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    Showing posts with label Musings. Show all posts
    Showing posts with label Musings. Show all posts

  1. Ghost Stories

    Nov 11, 2009

    26th January 2000, those five hundred students of a boarding school had no idea that lot was going to change in their lives that day. I was one of them.
    It was 9:30 in the morning and I was still in the bed, dreaming of candies & biscuits my friend has kept in his cupboard. And then I heard a voice: “You sleep monger RUN...., RUN FAST.”
    Half awake I started running out, only to realize later that it was an Earthquake.
    Yes, the deadly earthquake of Gujarat.


    Everything was in a huge mess. The buildings were damaged, after-shocks were felt every minute, few students lost their near and dear ones, and the final exams were nearing each day.
    One guy from my hostel who was known for his sincerity and honesty complained that he saw a lady ghost cladded in a white sari in the nearby ground at 12’O Clock midnight. As we were already in the trauma of the earthquake, we ignored his plea. Next day, he reported the same. This time we got really scared. And the matter was taken up with a head teacher who took the guy to a ‘TANTRIK BABA’. And finally the guy was declared of having a “KALA SAYA” of some lady ghost. Kala Saya of a white lady? we couldn’t digest the concept, so we decided to stay awake and witness the ghost ourselves.

    Equipped with hockey sticks and chains we waited for the clock to strike 12. As the time passed by the night kept getting darker and darker. Exactly at 12'O Clock the lady ghost appeared in the basketball court. Clutching the hockey sticks and stuff, we all ran out of the hostel. As soon as the ghost saw people approaching her, she started running the other way. We grabbed her and as she was about to get the first blow of the hockey stick, she shouted : “Hey, Please Stop, this is Varun from the Garuda hostel; remember I played black magician on the school annual day.” And we all laughed out loud.
    The next day, no ghost was seen on the ground. But it was heard of being seen in the Garuda hostel.

    Posted by: Sunil at 3:13 PM | Tags: , , , , , | 15 Comments | |

  2. Happy Diwali

    Oct 17, 2009

    Happy Diwali to all my friends.

    May this Diwali bring happiness infinite to you. And also:


    » May your blog get huge popularity

    » May your posts get 1000's of comments

    » May your blog get loads of backlinks

    » May your blog get listed on the first page of Google search

    » May your blog get featured in the Time magazine

    » May you get featured in the every "Top Bloggers" list

    » May you start a blog - if you don't have one!

    And above all
    May you ever stay a happy & nice blogger, as you already are.

    Happy Diwali!

    Posted by: Sunil at 8:53 AM | Tags: , , , , , | 16 Comments | |

  3. The cop whistled at the black Alto and asked to stop.
    Knock, knock. "Roll down the windows you freak."
    The cop: License Please!
    Sorry sir, I don't have one.

    Cop: What?, Show the registration.
    Sorry Sir, but this is not my car.

    Cop: Fine!, Do you know what's the penalty for not carrying the papers?, 500 Bucks!.
    Sorry Sir, I'm a government servant, and have not got salary this month.

    Cop: OK then, pay me 200, without receipt.
    Sorry Sir, forgot my wallet at home.

    Cop: What the F***!, go off you bastard.
    Thank You Sir. But Sir.
    Cop: NOW WHAT?
    Sir I need your help.
    Cop: FOR WHAT?
    Sir, the car is running out of gas, could you please lend me 500 bucks?

    Posted by: Sunil at 12:19 AM | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments | |

  4. Football dreams

    Oct 6, 2009

    As a little kid I longed to be a football hero. I wanted to kick the ball like the big guys. At the age of ten, when I was sent to the hostel, I volunteered to join the class football team. We were a bunch of kids just excited about the game. Every evening I would excitedly put on my sneakers and run to the playing ground.

    For days I kept chasing the ball without getting a single chance to hit it. Every time the ball was passed on to me, my mind went blank and failed to make any decision. By the time my mind worked out something, some other guy would be handling the ball.
    Due to my inability to take quick decisions my team members lost faith in my game. At times they would shout names and make faces at me. Dejection set in, and a feeling of failure captured my heart. And I decided not to play the game ever again. Whenever asked, I termed football as a mere time waste.

    Now as a grown up I hardly find any leisure time but I still wish to kick the ball like those big guys someday. Encouragement is a big factor in a child's life, we all know this. But still, how many of us really encourage the kids around?.

    Posted by: Sunil at 3:31 PM | Tags: , , , , , , , | 6 Comments | |

  5. I am the Spiderman

    Oct 3, 2009

    I'm the Spider-man. I can fly past heavy buildings with the help of a rope. Whoa, I can climb huge buildings in a fraction of a second. But wait wait, Why have I turned so powerful?. Just because a spider bit me unknowingly?. This can't be true!.

    With the vermilion mark on my forehead and a short pony tale, I'm the Desi version of the spider-man. I have a wife too, and two kids. But they are perfectly normal. Maybe they are not lucky enough to be bitten by a spider. Yes, this is the shortcut to success; go to the nearby jungle, get bitten by the deadliest spider and get the celebrity status overnight.
    My eyes were close, and my back felt painful, maybe due to the war I just had with the goons. But wait, where is my wife? and the kids are missing too.

    I opened my eyes and a spider was dancing on my bed. I stretched my eyes in order to let more light pass through them. And two more little monsters were mocking me from the ceiling. I grabbed my missiles (water bottle, mug, shoes) and bullets (pen, pencils and the other stuff kept on the table) and smacked down those monsters.
    Yes!, I won the war, I'm the strongest. 

    Oh, I should sleep again now. This time peacefully, with no such wacky dream.

    Image Curtsey: Spyndle

    Posted by: Sunil at 2:23 PM | Tags: , , , , , , , | 5 Comments | |

  6. Aaiye Sahab, Aaiye. Welcome to BookTroniks, we are one of the best book stores in Dilli. Myself Mr.Mishra, you can ask for any kind of book.
    That's interesting, I interrupted. Do you have a copy of "One hundred years of solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez?
    Arey Sahab, Kya baat kar di aapne? Mere hote hue aapko foreign author ki book padhni pade?
    And he immediately handed me a copy of "My Spouse" by Dobha De.
    I was scanning through the pages and the chatter box started: Sahab, Dobha Ji kya likhti hain!. You won't get a better book on male-female relationship than this one.
    Upon this I asked: But Mishra Ji, I have heard that she had some problem with her first husband and she got divorced?
    Arey Sahab, Aap bhi kamaal karte hain? If she is a divorcee, that means she is quite experienced in this field?.
    Valid point. But I declined to go for it and asked,
    Mishra Ji, can you suggest me a good book?
    Mishra Ji to his helper: Arey chotu, go and get a copy of  "Kamasutra" from the top shelf.
    Me: Arey nahi nahin Mishra ji, you got me wrong. All I'm asking you is to recommend me a popular book. I mean a book which is much in demand.
    Mishra Ji: Arey Sahab, this book is never out of demand and you know we have only three copies left?.
    Me: Mishra Ji, try to understand, I'm not yet qualified enough to contribute to the India's population.
    Mishra Ji: Kya Sahab? When I was about your age, my third child was in the first standard.

    Mishra Ji was about to speak more but a lady entered the book stall and asked for a copy of "The monk who sold his TATA Safari".
    She was going through the index page and I interrupted, Excuse me madam, If you like fiction then I think there are much better options than this one. This book is more of a self help kind of stuff.
    The lady agreed and asked the shop owner: Mishra Ji, can you suggest me a Good Book?
    With the copy of "Kaamasutra" still in hands, Mishra Ji glanced towards me.
    And I immediately left the book store.......

    Posted by: Sunil at 5:14 PM | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments | |

  7. Monkeys are everywhere

    Sep 18, 2009

    Once a dog was passing through the jungle when he noticed a lion coming his way. He got scared, the lion may kill him. He noticed a bone lying on the ground and immediately turned his back towards the approaching lion. When the lion came very near, the dog yelled at the bone, "You bloody lion, you think you are the strongest of all the animals?, Now see you've become my delicious meal. And don't you dare forget the lesson."  Hearing this, the lion got scared, that the dog has already killed one lion, and he is strong, he may kill him too. So the lion backed off and started running into the woods.

    A monkey was watching this from the nearby tree and he thought why not approach the lion and narrate the actual fact?. Hearing this the lion would appreciate him and would never eat him. So the monkey ran for the lion.
    After a few minutes the dog saw the lion angrily running towards him followed by the monkey. He immediately realized the situation and again turned his back towards the lion and started yelling at the bone, "You know?, You could have not become my meal if you would have not followed the advise of the monkey. See now, he has gone to fetch another lion."
    The lion heard the dog, got scared, and again escaped the scene. The rest you can very well imagine.

    This story has a very strong message, "beware of the monkeys".
    These monkeys are everywhere, in the offices, colleges, social gatherings. All I wonder is that what do they really get out of all this?

    Posted by: Sunil at 3:01 PM | Tags: , , , , , , , | 7 Comments | |

  8. Just imagine your death bed.  Your family, friends, office colleagues & relatives are attending your funeral. I mean, it may sound a bit strange but just imagine it for a moment. And also imagine the things for which you'll be hated even after you are dead.

    » Habit 1: The egoistic jerk (Wife's perspective)

    See his face, won't even smile on the death bed, such an egoist. O' God he is gone and the whole family is just a bunch of Morons, I can't adjust with them. I'll update my IndiMatrimony dot com profile, maybe I can get some hot hunk this time. After all, excluding Sundays & holidays I'm mere 26.

    » Habit 2: Married against my wish (Father's perspective)

    If he would have married Mr. Sharma's daughter he would have lived 100 more years. From the first day I knew that this lady is not good for him. Son of a fool. God, take good care of him and get him married to the girl of your choice because he is a complete idiot at that.

    » Habit 3: Bloody drunkard (Friend's perspective)

    No one could beat him in drinking, he was a big size Tanker. I know him since school days, whenever nervous, he would take two heavy pegs and face the situation. He even did this for the college Viva.  O' God, may his soul rest in peace and I promise I won't drink now onwards, unless un-till some friend insists. You know I'm poor at saying No.

    » Habit 4: Good for nothing (Colleague's perspective)

    All day he kept surfing the net. Now I'll have to clear his share of files. He he :), He didn't even knew that I got him transferred to this department. Anyways, he was good for nothing. Now that one more fool is less in my department I stand a chance of promotion.

    » Habit 5: Rahul was a better option (Girlfriend's perspective)

    I can't believe he is dead. Now who'll pay for the dresses I've ordered at the tailor's?. He denied everything I asked him, wife was always the first priority and look at her, bloody B***h, She can't even fake tears. O' god forgive me for the sin but I think Rahul will pay for the dresses, after all he is head over heals in love with me.

    » Habit 6: The Selfish Moron (Family pet's perspective)

    Everyone except him cared for me. The other day I tried to take a bite from his plate & the moron hit me hard with his leg. Bloody jerk! Even dogs have heart. He always wanted me out of this house. But at times he really took my side and yelled that "He was living a dogs life in this house" - the softer him. May his soul rest in peace.

    » Habit 7: _____ (Mother's perspective)

    A mother who hates her dead child? Such mother does not exist.

    Posted by: Sunil at 2:57 PM | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments | |

  9. Rape & Conscience

    Sep 2, 2009

    A 19 year old mentally challenged girl is raped repeatedly by the security guards of the institution she stays at. (You may read the complete story over here)
    This issue was in limelight because the girl fought for justice, but there are numerous cases where the victim simply stays mute due to obvious reasons we all know.
    Newspaper dailies are filled with news about the atrocities faced by females amongst which rape is the worst of a thing a woman could ever face.

