My Hairy tale!!!

Ever heard the saying " Gray hair is a blessing - ask ne bald man". I kind of got it yesterday.  This revelation  has pushed me to key in after a long hiatus. Well, setting our hair right is probably one of the first things that we all do the moment v wake up. Just pass by a mirror, n I can bet ur hands r brushing past ur hair. I really don't have 2 talk abt the importance of this strand of protein. U just have 2 watch the television 4 just half an hour, n I can bet u will end up watching atleast half a dozen ads related 2 hair care products. So don't worry u r not the only 1 obsessed with ur hair, the whole world is.

I have been on this planet 4 close 2 3 decades now, n with each passing day my luv for these strands of protein seem 2 b growing stronger(but the bond seems 2 be getting weaker). Well, not bcoz they seem 2 look better than they did in the past, but coz they seem scantier with each passing day :((. Ever since I have been in school, I have been very particular abt my hair style. I have tried 2 ape most of my favourite stars, n in the quest 2 have different hair styles I have had 2 use a lot of shampoos, gels, hair oils n even a hair band :). I have no clue abt the number of shampoos that I have changed in the hope 2 get the right look. As a kid I loved AB's hair style, n little did I know that he sported a wig ;). I would spend a lot of time, trying get it right.
 
By the time I had reached college, I had a hair style of my own. I would like 2 call my hair style of the yore "The encryption". No matter what I did each day my hair did look different. So, there was 0% chances of imitation. Well, the last few years have been worser. It' seems my encryption algo has evolved from 32 bit 2 128 - bit. My hair has looked messier with each passing day. Ask my mom, she sincerely believes that Raghavendra Raj Kumar has got a better looking hair style than me. Well, this is the limit!!! But, then the last couple of years have been a revelation of sorts. The glaring inevitable has been a bit unsettling. I have been spending more time each day, n each time I face the mirror. Now, with the receding hair line getting this "encryption" was not the only thing I had 2 take care of. I have had 2 carefully cover my scalp ;), n believe me this is the toughest part.

I have had the privilege of being called a "fresher" even after more than a handful of years in the industry ;). I was tagged a fresher as recently as a couple of  weeks ago, n the fact that I was tagged so by a female makes it sweeter. This was like winning a much coveted trophy, it proved that the hard work I had put in to obfuscate my receding hair line had worked ;). So, guys camouflage works!! No wonder AB ji fooled me. With growing age, a burgeoning(got 2 use positive words) tummy n now a fast thinning hairline\ I don't think I can hold on 2 this tag for a long time. I have made umpteen invain attempts 2 grow long hair. Every time it reaches a certain threshold, I am warned by my mom that those long locks would go missing in my sleep :). Well, I am sure u know what she meant. So, I prefered 2 get the cutting done by a professional barber than go under the scissors of a "want 2 b barber". She once had a shocker, when I went 2 c a girl (no prizes 4 getting this right, already having mentioned my age) with long hair n my stereotypical "encryption" look. Wonder what the girl must have thought of it. They say that "First impression is the best impression", but then I have always believed in saving the best 4 the future ;).

Some of my close pals have already gone bald. I only hope not 2 join the league of these gentlemen ne time in the near future. One of my friend who is a contender 2 join this league, says that God seems  2 be playing a practical prank on us. A chest full of hair, but not a strand on the head :). This reminds me of the albatross poem, "Water water every where, not a drop 2 drink". I am sure all the bald men out there would agree with me. I have always wanted 2 sport a short hair. The only time I had been 2 Tirupathi, I was warned by parents not 2 get my head tonsured. Guess they were scared that the hair would never grow back. Also, I was scared of loosing that "Fresher" tag. I was sure, I would never b adressed so if ever my hairline came 2 the fore. But, this Saturday I decided 2 put an end 2 this. I planned 2 come out in the open n bare the real me ;). I got my hair trimmed 2 length 4mm. I was apprehensive, I sat there with my pulse racing. I really was not sure of the amount of deforestation that had happened over the years. As the mower moved over the sufrace with the shrill vibrating sound, I kept cursing myself 4 this stupid act of mine.

