Happy New Year....

DEAR ALL,

EVERY SECOND, EVERY MINUTE, EVERY HOUR, EVERY DAY,

EVERY WEEK, EVERY MONTH, EVERY YEAR IS

SPECIAL FOR EVERYONE.BUT ALWAYS THE BEGINNING OF

A NEW YEAR IS SOMETHING SPECIAL TO BEGIN

WITH FORGIVE, FORGET,RESOLVE,LOVE AND HUG WITH

MANKIND.

AS THE YEAR PASSED THE WORLD HAS DEVELOPED

IMMENSELY IN MULTIPLES WITH DIFFERENT CASTE ,

RELIGION ,REGIONS AND FACILITIES BUT FORGOT TO

RETAIN LOVE,SINCERITY,PROSPERITY AND MANKIND.


HENCE I MAKE A CRUEL DEMAND FROM ONE AND ALL

TO SPEND AN HOUR A DAY TO SPREAD MANKIND,LOVE

AND GET LOVED FOR A BETTER TODAY FOR SELF AND

A WONDERFUL AND PROSPEROUS TOMORROW FOR

YOUR CHILDREN.

Wishing you all

A WONDERFUL
NEW YEAR l

Alvida 2010.....

When you will read this blog, year 2010 will be taking its last few breaths and 2011 will be warming up. For our nation as well as for me personally year 2010 was a big one. Here I’m more concerned about my pain and gain theory rather then nation’s problems.

This year was one of the most important years of my life. If I will say it was a decisive year then I will not be wrong either. At personal, professional and emotional front it was best year till date.

There were many breathtaking moments, many memorable encounters…I am going to discuss all of them in chronological order.

There were many places where I visit.

Even the start of this year was very special as I went to visit golden temple on 1^st Jan with NSN friends. That trip was brilliant. I went Wagha border and jaliyawala bagh, about which otherwise I have heard only in old stories.

At the start of this year I was in gurgaon. In gurgaon only I met Vinay and Balraj. Though I knew vinay and balraj from NSN starting days but its gurgoan days which brought us closer, So close that we have spend lots of unforgettable moments together. Both are now part of my heart and Vinay is now my best friend. Vinay is one such friend for whom I can feel proud on myself. After few memorable days of gurgaon, our training with NSN was over and we have to move our locations. I can’t forget that day (2^nd Feb.) when people were crying like kids.

I got Gujarat and went to Ahmadabad. Here I got my first project (2G Uninor) and met Mr swapnil Mistry. Mistry sir was my first boss and always politically correct guy. I have learnt a lot from him. Later in Ahmadabad only I met Vaibhav and Nishant. We four (these 2, me and vinay) became room mates and spent some quality time together. I can never ever forget those funny moments in my whole life. While Vaibhav was very sophisticated and practical guy, Nishant was totally fun loving animal.

After leaving Ahmedabad, I went to Rajkot. I spend almost 5-6 months and all this time was full of loneliness apart from the time I spend with Pranav. Rajkot taught me how to live life alone and how to enjoy your loneliness. In Rajkot I came to know kathiyawadi culture and get a chance to know rural Gujarat which was pleasant. This loneliness brings a writer, blogger and traveler out of me. With Pranav and other friends I have visited many places like deev, somnath, gir, tulsi shyam and many more. In Rajkot I got friends like Jay, Heeral, Ramij, Deepak, Vivek and Rajiv.

Rajiv was a wild card entry in my life but soon we became friends. In Rajkot only I met few old friends Niraj, chandna and Abhishek. Niraj was a childhood friend and it was very special to have him near to me. Abhisehk and I was perfect partner for “best restaurant hunting mission” and together we explored many restaurants. Visit of Chanda to Rajkot was never being less memorable.

I was in “thoda hai thode ki jarurat hai” mode in Rajkot when I get a call to join CARE team and it was like miracle. It came to me as if god responds to all prayers.

I joined care team and apart from a good Profile, money and respect, it gave me a chance to re-join a losing battle. A battle which otherwise I was about to lose with a huge difference.

Anyways after coming to care I got a chance to visited few places and met few old friends which otherwise I never have even dreamt.

First I went to Bangalore and met ankit (after 1.5 yrs), smita (after 2-3 yrs), sarika(1 yr), vikrant (2.5 yrs),ashwin (3 yrs).

And ya I met and talk to Ashwini Patankar, an old friend of graduation days with whom I talk after almost 3-4 years.

I get to know Naveed which was a colleague in college and is a friend now.

After Bangalore I went to Mohali-chandigarh and Amabala. I had seen rock garden, Sukna Lake there and met Balraj there. I also patch up with avneet whom I had some arguments earlier and we were not talking from a considerable time.

I went to UP west and met some very practical people there. I had visited taj mahal and Red fort also.

