Life
Life is all about the Bonds that we create for ourselves.
Glorifying in their comfort and squirming at the bondage simultaneously.
We fashion ourselves in a parasitic and indulgent manner just so that we could
feel more at home in the chains that we comfortably bind ourselves in.
The very same chains that we once assumed we were safe from....
The very same chains that became our necessity without even our knowledge.
It sounds like a complete cliche, but the fact remains that we have never
been as helpless in our lives.
The monotonous days that every person experiences and goes through thinking how
much better it wud be for the person who walked by with a smile on his face but oblivious to the
possibility that the same person could be feeling nothing but a glint of ironical satire at his own misery.
No one's having a perfect day....and no one's likely to have it either.
Why is it so??
Why has Mankind degraded to such depths that even the simplest of emotions seem impossible??
The Answer lies within us.
It is because of what we have become.
All our lives are spent in the pursuit of an existence that we dont need.
We are led to believe in happiness being the destination to a very arduous journey.
We continue to run after mirages with dreams of salvation and we dont realise how
futile everything actually is.
Whatever we accumulate is just an illusion of comfort that we believe in, but never truly had.
Man is designed to feel and sense.
Not to be a Storage device so that he can store away
his happiness for a perfect end that might never even arrive.
We Shouldnt deny ourselves any pleasure that is afforded to us.
And we should learn to do what we want to...and forget about what is to be done.
Atleast once in a while.
" The best thing about you is that there's no one like you"
Friday, July 18, 2008
Monday, June 18, 2007
Campeones Again
Real Madrid are Champions again....Typical of them this season, the merengues came back from behind to win and extinguish the hopes of a rampant Barcelona side with a facile 3-1 win over a stubborn Mallorca side.
Goals from Jose Antonio Reyes (2) and Mohammadou Diarra finally ended the four year wait for Real and gave Roberto Carlos and David Beckham a fitting send-off gift. The occasion was embellished by the presence of Tom Cruise,Katie Holmes and Rafael Nadal (who is ironically a Madrid & Mallorca Fan). Rafa even had tears in his eyes when madrid scored the third goal. Absolutely Brilliant!!
Iker Casillas, a stalwart of the side for years, was also in tears as the final seconds ticked away, heralding Madrid's 30th League title. So many emotions were visible from all the people involved with "The Club of the 20th Century" , especially the fans.
The future is uncertain and the road ahead seems tough...but for now, we are Kings again.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
The Passion of the Fan
I write this long overdue entry as a wave of emotion sweeps over me.This is written exactly 5 minutes after witnessing the most thrilling La liga in ages wind down into its final week.This La liga season has been a very see-saw affair with the title race being a three way dog-fight between Traditional enemies Barcelona FC and Real Madrid CF and new-boys Sevilla FC.And although millions of blogs, such as mine, will not have ample space to touch upon the Madrid-Barca rivalry (El Classico,for the literate),it goes beyond saying that any title race between the two will surpass the usual Premier League Rivalry. Sevilla ,on the other hand, are the only team in over two decades to successfully defend the UEFA Cup and they themselves boast of a side worthy of considerable bragging. However, this blog deals with something else.
I have always been a Football enthusiast right from the early days when Dennis Bergkamp used to strike wondrous goals for Holland and when Romario was always on the scoresheet. But my metamorphosis from a normal fan to wakes-up-in-the-nite-to-watch-matches fan was due to a certain team of Galacticos in 2001. The Real Madrid team for many people is about over-bulging pockets of money and Underperformance. But for me, Real Madrid will always be about the season of 2000-2001. Their football was not just a game but rather a way of artistic expression. The purpose of their football was not to grind out victories (which in hindsight, cost the coach Vicente Del Bosque his job) but to show the boy sitting at his home thousands of miles away, just how beautiful a game could be. They were not just players for me; they were idols who rose above the mediocrity around them once a day every week.Without Fail.Without Complaint.
They didn't always win. They lost to Bayern Munich (apparently their bogey team) in the Champion's League. But they were majestic in defeat. I still remember how they made Bayern run around in circles and basically cringe their way to victory. Somehow the insurmountable hurt was overcome when the merengues lifted the la liga crown. With Luis Figo rampaging down the right flank and Steve Mcmanaman doing the same on the left, oppositions were left to wonder who would get the final goalward touch. It was like watching an Orchestrated Ballet happen with Raul finishing with his Trademark left-footed chip. Perhaps as some form of justice, Figo was chosen as the Year's Best Footballer.