It was a shocker 2 me, the damage was not as much as I had expected. Much 2 my relief n contrary 2 my earlier belief, the hairline held on neatly. Am sure my hair too must be rejoicing. No more shampoos or combing(almost once every half an hour). This is what I call hassle free hair!! On the flip side, my market value must have plummeted 2 abysmal levels :). My age is a lot more conspicuous now. I have always wondered if I really looked younger 4 my age, or was it the stupid antics of mine that forced people to tag me a "fresher". Well, this mystery is going 2 end soon. Will keep u guys posted ;). Chao!!!

It is not easy to save the world, but saving life is..

It started like ne other day. I woke up at around 8:00AM (This is the time by when most of my colleagues r in the office :-((), leisurely read the newspaper n went through other mundane chores. As usual by the time I reached the office premises I realised that I was late n had 2 rush. At our parking bay, the admin guys generally put hoardings related to events that happen with in the campus. The only time I glanced @ it, they had posted sumthing on saree sale. I have never  ever cared to glance @ it. As I walked into my workplace, one of my team member told me that he was leaving 2 donate blood. Well, they were conducting a blood donation camp in our campus. I thought that a mail must have been circulated, n I was rummaging through my mail box looking for this mail. I went back 2 this guy n enquired about his source of information, n u guys guessed it right....it was the hoarding @ our parking bay!!!

Hmmm...I always wanted 2 donate blood. This was an opportunity 2 probably save a life. But then I was always scared 2 donate. I get scared the moment I enter a dispensary, the Doc's white coat, his stethoscope n the bloody pungent smell inside makes me sick. I am also scared of needles, n here I had seen them using the kind of needles they use on cattles!! I decided to give it a try, "try" coz I was not sure if they would let me donate. Generally, my pulse starts racing the moment I c a barometer n I was dead sure that this time it is going 2 b no different. I had 2 fill up a form with a lot of disconcerting questions ;-)(Sumone who has ever donated blood knows what I mean). They checked my weight, n other Vital stats ;-)(like my BG, Hb count etc). Now I had 2 face my old foe "the barometer", n to my surprise my pulse did not race n my pressure was picture perfect. This was unprecedented. Guess I was destined 2 donate on this particular day.

I was asked 2 lay down n the guy inserted the longest needle that ever pierced my body, into the vein. It was all over in 10 mins. I asked the guy to show the bag that contained my blood, the guy could not control his laughter hearing my stupid request. I had never seen so much blood flow out of my body, Touch Wood!!. The only time I was hurt a bit seriously was in my childhood, n people who know me can easily guess the part the was gashed ;-). Well, it was my head!! As I was resting I wondered abt the person who might share my blood. Also, b4 I even entered the donation center I browsed abt the advantages of donating blood. I read that fresh blood would b infused by the bone marrow in a few days. Well, this was a juicy proposition. The same blood was flowing in my veins 4 the past 28 yrs, n here was a chance 2 get rid of sum of it n infuse sum FRESH blood. I stood up n walked as if I were walking on a surface with a much lower gravity, I was scared 2 expend energy. As I walked out I was offered sum juice, buiscuits n a CERTIFICATE.

When I was a kid my Dad always asked me to safeguard the certificates that I won in school n college competitions. He always told me that this would cum handy during my job interviews. Most of them were for my antics in Quizzing n Sports :-), n never 4 academic performance. Thanks 2 my Mom, I won a prize for the best handwriting in my 1st grade.  But, he was wrong, no one has ever cared 2 ask abt these achievements, but then probably it was his ruse 2 help me safeguard those certificates so that I feel good every time I look @ them. But, this particular certificate that I got was very different from the rest. Here is a verbatim recollection of what it said, " You have donated your valuable blood to our Blood bank and thereby saved many precious lives. Your special concern and responsibility is laudable". I was exulted reading this. U don't get praised 4 ur efforts this way. If ne of u guys want 2 hear the same, go donate blood! I left the center with an exalted(n exulted) feeling of having done something worthy. Well, I am running the SunFeast marathon next week, hope I am fighting fit by then. I want 2 complete the course n get a shot with Deepika ;-).  Well, tomorrow as I walk out of our parking bay, I am definitely going 2 pay attention to the hoarding

A lot can happen over coffee!!!!

Well, this is a real tough one. I have been thinking of posting blogs on loads of topics ever since this muse has hit me. But then since last Wednesday I have been just thinking of blogging on this bizzare subject. We all start our day with a cup of beverage. My day starts with a cup of tea, n yet when I visit my granny's place I am forced to have her Jaggery laced coffee. My granny has this amazing talent of varying her ingredients to such perfection that, till date I have not had the opportunity of sipping two cups(prepared by her) that tasted alike ;-). Guess she is still working on that perfect taste!!!! I also have a couple of Aunt's in Wyanad, n they happen to b coffee growers. Here I just dont have an alternative, I could b hanged by my thumbs if I ever asked 4 tea. Well, out there they even have coffee b4 they hit the sack...guess this is the only place in the world where coffee is used as a sedative.

The only other place where I like having coffee at, is the COFFEE DAY. I first heard abt this popular hangout when I was studying at M'lore (way back in 2001). I did not even have the faintest clue that it was a coffee joint inspite of its conspicuous name. All I knew was that this is where the pretty girlz of M'lore frequented. Yet I never visited this place not coz I wasn't interested in girlz, but coz I thought the prices were exhorbitant. Amazing!!! even then Money mattered more over girlz. Guess I matured a bit too early :-). After I came down 2 B'lore, the buzz abt this place grew louder. I could c this popular joint at almost every well known address, or probably the address was well known coz of this joint ;-). This is where the younger population of B'lore jam. Yet, my first visit 2 this joint fructified only in 2005, only after I managed 2 fetch a descent job. Ever since, I have visited this place an umpteen number of times. Well, my tryst with coffee is not worth mentioning, I always end up ordering Cappucino.

This place has been a rendezvous pt on an umpteen number of occasions. I have had loads of fun here meeting my old friends n making a few new ones too. I luv this place 4 the ambience, service n the smiling faces of the young convivial CREW working here. An other rather hospitable fact abt this place is that u can laze around 4 for eternity. So, if u have all the time in the world n r looking 4 a congenial place 2 hang out with ur special sum one(or sumone's ;-)) this should b the quintessential choice. U just can't miss a coffee day hoarding, the logo in RED n WHITE, with the purple background. In the dark these glowing neon signposts beckon u like the casino's at Las Vegas(a rather imaginative metaphor, coz I have never been to Las Vegas :-)). Well, now is the right time to talk abt the mischievous tag line. Have u guys ever wondered what it really means!!! Well, the only thing that I can picturize on hearing this tag line is a rainy day, two soul-mates sitting across each other, with their eyes locked in each others glare, a subtle mischievous smile(lips curved towards the top on one side) on the girls face, pleading eyes of the guy(sorry guys, don't know why v end up on the loosing side!!!) n two steaming cups of coffee.

U cannot miss the assorted(like a box of chocolates) crowd out there. U find young college going kids having oodles of fun, Lovers holding each others hands lost in oblivion to the fact that the whole world is watching them, ex flames trying 2 reconcile, People like me who hang out with friends n talk abt the good old days, My friend Mr.V n his kind of people who like 2 introspect(rather weird) in solitude at CCD(wondering how he finds solitude in the multitude of people arnd him) , older generation signing off deals...every sundry kind u can think of. I luv biking n biking alone!! This is my time of solitude, so I generally ride all the way 2 Mysore to visit my bro. On the highway even when u r zipping past at maddening speed u cannot miss the CCD at Maddur, don't know why, definitely nothing 2 do with my olfactory ability(well the bloody Sinus problem). I find a lot of fellow bikers lazing around, stretching their backs n gearing up for the ride ahead. With so many sundry class of people frequenting CCD, there is an other kind n I too joined this kind an year ago....guess what.....guess what....the people in search of their prospective soul mates. My parents have been literally pleading me 2 get married 4 the past couple of years ever since my elder bro Nit's got married, n after a lot of hue n cry I gave up n had 2 give heed 2 their words. Thanks 2 my Mom I had my first official date ;-) . I was asked 2 meet this girl @ a CCD here in B'lore n ever since there's been no looking back....I have had the pleasure of officially dating a few more girls. Well, my dear friend N.man had one such date yesterday.