    Due to lack of physical strength the female fraternity has ever been victimized and this thing is also obvious in the holy epics such as Mahabharata or Chanakya Niti.
    Draupadi, the single wife of the five Pandvas had to face the Cheer Haran (Stripping of clothes). Lord Indra - who is depicted as a strong character in the Indian mythology too fell for the wife of Gautama Maharishi.

    Man is known to be a social animal but I often wonder that though an animal is not gifted with as much conscience as man, they (the animals) are better known for their caring attitude towards females. Is it that along with intelligence a man is also provided with greater libido for whose gratification he can do anything?

    Posted by: Sunil at 3:35 AM | Tags: , , , , | 5 Comments | |

  10. Procrastination Kills

    Aug 13, 2009

    It has been a long time since I wrote something here.
    I don't feel like writing these days and moreover I don't want to fake it.
    I have not only stopped writing but even stopped thinking and that is quite a dangerous thing.

    Posted by: Sunil at 11:17 AM | Tags: , , , , | 4 Comments | |

  11. Remember the face of the most sincere person you've ever known. Maybe your office colleague, your neighbor or a college mate. Our society regards sincerity as the greatest virtue. And you won't disagree with the fact that sincerity demands a great deal of effort, but are the rewards in accordance with the efforts? Maybe Yes, Maybe No.

    Sincerity means doing things you are supposed to do with a perfect dedication. But isn't it that sincerity limits ones vision?, it kills your ability to think beyond the obvious & ask questions.
    Lack of questions leads to lack of vision and existence without vision is a monotonous existence.

    Posted by: Sunil at 9:16 PM | Tags: , , , | 8 Comments | |

  12. Dear Bapu,
    I'm a fellow Indian born three decades after you left this world. After going through various books, articles & documentaries about you I feel that you were an ideal human being where your contribution towards Indian independence is exemplary itself.

    Being one of the most respected leader in the world it is apparent that people(specially we Indians) have deep affection for the things related to you. Recently some Mr.James Otis from California claims to have few of your belongings and has made them available for auction. Though Mr.James Otis seems to have fair intentions (James Otis: "My intent never was to create any sort of anger or animosity towards the auction, it was the opposite: to promote Gandhi's words, actions, and to promote nonviolence in any way we can.") the question that remains unanswered is: When your final will makes Navajivan trust as the legal heir of your belongings, how did Mr.James managed to get hold of them in the first place? And even if his claims are genuine, where were Indian govt. and the Navajivan trust all these days? What is the point in shouting out loud now?
    Though Mr.Vijay Mallya did a brave job by paying a sum of USD 1.8 million at the auction, Mr.James Otis now wants all these items back. And with your great grandson Mr.Tushar Gandhi entering the race the matter is definitely heading towards the worst.

    Where your belongings should be a matter of national pride, everyone is busy politicizing the event. With the complexity increasing day by day maybe I should write to Mr.Sanjay Dutt of the Munna Bhai fame, but right now he too is busy getting his political equations right.
    Your presence in this mess would greatly reinstate "Raghupati Raghav Rajaram..." in place of "Dekh Tere Sansar Ki Halat Kya Ho Gayi Bhagwaan.."

    Thank You,
    Your well wisher.

    Posted by: Sunil at 12:36 AM | Tags: , , , , | 6 Comments | |

  13. "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." -Nelson Mandela

    Indian society has always given high importance to the education. Education enlightens the soul and helps an individual to understand the world. Ok! that's fine!. But let us take a look into the facts (Source: Smile foundation India).


