Archive for People

J _ _ _ _ _D_ _

September 23, 2008 · Filed under Experiences, Expressions, Friends, People · Tagged , , , ,

An unusual mail jumped into my inbox. It asked for volunteers for some J _ _ _ _ _ D_ _. This was the only info and every other detail was kept a secret. I replied ”I’m in.” with a little curiosity of what it could be.
When I looked at the mail again, I found some obvious hints- Mata Amritanandamayi and Juan Mann smiling at me. Oh is it J O Y H U G DA Y? How is it possible? It is not a college yaar, commmmon.
All the volunteers were briefed about the event and given Blue Tees for the J-Day.
And finally Surprise!!!! Surprise!!!!
We actually had plans for celebrating a “Jhappi Day” in office!!! Isn’t it strange? Had heard of pink day, ethnic day etc, but Jhappi day????
The rule was simple – offer a hug and make some one’s day :-) . Spread the hugs, spread the hope.
We were game. An official mail was sent out saying “It is a Jhappi Day-a free hugs day and the ones in dark blue Tees are the official jhappars who would offer hugs. They are all around you.”

R and I were very excited about it. R wore a “Hug Me” on his chest, bold and clear enough to cry out the message. I wore it on my sleeves coolly.
Enthusiastically, we also taped a printout saying “I’m a hug…waiting to happen” (remembering my Prince Charming we had met in the shop) on our backs. We gave each other a jadoo ki jhappi and began for the day on our mission of spreading love and showing that we care.
I hugged everybody in the module…a friend or a foe, an acquaintance or an ajnabi (alien)…everyone appeared pure & His perfect creation. I realized it was so easy to accept anyone with your arms wide open and a smile on your face.
I even had the courage to forgive and ask for forgiveness, the strength to confess the deepest fears…hug…and shower my love, affection and respect on the ones I truly adore.
I admired and thanked…hugged…
I had the opportunity to know few people by their names, people whom I had passed by several times in the corridors and wings.
(I can now name a few smiling faces I see everyday :-) )
The atmosphere had suddenly turned so friendly, so lively. Every one was so approachable. There was no inhibition, only acceptance.
I had learnt in Art of Living “Accept people and things as they are”. In this simple yet effective exercise I found it so easy to learn.
We finished our work and went from cubicle to cubicle, module to module spreading love and giving free hugs. Everyone welcomed us with equal warmth and affection.
I could feel our happiness was almost contagious. Our zeal and spirit transmitted at a pace higher than that of light.

The concept was inspired by:
• Juan Mann’s Free Hugs Campaign
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Hugs_Campaign

• Mata Amritanandamayi- the hugging Saint
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mata_Amritanandamayi

• Munna bhai ki famous “Jadoo ki Jhappi”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munna_Bhai_M.B.B.S.

I experienced the love that emanated from the bottom of my heart even for a complete stranger!
We were surprised by the feat- R & I hugged almost 500-600 people in a day, something I had never imagined in my wildest dreams!!!
At the end of the day we had a Jhappar’s meet and I saw everyone was in a state of trance-engulfed in the emotions of joy, happiness, satisfaction and peace.
Some moments were captured to be framed in the memories. The Jhappar’s club was officially dissolved with a special note from the organizers – “From tomorrow, we do not want to see people hugging each other.” :- ) hahahaha.

Haven’t you experienced the craving for a jadoo ki jhappi? A tight bear hug that would alleviate all your pains and sufferings? The last hug before bidding a good bye with a hope that you would meet again and then a jhappi on reuniting with your buddies? A hug asking for forgiveness, a hug depicting acceptance, a hug to end bitterness in the relation, a hug full of hope…a hug when you are happy… a hug when you are sad…
A hug that would show that you are loved and cared…the one that gives you the strength to face the world… a hug just like that???
When was it last that you hugged someone you love?
Hug is a connection seedha dilse dil tak (Heart-to-heart). It can transform lives. Won’t you embrace your near and dear ones and the ones who really need a jadoo ki jhappi? After all everyone needs a good hug.
Aa gale lag jaa :-)

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Love at first smile

September 22, 2008 · Filed under Experiences, Expressions, People · Tagged , ,

“Shameless/useless/manner less! Doesn’t he know that boys are NOT supposed to open ladies purses?” would have been my normal reaction, but I didn’t frown even for once; instead I was smiling at him and looking at him intently. He looked at me and smiled back. It was such an engaging smile that I fell in love with him at once.

