Samsara, Karma & Moksha

By reading the name of the topic, don't assume this post is something related to pubs and bars!!

For some time, I had these questions in me. In fact not some time, it’s for some years. Pondering over it, I thought of writing it here. Now before we go into the questions, I would like to share some agreed Hindu ideas-

Samsara- The cycle of successive existence. Continual process of rebirth.

Karma- Good deeds and bad deeds, which determines the state of one individual’s next life. Good deeds better life. Bad deeds leading to misery and suffering.

Moksha- Release from the cycle.

It is the soul/athma/inner self which is in the cycle.

I assume all these are not in physical form or we never knew, let me go to the questions,

            1- From where does the soul enter the cycle?

            2- Assume the soul is in its 5th rebirth. So the state of being is determined by deeds done in 4th life, 4th -> 3rd , 3rd -> 2nd, 2nd – 1st, 1st - ___ . From what deeds the 1st life is determined?

           3- Does the 1st life have predefined deeds for the soul? Assume all 1st life souls are good. Then how does the actions by 1st life soul’s leads to misery in their 2nd life?

The samsara cycle makes some sense, but I couldn’t get how the journey of the soul starts.

Lots of questions. Any answer?

**Above art work by the blogger

Why do People Pray ?

Why do you pray? If you were asked this question what will be your response, 

- I pray because I was told to pray by my parents

- I pray because, I might get my wishes fulfilled

- I pray for my well-being

- I pray for strength and peace

- I pray because of faith

Irrespective of which religion you are in and god you choose, the act and objective of praying must be more or less same. No body pray god saying that their neighbors has to suffer. They may wish, but not  மெனக்கெட்டு (menaketu) pray for it.

Another thing to note is only humans pray, or at least we should believe animals don’t pray, because we assume they don’t have god. Now as I write this, a question popups in me- Do we need god in the act of praying? The first man, who prayed, did he/she/they do it by fear or faith or to put it sarcastically did god decent from heaven to Earth and teach man to pray.

If we say praying is faith, then there is no point to discuss further. It’s your faith and your choice, but why do you pray for someone who doesn’t have faith or doesn’t believe in faith.

Lots of questions…

**Above pic by blogger @ Mahabalipuram

நவகரகங்கள் TO பாரதவிலாஸ்

இந்த கதை, நவகரகங்களாக இருந்த ஒரு அப்பார்ட்மெண்ட்வாசிகள் (apartment) எப்படி பாரதவிலாஸாக மாறினார்கள் என்பதை பற்றியது.

ஒன்பது குடும்பங்கள் இருக்கும் இந்த அப்பார்ட்மெண்ட் கிட்டத்தட்ட 5000 சதுர அடி இருக்கும். தரைத்தளத்தில் உள்ளவர்கள் எப்போதும் எதிரிகள். முன்னாள் செயலாளருக்கும் இன்னாள் செயலாளருக்கும் இடையே பனிப்போர். சிரிக்க சிரிக்க போசினாலும் எதிர்நிச்சல் சௌகார் ஜானகி போல ஜாடமாடையாக போட்டு வாங்குவார்கள். ஆண்களுக்கு பைக் பார்கிங் (bike parking) எப்போதும் பிரச்சனை, பெண்களுக்கு துணி காய வெய்க்கும் கொடிக்கு சண்டை. தலைமைச் செயலக செயலாளர் கூட தோத்துடுவாங்க, அப்படி ஒரு ரோல்ஸ் (Rules). போட்டிப்போட்டு டிவி சவுண்டு வெப்போம். இதில் ஒரு ஹால்லேலூயா குடும்பம் வேற. அப்பார்ட்மெண்ட் பில்டிங்க்கு repaint அடிப்பதுக்கூட இன்னும் ஒருமித்தக்கருத்துக்கு வராதவர்களை இந்த மழை ஒன்று சேர்த்து வைத்துவிட்டது!

முதலில் ஒன்று சேர்ந்தது, தரைத்தளத்தில் இருக்கும் இரு துருவங்கள். விடாமல் நான்கு மணி நேரம் கொட்டிய மழையால், தெருவில் இருந்து மழைநீர் வீட்டுக்குள் வந்தது. மணி அப்போது நள்ளிரவு 1 AM. ”சார், எல்லா திங்ஸயும் (things) எடுத்து மேல வெச்சிக்கோங்க..” என்று சொன்னதில் ஆரம்பமானது இவர்களின் லா,,லாஆ..லலாஆ..லா.

தரைத்தளத்தில் இருந்த மூன்று குடும்பமும், முதல் தளத்திர்க்கு தஞ்சம் புகுந்தனர். தென் கொரில்லா, சாரி தென் கொரியா – வட கொரியாவாக சண்டைப்போட்டவர்கள் விருந்தாளிகள் ஆனார்கள். நள்ளிரவு ஒரு மணிக்கு என்ன அஜித்-விஜய் பற்றியா பேச முடியும். நம் அரசியல்வாதிகளின் கையாலாகத்தனம் பற்றி ஒர் - இரு வார்த்தைகளை பேசிவிட்டு எல்லோரும் சத்தமில்லாமல் குறட்டைவிட அரம்பித்தனர். நிம்மதியாக உறங்கியவர்களும் அடுத்த நாள் முதுகேலும்புகள் உடைவதுபோல வேலை இருக்கும் என்று தெரியாது.