I even tried my hand at an unofficial date once. I invited a person(girl obviously ;-)) 4 coffee at CCD, but then she preferred the office canteen. I thank my stars that I atleast had it in the office!!!! What ever b the kind of people, b it the college kids, young guns just out of college, people like me lost in obscure thoughts, solitary souls like Mr. V, Bikers, Hikers, Lovers, Deal signers, soulmate finders, reconciliaters ....... well, this has been a place that has embraced them all with gr8 warmth(literally). My favourite drink out there is Hot choco - latte. The menu says that it is a perfect substitue for a warm hug. I have never had a warm hug, I only hope that this choco drink is no substitute 4 that ;-). Yeah, now lets get back 2 where it all started. Well, last Wednesday it had rained in the evening n the weather was just awesome! Me n N. man had gone out 4dinner n as v were returning home, v passed by the CCD beside our apartment. Out of the blue I felt a sudden urge for sum ice cream n again the gleaming neon board beckoned me. As v walked in, I saw one of the most amazing person I have cum across in recent times....Well, it was tough 2 concentrate on my ice cream, but then, it tasted better than ever!!!! (Suchin, I know that u r ROFL as u r reading this). Just wondering if she maintains sum kind of a weekly schedule, planning 2 walk in again this Wednesday ;-)))...just 2 clear my doubt...but then u never know, a lot can happen over COFFEE ;-))!!!!

I can hit a SIX at Chinnaswamy as well !!!!!!

I was 6 yrs old then, way back in 1987. This is when I watched a cricket match for the first time on television. It was a huge black n white set at my grand parents’ home. Well, don't get fooled, this has got nothing to do with my indelible photographic memory. I remember just two facts abt that fateful match, it was a one day match and Sunil Gavaskar had scored a century. Well, with this info it isn't tough to figure out the precise date. If u think that this info is scanty, then ur knowledge on cricket is not as good as mine ;-).

Well, ever since I was a kid I have been living cricket almost every day. This was the first sport that I learned but definitely not my favourite. I was pretty bad at it. I never let the grip of the bat when I got out. I was called "HUMBUCK RAJA" (realised that it is humbug at a much later point) by my cousins n other relatives. I only liked batting and was no where in the vicinity when it was my turn to field. I can't help reminiscing of the umpteen grounds that I have played at like the Garadi Maidan, Pulikeri Shaale, Central Plaza, Betkeri, St.Johns......and the list could easily deluge the relevant part of this blog. Most of my summer vacations as a kid were spent playing this game. Well, but then the mother of all battles was fought at my grandparents home, PP vs NN. (Pappu-me, Praveen vs Naveen, Nitin). Well, with the worst player on Praveen's side the outcome was never a surprise :-))

In India, cricketers have always been treated as GODs, "demi god" is a misnomer. It has been a religion and if this were to b officially recognized, would easily b the most followed religion here in India. I have digressed enough from, what the title of this blog suggests. After, having watched n played this game all my life it had kind of bcum a cliché. Well, watching cricket was no more fun. An insipid fifty over game was such a waste of time. Test cricket till date has been beyond my comprehension (5 days - u could win a real battle in 5 days and here u have teams that end the match in stale mate). But, then as Darwin's theory suggests, every thing in this world evolves, so did cricket. The shorter version was cut short, and v had a new form of cricket....the TTTTT20!!! With the advent of this new form, the game beckoned its patrons back on to the stands. The television viewers were again glued on to their sets, n so was I. The exciting times were back, n in the midst of all this one Mr. Lalit Modi came up with a brilliant idea, he set up a cricket league that aped the EPL(or other leagues across the world). The rest is history as v all know.I

