Year 2010-one good year

Last day of the year 2010. Reflecting the major changes happened during this year. Lessons learnt are huge. I have become more strong. I suddenly seem to think what is the purpose of my existence. It is a very important question and do not know if one thinks at least once in a while like that. Hitler was born to create havoc, he was tried to be assassinated 29 times and fate was in favour of him. It's only after he did what he was meant for he easily committed suicide. May be I will get my answer sometime in my life.
What I miss is my earlier company. Company in terms of Organisation, Building, People working with and every item i had to encounter with during my 5 year role there. But departure is a part of life. I did learnt the good side of the departure. I know that I have imbibed 5% more social knowledge than the people in that company of the outer world. Believe me, life teaches a lot and I have learnt a lot.
Looking forward to a wonderful year with dreams that I have in my heart to be fulfilled.
(Photo attached - Is the farewell greeting from my good colleagues)

The City Market

Hello there! i.e if any one is ever reading this :)
I had being to the City Market of Bengaluru today. The rate of visit by me at this spot is once a year. I suggest that those who have not landed in this place ones should. I will give you a vague explanation of this location. It's a market, obviously, without saying it goes that it's 'the' crowded place anytime between 3am in the morning to 12am in the night. You will mostly witness the male figure around. Only few ladies found and they are mostly Business women (Please do not picture a slim and trim dressed lady with a good looking handbag, just think of the opposite). It is the most untidiest place , anybody who has visited this place can testify this fact. Health conscious people are warned to visit this place. Because you need to be careful of each step you place there. The odour around some places are deleterious. But, i am sure one gets used to that within few minutes from the entrance. The best thing to begin with in this location is anything you think you want is available. The extreme of 'best' is we can never know where its exactly found unless you hunt. It's like the treasure hunt game - you are left alone in a huge place which is unclean and stinking with lots of strangers around who gives you a hostile stare because you are dressed different and you need to hunt your required list. Focusing only that which is most unlikely to happen fast. Footpaths are available, but are seldom used because it's occupied by the hawkers who pay their so called 'daily rent' to the insincere policemen for a 3 X3 feet ground on the footpath. Shops are not pleasing but its surprising to see the storage. Unexpected can be found. Today I found a apparel for 250/- which in Westlife could cost be 1,200/- . I am sure your mouths for a moment would have unconsciously spelt out "WOW". Yes, i also rely on quality and i did not find anything which i need to compromise on. The area that I am referring to is exactly call "Chickpet" = Chikka (small) + Pete (town) . But, it is not small, it humongous. So, give a visit.

What attracted me at this place ? - It's the people who are settled in this locality completely comfortable of the commotion around and do business. There is a great deal to learn from them. Starting from a man who stands on the road and advertises his shop by mouth and attracting them to his shop and the owner of the shop who handles the bargain of the Customer in such a way that he makes sure of a mutual settlement that the customer is not offended.

Relaxing phase

Its a relaxing period for me during work hours and I am paid. Why do you think so ? Any Guess ? I am in a phase called a "notice period", where I have handed over all my responsibilites and just enjoying the idle time. I know that there is lotz of work awaiting me. But, I decide the enjoy this moment by blogging my views.
I have confused feelings. At one point of time I feel proud that I have dared to come out of the comfort zone where in ladies prefer to continue work without any challenges and risk. At another instance i feel that I am leaving behind so many wonderful things, people and the luxuary. Its 4+ years that I am part of this team and I remember all the outings and team dinner that we had. Attached are the visuals that I have been seeing every day since the last 4+ years and I am sure I will not be forgetting it.

Enjoying the 'wait'

I am sitting in a low blue color chair in the classroom belonging to "LKG-G" students. People around me are parents for "NUR-I" section. Anxiety in their faces. We are all waiting for are dear ones who are attending their first day of class in this new school. Stopping the parents far away from class was the disciplinary action by the school, but it was torture to the parents. I found few parents with video camera to capture the moment of their gem going to school.