    • Less than half of India's children between the age 6 and 14 go to school.
     • A little over one-third of all children who enroll in grade one reach grade eight.
     • At least 35 million children aged 6 - 14 years do not attend school.
     • 53% of girls in the age group of 5 to 9 years are illiterate.
     • In India, only 53% of habitation has a primary school.
     • In India, only 20% of habitation has a secondary school.
     • On an average an upper primary school is 3 km away in 22% of areas under habitations.
     • In nearly 60% of schools, there are less than two teachers to teach Classes I to V.
     • On an average, there are less than three teachers per primary school. They have to manage classes from I to V every day.
     • Dropout rates increase alarmingly in class III to V, its 50% for boys, 58% for girls.
     • 1 in 40, primary school in India is conducted in open spaces or tents.
     • More than 50 per cent of girls fail to enroll in school; those that do are likely to drop out by the age of 12.
     • 50% of Indian children aged 6-18 do not go to school

    Poverty:
    Poverty is an outcome of illiteracy. The only permanent solution to poverty is education.

    Each one teach ten:
    "Each one teach one" has been an old credo. But the need of the hour is "Each one teach ten".

    Privatization of govt. schools:
    Most of the indian primary schools lack quality staff, infrastructure and basic facilities. privatization would make the management more efficient and hence proper utilization of resources.

    Corporate responsibility:
    Many top Indian companies understand their social responsibility and are providing helping hands in this field. but as any company derives its profit from the society, every company irrespective of its size and profit margin must contribute for the education of poor.

    Efforts at individual level:
    We as an individual can really make a difference. All that is needed is:
    • Identification of the areas around you.
    • Gathering a group of educated enthusiasts.
    • If possible contact some NGO.
    • Cause awareness among people around you.
    • Little monetary help.

    *One such effort with which I was associated during my college days was Literacy Mission at NIT Hamirpur.


    All it needs is time and dedication and this small efforts of yours can really make a difference.
    So let us come forward and dream of a different tomorrow. Dream of a better India, a better world.

    *Image source: CSmonitor

    Posted by: Sunil at 11:10 PM | Tags: , , , , | 9 Comments | |

  14. Transition

    Sep 3, 2008

    Three months, and I’ve not written even a single word on this blog (a thing which I really adored during college days). It has nothing to do with my hectic professional life but the thing is, that I feel as if my heart and mind have stopped working. I hardly introspect these days and everything seems hazy.


    I don't know where my life is heading and what my priorities are, I simply don't know. Made so many commitments but everything in vain. The only positive sign is that since past few days I'm missing my blog a lot and thinking of a complete changeover (of blog) maybe this new resolution will refresh my priorities. And again I’ll be doing the thing I love.

    Posted by: Sunil at 5:07 AM | Tags: , , | 4 Comments | |

  15. Sometimes your senses deceive you, they simply fail for that matter.
    They don't exist at first place.

    What you see, hear or feel is not true.
    The truth is something big, something different,...... something unacceptable.

    Posted by: Sunil at 11:08 PM | Tags: , , | 12 Comments | |

  16. Talent was the name of a coin in ancient times and those who had a lot of talent, or money, then-just as it is now-were indeed the ones who saved and invested gainfully. Before making a long journey, the Bible says, a rich man called three of his servants and "unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one."

     He that received the five talents went and traded with the same, and gained another five talents. And likewise, he that had received two, also gained another two. But he that received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

    After a long time the master of those three men returned, and reckoned with them. He that had received five talents came and showed another five talents, saying, "My lord, you delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained five talents more."
     The master said unto him,"Well done...I will make thee ruler over many things." The master was also pleased with the man who had doubled his two talents. "Well done... I will make thee too ruler of many things." These two men would now lead a more joyous life. They were talented!

    Then the man who had received the one talent came to his master and said, "Lord, I was afraid and went and hid thy talent in the earth: here take what is yours." The master answered and told him, "You wicked and slothful servant... you ought to have put my money to the exchangers and at my return I should have received it with interest."