For family too this year was special as construction work of my home is over this year. My sister got married this year. And in her marriage I met almost all my relatives.

In the middle of all these moments how can I forget the moment I spent with Rahul Rathore and Arti. While I got a friend and a decent human being like rahul in Gujarat, I had also spent some class moments with arti.

So finally this year is going…

I am happy and sad…..

Good bye 2010…..

And thanks for everything you give to me….

Do i need a break?

I am in Bangalore from last 7 days now…and its my 2^nd trip to place, before this I was in agra, meerut, mohali and many other cities..After joining NSN,care Team I am a free bird, who is checking the dimensions of sky. I am visiting many cities. I am discovering new places. I am meeting friends whom actually I had given a mental farewell.

When I’m meeting with old friends I am noticing something which is bothering me…its their way of living life…when in college they were full of life, full of energy, full of jokes…now some of them are just living their life waiting for weekends. In the middle of this they are working like machines…Some people are just busy with tv, face book, laptops…that’s it….either they don’t know who they were or they don’t want know….they have lost all their energy..

Every one is depressed, tensed. Everyone is tired mentally. It seems as if they are in loop, they want to get out of this but did not have courage to break the damn door…deep in their heart they know that they are just pawns of their habits, their liking, their way of living….but they are so happy in this mirage that any knock seems intrusion to them…

When we were in college, we don’t have money but freedom….we follows our own philosophies, principles….but now where are we going??

Its like racing a gym cycle, where you are walking and running but actually you are not going anywhere….

Is this the kind of life I want for myself??

Is this the kind of life for which I work hard for 1 quarter of my life?

Is this what they called as L I F E?

I want to live my life not just want to pass it??

Will all these responsibilities and in-securities turn out me in to machine some day….??

What I suppose to do in order not to get in this trap of life??

Do I need a mental, physical and emotional break?

I need answers……

Jindgi 2 pal ki...

Written by a 90 year old, this is something we should all read at least once a week !!!!! Make sure you read to the end !!!!!!

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

It's estimated 93% won't forward this. If you are one of the 7% who will, forward this with the title '7%'.
I'm in the 7%. Friends are the family that we choose.

Lets the music play....

What will be your response when you got a transfer to a place and when you are mentally prepared to go you came to know that before going to that place you have to go somewhere else for few days? This was my condition when I got a transfer from Rajkot to Gurgaon. I was prepared for it then one fine day I got a call that says that I will have to join to Bombay on a fix date. Just next day I got a call that there is some emergency project is going in Bangalore so first go there. I ask when??? They said tomorrow.
I booked my flight from Bhopal to Bangalore through Mumbai and reached Bangalore.
I know many people just hate to travel. In fact this is a basic human tendency to resist change whether it’s in terms of city, atmosphere, food, people and your loved ones. People like to live in their own “comfort zone”, at their places, with “their kind” of people. And it’s true that why should we change something but contrary to common belief I like changes, I like travelling. Somewhere deep inside me lives a traveler, who likes to explore this world. I have wasted half of my life in getting a so called “decent” job and now when I got it, I want to live for myself.
Now I am going away from topic, i was talking about travelling. I really like travelling. I like the word “musafir” and like to listens all the songs based around such situation. I believe that every city, every temple, every structure and culture has a story to tell. There are many places where you can feel nature speaking. I always keep my laptop bag and a travel bag ready. In India, every 3-4 mile their is a different language, after every 4-5 mile there is different taste of water and at every 20-30 miles there is a different culture.
Why I like travelling this much, because apart from the fact that it gives me chance to explore the world but it also suits my nature. I don’t like to have attachments. It’s not that I don’t love people or I don’t have friends but I just don’t like to miss any one or anything. I don’t miss my family too. I know it sounds weird but that how I am (good or bad). Travelling gives me chance to meet new people, to witness new tradition. I always welcome changes. I know they are quite disturbing particularly when you are not willing to have one but they always bring something out of you. I remember in an interview Mr amitabh Bachchan said that “mann ka ho jaye to achcha ,na ho to aur achcha”…what a line…
One more reason I like to travel or like changes is that in my whole life time I made many friends, which came from different part of country and scattered back to different places. With all this travelling I get a chance to meet old friends. Whenever I get a chance to go to a place, first I will check who is their or which place I can visit or is there anything in that place for which it is famous. I make it a habit that when I visit a place I try my best to have regional breakfast, lunch and dinner. Earlier I was in Gujarat, before that I was in MP and now I am in Karnataka and there is considerable difference between eating habits of peoples. Since I have to travel frequently (sometimes due to my job and sometimes due to my nature) so I made certain rules for myself:
(1) Don’t be afraid to talk to strangers.
(2) When you are talking to a new person, try to take more detail about the place he belongs i.e. stories, famous peoples, myths.
(3) Always keep a camera with you so that you can keep some memories with you.
(4) Always check the sunrise and sunset of every place. This is to be said that sunrise and sun set of every place has some uniqueness.
(5) Always take regional breakfasts and lunch.
(6) Always visit the local temples (though god is same around the world but his face are different).