have been contemplating on watching a game at Chinnaswamy ever since I have been in B'lore. My first brush past this name was when I was in my 10th grade, 1996. How can ne one forget the quarter final match between India n Pak at this statdium. This match was played just ahead of my Maths exam. Nostalgia!!!!! Well, after a lot of deliberation over the years, me n my frnz set out to watch the IPL match held last Saturday at CSS. My favourite team was playing the team that I loathed the most, what else could I ask for? I bought a new RCB T-sirt and got our faces painted with the RCB logo. The most ardent RCB fans were on their way!!!! Well, getting the tickets for this match was an ordeal, which deserves a blog by itself. As v were walking towards the stadium, v saw the KKR team bus pass by. I got a glimpse of my bro's hero Wasim Akram. V went berserk, like a bunch of kids having seen Spiderman, v started frantically waving and cheering the GODS.

After a lot of hue n cry(collecting ticktes, Q...) v entered our stands. This was a magical moment, it was nothing like I had envisioned. The whole place was like a kaleidoscope, bright n colourful. It was like I was in an other world. I saw the GODS performing their mundane tasks at the nets. I got a glimpse of my heroes too. But to my amazement, the ground was alot smaller than I thought it would b. I was hoping that I would get to sit at a vantage point very close to the cheer girlz. But as expected the area was completely filled, I cannot help but smile at my similar kind. But to my relief I got to sit amidst 3 little angels (tiny tots barely 5-6 yrs old). Tristan, a firangi kid who sat bside me turned out to b a huge RCB fan. V had a ROCKING time with him. (http://picasaweb.google.com/mmkjain/IPL# )

The stadium was full of RCB supporters and the crowd was vociferous. V were all rock solid behind our home team. It looked as if the whole stadium was painted RED, with a few tiny specs in BLUE. I am sure the guys who had put on Blue, wished they had pulled off their shirts n taken a neutral stance. There were a lot of them with weird hairdos and hoardings, hoping to c themselves on the television. I was close to a bit overtly clad :-(( KKR cheer girls n to my own annoyance I was rejoicing, every time the KKR guys hit a four or six. Well, here is sumthing that goes against the old adage that says " Look at a half empty glass, as half full". Here I was doing quite the opposite :-)...K...b4 the pervert in me takes over let me cum back. Watching Steyn gun down was a feast, his runup was like that of a race horse. The pace of T20 is so fast that v easily missed a lot of moments. V were cheering just coz the people bside us were cheering. The whole stadium was a riot of RED flags. Also, watching the people perform the Mexican wave was amazing!!!! Also, my heroes Kallis, RD n Kumble had done well. Towards the end Robin joined the party (Ravi Shastry’s patented words, had to pay him a huge royalty for this usage) n helped the KKR guys conserve sum energy 4 their next match. He ensured that they did not have to budge much by taking the aerial route. V won the match with 3 overs to spare. What else could I ask for!!!!!!!!!! Well, this is what an ardent fan can do ;-). . The only thing that I rue about is not carrying the camera.

But, believe me guys ne avid follower of this game would hate to watch a match in the stadium. U could easily miss a lot of magical moments. V don't realise it when v watch it at home. But, this is definitely an experience that should not b missed under the pretext of missing these moments. Also, thanks to the cameramen who make it look, as if a six was hit miles away. I was happy to c that the boundary was pretty close, the off side boundary at the Betekeri ground(my home town) is definitely longer than the one a chinnaswamy. I have hit sixers at Betekeri, so….if I can hit a SIX at Betekeri,(u already know it) ……………;-)

Life is a drama

After a grueling week, having fought bugs 24/7 I was longing for a break. All week I had to kill S/W bugs in the office and to add to the woes, back home I had sleepless nights, courtesy - bed bug infested mattress. It was a tiresome week and I was hoping to lay down the whole week end. All of a sudden I realised that we(me n my roomies) had asked the guy from pest control to cum over to our place. He was at our door right on time. After inspecting our home closely, he stirred sum chemicals together and promised us that the magic potion would rid our home of the bed bugs. Little did v realise that our house would b a mess, ( its been a week since this happened and v still haven't been able 2 set it right). The smell of the potion that was being sprayed was pungent(n potent too) enough to scare a skunk away, forget us!! After all this, I realised that there was no way that I could relax over the week end. So, now was the time to cum up with sum ingenious idea to while away my time.