விடிந்ததும், பெரு மழைவிட்டது. தேருக்கள் ஆறாக மாறின. மெயின் ரோடு கடலாக மாறின. பானிபூரி கடை நடத்தும் பீகாரிகள் இந்த மழை வெள்ளத்தில் டீ, காபி விற்க ஆரம்பித்தார்கள்!. பால் packetகள் விற்பனை பறந்து, நம்ம அப்பார்மெண்டில் சமூக சமையல்! வீட்டுக்கு வீடு உணவுகள் பரிமற்றப்பட்டன. 

4 PM – தேருவில் மழைநீர் வடியவேயில்லை. EB மீட்டர்கள் தண்ணீருக்குள் இருக்க, current வந்த என்ன ஆகும் என்ற விவாதம் கிளம்பியது. திடீர்னு power வர, ஆர்வ கோளாரு ஆண்டிகள் well water motor போடலாம் என்று புறப்பட, செயளாளர் shutter பொட்டு “யார் அங்கே, tester கொண்டு வாருங்கள்” என்றார். கேட்ட, கீழ நிக்குற தண்ணீயில் tester dip பண்ணிபாக்கலாம் என்றார். ங்ங்ங். நல்லவேளை அதுக்குள்ள power பொயிந்து. சபாஆஆ. விபரீத விளையாட்டு முடிவுக்கு வந்தது.

இருண்டதும் ஒளி பிறந்தது. தேருவில் மழைநீர் வடிய ஆரம்பித்தது. Current இல்லாத போது வீட்டில் இருக்கும் நீரை வேளியேற்றுவதற்க்கு ஒரே வழி பக்கேட்டில் (bucket) எடுத்து ஊத்துவதுதான். இது பாகீரத பிரயத்தனம். நம்மால் முடியும், நமக்கு நாமே என்று சொல்லி நாங்கள் எல்லோரும் இடுப்பில் கைலியும் கையில் வாலியுமாக புறப்பட்டோம். 

         “..எ வரான்டா.. இவன் எம்.ஜி.ஆரும் பேரன்தாண்டா..” என்ற பாட்டை இந்த சீனுக்கு BGM போட்டுக்கோங்க. 

பல ஆயிரம் பக்கேட்ஸ் (buckets) வெளியேறிய பின்பும் நீர் குறைந்ததாக இல்லை. தேருவில் பொறவங்க வரவங்க விதவிதமா ஐடியா கொடுத்தாங்க, சிலர் முடியாதுன்னு கிண்டல் அடிச்சாங்க. நாங்கள் ஒருவருக்கு ஒருவர் உத்வேகம் கொடுக்க, தண்ணீர் பாதியாக குறைந்தது. காலையில் முற்றிலுமாக வடிந்தது. மழைக்கு முன் 2 – 3 அணிகளாக இருந்தவர்கள், இப்போது ஒர் அணியாக “நல்லதோரு குடும்பம்..” என்று பாட ஆரம்பித்தனர். இன்னும் எவ்வளவு நாள் இது தாக்கு பிடிக்குமோ!!

20 Years of Internet in India

Today as we celebrate 69th Independence day, this day also marks the 20th anniversary of public internet access in India (VSNL opened Dial-up lines). It all started in August 15th, 1995 when the dial-up lines were leased at huge price. 

For a guy who was then in a little town like me, it took some time for me to access it in the name of internet cafes. In fact it took years. It was then the year 2000. My UG mate, Evan, who took few of us to a browsing center in Dharmapuri, as he had already got some hands to the internet. There were four of us and the cafe was almost 5x5 in size. We had to wait for our turn as there was only one computer and it was occupied by some fellows who were glued to the screen!. Being in 2nd year CS graduation, computers were not new to us, in college we were feverishly working on programming languages (FoxPro, COBAL...), but internet was all new.

We created email ID's in usa.net (I felt as if I became an American!). We used ask our friends about the websites (email web client) they had email account and next time when we visited the cafe, we created an account in the new website. Yahoo was a rock star, since it had everything in it, they called it as portal. Indian version of it was Rediff and Indya. It didn't take long for Tamil Cinema to weave a story along the Internet (Kadalar Dhinam), the cracking dial-up tone, became a BGM for a song (Oh Maria..).

AltaVista was my first search engine, but before I got used to it Google swallowed the market. When the Dial-up cafes made way for DSL (Brand Dishnet by Sterling). They also came with a book written by Sujatha (Veetukkul Varum Ulagam) on the internet concepts in Tamil and there were other Tamil computer magazines which had exclusive columns on internet. I had a handwritten database of websites in a diary- the pages were marked alphabetically. Slowly the internet was occupying our life, and I was not an exception. Good or bad, it was all there available.

