So is that all you wanted.
A road less travelled,
Knowledge of life
and all thats before and after,
freedom from sorrows and laughter.
Independence from time,
A thinking Mind,
Moksha and Nirvana,
Karma and Penance,
Self-denial and no self-indulgence.

Now when the maze has finally caught up,
Do you see the exit.
Or in the tangled web
you're still searching for the light.

It's hard to say how far you are,
but there's always a road back.

Mumbai Blasts

This one is for GUNS, wrote them long back but thought I should share them. Pardon my english for all the grammer mistakes :)

Day before yesterday, a series of blasts ripped through the city of Mumbai. I read the news only in the afternoon (about six hours after the event) and initial reaction was to call Tushar. Tushar lived and commuted on the same train route where the blasts have taken place. My efforts to establish any sort of immediate contacts with him by means of phone were in vain as understandably the lines were busy. So I mailed the college Yahoo group and also mailed Tushar. I further mailed the other friends in Mumbai to enquire if they are safe and sound. In the time that followed this process of enquiry and concern was applied to people here in Cincinnati hailing from Mumbai. After this initial reaction of concern and associated activities, I realized something. Was I attached to this tragedy, was I a part of it, was I even feeling the way I should.

This wasn’t an event that required ones attention for an hour or two, like an accident where you panic; you try to get in touch with your near and dear ones. Once you’ve made sure that everyone is fine, you take a sigh of relief and then for get the accident as a bad dream. After all, essentially none that you were concerned with are affected.

But Mumbai blasts are not accident, they are a serious threat to my country, my fellow countrymen and when I think deeper, it’s a threat to me. Mumbai blasts are not accident, they are a well thought of plan to disrupt harmony and peace of me and my country.

Sadly though, these thoughts never occurred to me. I made sure that all those I knew are fine and got back to my work. Now that I think, this is what I feel these terrorists bank on. They realize that most people will forget these things like I did and most of us end up doing just that. We forget too soon, too easily, go back to the state of slumber we always were, only to wake up when these terror merchants carry their business again. We are again hurt the same way, but we continue the way we live, a life ridden by forgetfulness. And perhaps that’s the way the government deals with these situations. That’s why I don’t blame them; after all they have been bitten by the same bug as me. None of us think deep, none of us care for people beyond our sphere of known.

So far away from my country, I have to force myself to think all this. Sad but true. I know I would have done nothing if I was in India, but I might have been inclined to these thoughts naturally. Alas now I am forcing myself, I’m on the look for people to discuss my thoughts, my anguish, my helplessness. Alas.

Worse is the realization that even after giving time to this, I’m not able to come up with any single point that I can suggest to counter such events and activities. We don’t even know who the real culprit is? Is it Pakistan, is it the global Islamic terrorists, is it the POK based groups, the religion-based fundamentalists or the local terror groups.

Most newspapers are filled with an image of Mumbaikars , depicting them as those who are not jolted, praising their spirit, their courage, people who are united, so on and so forth. Irony is that its event as bad as this that unites us, makes us stand together. Everyone in college got into act when they heard the news, cursing government, terrorists, or who so ever they thought they should. We all cursed and expressed our sorrow united. Happy occasions are not sufficient to unite the people. We don’t have anything major on festive occasions in our college. Like I said, happiness is a less valued emotion. Irony, because all we ever aspire for is happiness and joy and yet those are not sufficient to unite us.

One of my friend linked all this unity and aforementioned state of emotions in the aftermath of a tragedy to the term ‘Indianess’. According to him, all of us have this subconscious Indianess buried inside us that rises on occasions like Mumbai blasts. Is this Indianess or a sudden charge of sentiments that dies so soon that it just don’t feel right to give it such a big name as Indianess. And if its really Indianess, shame on myself for it takes a terrorist attack to evoke it. Can’t I have this Indianess as a part of myself, just like my feelings for my parents, like those towards my friends. It makes me sad to realize that my Indianess is not a vital part of me. I sleep with this sad thought. I hope I wake up more clear in head, more Indian in heart.

The Moon Tonight

As the sun set to my right
A moon rose up by my side
Feverish yellow
Nose dripping and tears running down the cheek.
Go my dear
Why feel so blue.
Take some rest behind the clouds
Dont worry
I'll be awake
to take care of the night.

Two Sides

Saw the two sides

A ripple in the still lake
Stream on the hill slope
Effervescent

Diluting shadow in the water beneath the feet
A warm day passing by a deserted town
Sulking

The orange of the setting sun
Turquoise of the morning
Calm

Red, when the blood was
Blue as its now
Relinquish

Time is an illusion
No walls and windows
Escape

Time's a cycle
Prison for the thoughts
Enslave

Saw the two sides.

Image Courtsey : http://www.hakonsoreide.com/Gallery/html4/twosides.html

When will I wake up and stray

Pardon me if I stray
but you left midway.
Time will ask its questions.
Should I then stop,
to stand as a victim of guilt?
Will you witness the ordeal
or will you care to care less.

Night after night
a dream loops,
I keep asking the same questions.
Who knows when will I wake up
and stray.

For You Dear Sister

LITTLE SISTER AND THE PERMISSIONS

Yesterday a permission,
Today a permission,

Hey there, crow!
Why sit in our tree?

Big brother is coming.
Some are left for him to taste.

Clap, clap, clap -
Shoo, shoo!

This simple yet beautiful piece of poetry by the Korean poet Chong Chi-yong, describes brilliantly your feelings. This Rakshabandhan, its your Rakhi and this poem, that makes me realize how much you love me and how much I mean to you. I might not be able to convey my feelings the way you do, but I know that you understand me anyway.

