Poor Boy Afridi

Shahid Afridi seems to be extremely confused these days. First he complains of Indian's being small hearted and unprofessional. Very next day he realized his love for same Indians. These irresponsible remarks seemed nothing more than a rage of frustation, from a non performer at WC, aggrevated by fact of India being the winner.

He also thanked his God for some reason. Earlier also in one of the match presentation, one pak player thanked the muslims all over the world. Despite being international players, they cannot think beyond religion. Ok let them have their own set of opinions and mindset. Least the world could expect is, the poor fellows refrain giving a communal colour to sports.

And today surprisingly, Afridi want pak players to be a part of cash rich IPL. I would agree with Afridi, they actually are large hearted, after making irresponsible and foolish comments about Indians, just within a weeks time, he has the gut to appeal for their participation. Ofcourse you have a large heart.

Trouble time @ Google

The recent development in the very hot Android market, being the formation of Android Developers Union, is infact quite interesting.

The demand by developers being that Google should reduce its 32% stake from sale of android apps, else developers might shift to another platform. At a time when all major and not so well known brands, too, of mobile makers and new segment of tablet PCs, are moving to Android platform, it being an open source, developers have adopted to some extent a reasonable approach. This might be a voilation of mutual agreement with Google, but why not, everybody want a bigger share of a tempting and exponentially growing pie. Lets see what shape this spat takes in the coming few days.

What’s on my MIND….............

11’o clock at night, 4th Aug; 2010. I just switched off my TV, watching Yoodlee. That’s right (if at all you tried and guessed it); its my favorite watch these days on 9X. Never knew I loved old songs so much. Must say lyrics make a lot sense. I just mentioned about my favorite watch, so one reconsideration changed my mind and Yoodlee shifted to slot 2. Indian Idol 5 in my favorite show. The name itself touches the latent singer inside me. If I were not an Engineer MBA, I could have been a CA, or a pilot, or a doctor (love the way stethoscope is put around neck), or a musician (love piano), or a writer, a caricaturist, an environmentalist, or a SINGER. But don’t just go by this list, its highly dynamic. Now that I have just recalled what I could have been, it just reminded me I actually spent 2 years on guitar, 1 year of caricaturing and writing since almost 6 years now, as a hobby. Not bad though.

I often see raised eye brows on tea tables or at lunches, followed by “YOU DON’T LIKE CRICKET”. Actually I tried to like it a lot, but cricket is all about being good at remembering statistics. So I could not. Further if I sit for 4-8 hours in front of TV, I feel like 2 idiots staring at each other. Sports just reminded me I tried TT, basket ball and yes billiards during my MBA days. We used to play for 30 minutes for Rs 2/ player; courtesy IIT Kanpur, Hall 4. Many of Rahul Verman’s lectures were sacrificed for the green velvet table and colorful balls.

Anyways that was not on my mind when I picked up my Parker and Cognizant notepad. I did it, because I wanted to write. And I wanted to write, because “I” want “myself” to write and “my loved ones” want “me” to write. But what to write; I will think once I start doing. Or I ll just write, what my Parker will write, or what my thoughts will think. ‘Parker’ reminds me, this was gifted by a very special person. God bless that person. I always wish good for you. OK. I thought to write a review for a movie. Ohhh….Sonam Kapoor. The girl has improved a lottttt. Don’t believe me!!! Go and watch ‘I hate Love Storys’. You will love her……….as I do. My next watch could be another Sonam starred ‘Aisha’ coming post 2 days.

Well I even thought to write a sad poem. But I am not a poet. No. I may better call myself a novice writer. My last blog, by a chance felt into groove and made some very nice rhyme. Actually I read it 2-3 times daily and feel good about myself. And pat on my back ‘I have talent, man’. If you haven’t read it, see my last post and drop a comment even if you don’t like it. After that I tried a lot to let come the so called ‘latent poet’ out; but there was none. So I am back to plain paragraph writing. No, but I am proud of that, that I can write decently well and full honor to my ability. One more thought I had. This time it was title first: ‘Crossroads’. Title indeed is good. But couldn’t frame any content for this beautiful title.

To be honest, I thought to write a poem for my wife’s B’Day. Tried, but couldn’t write. Few more days still to go, maybe I can pen down something decent. But yes I am not artistic, though I am talented, so I can definitely write something which comes straight from heart, but it may not make rhyme.

