From my archives – Ode to Hampi

Hey, found this in my old archives and wanted to share this.. Hampi – one of the most beautiful places I ever visited.. Felt like i re-lived the experience, when i read this.. To all those who haven’t gone there, plsssss go.. and to those who have, this will take u down memory lane.. Enjoy..

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All these years, she stood still and sturdy
Silently watching the rise and fall of many an empire;
Bearing the onslaught of many an enemy,
Tears in her eyes….

———-

Sun, water, light, blood & fire
She has seen all draped in her green attire;
Arched like a palace, the beauty of which seems only for my eyes,
Like the lion-god’s statue, five times man-size;

———-

She takes on different shapes, that of an idol, of a pillar or just plain boulders…
Many a sculptor has failed to affect her inner beauty with his carvings though…
She is all beautiful, all dramatic…
Within her overflow human emotions, that even a human fails to elicit..

————-

As she sits contemplating by the river..
Each wave washes over sand, under skin..
As weeds weave themselves around her,
She fondles them gently, narrates her story to them,
In a language no human can understand..

————–

With every passing day, with every passing night..
She makes them beautiful – the moon and the sunshine..
And to anyone who sits with her, understands her language..
She makes them powerful – their soul and their mind..

————–

And there she stands tall by all standards..
The aide memoire of the great empire..
An ode to her is all but possible..
Coz she is the cause and result of one’s own desire..

My Soul, my Friend

“Teach eh?? Not sure what one can learn from me”, said she.

She, who has so much to offer to everyone who is willing to learn from her.

“I hope that’s in light mode, coz apart from being funny, I don’t do much. If yes, then give One example”, she challenged.

Well, that challenge is what inspired this post… Chai (like I love calling her), this is for you…

—————-

I was nested, I was protected,

I was loved, and knew no hatred;

My thoughts were fresh, my thoughts were straight,

I loved my world, it looked so great;

———-

And then, I went through a sudden change,

The world I knew went topsy turvy,

I was now the Untouchable,

Coz I was an Up-town girl…

——————-

But there was one exception,

An Angel above all,

She, in her quiet way,

Taught them they were wrong…

——————

Shrewd, yet sensitive;

Strong, yet modest;

Plain, but powerful;

Funny, yet taken seriously;

——————

Don’t bother about the taunts, she said

But show them your mercy;

Show them your love, yet

Show them you are gutsy;

——————–

And true to her words,

Things became fine,

Tables turned, and they became

Friends of Mine;

———————-

That was my darling friend,

My soul, My guide;

While she taught me nothing literally;

All she taught otherwise, was more worthwhile…

——————

Love u chai

An Ode to Weight loss

The other day, while discussing my blog, a friend suggested that I look at writing about my strenuous effort (read opposite) to lose extra calories (an effort to be modest).

So here my friend, to you who inspired this Ode…. Meano…

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Oh Celestial light, Oh Celestial night

While I watch the mirror

Thou Shall cry and break;

————

All thy tears shall vanish, as my toil shall rake

The most delightful wonder

That God can ever make;

————

Oh you Tireless wonder, chisel on to make

The most beautiful craft

That all can only fake;

————

While I let me be me, I strain for world’s sake

For all beasts love beauty

And to cause them heartache…

————-

So, wait to see the new chiseled artwork..

Just walk the extra mile

Walk the extra mile, I told myself

Walk the extra mile, I told

While you need to stop for a breathe,

Do not stop just yet,

Just walk the extra mile dear, I said…

——————-

Walk the extra mile, I told myself

Walk through the silence and pain;

Walk while you experience the physical strain,

Walk to feel the world change…

—————-

Walk the extra mile, I said again,

To freedom and brightness galore;

Walk to make one want to live,

Walk to feel ‘you want more’…

——————-

Walk the extra mile, then again

Inch by inch, through puddles and rain;

Walk to make your life worthwhile

Walk for your confidence to gain…

Liberated?