It didn't stop there either. The advent of Zidane served as a new era for Madrid. With age and a debilitating ankle injury, Figo lost some of his invincibility on the flanks and Madrid coped brilliantly by superb one-touch football and captivating one-twos through the center. Even now, they weren't winning everything. But they dazzled for sure. Who can forget Zidane's Amazing left-footed volley to win the Champion's League in 2002 (people who haven't been fortunate enough to witness, dont bother to answer!).
That was Real Madrid. Brilliant and inconsistent.
Circa 2007. Madrid haven't won a trophy in four years. They have one of the most costliest squads. But the results are tough to come by.Their Brand of football is regimented and rigid. Their choice of coaches is as fickle as the monsoon weather. This is Real Madrid now.
Lets come back to the title chase, Real Madrid were leaders atop the liga tied with Barcelona into the penultimate match. Madrid quickly went one down against Zaragoza. Barcelona followed suit against Espanyol. But Messi scored another Maradona style goal (Anyone remember "The Hand of God" goal) to pull them level. At this stage Barca are gonna edge Madrid. Come the second half, Madrid equalise only for Zaragoza to go ahead again. To make matters worse, Barca and Messi score again to go one up. Madrid have almost run out of gas on the home stretch.
With a last gasp effort, Nistelrooy scores for Madrid to pull them even. And exactly 20 seconds later Tamudo scores for Espanyol to square things up. Both matches end 2-2 and Madrid are still top with a match to go, their destiny firmly in their own hands. Sevilla, meanwhile are still in it but barely after drawing at Mallorca.
I'm as, you would call, a Madridista and tonight i have been awakened after my long dormancy. It feels good to be awake.
"Not all who are dreaming are sleeping"
I write this long overdue entry as a wave of emotion sweeps over me.This is written exactly 5 minutes after witnessing the most thrilling La liga in ages wind down into its final week.This La liga season has been a very see-saw affair with the title race being a three way dog-fight between Traditional enemies Barcelona FC and Real Madrid CF and new-boys Sevilla FC.And although millions of blogs, such as mine, will not have ample space to touch upon the Madrid-Barca rivalry (El Classico,for the literate),it goes beyond saying that any title race between the two will surpass the usual Premier League Rivalry. Sevilla ,on the other hand, are the only team in over two decades to successfully defend the UEFA Cup and they themselves boast of a side worthy of considerable bragging. However, this blog deals with something else.
I have always been a Football enthusiast right from the early days when Dennis Bergkamp used to strike wondrous goals for Holland and when Romario was always on the scoresheet. But my metamorphosis from a normal fan to wakes-up-in-the-nite-to-watch-matches fan was due to a certain team of Galacticos in 2001. The Real Madrid team for many people is about over-bulging pockets of money and Underperformance. But for me, Real Madrid will always be about the season of 2000-2001. Their football was not just a game but rather a way of artistic expression. The purpose of their football was not to grind out victories (which in hindsight, cost the coach Vicente Del Bosque his job) but to show the boy sitting at his home thousands of miles away, just how beautiful a game could be. They were not just players for me; they were idols who rose above the mediocrity around them once a day every week.Without Fail.Without Complaint.
They didn't always win. They lost to Bayern Munich (apparently their bogey team) in the Champion's League. But they were majestic in defeat. I still remember how they made Bayern run around in circles and basically cringe their way to victory. Somehow the insurmountable hurt was overcome when the merengues lifted the la liga crown. With Luis Figo rampaging down the right flank and Steve Mcmanaman doing the same on the left, oppositions were left to wonder who would get the final goalward touch. It was like watching an Orchestrated Ballet happen with Raul finishing with his Trademark left-footed chip. Perhaps as some form of justice, Figo was chosen as the Year's Best Footballer.
It didn't stop there either. The advent of Zidane served as a new era for Madrid. With age and a debilitating ankle injury, Figo lost some of his invincibility on the flanks and Madrid coped brilliantly by superb one-touch football and captivating one-twos through the center. Even now, they weren't winning everything. But they dazzled for sure. Who can forget Zidane's Amazing left-footed volley to win the Champion's League in 2002 (people who haven't been fortunate enough to witness, dont bother to answer!).