Wishing you a very happy Rakshabandhan my dear sis and may the love we share grow stronger every passing day.

For The Fallen Stars

There goes a falling star
so you better make a wish,
If you dont, I hope you know
what you're going to miss.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know I'll go one day
to collect the fallen stars,
I know I will find a few
right over the marsh.

Few of them had fallen in the lake
so I'll take my fishing net,
fishes might have eaten them
but in case if there's any left.

Those who got stuck in the trees
often give a howling cry,
Might be that their light is being
stolen by the fireflies.


I wonder where the moon is
on these moonless nights,
May be searching for his friends
that fell from the sky.

I often wonder who kicked them out
or is it that they cut their wings,
Who knows what the answer is
Who knows why they are falling.

May be they are not young enough
to fly high in the sky,
May be its the death that pushes them
down to fall and die.

On the gentle winds I sleep
I'll wake up and leave tomorrow,
To collect all the fallen stars
and drive away their sorrow.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There goes a falling star
so you better make a wish,
If you dont, I hope you know
what you're going to miss.

Lets observe Vijay Divas

In memory of the brave soldiers who laid their life for our Motherland.

BIT2K Reunion - Pittsburgh, 25th June 2006

6 years is a long time, but this reunion it never felt like so.

Have to say a moment to remember :)
Here's the day as it passed.

On the way to Pittsburgh, at the Pennsylvania State border. Early morning 7:00 AM.

Thats Rishi with me, 5 years on he resembles Anurag Verma 'Thakela'; of course minus the mooche ;)

Urs truly in a striking pose with authentic fake smile :)

Boom Boom Bang, 10 minutes into the game and Germany is already 2-0 up with the game as good as over. Time to move, everyone is damn hungry after the nights drive. Here we are at the Udipi, Avinash and Utti in front, Rishi in his typical Thakela mode (Did u notice the way he rests his chin on his hand; the typical ever-so-thoughtful pose). sumit singhal is chewing his nails, he is good at chewing other things as well. Description abt others in the party to follow.

Chul, Sips and Surd in front.

Singhal trying the AV pose, give it up man, that pose is Rishi's copyright.

Sardar aur uske funde.

Utti came from his galfrds house after watching Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and is still having a SRK hangover ("I luv U, BBBBBBB BITIANS"). I thought after a solid meal at Udipi, Nagarjuna style (even better if Ballaya style) wld have made more sense.

Utti and Sardar in front of the famous Pittsburgh Temple.

Banana Brothers, Thats sardar grinning on seeing the banana, u can call that the Banana Effect.

Anupam 'oori saala' Choubey in his Rajnikanth get up.

Chulbaaz trying his hand on 'Oori Saala' style. But thrs no comparison, Chobs the man when it comes to black goggles.

With a cigerrate in his hand, sardar finally felt like a man,
Before that what he was feeling like is anybody's guess.

Dewani and Sardar,
BTW stripes was in for the day.

U either get 'STRIPPED' or u wear BLUE

Relak-singh at the Starbucks; myself doing matthapacchi with sardar.

Sumit trying a new pissed-off look.

THE GANG

So who is the bigger Chaman

Dono takkar ke hain, C how happy they are to be called Chaman.

On the way to the riverfront.

Miya, Biwi aur Sardar

Chaddidhaari 'Men in Blue'

2 S

Thats 2 Ses getting cosy ;)

At the riverfront

Here's everone taking everyone else's, I mean Photograph

An evening on river Ohio

Mr. and Mrs. Sips

Utti, (dont u think a M in front of Utti wld have made it better ;)

Thats the way Anurag Verma Sir was in his jawani...

A Surd with a broken tooth (Last heard, that broken tooth is the result of one of the several belans Sardar has dealt with after marriage)

A beautiful evening.

Notice the striking similarity in the pose, Now thats what we call a well reharsed pose.

Singhal & Rishi

Here's once again 'Chin-on-hand' pose of the one and only Rishi 'Anurag' Verma.
Finally Sips gets some time away frm Mrs. Sips. She normally doesnt like when Sips shares the frame with others.

And finally we have the initiator of the whole idea, Sumit Singhal, the future CEO and owner of Siemens.

BTW for those who thought that Geet Talkies case is over, here's Chulbaaz being interrogated by Pittsburgh Police; Chulbaaz is the real International Khiladi.

And it required a lot of effort from Rishi (bechara kitna thak gaya tha is ke chalte) and Choubey and his goggles (that chul was wearing) that saved Chul from being roughed up by the police.

Chobs with Surd

As the beautiful evening was nearing its end, we decided to call Tikki. Vishal 'Tikki' Jaiswal was in Oregon and it doesnt seem like he has changed much. BTW he got married, which is good sign for all the bachelors in the batch (whtever lil' are left), for if Tikks can get married anyone can ;)

Pittsburgh Downtown from Mt. Washington

Once more

Myself, Sardar and Chul

That's earlier from the day.
Utti's SRK pose continue and Dewani looks bemused.

No Comments

Let's Dance baby.

That was Chob's obsession of the day.
'Oori saala, kya kutto type kutta hai'

Pittsburgh downtown from Choubey's Camera, waise isme Camera ka koi dosh nahi hai, Chobs was trying his hand on modern photography.

That's Singhal with the killer pose.

Now some group pics...

One more

Yet Another one

And one more

........

Well one more

And here's bringing the house down.

This BIT Reunion was a great experience to say the least, I'm sure everyone took back with them some nice memories and of course refreshed some of the most beautiful moments of the past.
Here's to BIT and BITians,
Hip Hip Hooray