The land of hundred gods, they call it,

The land of the snakes, they call it;

The land of love, they call it,

The land of grain, they call it;

I called it the land of soul…

And then, I lost my soul sometime ago,

No rationale, no sentiment could repossess it

I searched in vain, a sense of disdain for myself

How could I lose it, who would find it?

Who will retrieve it for me?

Do I even need it?

There seemed a void when I lost it,

But then I love the abyss now

Does that make me liberated?

Or does that make me confined to the materialistic world?

Have I really lost my soul or have I revived it?

Reflection

The pain, the subdued tears,

The determined consciousness may soon be losing out to the pained subconscious;

I am fighting; I am pushing it back…

The unrest within, the terrible sinking feeling…

Reminds me of the change that I seek…

Can I start afresh? I wonder how?

Can I pull the thread, for the curtain to fall?

The more I reflect, the more I ask…

Should I start my journey being a caterpillar?

Or am I happy being a butterfly unable to fly?

The hewed wings make me reflect

Can I start afresh? The question remains how?

Urban need not necessarily mean modern…

Back from hibernation… its been a while now and it has been well spent…

Recently met with an NGO who is a facilitator of sorts between Corporate and grass root NGOs working for the cause of HIV/AIDS victims. This NGO convinces and involves Corporates to contribute their bit (either through monies or through volunteers) so as to eradicate the menace. They were speaking about the reluctance of these corporates to embrace this cause because of the social taboo around it…

Set me thinking.. Big Corporates – well-educated, highly intelligent, well established in their industries, the so-called crowd pullers, people who think beyond the thinkable, lateral thinkers, who aim to be Global leaders, the Indian answer to the US biggies……….. The same creme of the lot, hesitate to take up this cause??? And I always thought you need to open up your mind to dream big, to aim big, to be there in the global map… the same people are exhibiting bigotry, are shying away from this issue????

Sounds terrible to a new age person like me… and am sure to most of the youth out their in the blogosphere.. or does it?

Well, consider this… even now, majority of the youth today would not like to eat food that has been prepared by an HIV/AIDS victim.. This is out of no big survey that I am publishing from, but a small one conducted within my immediate circle… Hit me badly… so much for the modern day youth and it’s social advancement.. And these are the educated lot that I am talking about..

As against it, read about an initative done by rural youth in the state of Maharashtra.. As part of a programme undertaken by an NGO by name Sparsh, they are educating villagers about the need for safe sex to avoid HIV/AIDS… Imagine having to go to an old man in a village (assuming Panchayats comprise more of older men and women) and convincing him/her that people there should be part of sex education… Wow man.. hats off to these youngsters… This involves a lot of de-learning and re-learning from us, the educated lot..

So my dear bloggers, the ones who sit in their posh corporate offices – please let’s put in our bit for the cause.. A fervent call to like-minded individuals..

Tc and breathe deeply..

D

Faith gives life to the Prayer

Read a friend’s blog that talked about the various sufferings that he has gone through in his life.. It was a mixed feeling… Bothered my soul but at the same time inspired me too.. Hat’s off to you Raja…

On the other hand, a friend forwarded a thought for the week mail, and it said “Prayer does not give life to the faith; Faith gives life to the prayer“. How true. Remembered the number of times I have used this concept in different contexts. I can still hear the irritated voice cribbing about taking medicines, and I would say “boss pls have it only if you have faith in it.. first believe that you can get cured by this”.

Faith.. a must in life.. don’t know how it comes so easy to me, while others grapple to get hold of it. Probably the very reason that they try so hard, makes it even more difficult.. Faith, according to me is easy to come by, free flow (like the Salt advertisement that comes). So free, that you can’t hold on to it.. It is just there; recognize it.

Am not a very ritualistic person, though my folks are big time. But yes, I have faith in their faith that the rituals that they do will bear fruit… Sounds complicated?? It means that rather than criticizing them for all this, I just believe in it. Isn’t it easier than arguing and then spoiling a perfect atmosphere..

