Comfortably Numb

40 months of working my arse off I realize that I am oblivious to the pain it causes.I do not contradict that many others have had theirs drilled down and riveted to the office chairs.This is neither a smear campaign nor about cribbing about one's job. Its about the Paradise Lost. I remember once I began writing on this topic and didnt bother to complete it. I now know why. The puzzle was incomplete then.

As a boy matures into a man, a man with responsibilites, there is hardly anything that interests him. I can now empathize with my father. God knows what all ambitions he had. What all he has sacrificed to just hold the moral fibre of a famliy together. The fibre has turned into a fine fabric, ready to be of help to someone.

A chat with a friend last weekend brought back some memories flooding back. This was a totally unprecedented conversation which suddenly shook me out of deep slumber. I have lost interest in a lot of things I used to do back in school/college.May be my dark overbrooding comes right from the ill-lit alleys of numerous hospitals we visited 4 years ago. Patience is something which I exhibit these days with many things. Being a full-blood libran, I am prone start an argument. Surprisingly, these days, I find myself not interested even in these arguments.

In short, I have lost the connectivity with my inner soul. A vibrant, happening, rolling stone (No no. Not reed/grass)attitude that is visibly absent. Some say this is an indication of having matured over years. I dont know. I dont know.

I would say I am comfortably numb today.

And I realize with numbness that I am trying to run away from the serious side of life.

(End of Part - I)

UID - Unique Identification Number

Mr.Nanden Nilekani will lead the special team for creation of UID. I know Mr.Nilekani would have hardly heard about our KEIS.That was my dream project from 1st year in college,which my friends helped me realize in my final year. Its a biometric, finger print recognition based security system for vehicles. That was the just the starting point.

The plan was to create an application that would act as the single, all-encompassing ID like the SSN number in USA, with which the entire citizenship details of a person can be ascertained within moments.It was also aimed to help the Police department as the finger prints from the ID cards will act as a Repository, which could help them in indentification of criminals or in case of an untoward incident, inform a victim's family. We also decided to add the personal medical details to the ID card system so that it could help every hospital to diagonise a person's status without referring to lengthy medical procedures incase of emergencies.

Innova Lab in my company was audience to a lengthy demo from myself and promised to look into possibilities with in. But that was 3 years back. A start up, by IIT-M students, have requested time to analyse the product,so that they could incorporate the code into their own products.

And I ran for a year, from pillar to post to file a patent for it.I couldn't get it done. The talks of UID has revived my interests again. Hope for an audience with Mr.Nilekani!

I am Imagining my India.

Pictures from my trip to Kerala

1. A beautiful mansion that caught my eye.

2.Not the over crowded Mumbai local.. but a real calm morning shot:


3.The sprawling lake, ever present coconut trees and dark clouds, impressive scenery from my train seat!

Moonwalked

Very few of us have the distinction of being able to Moonwalk on Earth. If there was one person who did it with elan, it was Michael Jackson. The legendary pop sensation, the king of dance and the ultimate entertainer is no more. The world is sad and music lovers are shattered. The iconic man might have been a mix of class and crass.. but his legacy lives on. I have benefitted immensely from his videos. Nihal and I, my schoolmate, have seen most of his dance videos at an age when we hardly knew english. We were so proud to be able to do the moonwalk on numerous festivals. MJ's used to be the opening song for all our dance performances.

The scandals and allegations not withstanding, MJ has been on top. We dont really care about them, Mikey!!! Who is not at fault, eh?

May you now entertain the heaven with your dance!

R.I.P

Night Flight of Icarus

Spice Jet from Mumbai to Chennai on 16th June. Was on a literal countdown for it. Hastened to the airport and finally boarded the fligh delayed by a good half an hour. The take off was uneventful but we did pass through "turbulent weather" as the captain's voice echoed inside the cabin. Cluster of lightening going off every where near us was a such a delight to watch. Nevertheless, the Air France tragedy flashed through our minds.

As the sun sets over the horizon
A young guy stands on the deck
As the ground cools to the lovely night
A lightning shatters the still

His eyes are ablaze
See the child in his gaze

Fly on your way like an eagle
Fly as high as the sky
On your wings like an eagle
Fly and touch the light(ening)


Now the crew panic and pray for all
Eyes meet to tell the news
All's well when it passes through
As the news of Airfrance flashes through

My eyes seemed so tensed
As we fly over the light
Now I know wat it would have been
For all those on that AF flight

Felt good back on ground
That seldom shakes beneath
Scary flight behind us
time to catch up with love and friends.

Flew down to mother earth
Happier than never before.

Was an awesome flight... seeing lightening from above it was spellbinding! Unfortunately I couldnt retrieve my camera for pics. But it will remain etched forever in my memory.