That was Real Madrid. Brilliant and inconsistent.
Circa 2007. Madrid haven't won a trophy in four years. They have one of the most costliest squads. But the results are tough to come by.Their Brand of football is regimented and rigid. Their choice of coaches is as fickle as the monsoon weather. This is Real Madrid now.
Lets come back to the title chase, Real Madrid were leaders atop the liga tied with Barcelona into the penultimate match. Madrid quickly went one down against Zaragoza. Barcelona followed suit against Espanyol. But Messi scored another Maradona style goal (Anyone remember "The Hand of God" goal) to pull them level. At this stage Barca are gonna edge Madrid. Come the second half, Madrid equalise only for Zaragoza to go ahead again. To make matters worse, Barca and Messi score again to go one up. Madrid have almost run out of gas on the home stretch.
With a last gasp effort, Nistelrooy scores for Madrid to pull them even. And exactly 20 seconds later Tamudo scores for Espanyol to square things up. Both matches end 2-2 and Madrid are still top with a match to go, their destiny firmly in their own hands. Sevilla, meanwhile are still in it but barely after drawing at Mallorca.
I'm as, you would call, a Madridista and tonight i have been awakened after my long dormancy. It feels good to be awake.
"Not all who are dreaming are sleeping"
Monday, January 22, 2007
Racism : A Pigment of our Imagination?
How much of a racist do you really think you are?? Chances are you are more than you think you are....We have an inherent way of defending ourselves and our flaws by using logic that is generally tough to explain to some one else.And such is the case with us Indians when it comes to racism.We have of glorifying our racist naturewith a very nonchalant air.However,we are also equally quick to cry foul whenever some Caucasian does it and immediately seek World Sympathy...
The truth is that we are a country with a racial culture that is too deeply ingrained in us to ever be rid of completely.The Same Aryan blood that coursed thru the veins of Hitler is present in all of us.It is a symbol of our racial superiority and dormant as it may be,its not dead.
Isnt religion,race,caste,language and colour all part of the same dirty thing called discrimination?The bad thing about us is that we are the worst hypocrites when it comes to racism.We practise it more than the "racist" Caucasians.We are fraught with Bigotry and Prejudice.
So,the next time Shilpa Shetty is singing "Dont Cry for me,India" and secretly wishing for you to do the exact opposite,take your time,sit down,think and realise just how bad that person must have felt when you "teased" him about his skin colour.I have done it a thousand times and never have i been able to justify my actions to myself.
And neither can u.
Corporate Lesson
"Encourage Protocol but Kill Bureaucracy" - Ajay Patel
How much of a racist do you really think you are?? Chances are you are more than you think you are....We have an inherent way of defending ourselves and our flaws by using logic that is generally tough to explain to some one else.And such is the case with us Indians when it comes to racism.We have of glorifying our racist naturewith a very nonchalant air.However,we are also equally quick to cry foul whenever some Caucasian does it and immediately seek World Sympathy...
The truth is that we are a country with a racial culture that is too deeply ingrained in us to ever be rid of completely.The Same Aryan blood that coursed thru the veins of Hitler is present in all of us.It is a symbol of our racial superiority and dormant as it may be,its not dead.
Isnt religion,race,caste,language and colour all part of the same dirty thing called discrimination?The bad thing about us is that we are the worst hypocrites when it comes to racism.We practise it more than the "racist" Caucasians.We are fraught with Bigotry and Prejudice.
So,the next time Shilpa Shetty is singing "Dont Cry for me,India" and secretly wishing for you to do the exact opposite,take your time,sit down,think and realise just how bad that person must have felt when you "teased" him about his skin colour.I have done it a thousand times and never have i been able to justify my actions to myself.
And neither can u.
Corporate Lesson
"Encourage Protocol but Kill Bureaucracy" - Ajay Patel
Saturday, November 18, 2006
What happens when a good-looking,intelligent guy doesnt seem to find any girl attractive??Rumours abound...And his Close Coterie of Confidants(friends) are quick enough to jump at the chance faster than a flock of vultures over a carcass.Jokes run riot and soon everybody's joined in...Just One of those days in the 1st Sem....