After PG, job search (posting for job) was easy by a click of the button using job sites (Clearing interviews were a mountain). Yahoo job forums such Chethana was a cornucopia of jobs, but still had to rely on Wednesday Opportunities by The Hindu!. My entire career, even till now is been knitted around the internet. I spent my initial months to help assist faceless people to install modems and routers, while I haven't actually done it in real. Switching jobs and companies, but still internet is there with me. Like me, for most of my friends, internet has become an unavoidable part of our work. I won't say we are indebted to it, because it is all part of the evolution.

It is astonishing to see how we have evolved all these years, from emails, chats, wikipedias, eCommerce, blogs, social networking, videos, torrents to wicked WhatsApp on mobiles.

I still turn-on the wifi with the same kid-like enthusiasm which I had years before and I’m sure this will last forever.

**Above image by the blogger

Special Bus

People travelling in TNSTC buses must have experienced it, especially during festive season like Deepavali or Pongal. A temporary migration happens from Chennai to other parts of Tamil Nadu. The roads leading to Koyambedu CBMT bus stand gets jam\biscuit packed. Once, I had to walk from Vadapalani signal to CBMT as the traffic became standstill for hours.

Recently (for few years) by the vazikathudal of Makal Mudalvar, TNSTC opens reservation counters for special buses. As a commuter, once we get the ticket, we see it as "S-P-E-C-I-A-L" ( Our 32 teeth will be visible...eeeee), but after we see and experience the bus, we will become like a "sappi pota mankottai"

So, here are things you will experience,

1. Most of the time the tickets wont have the bus number. It'll be hard to hard to identify bus. 
2. Once you are inside the bus, due to security reasons, it'll be hard to identify the seat. The numbers will be written using chalk. Sometimes, the number sticker will be there, but there will be paint on it, so we have to use Braille system to identify the numbers.
3. The bus will always start late. They will have a special timing. If the ticket timing says "22:30", the bus will start at "22:30".
4. Special conductor, who doesn't have experience in handling reservation tickets. He'll repeatedly verify our tickets, at least four times. 1st- He'll put a circle mark on the chart, 2nd- He'll draw another thick circle, 3rd- a tick mark, 4th- He'll shade the number and the chart will get a hole.
5. Special driver, who haven't done long drives. Sometimes, he wont be sure which road to take too. Passengers had to guide him.
6. Special ceiling, which lets water in, even if there's a drizzle.
7. Special window, which cannot be closed properly.
8. Special seat, which hosts all sort of insects.

I SURVIVED.

Above pic by Sathish Kumar, who blogs at www.divyadesamyatra.blogspot.in

Motorcycle Diaries - 2

To access the suber bantasdic part 1 of this series, please feel free to click the following link at your own risk- www.teashoptalks.blogspot.com/2014/09/motorcycle-diaries-1.html

OK, now I have the bike or scooter or whatever you wish to call. The next step is to get a license, I inquired with my neighbors about the RTO office meant for the Vadapalani area. Everyone gave confusing answers. Then I thought for a right solution, you have to approach right people, with that conclusion, I went to a nearby driving school to ask about the RTO office, but came out agreeing a “fixed” amount, because for Learner Licence (LLR) it has to go through the driving school (True or false!).

After a day, I then went back to the driving school and gave the proof and photos. The guy there checked every documents and said “Everything is fine. Now you need to write a test”

Me- (Gave him a blank look) grrrrr.

He said “No worries, I’ll write the test”, he took a paper which had some questions in it and thapu.. chipu.. dumm, he finished it and asked me to just sign. After few days, I got the LLR. The school guy said comeback after a month.

I felt as if I got a passport to heaven. For first few days whenever the bike is at stand, I used to cover it fully (safeguard it from angry birds). Cleaned (thodachi-fied) it daily (now it’s a dirt bike!). Used two locks- one inbuilt front lock and then out-built back wheel lock.

I was like a “Rules Ramanujam” while driving, which I’m still. With just having the LLR, I never bothered to get the actual license, I just kept on procrastinating, I thought the LLR is valid for 6 months until that fateful night came..

Ride Continues..

காது... கேக்...காது

வர வர காது கொஞ்சம் கேக்”காது” ஆவுது. மூணு incident ஒரு வாரத்துல.

Office-ல்

-சார், ஆர்த்தி பண்ணுங்க.

-தப்பா பேசாதயா. வம்பாயிட போவுது.

-சார், tweet பண்ணியிருக்கேன் அத…

-ஒ!! RT-யா

ஒரு சனிகிழம மதியம். Full-கட்டு கட்டிட்டு தூங்கும் போது. டிங்.. டாங்.. டிங்.. டாங்.., calling bell. கதவை திறந்தால்.

-சார், பொரியல்

-என்ன? பொரியலா? நான் சாப்டாசி.

