Greetings

I somehow have a strange feeling that my blog is being closely monitored by my manager, because a couple of days after my previous post where I mentioned about my productivity (confused?? go read my previous post, even I had to do it before starting this!!) I see myself slogging for long hours... My nose was to the grindstone last week with work and long time pending java certification exam (this is something which every other software developer, programmer, tester or whatever with little exposure to java takes. I dint want to be an outcast in that respect so decided to join the herd..) I got through the exam and also managed to put my work aside (you dont finish your work, the moment you finish it you find more of it rushing towards you!!)

Competition is omnipresent.. We see it everywhere, in our work, play and of late I see that in myself. A cutthroat competition between my 'chest' and 'belly', the chest slowly losing the battle to my protruding belly as its stanch supporter my 'back' has started a non-cooperation movement owing to a lot of pressure.. Dreaming about 6 pack like that of Brad Pitt and calling them abs than tummy sounds good but reality is so cruel that able to call it a tummy than paunch finds so much satisfaction!!

Choice a gift to the humankind is a very interesting thing. Sometimes its good, sometimes I tell you its really bad.. when you have too many choices you never come up with a clear mandate. For instance consider our political scenario, if coalition government wasnt enough we cant take a decision on who should be our next president?? The polls and vote war for the next president is all over the internet... while this debate is on, elsewhere there is another vote war on a grand scale happening, a different kind of war; the war for 'new' wonders of the world!! Some cranky billionaire wanted to have new wonders for the new world and started an online poll, the biggest of its kind (though half of the world is not voting) to decide on this. India's entry to this list is still its only wonder The Taj Mahal - a tomb built by a long dead king for his dead queen near a dying river and left to crumble. I feel India's entry to the wondrous list must be the world's most preferred Bollywood personality - Shilpa Shetty ( I heard even Mike Tyson is interested in meeting her when he comes down to India!! ) But that is too much of skin show, very unindian (kissing and all) and dearth of talent. when it comes to real talent there is no better entry than the hyper-talented singer and now superstar - Himmesh-'OO'-Reshammiya. The cap wearing star caps them all, the wondrous wonders!! We also have The Boss, the south Indian superstar who is not only famous in India but places to east of India, who at this age is breaking box office records. A baron of the box-office, he can be India's entry or his movies can surely make it to the top 7. Then there is Amitabh Bachchan ancient enough to be called a wonder and ubiquitous to win all the online and sms polls, he can be a worthy contender too.. Finally its a matter of choice.

The results will be announced on 07.07.07... On the same day we also have "Live Earth" a 24 hour 7 continent concert series bringing together musicians all across the globe to bring awareness and to engage people on a mass scale to combat our climate crisis. This is a noble cause to make us realize the seriousness of global warming and climatic changes. There are several practical and day-to-day tips on climate crisis solutions like switching off our computer monitors (or shutting them down) when we leave the office as it can eliminate upto 45,000 tons of CO2 per year (if 1 million people do that). The world is in danger and this is the least we can do to protect our planet and save our selves(SOS) ... Good Day!!

They say 'thoughts become words and words turn into action', but here my actions of late have stirred up some thoughts about words.. Action here I refer to the billable time (My company charges a hefty amount to the client for the time I spend here in office!!) I have used up thinking about the productive work that could have been done and doing perhaps all sorts of nothing.. Action where i spend that same time conversing with friends and strangers-to-be friends through a chat window in a way that seems like I have not seen or heard about them for decades, and also try to extend those conversations in every way possible. Like the BoF (I will soon get into this!!) thing goes, seldom I get a like idle minded person to converse with on the other side of the chat window.. This diurnal sort of activity has evoked a random thought process in my numb mind, a thought about words.. words as they were and as they are and the English language in general...

English a dominant international language, is the official language throughout the world spoken by over a billion people. A language with one of the richest set of vocabulary among the languages borrowing words from several languages like the erstwhile British empire borrowing and many times looting( this word is borrowed from India.. Coincidence or Comeuppance??) several countries in the name of civilization and colonization. A language which has words like 'Floccinaucinihilipilification' just to describe something as worthless. The 21st century though has something else in store for the english language. The age of Nanos (Micros and Minis are done away with) where everything is getting narrowed(nanoed!!) like the Nano technology, Nano accessories - iPod nano, Nano skirts (Oh my Oh my!! wish we had those too!!), the words are also getting nanoed up!! Few words and sentences which have evolved(devolved??) to the nano age....

whats up >> wassup >> ssup>> zup ...........
anyway >> anyways (the s effect) >> neyways >> neways.....
cool >> kewl (???)
about >> abt.. you >> u.. we >> v.. the >> da

some sentences..
lol - laugh out loud
rotfl - roll on the floor and laugh (heights of communicating emotions!!)
brb - be right back
bfn - bye for now (may be replaced with boy friend for now!!)
BoF - Birds of the same Feather flock together!!

Then there was a menon from palghat who was complaining 'whots wid you misserable peeble comblaining about my zimble english??' This malayalish form of beautification of the language has taken south india by storm. Menon's english might be a source of parody to others but its valid to him just as its American or Strine variants are to their speakers.. