Thursday, August 31
His finest hour
This was my first writing effort ever... i dont exactly remember when I wrote this, perhaps in Inter. But the character of Balakrishna was based on our Physics Lecturer in Inter.... The story itself was inspired from 'To Sir With Love' and It was titled so till moments ago. Btw, no apologies for the immaturity of the story..remember i was young...besides, this story is still my favourite.
Even as the bus came to a screeching halt, Balakrishna's mind was still juggling decesions. How would they take in a new lecturer ? Are teachers ragged too ? Will he get a salary which would feed his growing needs ? Would they be well behaved ? No! They didn't make kids like that anymore. Not that he was the last of the well behaved kids.He had had his fair share of mischief in his childhood days..Or so he thought. He would steal back into school and read for the test next day. Other children were so stupid. After passing his B.Com with a first class, he was working in the same school he had studied earlier. But since his needs could not contain in his salary, the village couldn't contain him. So Balakrishna joined a college in the city as a lecturer of commerce.
The blaring school bell pulled him back into the world he was in. He trotted his way to the staff room hoping to find someone there...someone to tell him that lecturers were not hanged by their toe-nails over a blazing fire by the students here. But to his dismay, the hall was empty. Now how was he going to know how the students of this college were. On his way to his class his thoughts began jumping around again. When even the tiny urchins in the village school jeered him for his tiny build and bald head, how would a class full of.... A second bell jarred again. He quickened his pace.
His entry into his class was silent. The students did not greet him. But Bala far from minding it was happy. At least there were no giggles and hisses. A whole 'bunch' of droopy faces were looking at him now. His eyes probed deep into each, finding no intelligent life anywhere.
Suddenly a voice emerged from within him. ' Good Morning Students! Though it is customary that the students wish their teacher upon his arrival, I took no offence to your behaviour.' Bala himself couldn't believe the inspiring speech which was so involuntarily coming out of his mouth. It was as if a super intelligent life form had taken over his oral capacities. He could see pupils in his student's eyes expand as they watched in awe and respect. This was Bala's finest hour and he wished it go on forever, but then he found these words coming out of his mouth and realized that his moment had come to and end "And in conclusion I wish you good morning."
The neandrathals were silent and staring with admiration. Bala had never expected all this from himself. It was of the cuff, the whole thing. For the first time in his life he had people's attention for a reason other than his person.
The silence broke..Was that a snigger..? From where..? Soon the whole class was rolling in their benches. Balakrishna in all his nervousness had forgotten to 'do his Zipper'.
Somethings never change.
AICR
Because of one word: ‘international’. Cancer research benefits patients everywhere, but I was particularly keen that donors in the UK, the States and elsewhere could relate to the projects being funded by AICR in their own countries.
Why walking? And why America?
I’ve always loved the United States and its people. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been there, and I’ve visited nearly every state, but it’s always been at an average speed of about 55 mph. This time I want to slow down to a snail’s pace and explore the byways rather than the highways.
What route will you be taking?
I’m still not totally sure. One possibility is to walk to Chicago and then follow the route of the old Route 66, which is steeped in history, to Los Angeles. Another is the American Discovery Trail, which runs across the middle of the country along back roads and hiking trails. And I need to head quite a long way south to avoid the cold weather and the Rockies when winter arrives.
Will you really walk every step of the way?
Yes. If I’m ten miles out of town, it’s getting late and I really want to sleep in a hotel that night, I’ll thumb a ride. But I’ll always return to the same place next day and continue walking from there.
I’m not going to be such a purist that I never use any form of mechanised transport. For example there are two main ways of getting out of New York City and into New Jersey. I can spend hours walking a couple of hundred blocks north to the George Washington Bridge, which pedestrians are allowed to cross, or I can take the Staten Island ferry, which is far more direct.
Where do you plan to stay?
In my tent, mostly. Cheap motels once or twice a week. And if any AICR supporters are willing to offer a bed for the night, I’d be delighted – we'll be setting up a map on this website showing my progress,
Sunday, August 27
Translations for Jobhunters
Somehow I was under the slightly deranged misconception that having a four year degree would magically open doors for me to better jobs. Hah.I am on monster and careerbuilder, registered with my univeristy's career office, and have sent my resume to every company in the area with any sort of opening. Jobhunting sucks. Even trying to find an interim job for an interim job until I get my dream gig abroad is maddening. I went to an interview today for an entry level marketing position. A more honest description would have been sell vacuums door to door without hope of commision. If there were commision it would have been a sales job. Gee, where do I sign up!To save you the trouble of going to interviews with sketchy potential employers, I have a partial list of things to watch out for. Or jobhunter beware translations if you will.1. "Don't forget to dress professionally!" Doh! I usually wear pajama bottoms with a ratty tank top when I go to interviews. Translation: "No GED? No problemo! Just put on that clip-on tie your mommy gave you and c'mon on down! But no gang colors, okay?"2. Management Trainee position..must be able to bend and lift repeatedly. Yeah, because I so went to college for that. Translation: supervise warehouse workers and pick up their slack.3. Marketing/Management/Sales...hours 7-1am, Tuesday-Saturday...send full body and facial pictures. Translation: Beer Bimbo - brains optional, nice rack a must.4. "Must have good driving record." Translation: spend 40+ hours in your car.5. You post your resume and get a call within an hour. Translation: we hope you're as desparate as we are
Translations for Jobhunters
Somehow I was under the slightly deranged misconception that having a four year degree would magically open doors for me to better jobs. Hah.I am on monster and careerbuilder, registered with my univeristy's career office, and have sent my resume to every company in the area with any sort of opening. Jobhunting sucks. Even trying to find an interim job for an interim job until I get my dream gig abroad is maddening. I went to an interview today for an entry level marketing position. A more honest description would have been sell vacuums door to door without hope of commision. If there were commision it would have been a sales job. Gee, where do I sign up!To save you the trouble of going to interviews with sketchy potential employers, I have a partial list of things to watch out for. Or jobhunter beware translations if you will.1. "Don't forget to dress professionally!" Doh! I usually wear pajama bottoms with a ratty tank top when I go to interviews. Translation: "No GED? No problemo! Just put on that clip-on tie your mommy gave you and c'mon on down! But no gang colors, okay?"2. Management Trainee position..must be able to bend and lift repeatedly. Yeah, because I so went to college for that. Translation: supervise warehouse workers and pick up their slack.3. Marketing/Management/Sales...hours 7-1am, Tuesday-Saturday...send full body and facial pictures. Translation: Beer Bimbo - brains optional, nice rack a must.4. "Must have good driving record." Translation: spend 40+ hours in your car.5. You post your resume and get a call within an hour. Translation: we hope you're as desparate as we are
Monday, August 21
Bismillah Khan's death spells end of an era
Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan passed away early Monday morning after a cardiac arrest. He was 90.Khan was the third classical musician after Pt Ravi Shankar and M S Subbulakshmi to be awarded the Bharath Ratna, the highest civilian honour in the country.He also had the distinction of heralding in India's Independence, mesmerizing audiences before the start of Pandit Nehru's speech and the unfurling of the tricolour on August 15, 1947.Bismillah Khan sahib used to play two haunting tunes Aansoon Ke Angarey and Qarbala, on the 10th day of Moharram, as he lead a procession down the streets of Benares.The entire city turned up and many were moved to tears by the sight of the man and the sounds of his shehnai. It was also the tunes of his shehnai that would once open the doors of the Kashi Vishvanath temple every morning.He would sit on the steps of the temple and play with devotion.It's said that one of his first recitals was at the temple at the age of three and a half.Spirit of BenaresUstad Bismillah Khan was born in Bihar in 1916 but he grew up and lived in Benares - a city which he loved.In an interview just two years ago he told NDTV that the spirit of Benares lived in him and in his music.But if he belonged to Benares, his music belonged to the world.Bismillah Khan brought the shehnai to life every time he played whether it was the pure classical or the more folk based notes of the Kajri and Khayal.In fact it was under him that the shehnai became more than just a percussion instrument but an instrument that could lead and be played solo.And for more than 80 years, he played each day in thousands of concerts, and recitals across the country and worldwide, mixing skill with passion.Once in a flow, there was no stopping him. At a Spicmacay session in Mumbai he told NDTV to keep the cameras rolling and that he was an old man so we should not miss the opportunity to capture his message. In the same interview, he jokingly told NDTV that he increasingly felt that he should stay in Benares in his simple almost austere home.This time he adamantly refused the offer of treatment in Delhi and so when the end came, he was where he always wanted to be. In his music, Bismillah Khan is incomparable and in his personality, if there was and is an idea of India, Bismillah Khan embodied it.
Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan passed away early Monday morning after a cardiac arrest. He was 90.Khan was the third classical musician after Pt Ravi Shankar and M S Subbulakshmi to be awarded the Bharath Ratna, the highest civilian honour in the country.He also had the distinction of heralding in India's Independence, mesmerizing audiences before the start of Pandit Nehru's speech and the unfurling of the tricolour on August 15, 1947.Bismillah Khan sahib used to play two haunting tunes Aansoon Ke Angarey and Qarbala, on the 10th day of Moharram, as he lead a procession down the streets of Benares.The entire city turned up and many were moved to tears by the sight of the man and the sounds of his shehnai. It was also the tunes of his shehnai that would once open the doors of the Kashi Vishvanath temple every morning.He would sit on the steps of the temple and play with devotion.It's said that one of his first recitals was at the temple at the age of three and a half.Spirit of BenaresUstad Bismillah Khan was born in Bihar in 1916 but he grew up and lived in Benares - a city which he loved.In an interview just two years ago he told NDTV that the spirit of Benares lived in him and in his music.But if he belonged to Benares, his music belonged to the world.Bismillah Khan brought the shehnai to life every time he played whether it was the pure classical or the more folk based notes of the Kajri and Khayal.In fact it was under him that the shehnai became more than just a percussion instrument but an instrument that could lead and be played solo.And for more than 80 years, he played each day in thousands of concerts, and recitals across the country and worldwide, mixing skill with passion.Once in a flow, there was no stopping him. At a Spicmacay session in Mumbai he told NDTV to keep the cameras rolling and that he was an old man so we should not miss the opportunity to capture his message. In the same interview, he jokingly told NDTV that he increasingly felt that he should stay in Benares in his simple almost austere home.This time he adamantly refused the offer of treatment in Delhi and so when the end came, he was where he always wanted to be. In his music, Bismillah Khan is incomparable and in his personality, if there was and is an idea of India, Bismillah Khan embodied it.
Sunday, August 20
Saturday, August 12
A touching story
On the last day before Christmas, I hurried to go toThe supermarket to buy the remaining of the gift I didn'tManage to buy earlier.
When I saw all the people there, I started to
Complain to myself," It is going to take forever here and I still have soMany other places to go.
Christmas really is getting more and more annoying
Every year. How I wish I could just lie down, go to sleep and only wakeUp after it..."
Nonetheless, I made my way to the toy section, andThere I started to curse the prices, wondering if after all kids reallyPlay with such expensive toys.
While looking in the toy section, I noticed a smallBoy of about 5 years old, pressing a doll against his chest.He kept on touching the hair of the doll and looked So sad. I wondered who was this doll for.
Then the little boyTurned to the old woman next to him, " Granny, are you sure I don't haveEnough money?"
The old lady replied, " You know that you don't haveEnough money to buy this doll, my dear."Then she asked him to stay here for 5 minutes whileShe went to look around. She left quickly.
The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand.
Finally, I started to walk toward him and I asked himWho did he want to give this doll to." It is the doll that my sister loved most and wantedSo much for this Christmas. She was so sure that Santa Claus wouldBring it to her."
I replied to him that maybe Santa Claus will bring itTo her, after all, and not to worry.
But he replied to me sadly. " No, Santa Claus can notBring it to her where she is now. I have to give the doll to myMother so that she can give it to her when she goes there." His eyes Were so sad while saying this. " My sister has gone to be with God. Daddy saysThat Mummy will also go to see God very soon, so I thought that she Could bring the doll with her to give it to my sister."
My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up atMe and said, " I told daddy to tell mummy not to go yet. I asked himTo wait until I come back from the supermarket."
Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where heWas laughing. He then told me, " I also want mummy to take this photoWith her so that she will not forget me." I love my mummy and I wishShe doesn't have to leave me but daddy says that she has to go to be With my little sister."
Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, veryQuietly.
I quickly reached for my wallet and took a few notesAnd said to the boy, "What if we checked again, just in case if you Have enough money?"
" Ok," he said. " I hope that I have enough."
I added some of my money to his without him seeing
And we started to count it. There was enough for the doll, and evenSome spare money.
The little boy said, " Thank you God for giving meEnough money."
Then he looked at me and added, " I asked yesterdayBefore I slept for God to make sure I have enough money to buy this dollSo that mummy can give it to my sister. He heard me." " I alsoWanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mummy, but I didn'tDare to ask God too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll andThe white rose."
" You know, my mummy loves white rose."A few minutes later, the old lady came again and I Left with my trolley. I finished my shopping in a totally Different state from when I started. I couldn't get the little boy out of myMind.