On reviewing this draft, I noticed 2 things. First I used the word ‘thought’ a lot and second I think a lot. But thinking is an intellectual’s trademark. So nothing bad with it. But yes, do think good. I had recently put my Google talk status as “Think good, for good things to happen in your life”. This is actually true, or atleast this mindset will make life simple. One more thing I just noticed, next time I ll have controlled ;)

Its already 11:55 at night and I am typing this draft in soft and I have to upload this post today, mmmm....or tonight, mmmm....or whatever. So closing this post. Just one last thing, from experience. Shy not to admit your mistake. I did that. I feel lighter now. Lighter…… a lot lighter. My mind lighter, my soul lighter. To err is human and we are humans.

Good night or good morning or whatever. I meant I wish good for you.
Love
Piyush

I am Scared....

Back on my blog after a longggg gap of 1.5 years.
I never thought I ll ever try a poem.....

"For you are here..................BUT... i m scared
for its 'WE'..............................BUT... i m scared
for it may be a dream...........SO i m scared
for everytime it shatters......it gives a pain deep somewhere"

Victimised us..

As a common citizen (of the world's so called "largest democracy"), I feel totally helpless, insecure and unsafe. I feel the common public has no voice at all. Whatever Promod Muthalik has said in regard to disruption of Valentine Day celebrations, is a gross insult to the Democracy, Constitution and the so called 1 billion free population of this nation. What good this Democracy is if I can't execute my freedom, a freedom as simple as enjoying the company of a female friend. What good the so called "by the people, for the people and of the people" Government is if I have to be courageous enough to go out. If still after the public announcement by these self appointed moral police, state government is not able to help our cause, there won't be anything more shameful.

Link to my same opinion published in Hindu's Letters to Editor:
http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/07/stories/2009020755411001.htm

TGI Gold...

First of all, I would congratulate Abhinav Bindra, his family, the sport loving fraternity and the entire nation (barring the Sports Federation, IOA, and the Government of course, for the obvious reasons) for the historical achievement at Olympics. Abhinav has gifted the entire nation with something this nation has been badly craving for, since the inception of this event. What a historic moment it would have been, when Bindra banged right in the Bulls eye, emerging the undisputed winner. What a moment it would have been when our National Anthem had been played at the world’s highest performing platform. What a moment it would have been when the tricolor stood half level above the rest two. And being THE reason for it, what a pride it would have been. Abhinav has done the entire nation and the city beautiful, Chandigarh proud.

While winning Gold is something, which still is an integral part of the entire game. Its like one among ten or twenty, would definitely be fetching, making it quite predictable. But earning a title of ‘Being the First Indian of something’, is something very few are able to. Abhinav has done it and that’s a life time achievement.

While watching the opening ceremony, when Indian contingent being led by Rajvardhan Singh Rathore, carried the tricolor, I shared my fear with a friend that this is probably the last time Indian flag could be seen hoisting in this Olympic. I wished to see more such opportunities during the event. But I was wrong. Abhinav has given all of us this privilege. We are proud of you.

Book Review: The 3 Mistakes of my life

‘The 3 Mistakes of my life’ is the third fiction from the well known Chetan Bhagat’s stable. Much alike it’s predecessors, this one is again based on friendship. It’s a story of 3 friends (Govind, Ish and Omi) from the industrial town of Ahmedabad.

Any writing could be evaluated on two broad parameters. First the content and second the writing style.

Starting off with the content, the script is a normal sort of. It’s certainly not an outstanding one, if we rate it with the debut one; Five point someone. Actually Chetan had set extremely high standards for himself in his first fiction. Thereby raising the expectations from the readers. As well setting the floor high enough, making it harder to outperform the previous ones. Besides this the depiction of incidents like Bhuj earthquake, Godhra riots, 9/11 attack on twin towers have dramatized the story a lot. Someone may counter argue here that, Chetan has used these as props for the story. I won’t disagree with that. However, I do feel that it’s an overdose of such real life incidents for a fiction.

Moving to the writing style, I would give 10 of 10. Much alike the previous two, it’s an easy going and casual reading stuff. Infact that’s one of the USPs that the writing is for the masses, not for a niche segment of intellectuals. Chetan describes the story in an easily understandable expressions. Besides this he uses a waterfall model in telling the story, wherein the events follow a freely flowing chronological sequence. Thereby not stressing your mind. Also I found the prologue too catchy and beautifully composed. It creates a solid foundation for the story, enclosing it in a fixed time frame, adding a curiosity factor, as in what would have happened.

And I liked the way, character Vidya has been portrayed. It has been so well explicitly described, that I could effortlessly craft a real picture of her in my mind.

Overall it’s a good reading for youth and people in age bracket of 15-30. I would say one should read this book, you will enjoy the overall package. Also it won’t burden your pocket, being nominally priced at 95 bucks, as always.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Goof Ups: Mobile phones were not so prevalent in early 2002, incoming calls were paid and the concept of SMSing caught somewhere in 2003. However, Chetan has shown extensive usage of SMS between Vidya and Govind.