A day before P’s birthday, R, S and I were together again at a shopping centre looking for a shirt for the birthday boy. Pick…Drop…Selections…Rejections.
Finally, I had a feeling that we would end up buying “Emperor’s clothes” or “Happy Man’s shirt” ;-)
There- and we found what we were looking for.

But I was still looking at him. Not just I, R & S also had their eyes set on him. This time he didn’t look at me. He was busy taking out things from his mamma’s purse. A 10 rupee note here and a 100 there- a pen here and a comb there. I went to him and picked up the things lying on the floor and took him to his mom and granny who were busy shopping.
He was a sweet, little chubby Prince Charming who had come to sweep me off my feet, so what that he himself seemed to have learnt to take his baby steps quite recently.  His mom and granny thanked me and asked him to hug me.
Oh how cute! He wobbled, swayed, lost his balance as he walked towards me. I was on my knees with arms wide open, waiting for him.
I got connected to him instantly. R and S approached us and coaxed him to hug them. But he didn’t.
His family asked him to do a “nosy-nosy” to me. We wondered what that would be. But when he gently rubbed his nose against mine, side-to-side, I could feel my happiness, his purity and innocence. It was cho chweeeeeeeeeeet.
R and S wanted their nosy-nosys too, but he didn’t give, thus making my hug and nosy-nosy even more special. Exclusive! We smiled at each other and I knew that even he was in love with me:-)
When he waved at us, my eyes read a special message on his powder blue shirt,  as if meant for me- “I’m a hug…waiting to happen.”
I ran to him, hugged him and kissed him on his cheeks.
I always love taking/giving gifts from/to my loved ones. But yes, this little one made me believe yet another time that children are God’s gifts to us and I love them more than any other gift.

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Taming robots

August 11, 2008 · Filed under Experiences, People · Tagged , , ,

One of my brothers- A1, a Mechanical Engineer, has joined the Robotics Department of a reputed firm, as a fresher.
He is instrumental in triggering all my cousins to make fun of me (Though he is the one who would be on my side against rest of the world.)
I remember how I slogged as a fresher-stayed late, worked on weekends and how my cousins would intentionally call me up on Saturdays and Sundays just to catch me working in office on weekends:-) On the occasions when I had to miss some important family functions and reunions for some “high priority” releases (which today I feel as least important & useless crap), how they made me feel guilty and sad for not being a part of all the fun and celebrations. They still call me “World’s first Engineer” or at times “ONLY Engineer” verrrry sarcastically (The fact is we are a family of Engineers- my father and both K1 & K2).
I wish I could explain how they had made me a standing joke!!!

Funnily, today A1 is in the same situation as I was in, a few years ago. Boomerang!

He was posted out of his base branch for 2 months and now it has been more than double the period & he is still hopeful that “this” week is the last week, the release will happen for “sure” and then he would pack his bag and move back to Bangalore.
A1 along with his team is working in shifts to meet the deadlines and make the robots perform at their optimal capacities. He is dying to finish off the project and go back from the client site.

Now, whenever I call him up he talks ONLY about robots-that they have 6 robots in the assembly line, some very obedient-who follow all the instructions religiously, some naughty-who move to right when asked to go left, some dumb-who do not budge even if you break your head, some over enthusiastic…

Many a times I jokingly say, “If a robot stops functioning, they might keep you in its place, coz now you know what to do and what not to. Be careful. I don’t think your employer has good motives ;) ”

Yesterday I talked to him after quite some days and we had some silly talks that made me laugh crazily so much so that I thought of writing this post.
Some talks and then -
I: Take some time off and look after your health and eat and sleep well. Go out with friends.
A1: We do have some parties…some cocktail parties…
I: ummm brother…
A1: No Di, I don’t drink.
I: Well, ROBOTS don’t drink;)
A1: They do. They drink BLOOD.
Hahahahaha.

Some more blabber. Then a context-based quote-
I: “There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those who don’t.”
A1: Hey please don’t talk about that binary, I’m mad working with it so much so that when my Manager called me up and asked me about the production numbers, I gave him a biiiiiiiiiig one-all 1s and 0s. He asked me, “Is it really this big?” And I said, “Enjoy the conversion. Why should only I suffer? : P

A1: I think I’ve got dark circles
I: (Hey you stole my line!!!!) Mebe that’s just the colour of your skin ;) eeelll:P
Or maybe when you were fast asleep at your workplace your robot gave you a good punch (Dil Chahta hai – Akaash style remember?).
A1: Hey can we please keep those robots out?
I: (Yuhhhhhhhhhhhhuuuuuuuuuu mission successful)
Useless that is what I’m trying to tell you, instead of asking how I am, or telling how you are, you have told me all about them, huh!

Jokes apart I wondered, here there are people who try to give humane characteristics to robots, there are others who expect humans to be robots. In the office setup, we are expected to be professionals, but are we not human beings to the core??? Or working in front of the PCs, maddened by the passion of money making and emerging as success stories in the “survival-of-the-fittest world”, have we lost the human touch and transformed into emotionless robots? Imagine. Just imagine a world full of such machines. Sounds scary, right? Taming the lifeless robots could still be an achievable task but think of the new species of robots in making.

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F.R.I.E.N.D.S:-)

August 2, 2008 · Filed under Friends, People · Tagged ,

Friendship..A special bond

Friendship..A special bond

Are all your friends who meant “world” to you, at some or the other point of time, in touch with you? How often do you catch up with them in your busy schedules?
Do you remember them all? The ones in first std? The ones in the neighborhood of your first apartment? Your first friend?
But friends are the ones with whom we connect instantaneously even when we meet them after years.
As a matter of fact, there are many such people who have been my dear friends, but I have no clue of where I can find them now.
But it doesn’t mean that I don’t think of them ever. I do miss them whenever I make friends just like them.

Friends are all the same whatever their age or gender is. Wherever you go with an open heart and wish to look out for them, you will find these species with those common “extra-ordinary” characteristics in numbers which may surprise you.

They are there when they are with you; they are there even when they are not with you.
They are there when you need them; they are there even when you don’t want them around.
They laugh when you laugh; they cry when your eyes show the signs of tears.
They call you up when you are just thinking of them…or make those surprise visits.
They love you for whatever you are, care for you whoever you are.
They may fight with you, irritate you and test your patience at times; yet make you laugh, make funny faces and get you out of your lows.
They make you go that extra mile when you feel you have given your best and feel like a loser. They believe you when you don’t believe yourself.
They are the ones with whom you create or share the deepest-darkest secrets.
They are the ones with whom you love to spend time, share tiffins, go out for movies, for shopping…and hours pass like seconds…
With whom you talk a lot and share silence equally well…
With whom you feel happy about yourself!

To all those divine beings who have made my life worthwhile and added meaning to it,
I raise a toast of love, luck, cheers, smiles, giggles and hugs:-)
Dear friends- May you always have a shoulder to cry on and a hug to share your joy.

Friendship is such a pure relationship, though not a blood relationship(You could be doubly lucky to have yours sisters as your best friends though!) it is very special and I feel that is why God has given us the gift of choosing as many of our friends as we want, who would make us complete.
Friends are God’s ways of telling us that He loves us immensely. They are a family outside our family…rather an extended family.
I will not say Happy Friendship day or a week coz I believe it is something that lasts forever. So, Happy Friendship to all those lucky ones who have friends:-)

Note:- This is one of my favorite snaps-my friends with me: Our hands symbolize togetherness. It shows that friends love, care, support and strengthen you. Let all friendships bloom like the flowers in the pic.