-பொரியல் இல்ல சார் கொரியர் (courier).

நடு ராத்திரி. Office-சில் இருந்து வரும் வழியில் police-checking

-சார், எங்கிருந்து வரிங்க ?

-ஆபிஸ்ல இருந்து.

-சார், என்ன software நீங்க ?

-(I thought- police எதுக்கு software பத்தி கேக்குராரு) நான் பணிவா- என்ன சார் கேட்டிங்க ?

- என்ன சாப்பிட்டு வரிங்க ? beer-ரா.. whiskey-யா ? (சொல்லிட்டு சிரிச்சாரு. Comedy-யாம் !).

- சார் எங்க office-ல tea coffee தவிர வெர எதும் தரமாட்டாங்க.

- ஹி..ஹி.. செரி, கெளம்புங்க.

Motorcycle Diaries - 1

I was not very fond of riding bikes (motorcycles!), I should confess that I was extremely scared because I had an accident in my school days. This accident put me in an immovable state for 15 days, no bones were broken, but severe wounds (perunggayam). I tried to overcome the fear while in college, but it got worst, I went on to hit the railway track, fortunately no train was passing at that time otherwise the train would have experienced severe damages.

After coming to Chennai, there was no opportunity to have a bike, actually and factually- I didn't create the opportunity, whichever office I went cabs were given and when I want to roam around the city I used to take the public transport. Years went by peacefully, but then it became a necessity to have a bike. (Kudumbam Peruthudichi). I couldn't escape the crowd, I had to yield for it. I had to go for a gear-less. I went for Wego, which was new to the market then and a unique choice of white color. 

I was scared of driving in the city roads, as I’m experienced in seeing/feeling how the cab drivers maneuver their cars. In few days, after few kilometers of practicing, I felt the fellow drivers were very kind, may be everyone knew that I was new. The only secret I didn't know then was if the driver (bike) turns his\her head to right, it means s\he is going to turn right, no indicator or hand signal is needed. If you want to turn right, then turn your head right. If you want to turn left, turn your head left. So Simple. But, the biggest hurdle was yet to come. Licence.

To be continued..

PS: Later, this post writer became the first man to ride the Wego for 258.4 Kms in 5 Hours and 24 mins. www.teashoptalks.blogspot.in/2014/05/a-brainless-journey.html

Photo Credit: IVaR

Chennai Bloggers Club Meet

When the event was created in Facebook, I decided to go after thinking for 4.43 Seconds. But, when the day arrived, I was not in a mood (iduku eduku mood!), due to lack of sleep after a hard night work in the office! and mixed with a severe headache.

The meet was to start at 3 PM, so I followed Indian Standard Time- I got up at 3 PM. Left home at 3:30 PM. I knew I had to travel a straight road after catching 100ft road in Vadapalani. The meet was at www.chronicwriter.com house, which was in Kanchipuram District, so it was Chennai Bloggers Club meet in Kanchipuram. 

Saturday evening with the light traffic I was able to reach the area in 45 mins, but I couldn't find the street. I asked the neighborhood annachi store guy, he gave me a look. The look told me 1000 meanings- ethanai peru kelambi irukenga!!. I guess prior to me some of the fellow blogger would have asked him the same street address. Done. I made it to his house.

Entering the house, it was a shocker for me. 20 odd people were sitting on the floor, for a moment I thought I had entered into a sappadu panthi (Marriage dining hall!). I introduced myself like a WWE star. With my latest hairstyle, I thought most of them couldn't have recognized me. As I shook my hands with all, I was able to identify everyone except, www.arvindkumar.com, www.destinationinfinity.org and Sundar (Unga blog enna ji). At last, I extended my hand to www.teerthadanam.wordpress.com, with his iron grip he broke two of my five finger bones!. The other three was broken in the end (finishing touch).

I really don't know what was in the store, but I knew there were good snacks. Rava Ladoo by www.homestylevegfood.com was good, brownie cake was good attempt, some poor soul had bought butter biscuits- cool idea two thumbs-up.

After the introduction session, things went really serious- coffee table book, blog commenting, blogging…

Somewhere, www.moontimetunes.blogspot.in talked about his experience in purposefully spending a night in a local railway station. It should have been a different experience, but I forgot to ask why did they do it?

www.bragadeeshprasanna.com was capturing the moments in his camera.

www.viddev.wordpress.com sang a song (one or two!).

www.chronicwriter.com sang a song. He was a terrific host and also organised a group activity. The outcome of the activity was two drawings- One, which had a Picasso mixed with Rembrandt touch and the other was a Salvador Dali mixed with Raja RaviVarma.

Then, open the bottle (non-alcho), we were given a TASMAC kind of a plastic tumbler with two drops of Appy juice from an ink-filler.

Finally, we paid our respects to Don Lingu Bhai and dispersed for the day.

I had a good time to meet so many like-minded (blogging) people, some experienced writers, professionals in other fields who has passion to blog\write. I look forward to their company.

As of now Chennai Bloggers Club can be found at - www.facebook.com/groups/thechennaibloggersclub/, we don't have any branches.

11 Ways to break the routine!

Warning- This is not a gyan or advice arumugam or karuthu kandasamy post.

We are stuck into our routines- travel to office-home, work, spend time with family, go to restaurants\malls\temples\11 o'clock shows. I’m listing few things to break the routine, which I think can add little pep into the life. Remember, somethings are really hazardous, so stay away from few things, if you are an orthodox (acharamana) person.

1. While travelling to office or back to home try an alternative route, this depends on time\money, so plan it. Once I took an alternate route without realizing that there is not enough fuel to reach my destination.
2. If you can, try travelling in public transport once in a while. Once in a week will be fine.
3. Call a friend\relative from your contact list with whom you haven't contacted for a long time. Just say a hi and speak a minute or two. You can also send them a good little email.
4. Make your own story and tell it to kids with actions. Side effect- They’ll always be behind you and pester you to tell stories.
5. While watching TV try to watch DD National or DD Bharathi or DD Podhigai once in a while. You’ll know how much our brains are programmed in watching reality shows.
6. Listen to All India Radio. There is more information than National Geography.
7. Write about something using pen-paper, at least one page a week. PS- If you are right-handed try writing using your left hand.
8. Try to avoid your regular newspaper and buy something else for a day. If you are the regular reader of The Hindu, try to read Indian Express one day.
9. Pick a random magazine from the book stand. Tinkle has more useful information than TOI.
10. Start to read a short story or a novel(fiction) from half way and imagine how the story would have started. You can do the same exercise by finishing the story by yourselves after read the first part of the story.
11. Watch a movie which you don't understand the language without subtitles. 

On readers request more unique (kodurammana!) and innovative ways of breaking the routine can be shared in part 2.

PS- After writing this post, I just googled to find is there a list available in the net. Yes, there are more, but I see this as the Indian'sed version.

***Above image by the blogger. He actually spilled some cola on it to get the effect.

What's The Point ?

Brisk business was happening in selling national flags at Tidel Park Signal. Further down to Perungudi- small, medium and large sized flags were for sale in the stationery shops. While I entered into my shift some colleagues who were about to leave for the day (14th Aug) wished me “Happy Independence Day”, I thought “What!!”. I don’t want to spoil their mood and so politely replied back smiling “Enjoy the day off”. At the stroke of the midnight my Facebook wall was filled with greeting messages. NRI friends were waiting for that auspicious 12 AM Indian Time and started to post greeting messages. AR Rahman released his mobile app. People became patriotic! I asked to myself “What’s the point?”

I’m not here to say that the country is in shambles and why to celebrate the day. Corruption, black economy, rich-getting-rich, poor-getting-poor, wo\men empowerment, blah.. blah.. blah. These issues are faced by all the countries.

I might be wrong, but my question is “Where was India some 500 years ago?”. Travel to 1400’s, before the arrival of the Europeans, you’ll see there was no country “India”. The land was ruled by the kings- Mughals, Rajputs, Marathas, Nawabs, Katabommans, Palayakarans… The English merchants named their company as East India as their business nomenclature, which was later acquired by British Empire. They commonly referred to this land as India for administrative purpose.

Do we call all English speaking men as Brits? Then how can all the people living on the right side of the River Indus can be termed as Indians? 

While talking about “Independence Day”, people say “India got independence from British”- This is just to keep reminding us that our ancestors were once slaves to British. We are indirectly taught that we are inferior! 

Some part of this land was ruled by Mughals, so is there a day to celebrate of when we got independence from Mughals?

Technically or factually there was no country named as India before the British Raj, so August 15th shouldn’t be labelled as Independence Day, instead it can be called as a Formation day or Foundation day.

OK. Post World War II new nations were born and one was India. Willingly or unwilling it has been forced on us or we are programmed from our birth. So we all have to accept to this concept of Indian (Not Hindusthani!). Respect the nation. Fight for the piece of land. Build big barbed wire fences. Salute the flag, but not like the politician below.

Image 1: Tipu Sulthan Palace in Srirangapattanam by the blogger.

Image 2: Junior Vikatan Facebook Page

If you had endured this article, you might also like- Denationalize The Nations

Tale of Two Chappals

This incident happened a few years back in Bangalore. For some reason, I always used to get a theist as my roommate, be it in school, college or while searching for job or when I started to work in Chennai. Sometimes, they (not all) try to convince me and we used have big arguments. This Bangalore incident was with my good friend (still a good friend!) Vijai, with whom I haven't had any “religion” or “god” related arguments, because we know each other well, if he says “North” then I’ll say “South”. So we always willfully or unintentionally differed in everything, but still we are good friends.