The other day a colleague of mine was awestruck at the way I handle sticky conversations patiently and with a smile… (Rocking, ain’t it) Well again the same philosophy.. instead of blowing up and creating more problems for yourself, you might as well laugh and impart your views/opinions in the whole process.. just the way you drive your car.. The art of maneuvering… through smooth and rough roads, terrible traffic blocks.. You lose your cool, and you end up hitting someone.. So why not loosen up and maneuver through it skillfully..

Why I’m in My Current Job

Scene 1:

“You are still in that Hammer company”

“That’s with an “N”. And yes, am still there”

“Wow man, isn’t that a long time.. errr… I mean it is good” (followed by a smile.. thank God they clarify that it is good.. it makes me feel sooo better)

“Thanks…” (followed by a ‘to hell’ smile)

Scene 2:

After a new biz client meeting has been successfully completed, the Client asks:

“And have you guys been around for a long time now?”

My colleague gave her number of years of experience and then my turn (with a not-again smile)

“And I have been around for about 6 and half years now”

“Wow!! when someone says they have been around for such a long time, you just tend to respect that person’s commitment and dedication” (seemed serious but was she sarcastic, I wonder… )

” Ummmmm…” (attempting the half-smile, half-question mark look)

Well end scene. Curtains close..

So ppl, I think its time for me to disclose why I’m in my current Job..

- Not Just Money (I shall draw more if I skip jobs)

- Not Just Fame (After sometime, the oldies are kind of ahhh… Old, until they do something drastically ahh… New)

- Not cause of perks and incentives (well, what was that? They never had this scheme when I could get nominated, and now that I am senior, I just nominate others for it)

- Not Just for Name (What’s in a name?? Nah… PPl who knw me will also knw that my job is in my name)

Well, then wat is it, you ask??? Firstly, I kind of love this company because of the ppl i worked with in the past and ppl i work with presently.. Ya.. it is beyond all the practicals requirements.. It’s for the ppl… my lovely colleagues (love u all) and more so one person with whom I may have had umpteen number of arguments, but have also had soulful discussions.. My mentor and guide, thanks Deebug. He is one person who has faced the toughest of situations with the calmest mind and unfathomable faith in it turning for better. Hat’s off to you man.. I cannot probably match your idealism, but yes, shall try to follow what I can..

Secondly, the job itself.. I have been in this organisation since the time they started in Bangalore.. Earlier we had only project clients, then got one retainer and then the other and then the list went on… We were just three ppl then and later that too increased.. As a result, at an early stage I got to go for review meetings, new biz meetings, Client dinners.. all when I was just one year old in the industry… This was my career’s best phase and my name became synonyms with my company’s name.. It had it’s share of tribulations, old boss moved out, new came in, tough clients, unreasonable clients, crisis situation every alternate day.. Man, I loved it… The challenges it posed, the exposure it gave me.. I Guess, one of the reason why I love start-ups and look forward to having them as my clients..

All in all, it gave a tremendous boost to my adrenaline (even the politics I faced)…

There you are.. all in writing.. Miles to go, but the past has fused with the present and here I am.. Future will hold new challenges, new goals, probably a path untrodden..

So long farewell Auf Wiedersehen, adieu…

And me??

And am back!!! Why the exclamation? oh well, just felt like creating an uproar out there… Well, that is me.. Cogitative yes.. but impulsive too.. I am what people know as Split Personality (no comments from Psychologists encouraged please)..

Friends know me as Weird.. colleagues as Stable and sensible and folks back home know me as an amalgamation of both.. Oh yes, my folks know me better than all the others put together..

My take on life is very simple – live it to know it. And trust me, have seen all facets of life and all kinds of people.. and no, am not getting any philosophical here (U shall see that face of mine in the days to come too)..

Like most of them, I loveeeee clouds, I love walking in the rain, I love the deserts, I love the plains.. Wow… and anyone planning to sue me for plagiarism , I love John Denver too..

So here’s about today’s Annie.. the dreamer and survivor.. Signing off, but please do leave your comments.. have fun..