First day - After sending my son along with the teacher who stopped me at the gate , we (parents) had to assemble in another class. Wait time starts. I found both Parents present. All inquisitive about the other family. Some ladies start to break the silence. Some are friends who are lucky to have their kids in the same class and of cource they do not need an intro. Some flash out their mobile phone gadget and pretend to be a busy, and there was one lady who took out her laptop to work. Heights of pretence. Myself being a slow starter of converse was overhearing what the ladies around me was talking. Then, suddenly the teacher arrives with the kids Diary. The first day I met her, she was all purple, I really mean complete purple...her lips, her nails and her dress. Today she was all blue. Her dress and nails blue, but her lips,..naaa..Good of her not try it. She gave some instruction and rushed back. Finally the wait was over, the procedure followed for departure was not appreciative compared to arrival. Parents along with their young ones squeezed in between, it took some time to come to a comfortable position. Now complete focus on my son ...his story time starts and my questions never end.

Second day - Since I had an experience of the "wait" i took a book to read to keep myself engaged. Today, majority of them were only Mom's, Dad's could be busy. Heard that many kids were crying that's when it triggered a thought if its my son's. Whatever the case I am helpless. I need to sit and wait. Heard comment about one school which emphasises on religion, about the drama they conduct which is only based on Ramayana and Mahabharat and they teach this to nursery students!!. Other lady shared a story based on how one school admits students. The students are made to play and then the school official offer something to eat and they expect them to tell "Thank you" and the chocolate wrapper to be thrown in the dustbin. Wonder if such action can be expected by kids who are hungry and exhausted and would eat anything given to them. Today, the kids were brought to the parents class, our departure was smooth.

Third day - Parents were not expected to wait. Good for me. Later came back to pick him.

Yes, I did enjoy waiting to pick up my son. The one thing that I enjoyed the most is the happiness found the faces of the parents when their child was joining them. It was like their kids had completed an adventure and returned successfully. Frankly, I did feel like it.
Checkt out what my son has to tell about his first day - http://vishnu2006.wordpress.com/2010/06/12/43-first-day-of-my-school/

Love and Humanity

Below is a Mail that I received and blogging this note is my CHOICE

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son? The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.' Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do the others let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball
in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!

Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!

Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

‘'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day !

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOT NOTE TO THIS STORY:
We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second
thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people
hesitate.

The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and
workplaces.
If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're
probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the
'appropriate' ones to receive this type of message Well, the person who
sent you this believes that we all can make a difference.
We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize
the 'natural order of things.'
So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with
a choice:
Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up
those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the
process?
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least
fortunate amongst them.

Lovely Angles

Don't they look wonderfull!!. They are the next generation. Wonder what great personalities they will turn out to be. They do not know each other but their mothers can identify each one of them.

Another Outing - Manipal County

Manipal County - Finally the location was decided to celebrate the team outing on Friday. It was a choice over Club Kabana. Reason - No liquor that day, meaning enjoyment incomplete. Satisfaction is only complete with unlimited supply of drink. Ladies exemption from this list.

Start time announced - 9 AM. Actual started time - 10.15 am. What happened in between this time - Waiting, Grumbling and myself - Frustrated. Co-incidental my zodiac also had the same comment - It made me smile. Sometimes we do need to believe the comment against your zodiac sign.

Bus ride - Was good, after a long time. First time over the Electronic City Fly over and it was wonderful. Bangalore has truly changed a lot and our CM has done lotz of infrastructure development..

Arrival - First impression - Was similar to Radiant. Not as great as Club Kabana. Welcome drink . Rasna - Nostalgic right!!.

Activities - Started off with a wonderful song by a new team member who very few knew and now she is popular because there she had carried everyone to a different world with her lovely voice. Kannada Bhava Gethe is wonderful. This followed with short and sweet entertainment from other team members. I was among the quite audience as usual. Lot of things running in my mind. We played a good game which was planned to be set in Club Kabana's pool, but now turned out that it had to be played in the ground. We turned out to be the runners up. The tempreture was 35 degrees and it was difficult to ignore the heat. Finally heat got overridden by Fun.

Lunch - Rating 4 out of 5. One point down as Fish was not part of the menu.

Activities after 2.00pm -Missed it, returned back home.

Realization - Missed a wonderful skit, Volley ball game, and a dinner.

Take home - A Cap, and good memories.