H-RAT
The night was dark and lovely too
And you took my breath away when i met you
But then you grabbed my penis
When i was gazing at Venus
I jumped and screamed "Hey!!"
Only to realise that you were gay
I was so shocked and so jolted
that i grabbed my poncho and i bolted
But you followed me back to my house
And then i realised that u were a mouse
I was almost mesmerised by your gait
So i used my neighbour as bait
I figured he'd be safe with all that Fat
But i didn't know you were The Homosexual Rat
I couldn't see with all that fur
But you fucked him and said "Thank you Sir"
PS - Erm...Whatever!!!
H-RAT
The night was dark and lovely too
And you took my breath away when i met you
But then you grabbed my penis
When i was gazing at Venus
I jumped and screamed "Hey!!"
Only to realise that you were gay
I was so shocked and so jolted
that i grabbed my poncho and i bolted
But you followed me back to my house
And then i realised that u were a mouse
I was almost mesmerised by your gait
So i used my neighbour as bait
I figured he'd be safe with all that Fat
But i didn't know you were The Homosexual Rat
I couldn't see with all that fur
But you fucked him and said "Thank you Sir"
PS - Erm...Whatever!!!
Goodbye Blue Sky
Remember when you were young?
Running around just because you didnt want to care...sitting by the road absent-mindedly chucking stones about....when time was a luxury...having those "deep" conversations with your friends about growing up and so wanting to do all the things that you were told not to do.
Its funny because i dont do any of these things anymore and havent even thought of giving them a try for a while.These "things" that we used to do,were so fundamental,so instinctive that no child ever had to think twice about wondering aloud about the Stars.Atleast i never did.But I dont feel the way i used to and the child i was would never be able to relate to the Man Iam now.
But somewhere along the way maybe we lost our instinctivity and we learned "how"to live,like a caged bird.The only difference being our desire to NOT escape into the free skies...we got used to the life that others had built around us,for us.
The loss of Innocence had nothing to do with the advent of Cable TV or the Internet.It was our ability to unlearn what is intrinsically within us,given to us by nature.We have managed to change a lot of things around us,everything that we wished to change....but we also changed ourselves.
"Look mummy, there's an aeroplane up in the sky"
Remember when you were young?
Running around just because you didnt want to care...sitting by the road absent-mindedly chucking stones about....when time was a luxury...having those "deep" conversations with your friends about growing up and so wanting to do all the things that you were told not to do.
Its funny because i dont do any of these things anymore and havent even thought of giving them a try for a while.These "things" that we used to do,were so fundamental,so instinctive that no child ever had to think twice about wondering aloud about the Stars.Atleast i never did.But I dont feel the way i used to and the child i was would never be able to relate to the Man Iam now.
But somewhere along the way maybe we lost our instinctivity and we learned "how"to live,like a caged bird.The only difference being our desire to NOT escape into the free skies...we got used to the life that others had built around us,for us.
The loss of Innocence had nothing to do with the advent of Cable TV or the Internet.It was our ability to unlearn what is intrinsically within us,given to us by nature.We have managed to change a lot of things around us,everything that we wished to change....but we also changed ourselves.
"Look mummy, there's an aeroplane up in the sky"
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Building the Wall
"The Wall" ...one of the greatest albums of ALL time(Some might say THE best but im a staunch Dark Side of the Moon supporter)....
One of the most lasting symbols of division(dont tell me you have forgotten the images of the Berlin Wall being Dismantled by the common man)....
A symbol of the security blanket we wrap around ourselves....Coz Everyone does it.
Even the most extroverted fella who swears on his mum that he is comfortable wid absolutely every one needs to build the wall around him so that he can sleep comfortably.
This,instead of being illogical,is an actuality which everyone comes to terms with,often grudgingly,and generally only to himself.
But dont worry dude,its ok...it really is.It doesnt make u an outcast bcoz EVERYONE does it (and needs to do it).
But hidden beneath all these layers of deep symbolism (which themselves are veiled in human nature),lie the truth that the biggest fear of each individual is the fear of segregation i.e of being left out alone.