Then I remembered a local newspaper article 2 daysAgo, which mentioned of a drunk man in a truck who hit a carWhere there was one young lady and a little girl.
The little girl diedRight away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family hadTo decide whether to pull the plug on the life-assisting machine, Because the young lady would not be able to get out of the coma.Was this the family of the little boy?
Two days after this encounter with the little boy, IRead in the newspaper that the young lady had passed away. I couldn't stop myself and went to buy a bunch of White roses and I went to the mortuary where the body of the youngWoman was exposed for people to see and make last wish before burial.
She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in herHand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her Chest.
I left the place crying, feeling that my life had Been changed forever. The love that this little boy had for hisMother and his sister is still , to that day, hard to imagine. And in A fraction of a second, a drunk man had taken all this away from him
When I saw all the people there, I started to
Complain to myself," It is going to take forever here and I still have soMany other places to go.
Christmas really is getting more and more annoying
Every year. How I wish I could just lie down, go to sleep and only wakeUp after it..."
Nonetheless, I made my way to the toy section, andThere I started to curse the prices, wondering if after all kids reallyPlay with such expensive toys.
While looking in the toy section, I noticed a smallBoy of about 5 years old, pressing a doll against his chest.He kept on touching the hair of the doll and looked So sad. I wondered who was this doll for.
Then the little boyTurned to the old woman next to him, " Granny, are you sure I don't haveEnough money?"
The old lady replied, " You know that you don't haveEnough money to buy this doll, my dear."Then she asked him to stay here for 5 minutes whileShe went to look around. She left quickly.
The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand.
Finally, I started to walk toward him and I asked himWho did he want to give this doll to." It is the doll that my sister loved most and wantedSo much for this Christmas. She was so sure that Santa Claus wouldBring it to her."
I replied to him that maybe Santa Claus will bring itTo her, after all, and not to worry.
But he replied to me sadly. " No, Santa Claus can notBring it to her where she is now. I have to give the doll to myMother so that she can give it to her when she goes there." His eyes Were so sad while saying this. " My sister has gone to be with God. Daddy saysThat Mummy will also go to see God very soon, so I thought that she Could bring the doll with her to give it to my sister."
My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up atMe and said, " I told daddy to tell mummy not to go yet. I asked himTo wait until I come back from the supermarket."
Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where heWas laughing. He then told me, " I also want mummy to take this photoWith her so that she will not forget me." I love my mummy and I wishShe doesn't have to leave me but daddy says that she has to go to be With my little sister."
Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, veryQuietly.
I quickly reached for my wallet and took a few notesAnd said to the boy, "What if we checked again, just in case if you Have enough money?"
" Ok," he said. " I hope that I have enough."
I added some of my money to his without him seeing
And we started to count it. There was enough for the doll, and evenSome spare money.
The little boy said, " Thank you God for giving meEnough money."
Then he looked at me and added, " I asked yesterdayBefore I slept for God to make sure I have enough money to buy this dollSo that mummy can give it to my sister. He heard me." " I alsoWanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mummy, but I didn'tDare to ask God too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll andThe white rose."
" You know, my mummy loves white rose."A few minutes later, the old lady came again and I Left with my trolley. I finished my shopping in a totally Different state from when I started. I couldn't get the little boy out of myMind.
Then I remembered a local newspaper article 2 daysAgo, which mentioned of a drunk man in a truck who hit a carWhere there was one young lady and a little girl.
The little girl diedRight away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family hadTo decide whether to pull the plug on the life-assisting machine, Because the young lady would not be able to get out of the coma.Was this the family of the little boy?
Two days after this encounter with the little boy, IRead in the newspaper that the young lady had passed away. I couldn't stop myself and went to buy a bunch of White roses and I went to the mortuary where the body of the youngWoman was exposed for people to see and make last wish before burial.
She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in herHand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her Chest.
I left the place crying, feeling that my life had Been changed forever. The love that this little boy had for hisMother and his sister is still , to that day, hard to imagine. And in A fraction of a second, a drunk man had taken all this away from him
hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job, a flat tire made him lose an hour of work & his electric drill quit, his ancient one ton truck refused to start. As I drove him home, he sat in stony silence.
On arriving he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. Upon opening the door he had undergone an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.
Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do at the little tree.
Friday, August 11
GOd Cake
Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Here is a wonderful explanation! A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.
Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake"
"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers. "Yuck" says her daughter.
"How about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Mom!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Mom, those are all yucky!"
To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!
God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
If you like this, send this on to the people you really care about. I did.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.
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