I had compiled a huge list of places to visit n things to do @ B’lore sum time ago, like visiting the museum, planetorium, WonderLa...... Believe me, the list is pretty comprehensive. It should take me no lesser than a couple of years 2 to strike down all of them. But the one thing that caught my attention that particular day was ‘RangaShankara’. As this place was just a few yards away from my place, the thought of watching a play here needed no deliberation from an eternal indolent like me. I was not sure abt the kind of plays that r performed here. I had never watched a play. I was a bit reluctant, as I had a rather insipid palate towards fine arts. My closest shot at acting was when I played in a drama “Elves n the Shoemaker” in my primary. No prizes for guessing what my role was. Thanks to my height, I was an elf ;-)

Well, that morning me n N. Man (roomie) went to RangaShankara. The board at the foyer said that “ Bhikre Bimb” a play written by Girish Karnad was being played. Now this almost scared me, I wasn’t sure if I could handle a play written by a Jnanapith awardee. As I was trying 2 figure out the meaning of the word “Bimb”, I saw Girish Karnad cum down the stairs. Well, he was clad in an attire that I had envisioned every theater artist or an author in. He was in the stereotypical Kurtha pyjama. I wanted to get a snap of mine with him, but to my dismay I was in my shorts n Tee’s n wasn’t sure if I should approach a man of his stature so scantily clad :-). V looked into the details of the play, n to make things worse, Arundati Nag was playing the role of the protagonist. Now I was sure that this was not 4 lesser mortals like me. But the one thing that caught my attention was the duration of the play. It said 70 minutes. I have watched innumerable stupid movies that lasted more than 3 hrs in the theaters, the most recent one being Avatar( no apologies to all the James Cameroon fans out there). This was one chance that I could afford to take. It was midday and the show was to start at 7:30 PM.

V were at the theatre at 7:15. The crowd was pretty descent. I actually did not expect a crowd that big. It was a pretty descent mix of youth n the aged. I started feeling a bit comfortable. I had a quick bite at the café in there(an exorbitantly priced Vada Paav). There was a bell 5 mins prior 2 the start of the play n v were kind of ‘summoned’ into the theatre. V sat in the last row, guess sum things just don’t change!!:-)). At 7:30 sharp, A.Nag walks on the stage and started speaking. I was a bit confused. I wasn’t sure if she was addressing the crowd or playing her role. It took me a couple of minutes to realise that the play had begun. I was watching one of the finest theatre artist perform. She was the protagonist(Manjula Nayak). Manjula Nayak is an author, who had just cum back to India after winning the Booker prize. I thought that there would b atleast a few more people donning other roles, but soon realised that A.Nag was the only one to walk the stage.

This play was all about emotions, precision n passion. The play was all about M.Nayak’s conversation with her conscience. This is how the set looked like. There were a few LCD screens, a table n a chair on the stage. In one of the screens u see an other M.Nayak(the conscience) speaking to the real M.Nayak who is seated on the chair. It was a conversation that takes off pretty amicably. Well, I said that this play was all about precision bcoz, the part played by M.Nayak who was speaking on the screen was pre recorded. So, had A.Nag been even slower by a second, they would have been out of sync. But I soon realised that she could not afford to b even a second faster!!! . There was scene where, A.Nag on the screen and the A.Nag on the stage give each other a Hi 5. The timing had to b so precise, n I could not help but wonder at the amount of practice that must have gone in, to maintain this pin point accuracy. Also, doing this without retakes unlike our heroes on the screen is an amazing task. sI know all this is confusing, A Nag on the screen n A.Nag on the stage!!!. I have already gone bonkers trying to put it in words.(am sure ur plight is worser!!!)