He and his family are closely associated with Sai Baba.We were staying together in Bangalore. He was then a trainee in a medical transcription firm, while I was searching for a job. He always had the intention of going to Whitefield. He got the news that Baba is staying in Whitefield the whole week. He then asked me to come with him, I said yes. He was little skeptic of my instant approval to join him. We took the bus from Shivaji Nagar. On the way he casually asked what made me to join him. I said “Let me see him chumma. If they know I’m a non-believer then they won't let me in or what ?”.

That was a Saturday morning and it was crowded in the Whitefield ashram. He enquired about the time and got the news that Baba can come anytime. We left our chappals outside and went in. There were lots of people, but couldn't feel the rush, which we usually see in a Hindu temple. Everyone was calm and waiting. We waited from 11 AM till 3 PM. There was no sign of Baba and finally we came to know that he wont give the darshan today. My friend enquired and found that tomorrow there are chances to see Baba. My friend decided to come next day. 

We went outside to wear the chappal, but to find mine were missing!. We searched, but couldn't find. I thought somebody would have taken by mistake. So we waited till everyone left, then there was one pair of chappal left. The design was close to mine and so I thought someone should have taken mine by mistake. I wore that chappal and came home.

Next day, my friend asked “Are you coming?”. I said, “yes”. 

“Looks like you want your slippers ?”.

I said “Lets see, if I can find it”.

Again that day, we waited. Being Sunday, the crowd was double. I was went out few times to see if I can find my slipper, but could find. At 3 PM, we got the news that Baba won't come today too!. 

Surprise, when I came out I couldn't see the slipper which I took the previous day. My friend said “The guy who took my slipper yesterday should had kept it”, but we couldn't find. He jokingly said “You didn't believe and this is a punishment”. I know he didn't mean it. We just laughed and walked towards the bus. I’m bare foot. The gods were happy.

**Above sutta image from Flickr

Marriage = Know Your Relatives

Last week I had to travel for a relative’ marriage. After become alienated from the hometown, I lost touch with most of my relatives. I wasn't even aware whether I was from the bride or groom-side. 

This was not a distant relative, but still I was not in touch with them. I didn't feel bad, because as I didn't attempt to communicate with them and neither they did!. While talking with one of my uncle he said “Our generation is gone, it’s time for you guys to get to know each other. You young people had to make an attempt to ‘Know-Your-Relatives’”. Later, I felt what he said was correct, but then how to connect with them ?. The first thing which comes to my mind now is Facebook ?. I have few relatives in my friends list, but they seldom message me or they are not active in FB. Even if some does, after initial “Hi.. How are you?”, I don't find anything to ask ?. I feel phone is the best way. Make a list and call them once-in-a-while.

The above paragraph was not intended to this post, but it just came out well. Back to the marriage hall. 

The stage was super-decorated. They used this fancy umbrella lights. Big TV’s were kept with live editing. Nadaswaram and Thavil guys were playing some beautiful carnatic songs. I like carnatic songs, not for the bhakthi involved in it, but for its instrumental. 

11:00 AM to 12:30 PM was the mughurtham time, now the time was 12:45 PM, way past the auspicious hour, but still the sastrigal was making the bride & groom to play with the color-color-rice. This is when the nadaswaram guy started Endaro Mahanubavulu, except me no one really cared a damn about their music. I was enjoying the song and thought no one should sound “ketti melam.. ketti mellam” from the stage. Fortunately, the sashtrigal should have read my mind voice. After the song was done, then they showed the ketti melam signal (like an “out” signal by Cricket umpire). I couldn't throw (is it the apt word!) the akshadai because the stage was too far, so I throwed it on the nearby TV itself!.

Thavil & TV

Then the photo session. The line grew large with people standing with moi covers and gifts. Give those to the bride or groom, shake hands with them, take a picture (which is important) with a customary smile and then head to the dining hall. 

Marriage is a social gathering to know your relatives or is there more than that? There is lot more to write about marriage, let me find another occasion.

Morning Mabbu

Time: 4:55 AM

Place: Kandanchavadi Bus stop

After having a samosa and tea, I went to the bus stop to catch a bus to Vadapalani. There were already three guys in the stop. One guy was sitting in the platform, while the other two were standing. The two guys standing were waiting for their respective buses, Ford and Nissan. The guy sitting down was blabbering something and talking to himself. 

Few minutes passed. The guy sitting down asked to me, “nee computer thanne”. I thought “Yov, nan manusan ya!!”. He then pointed the passing Maersk van and said “poi anda vandila erikoo”. No second guess, this guy was either in mabbu or hangover. I didn't answer him, He too didn't expect a reply from me. 

Then came the alarm sound from the opposite church. 

Neeram kalai 5 mani. Time is 5 AM. Karthar Ungalodu….

Once the Bible verse got finished the mabbu guy again turned to me and asked “Time enna?”.

I thought “#@!$%*” and said “Watch elle!”.

After sometime the Nissan bus came and the Nissan guy got inside the bus. As the bus went past us, the mabbu guy said “Ippadi ennakum daily velaiku poraduku vandi amicha, nanum olunga velaiku poi irupeen”.