Things you can find in my luggage:
A laptop with photon (so that I can be connected to the world), A charger, A bed sheet, A diary, A novel and a phone full of songs and enough balance.
And yes toilet soap also.
For me the true life is to go one place to another, meet different kind of people, witness the small moments of life.
I believe that a man is living truly only when he is helping without expectation, talking without language barriers, he is doing something not because he has to do this but because he wants to do this.
It took 5 schools for me to complete my pre-college education. I was student in 2 colleges and teacher in two colleges. I visit to different cities earlier for job related interviews and now for company related meetings. I have visited many places and found many things very interesting. Despite having all the barriers of language, culture and rituals, basic problems and basic reasons to be happy are same. Doesn’t matter whether its Maharashtra or Karnataka, Parents always hold the hand of their children while crossing the road. Doesn’t matter whether its Gujarat or Kerala, initial few seats are reserved for ladies. This is the beauty of life isn’t it?
I love all such small things. I noticed all this by being a silent observer. My hobby of travelling gave me a lot of satisfaction and entirely a new way to look at the world.
There may be people who will not go for the words as satisfaction, joy, and pleasure and they may ask what I have got actually in life after all this travelling and so called “banjara” life so let me tell those people that now i have friends in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Mohali, Rajkot, Ambala, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Pune and Mumbai . I have lots of home away from my home.
Let me give you an example of real life. When I was Rajkot I met a girl in a library who was good in gujarati and bad in hindi while I was good in hindi and worst in gujartai and now we are friends despite having a strong language barrier and lack of contents.
I understand one thing that it’s not the language through which you can communicate but the expression. If you are not taking risk, believe me you are losing a big part of life. If you will not talk to stranger, you will not loss anything but if you will talk you may get a friend and that’s the only thing which matters. Isn’t it?
I like to end the blog with few lines of a song which really justifies the journey of life:
Jindgi ka safar ajanabi ajanabi,
Sanso ki rah gujar ajnabi ajnabi,
Na mujhe hai khabar na tujhe hai khabar,
Chal rahe hum magar ajnabi,
Har najara har ishara naya naya hai,
Kaun jane hai sabera kahan,
Jarra jarra lamha lamha naya naya hai,
Kaun jane h basera h kahan,
Har shahar har dagar ajnabi ajnabi,
Na tujhe hai khabar na mujhe hai khabar,
Chal rahe hum magar ajnabi…
Allah hafiz…..

Epilogue:
Life is not just about having a good education, a decent job and marriage. In fact all these things are part of life not the whole life. Life is to laugh uncontrollably, to hold no grievance, to forgive yourself for all mistakes you did in past. Life is not about passing every moment in fact it’s about living every moment (there is a huge difference between the two).
Look at the things as if you are last time watching it, meet people in way a way as if tomorrow you will die and things will be different.
PS: (1) If you had seen the movie “up in the air” then put me in place of George clooney’s character and you will understand the soul of blog.
(2) This blog is sponsored by Yatra .com, which helps me find my buses, trains and flights.