As the conversation is all about M.Nayak’s relationship with her Husband Mr. Murthy n her younger sister Malini Nayak (who is immobile below her waist). Initially, it looks like everything btn M.Nayak n the other 2 characters r fine, except 4 a few hiccups here n there. But as the conversation muvs ahead, v realise that the things were a lot more graver. The conversation also unveils the multitude of facades that M.Nayak had donned over the years. The initial part of the conversation was laced with sum subtle humour, but as the conversation moved on it grew graver. Towards the end as M.Nayak is stripped of her façade it was a riot of emotions...treachery, jealousy, seething anger, back stabbing, confusion, repentance, agony......It was a play that forced me to do sum bit of soul searching....I realised that v all muv with facades like the one M.Nayak had donned....well, this was an enriching play.

I deliberately haven’t delved much into the story line of the play, coz it is beyond my ability to do so. It needs the artistry of a person like Girish Karnad. Well, now I realise the the mettle n caliber of a Jnanapith winner. The acoustics in the theater was awesome. The audience were spell bound n were seated rapt in attention through out the play. Towards the end of the play A.Nag was greeted with standing ovation. She performed like a ROCKSTAR. Just cannot fathom sum one speaking(n acting) at length for 70 minutes. At the foyer of the building there is a huge poster with different emoticons(cartoons) that portray different expressions like fear, jealousy, anger, laughter etc. This play was wrought with all of these. All I can say is that this one is a must watch play. I have now promised my self to watch atleast one play every month. But, then I have never kept promises :-). To top it all, I have a new Hindi word in my vocabulary, the word “Bimb”. If u guys want to know what it means, u got 2 watch this play!!!

Siddartha vs julian Mantle

Ever since I have been at my current organisation, one thing that I have had in abundance is loads n loads of free time. To make things worser, I have to stay back 4 a stipulated number of hours. Well, this ensures that I cannot go home n indulge in my favourite activity i.e. SLEEP. I could do the same out here, as there is one huge air conditioned dorm, but 2 my dismay I always find it filled. There is nothing much I can do out here, coz unlike my previous orgs I donnot have a gang 2 hang out with :-((( n to make things graver I just have limited access 2 the net. The only sweetener is that v have a huge library, but sans the genre of books that I generally read.

I generally take an year or so to complete a book n I read atleast 4-5 books in tandem. So, I am sure u can understand the kind of confusion I am in when I open a book. Sometimes I end up reading a few pages(coz I always run out of my book marks ;-)) all over again n have this stupid sense of dejavu, as if I had read the book in my dreamz. I attributed all this to the lack ot time, coz my fav indulgence eats away a lot of my spare time. But now the situation is very different, I have a lot of spare time n nor can I indulge in my fav activity. So, I listed down a few books that I always wanted to read. Well, believe me guys I completed a book that I started reading 14 yrs ago!!! But then this blog is not abt that book.

I also listed out a couple of books, just bcoz they were best sellers. One of the authors also had won a Nobel in Literature. So u know that I had listed a couple of real serious books. I was not sure if these could b assimilated by a sumone with my kind of taste. A rather interesting fact about these books is that both served the same purpose, but with a very very different approach. These were written about a century apart. One of the books "Siddartha" was writen in the early 1900's. The other book is abt a Monk who sold his Ferrari. The first picture that I had as soon as I read the name of this book was of, Dalai Lama getting into a blazing RED Ferrari, n flooring down the gas pedal n taking off with plumes of fume gushing off the exhaust. Well, I cannot curse my imagination 4 this. They say that the gray cells that r responsible for artistic imagination reside in the right half of the brain, n in my case there is nothing RIGHT about this half(yeah, the same old stupid joke n only Suchin can manage to LOL at this!!!). My friend on reading the title was concerned abt the price at which the monk sold his Ferrari.