Thats why we crave for companionship,for the constant need to leave his self-induced seclusion.We are all scared of being alone and thats why we try to fit in wherever we go.
Look around us,it happens everywhere...The Marwari-fication of people all around...the new-found friendships....the need to please people around you by acting like a sweet soul !!
Q - Then why would anyone want to build a wall around them??
A - Its bcoz we know we are different from everyone else and that is a scary prospect for us....So we hide our feelings in order to get acceptance....
Btw, Do you know why im such a HUGE Dark side... Fan.
1) Not jez because it stayed in Billboard Top 100 for 14 years!! (Now thats AWESOME!!!)
2) Not jez because it is one the most listenable of Floyd albums
3) Not jez bcoz of the Syd Barrett-inspired songs
I love it bcoz it connects with me....jez like it connected with a lotta people because it is an album that is all about(In Roger Waters' Own Words) "Defending the notion of being different".
Sadly,not many people do it!!
"The Wall" ...one of the greatest albums of ALL time(Some might say THE best but im a staunch Dark Side of the Moon supporter)....
One of the most lasting symbols of division(dont tell me you have forgotten the images of the Berlin Wall being Dismantled by the common man)....
A symbol of the security blanket we wrap around ourselves....Coz Everyone does it.
Even the most extroverted fella who swears on his mum that he is comfortable wid absolutely every one needs to build the wall around him so that he can sleep comfortably.
This,instead of being illogical,is an actuality which everyone comes to terms with,often grudgingly,and generally only to himself.
But dont worry dude,its ok...it really is.It doesnt make u an outcast bcoz EVERYONE does it (and needs to do it).
But hidden beneath all these layers of deep symbolism (which themselves are veiled in human nature),lie the truth that the biggest fear of each individual is the fear of segregation i.e of being left out alone.
Thats why we crave for companionship,for the constant need to leave his self-induced seclusion.We are all scared of being alone and thats why we try to fit in wherever we go.
Look around us,it happens everywhere...The Marwari-fication of people all around...the new-found friendships....the need to please people around you by acting like a sweet soul !!
Q - Then why would anyone want to build a wall around them??
A - Its bcoz we know we are different from everyone else and that is a scary prospect for us....So we hide our feelings in order to get acceptance....
Btw, Do you know why im such a HUGE Dark side... Fan.
1) Not jez because it stayed in Billboard Top 100 for 14 years!! (Now thats AWESOME!!!)
2) Not jez because it is one the most listenable of Floyd albums
3) Not jez bcoz of the Syd Barrett-inspired songs
I love it bcoz it connects with me....jez like it connected with a lotta people because it is an album that is all about(In Roger Waters' Own Words) "Defending the notion of being different".
Sadly,not many people do it!!
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Its What I had felt exactly 12 days after the Iraq War!!
The War
In a city that never sleeps
A son has died and a mother weeps
In a war where so many die
No answers given to cries of why
In an ocean of blood and tears
We are drowning in our own fears
The seed of hatred is already sown
But the flower of forgiveness hasn’t grown
In a world made of black and white
The darkness slowly engulfs the light
In the cold of the winter season
We all lost our sense of reason
In a world which is full of hate
And destinies snatched through the hands of fate
And now it moves to the summer heat
And history is all set to repeat
The cradle of culture is in ruins again
The smile on a child’s face replaced by pain
Like we sow, so shall we reap
The dead shall rise from graves, no matter how deep
Is religion greater than kith and kin?
And equality be based on the colour of your skin?
Hope and history shall never rhyme
And the future shall reveal each crime
In a city that never sleeps
A son has died and a mother weeps
In a war where so many die
No answers given to cries of why
In an ocean of blood and tears
We are drowning in our own fears
The seed of hatred is already sown
But the flower of forgiveness hasn’t grown
In a world made of black and white
The darkness slowly engulfs the light
In the cold of the winter season
We all lost our sense of reason
In a world which is full of hate
And destinies snatched through the hands of fate
And now it moves to the summer heat
And history is all set to repeat
The cradle of culture is in ruins again
The smile on a child’s face replaced by pain
Like we sow, so shall we reap
The dead shall rise from graves, no matter how deep
Is religion greater than kith and kin?
And equality be based on the colour of your skin?
Hope and history shall never rhyme
And the future shall reveal each crime
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