perception that not necessarily you have to earn more to live a good life, though most of us will agree on the fact that in today's complex socioeconomic scenario nothing comes for free. One needs to earn a good money to lead at least a decent lifestyle.
But in a quest to make more money, sometimes he inadvertently becomes a part of the rat race. The person is so absorbed in the daily humdrum, that he fails to appreciate those special moments he used to savour once, in his childhood.

For example, after a scorching summer day, a gentle breeze in the evening can make you happy. All you need to do is to switch off your TV and come outside - and feel it.
Or no valuable present can match that precious pair of Kash ful (Kash flower) before Durga Puja from your little students who live in shanties down the road.

The ostentatious display of the brand new swanky apartment or red hatchback can make one happy for few days, but that joy is short-lived as these become things of the past for him in couple of years as he now wants to upgrade his car or move to more expensive apartment.

But relishing those fleeting moments of delight and learning how to appreciate them not only give a person a much-coveted reprieve from the daily monotonous routine but also provide happiness that stays through all the changes of life.

Learning To 'Spawn'

2010-10-31T16:21:00.000+05:30

inner thread (boastfully) : From now on, I'll be writing (scribbling ? rambling ? eh!) here! Watch out this space for more !!

outer thread : Amen to that!

P.S. - Know more about Thread : Thread

And some more : Thread