"Siddartha", in contrast to what the name suggests, has nothing to do with "Gautam Buddha" the founder of Buddhism. It is a story of a young Brahmin boy's travails in search for the all elusive eternal truth. This book is allegorical by nature. In complete contrast to my belief b4 I started reading this book, I could easily relate myself to Siddartha in many ways n I am sure that there is a bit of Siddartha in every one of us. It is also a bit lyrical in nature. It deals with the stark realities that v as humans face at different stages of our lives. The book has been aptly divided into different chapters, each chapter corresponds 2 a particular stage of in our lives. All I understand after having read this book is that hell, heaven, Nirvana.....r all just a state of mind(Jai ho Mithun Baba!!!). The book is philosophical n has no religious overtures in ne way. The tale although philosophical is so gripping that u walk along side Siddartha throughout the book. The whole story was set in medieval India, n to c a German explain the customs n traditions so well is amazing. Well, the last chapter was amazing n I was awe struck with way the stark realities r unravelled. Yet there were a few things that were incomprehensible, looks like I lack the gray cells fit enough to decipher the code. They say that a few books r to b read, n a few 2 b studied. But this is a kind of book that has 2 be thoroughly assimilated n imbibed. I loved it to the core. This book was originally written in German, so u could get a lot of translated versions by different publishers. I suggest u 2 go for the "Bantom Books" publication ( yeah, I am endorsing their books n I get paid) coz the tone of this book is really soothing.

Well, abt a century later Robin Sharma, cums up with his master piece " The Monk who sold his Ferrari". The protagonist in this book, Julian Mantle happens 2 b a master litigator who leads a fast paced chaotic life. The story is set in the bustling city of NewYork. Julian Mantle is a hugely successful lawyer, who owns all the material comforts that ne one could dream of...n that includes a blazing red Ferrari. So u now know the rationale behind the title of this book. One fateful day, JM has a huge heart attack owing to his chaotic life. JM realises that this is a harbinger for worser things to follow. He relinquishes all his materialistic comforts n sets out on a soul searching journey. His journey takes him to the mystical ranges of Himalayas, where he cums in contact with a cult called " Sages of Sivana". Here JM learns the secrets to an eternally joyful life. He realises his past follies, n JM returns back 2 New York with a new previously unforeseen vigour n purpose. Now, this purpose( i.e. to share the mystic knowledge that he imbibed from the sages ) oiled the wheel of his life. He first meets his co-worker n his best Buddy John. Here on, it is a conversation between John n JM. Embedded in this conversation is the gyaan that JM promises to help us transcend to the next level. The book is definitely not as gripping as "Siddartha". There were umpteen moments where all the gyann sounded a bit reiterative. This was not the first time I was listening to all that. An year ago I had taken up a course that helped me kick my smoking habit(give me a call to know more...I get paid for this too ;-)), n I could easily draw parallels between the two. Yet, I liked the book for purpose it served n simplicity.

V all lead a fast paced life, n loosing touch with our own self is easy. Robin Sharma's book is an antidote 4 all of us who r in search of our former selves. This book is a lot practical in its approach. In complete contrast, "Siddartha" is contemplative by nature. U could get stuck at an excerpt for hrs, trying to figure out the right meaning. "Siddartha", is a lot more rhetoric as compared to "The monk who sold his Ferrari". I also could c a couple of contradictory opinions in what the 2 books preach(or say). U can pick the one that suits u. Herman Hesse's narration was par excellence. U don't get a Nobel just like that!! Robin Sharma, on the contrary will probably never win a Nobel for his books, but then his book could help churn a few Nobel laureates amongst his readers. If u were to ask ur self "Who r u" n r groping 4 an answer( I know that it is too much 2 hear from sumone like me)...these r the books to read. How I wish I had read "Siddartha", on a rainy day sitting at my home by the window, sipping a hot cup of tea n munching my mom's Jackfruit happala.....hmmmm.....Yummy!!!!