     Obviously, this man had no talent. "Take therefore the talent from him and give it unto him which hath ten talents," the master then ordered. "And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness."
    -MATTHEW 25: 14-30 in the Bible.

    Learning lesson from this story I purchased the bestseller "The Intelligent Investor" by Benjamin Graham.- My first investment towards investing.
    What was your first investment towards investing?

    Posted by: Sunil at 10:29 PM | Tags: , , , | 19 Comments | |

  17. Four years- a memoir

    Apr 11, 2008

    The autumn of 2004, pants folded and the furious rain trying to snatch away the umbrellas. First rendezvous with the Electrical block of NIT Hamirpur (my college) & I grinned: Ah! this magnificent building is going to be my department for the next four years and somewhere I knew that I've made a wise decision.

    Happiness, excitement, fear, anger, friendship, love, success . . . . . .endless memories hitched inside the heart.
    These insured four years of life are about to end and soon the things are going to be different. I often wonder: why do things have an ending? Is it to make a new start? but the new start again heads towards new end. After all why do things come to an end?

    Posted by: Sunil at 11:50 PM | Tags: , , , , | 15 Comments | |

  18. First Year of college
    Teacher: Define Ohm's Law?
    Student: Sir Ohm's law states that the current passing through a conductor between two points is directly proportional to the potential difference across the two points, and inversely proportional to the resistance between them.


    Second Year of college
    Teacher: Can you define Faraday's Law?
    Student: Well Sir em...well....Faraday's law is a law given by Faraday. It finds its application in electrical engineering.


    Third Year of college
    Teacher: Do you have any idea about Gauss's Law?
    Student: Sir it can be defined as em... well it is defined as.........are you asking about Gauss's law?.
    Sorry sir I forgot the question could you please repeat it?.
    -----------------------------------
    Sir i shall come prepared next time for sure.


    Final Year of college
    Student: Sir what is Newton-Raphson's method?
    Teacher: It is $%)%#!%^* given by +!*(&%##@&** and used for %$*@(&^$% !


    And finally the student becomes a full time engineer (maybe).

    Posted by: Sunil at 3:29 PM | Tags: , , , | 16 Comments | |

  19. Letter from a friend

    Mar 16, 2008

    A beautiful gift from one of my special friend.
    • Sometimes winning is everything.
    • Take a stand, now or never.
    • Choose a high.
    • Leave your mark.
    • Kill doubt.
    • Stand for something, prove something.
    • Make waves, never say die.
    • Live your dream.
    • Conquer your fears.
    • Take a risk.
    • Erase boundaries.
    • Beat the odds.
    • Trust your instincts.
    • Take up a challenge.
    • Never give up.
    • Prove yourself.
    • Own your words.
    • Right a wrong.
    • Dare to dream.
    • Push the limit.
    • Play with pride.
    • Wake the spirit.
    • Go for glory.
    • Tougher the better.
    • Face your demons.
    It's your time. Taste The VICTORY.

    What is your most memorable gift?

    Posted by: Sunil at 11:01 AM | Tags: , , | 12 Comments | |

  20. My best lines

    Mar 12, 2008

    Here are my all time favorite lines from my personal diary:

    1.     Imagine! Just Imagine!.

    2. No straight story was ever worth telling.

    3. The knock of pure love has a different sound.

    4. The heart accepts some reasons, and the journey never stops.

    5. Dream! Your dreams may not be fulfilled but you won't have nightmares either.

    6. In there lies questions, In there lies answers.

    7. Knowledge is fearlessness.

    8. Fiction sounds better than the real life.

    9. Fake things are volatile.

    10. Destiny has something in store for everyone.

    11. The good thing about time is that it goes on.

    12. Short-sightedness kills an individual.

    13. Never complain because complaining is never a solution.

    14. A man's mind is busy creating problems and he's busy solving them -confused and lost.

    Posted by: Sunil at 10:21 AM | Tags: , , , , , , , | 15 Comments | |