Memory: Teachers of my life

Scene 1:
Place: a room
Time: 01:00 AM in March
Situation: A teenager is reading some thing. In fact he is murmuring something. Near to him, a lady of age 40 is knitting a sweater. Lady is feeling sleepy and almost fighting to keep herself wake up. Suddenly a man of around 42, wake up and enters in the room. He asks to lady-
Man: still wake up??? He can read by his own now. You need not to stay awake with him.
Women: No. At this stage, he needs some motivation. He should know that we are with him. He should know that he is not reading for himself, every one is suffering with him. When he will see that everyone is sacrificing their sleep with him then only he can understand that he is doing something important. I am not much educated and I will not allow this thing to limit his dreams.
His father was speechless.
Later on in that exam, that kid got 81%.
This is a 14 year old scene. The kid in scene was me, lady was my mother. Today after considerable years, this story came to my mind after I got 1 sms at 7 am. Usually I hate to have any message or call at this much early but that day was different and so the message. The text was “happy teacher’s day sir, thanks 2 be my teacher, guide and a mentor”. Wao…that was a perfect start of a day. It was teacher’s day. And 1year ago I joined a collage for few months. This sms belongs to a student of that college. After reading message I was thinking about “teachers of my life” .then I called my ma and wish her. She was surprised that why I am wishing her but when I told her that she never taught me any big thing but always give knowledge of small things, then she was pleased. After that I was thinking of different peoples who came in my life in different ways and give me some important lesions. This is a small list considering the fact that I never feel that I have learned anything from anyone.
Without ant doubt my ma will top this list.
My mother read till 7th class only but it never came as an obstacle to our (me and my sister) carrier. She taught me lots of things. I do remember the days when she taught me how to check the time in a watch. I always got confuse between a minute needle and hour needle. Later on she taught me how to write a latter. These small learning among other things like prayer before sleeping, before lunch or dinner, never hurt anybody and that small things matters most in life became an integral part of my personality. She is my first and most important teacher.
My daddy is my, another teacher. I learn dedication to the job from him. He always said that if you are doing something give your best to it, don’t do anything just for the sake of doing. His passion for his work was admirable. He always told me that we didn’t have much knowledge to give you right guidance but you do whatever you like and I will give everything to make it possible.
Apart from my parents I met many people in my life that came in different relations but taught me a lot.
Kaushik, ankit and tushar: These 3 were my friends in m tech, which was turning point of my career and personality also. kaushik work on my confidence. When I entered in m tech degree I was a low confidence guy but he realized me, my true potential. He was the man of standard. “Follow you heart” and “do what you actually want to do” was few lines he taught me.
Ankit realized me an altogether different philosophy, a different world. He taught me how to be passionate 4 your work. He showed me glimpse of a world where people love their work. Their work is their only religion. He taught me that passion for work is more toxic then any liquor. “Concentrate on bigger picture” were his words for me.
Tushar told me the definition of standard in everything. He told me how to be straight forward in life. How to speak when others are keeping quit. He always chose to fight for underdogs. A biggest critic I have ever met. But this criticism work as negative motivation for me.
Smita was my friend during engg days. Then close friend at PG times later on friend-sister and a respectable girl in this essentially non respectable world. “Simple living high thinking” that’s what she taught me. She posses all the talent of this world but still had calm and composed character. I learn one important lesion from her that beauty lies in simplicity.
After coming to NSN I met 2 more people who make my life worth living; a friend vinay, who later became my best friend. He was a down to earth, god of humor guy. He taught me how to laugh on you. In all his jokes he was the central character. He taught me how to enjoy when people are cracking joke on you. One more thing which I learn from him was to “free your-self from all prejudices”. He was a guy with whom one can be himself. Many things which he knew about me, I never ever dared to tell anybody.
All these people came in different relations in my life but none of them was formally or informally my teacher but in NSN training I met Ramesh sir. For whom I have already dedicated a full page blog so I don’t think I should write more about him.
This discussion will never be completed without the introduction of Bhaskar Lakshkar sir; a senior then teacher then an elder brother like figure and always a motivator. Recently he cleared IAS. He was a guy who always motivates me. He belongs to some of those people who were there when I was having some dark time. He was a simple from outside but highly intensive from inside person. His grip over hindi language, his simplicity, down to earth nature, and his sparking and clear stand on every current issue made him my ideal. Sir, you are my ideal. I wanted to be like you.
PS: these were some people whom I admire and from whom I have learn very important lessions of life. Except bhaskar sir, all other people appear in chronological order in this blog so there is no priority.
These all are my teachers.
Happy Teachers Day to My Teachers.

Intoxic moments

It was a dark night. I was coming back after dinner, Alone as usual. This was 20-50 or may be 60th time I took my dinner alone. I hate this fact. Wheather was little rainy, little in the sense that it was cloudy. I was feeling alone so decided to go in a near by park and lit a cigarette. I am not a smoker-habitually, rather I am an occasional smoker and my occasion consumes 1-2 cigarette in each 4-5 days. I rested myself on a bench in park and started a song on my mobile. The song was “maine dil se kaha dhundh lana khushi….” It seems that song was written 4 me otherwise how can it be so suited to situation. I closed my eyes. I wasn’t thinking anything. I just don’t want to think anything, not about job or family or friends. I just wanted to be with "me". I wanted to spend this moment with me. I was staring in blank with closed eyes. I didn’t know whether it was magic of every line of song or every passing smoky breathe or the wheather itself but I started feeling good. I never feel so intoxicated in my whole life even after many pegs of any alcohol. It seemed that together rain, night, song and smoke did some magic on me. I was feeling that in the darkness of night, darkness of my loneliness has dissolved somewhere. I was feeling completely harmonized with atmosphere. I was comparing my situation with that of sky. We both are alone; both have darkness around them, both wants to cry and both wants to live this particular moment. Then it started raining heavily but I didn’t want to move from there. I was getting wet and my cigarette was also over and the song too was complete. Then I feel that the moment is over and I have enjoyed one of the finest moment in last few days that too at cost of 4rs. 10 minutes of happiness at a cost of 4rs, not a bad deal. Isn’t it?