Team Dinner.

Awaiting for the team dinner was finally ended last Friday. We had the dinner at Barbecue Nation at J P Nagar. First impression of the restaurant was that it had bright lighting's, which was good, unlike the sister restaurant at Koramangala where there were dim lights, hard to pick anything from the floor if fallen. We were 12 members, settled at two different tables. Naturally, ladies and men separated. I wonder when that culture will change. Until we hang on to it, we are never equal according to me. Challenge exist in sitting face to face in any social sitting. I am sounding Feminist, isn't it??

Our team is of 3 members which is a small count, so we were merged with another team just for the fun of having dinner together. The things that I found new is, there was a singer performing live ( not whole hearted ), he was looking sad. All the people on the floor was busy enjoying and talking to each other and very few noticed him singing. I also understood that eating crab is not a simple task. If you need to relish it, you will really need to work for it. We finally ended the dinner with a wonderful dessert which the Vegetarians of this group was waiting for. Feel sorry for these guys, there is no other option:). While myself a non-vegetarian, had enjoyed only the non-veg items available, without even questioning what i was about to eat, which I usually do to avoid having beef meat. Later i knew that no beef meat was used in preparation.

During all this action happening little did I realise I did not lock my vehicle which I had parked and the key was hanging from the vehicle, which was very prominently visible. Lucky me, Thank God, My vehicle was untouched.

Here are few photos which I carry forward as a visit to Barbecue nation with few wonderful people. And guy's you all look wonderful in these snaps!!!

I like this note!!!

At 4 Years
My daddy is great.

At 6 Years
My daddy knows everybody.

At 10 Years
My daddy is good but is short tempered

At 12 Years
My daddy was very nice to me when I was young .

At 14 Years
My daddy is getting fastidious.

At 16 Years
My daddy is not in line with the current times.

At 18 Years
My daddy is becoming increasingly cranky.

At 20 Years
Oh! Its becoming difficult to tolerate daddy.
Wonder how Mother puts up with him.

At 25 Years
Daddy is objecting to everything.

At 30 Years
It's becoming difficult to manage my son.
I was so scared of my father when I was young.

At 40 Years
Daddy brought me up with so much discipline.
Even I should do the same.

At 45 Years
I am baffled as to how my daddy brought us up.

At 50 Years
My daddy faced so many hardships to bring us up.
I am unable to manage a single son.

At 55 Years
My daddy was so far sighted and planned so many things for us.
He is one of his kind and unique.

At 60 Years
My daddy is great.

Thus, it took 56 years to complete the cycle and come back to the first stage.

Republic Day

Have returned to office after a day's public holiday, reason being its our Republic Day (India).

Let me begin with how it was celebrated then and how its celebrated now. During school days, there had to be complete attendance on the day and sometimes I would be part of marching, singing national songs or sometimes I am part of good audience. It would be half a day at school, no regular classes. When in College we are not forced to attend the celebration, hence have never being part of it, but did watch some part of the Republic day parade which would appear in the Dooradarshan channel (the only channel) and would be bored of the President's speech. Now, as a working citizen, with many FM channels buzzing around reminds me that its a holiday as its a Republic day. And the 100 odd television channel showing movies related to the passion for the country and freedom fighters.

As an Indian I wanted to reflect the importance of this day and following are few basic question's which popped up and found answers for and might be helpful for a fellow Indian who browses this page.

1. Why do we celebrate ? - Constitution of India came to place

2. What is Constitution ? Set of rules for the Government, that enumerates the powers and functions of the political entity. Its the fundamental political principal, and establishing the structure, procedure, powers and duties of the government .

4. How long is it celebrated ? For 60 yrs.

5. When did it start ? 26th Jan 1950 10.18 am IST

6. How long did the Constitution take to prepare ? 2yrs 11 months 18 days (166 Meetings).

7. What would be different that day ? Dooradarshan channel will have the live telecast of the celebration from Delhi. All the other channels will telecast movies related to freedom fighters and about Gandhi. The channel icon at the corner of the television would show tricolor flag of India. Would find school children going to school early. Newspapers with names of Kids who are candidate's of the Bravery Award.