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A day to remember

June 10, 2008 · Filed under Experiences, People · Tagged ,

Janakalyan Raktapedhi had organized a blood donation camp in our office campus.
Quite a few of us enthusiastically reported at the venue.
“Learn to be positive.”
“I don’t need to, coz I’m already A+ve!”
Wow! What had I said? Thought of these lines, without any context but so very apt, when I wrote my blood group- “A+ve” – on the donor’s card.
It is an amazing feeling to know that your blood might save someone’s life.
I will love to do it again and again.
13th Feb – It was a day before Valentine’s. Wow! What a lovely way to show my love towards humanity!

Scene change-
We all know about the news that hit the headlines on the front pages this year on Valentine’s Day.

Point to be noted – out of five of us from my group who volunteered in the blood donation camp, 1 was South Indian & 3 were North Indians & I was the only Maharashtrian!
Why didn’t they think that their blood might be given to a “Marathi manus” whose brethren were behind the lives of some of their very own people?
I wanted to go on the top of a mountain and shout & let the world know that –“Hey look, this is not how a true Marathi would think & act like.”
Maharashtra is known to be a land of saints, who preached “he vishwachi maze ghara” meaning the “whole universe is my home” and derisively today the “sons” of this land are refusing to welcome their own countrymen? Are we all not one family, children of one mother?
It was a day to remember, for it made me happy & sad at the same time.
I realized, just because hatred exists, love rules:-)

Flash back-
My baba was a regular donor (only till recently when he was diagnosed with diabetes) and I always wanted to participate too right from my college days. I had even made few unsuccessful attempts to get into the camp only to be deemed & dumped as “underweight”.

Though I’ve got the inspiration to donate blood from my dad, I’ve got my blood group from my mom!
Hey donating blood is in my blood…

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Living legend

January 19, 2008 · Filed under People · Tagged

I was wondering what should be the best way of dedicating a post to the most beloved person, to the person whom i value the most and who means world to me???
Umm…
Something truly witty, but not tough to decipher…
something floral but not too decorative…
something descriptive but not boringly lengthy..
…short and sweet, though not too terse that ends even before beginning.
In short “something” that covers everything!!!

Because this is for a special someone who is too modest to be named,
who likes things simple but “chic”…(not at all overly done)
who is too coy to take open praises;though she knows she deserves loads of them(but she thrives on none!)
who is penny wise(literally, she would not be ashamed to embarrass you publicly when she goes great lengths to save even a rupee!) and pound foolish (God, she is so obsessed with her weight which hardly grows in infinitesimally small measure of a gram, that I’ve given up on this!)
…who would continue to be unstirred even if i put here emotionally loaded stuff for her…who would dare not to read me, unless i coax her “n” times!
Though she flaunts her “Don’t-care” attitude in style and doesn’t fall prey to the sentimental, melodramatic dialogues and scenes, her loving and caring ways would help you connect with her within no time.
As someone has appropriately named her as “coffee beans”- which with their quiet resilience make  the most of things even in the most trying times- strength, courage and hope are indeed her kith and kin.
Honesty, sincerity, perseverance and patience are her assets.
Thinking of all her unique qualities, i think i conveniently opt to dump my flamboyant plans of writing the very “something” for her!!!

Instead i would just like to say-
Dear,

You have inspired many of us, and reached our souls and touched the lives of so many around you. Now that you are into a completely new world, all set to face new challenges and create another glorious chapter of your life,remember to continue such deeds knowingly…unknowingly.
Bloom where you are planted:-)
Win hearts and rule the world just with your smile:-)
Live life queensize!

This post is dedicated to you my sweetheart.
Wish you all the very best in everything you do.
Continue being a living legend, my real life “super hero”.
I miss you and love you even more now.

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