An MTC came and I jumped in. Thought to myself “Ovurutharuku oru feelings!”

---*---

Have some hot egg puffs ?

I haven't travelled much outside Tamil Nadu. My farthest north is Thirupathi!. But just by the question-knowledge ( Kelvi Ghyanam ), I fell Chennai is the city which got most number of tea shops. Most of them open at morning 4 AM and close at 11 PM at night. 

These shops have their own way of selling. A crowded shop, that too in the prime-time its hard to get a cup of tea. You can get an autograph from Power Star easily, but not a single cup of tea from the master. We have to stand next to the hot boiler and watch the tea master like a eagle. As soon as he keeps the glass, we have to grab it, otherwise someone will take it and again we have to wait for 2-3 mins. There is not much “selling technique” needed in these crowded shop, the demand keeps them going.

I don't know how to label this selling, lets say “Persuasive selling”, in Tamil we term it as “Kuvi kuvi vikuradu”. You can see this kind of selling in places where the supply (tea shop) easily satisfy the demand (customer). One such place is near Sathyam theater, Royapettah. 

After a long time, in fact after an year, I went to Sathyam last week. Left and right to the main entrance there are cluster of tea shops. I’m not sure about the ones on the right to Sathyam as they are always crowded. There is this shop in left, the very next shop, right next to the gate. This is a one-man tea shop. We can get anything- from different lemon juices, softdrinks, tea, puffs, weekly magazine, newspaper, cigarettes, etc..

As there was still 40 mins for the show, I thought of having something chill to beat the summer heat. When I went near the shop, I didn't even attempt to ask the shop-guy anything, but he asked “Sir, enna venum?”. I said “Oru lime”. Boom in few seconds the lime was ready. He asked me if I want some egg puffs. I said no and walked away from the shop. Having the lime and noticing the theatrics of the mini-police station outside the theater. 

The shop was little long for a normal tea shop. One end on the left- juices and magazines. The other end on the right is tea and eatables. A guy with a blue shirt came from the left and asked for puffs, while tea shop guy was walking to the right to take the puffs another guy with a red T-shirt came and asked for a tea. As usual the tea shop guy asked this red T-shirt to have puffs, he said no, but by this time, the tea shop guy had already taken the puff and cut into two pieces and offered it to the red T-shirt. But the red T-Shirt was in no mood to take it and refused. The puff was then given to the blue shirt who originally ordered it. Red T-shirt had his tea. 

The whole incident happened in 15-20 secs. It was swift, tricky and spontaneous. There  was no sale, but it was worth to try.

I leave it to you to interpret the art of selling from the above incident. To experience it- go and stand near to that tea shop next to Sathyam. Let me know your experience ?

**The Above image by the blogger :-)

Biriyani or Tomato Rice ?

Last week, I had to work for long hours in the office, it was literally like having short break between shifts! Adding to these hectic activities was the super fantastic heat weather which poured some poison into my sleep. 

Finally it was Saturday, a much needed break. At 7 PM I took my bike to home, then I realised there is no one in home and I had to take my food outside or prepare something. Cooking was out of question as I was already exhausted. 

Crossing Ashok Pillar, I thought try briyani, there was a shop called Ammi’s, but I said to myself to try Buhari. Earlier some months before I had a worst experience of having a veg briyani there, but that was during closing hours- 11 PM. As, it was a prime time now- 8 PM, I thought to give another shot.

Into Buhari. The guy who was sitting opposite to me was eating briyani as if he hadn't had one for long time. After glancing the menu, I couldn't stop ordering a chicken briyani. With in few minutes, I got a briyani, with a small brinjal curry and raitha. The colour looked good, which was the only goodness I experienced that day. Everything else was bad, rather say worst, starting from customer service to food.

As it was prime time, the waiters were more concentrating on the families\groups, which was bulk orders, certainly they didn't like single customer like me!. Back to the briyani, there was no smell of it. The briyani looked like a plain tomato rice with some chilli powder (I remembered the Goundamani-Sathyaraj joke). Chicken was overcooked or might be leftover from afternoon!. There was no masala and lack of salt. Raitha, it was like buttermilk and onion, not even curd!. I asked the waiter did he by mistake gave me something other than briyani. He said its freshly made and its served to all. I thought is my taste buds dead or the people around me are just pretending because of the brand-name!.

Just to fill my stomach I finished it. I was planning to have a mini-faluda, but the waiter without asking for any further order came with the bill!. Super customer-service. I thought after the briyani disaster, maybe the gods doesn't want me to taste the would-be horrible faluda. Rs. 182 for a chicken briyani. I gave Rs. 200. The waiter came back with Rs. 15. I asked him “Its Rs 3 less?”. He said “Change elle sir!”. I said “Keep it as your tip”.

Escape.

** The best briyani I had in Chennai is ___ . No, I wont say it here. Will share it on another good time.

Where is Gouindy ?

I came across some funny moments for few weeks while travelling to office in MTC buses. This when I realized how much fun I missed by traveling in office cabs and own vehicle. 

Two things will kill you, waiting for office cabs to pick you and their odd timings. For a 5 PM shift you have to be ready at 3 PM!. As of now I don't have this cab problem, but travelling in own vehicle with already sleepy eyes is risky, have to be attentive always. Commuting by bus was fun, here are some crazy characters which I met, 

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Waiting in Vadapalani Bus Stop. A north Indian guy asked me “எ bus குயுண்டி jayeaga?”?

I gave him a puzzled look and said “குயுண்டி ?”

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In a movie, Vivek and Hanifa will get into an argument about Vadapalani and T Nagar. I never thought I’ll see something like that in real life.

This happened in Koyambedu Bus Stand. Route No 570 - CMBT to Kelambakkam. While the bus was about to leave. The Hanifa character entered and asked the driver “Inda bus Koyambedu poguma ?”

Driver said “nnnggg… Edu than Koyambedu !!”

Hanifa got tension and raised the voice, “Koyambedu poguma pogada”.

Driver noticed that this Hanifa is in full mabbu and said “Koyambedu pogadu.. kizza erangu”

Hanifa said “Appadi theliva sollu”. He then put a salaam to the driver and got down.

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People who are not familiar with area names will pronounce it differently or get confused.

A confused guy might be from Bangalore asking the conductor “One Koramagala”.

Conductor, “Appadi oru area Chennai’la ellaye”

Then he realized that he is in Chennai and not Bangalore and said “One Kelambakkam”.

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What is your funny moments in bus travel ?

**Above Image from the blogger

8 hours of work ?

Last week when I started my shift in the evening I thought of meeting this developer who was handling my client. I walked into the floor and asked for him. Let us keep his name as Michael Jackson. I didn't see him in his desk and I asked the other guy (Let’s name him Obama) in the next bay. Obama said “Michael Jackson will leave sharp by 7:30 PM!”. I couldn't transcribe the way in which Obama replied, it had lots of hidden meaning in it. The hidden message was “Michael Jackson won’t extend his shift and he won’t work for long hours”.

Most of us think that people who stay and work late are good workers\employees. And, people who leave on time, in spite of finishing their work are average\below average. The problem is not with the Michael Jackson kind of people, but with Obama’s. Some Obama’s are proud to say their long working hours.

There is this letter from N. R. Narayana Murthy which surfaces every now and then in the social media. He asks his employees to leave office on time. Every word in the letter is true. Most of us don’t have a hobby of our own. All we do is write some codes, crunch some numbers, talk to the people whom we will never meet in life and strive to meet our targets. On weekends, either jump into the pit of boozes or sleep like a lazy cat.

As usual, May Day passed quietly this month. When companies\corporates can celebrate Christmas, Deepavali, Holi and Ayuda Poojai…why can’t we celebrate May Day!! I'm not a big fan of these days, but it’s a shame that we didn't even exchange greetings or acknowledgement on May Day.

I don’t want to take history lesson here, google it for yourselves of what is a May Day.

8 Hours of work is still a dream.

**Above image by the blogger

Ctrl + Shift + Insert

Most of us use computers in our work and home. For some, it has become an integral part of the work. Let me put down some unique (and some not so unique) habits I got when using a computer.

Copy+Paste

Most of them use Ctrl+c for copy and Ctrl+v for paste, but for me its always Ctrl+Insert for copy and Shift+Insert for paste. I started using computers since MS-DOS, so when my sir in the Computer center taught he gave this unique combination to copy & paste. I seldom use Ctrl+c and Ctrl+v. My hand always searches for Ctrl-Shift-Insert combo.

For me its easy than Ctrl+C-V. When someone sees me using this Ctrl+Insert, they see it as a unique key-combo and ask for the combination. They start using this combo and then they feel it’s handy than Ctrl+c-v.

Shift+Tab

For some reason, I always use Shift+Tab to navigate across windows. Not sure where and when I picked this up, but couldn't leave it!.

Shift+Delete

Whenever I delete a file, my fingers automatically goes to Shift+Delete. This will remove the files permanently ( of course we can retrieve it from some software later ). So once I delete the files, I never regret about the loss.

Recycle Bin

Because of the above Shift+Delete, I never opened Recycle Bin. It’s always empty.

Email

I start writing the email first, then the subject and then fill the To and CC fields. Because, I have the fear of accidentally sending the half-written email.

Once the Email is sent. I always go the sent folder to check if the email is there and again I read it there !

Page Up & Page Down

These are least used keys. I know not when I had used these keys.

Lock the screen

This habit came from my previous employer. I lock the screen, even while using laptop at home. This is kind of safe, cause people won't peep into my system while I’m off-desk.

Incognito Mode

While using a common computer, I’ll always open the browse in the Incognito mode (Private mode). Two things- no one knows what we browse and other is user name\password won't be saved. 

What’s your unique habit ?

**Above image by this blogger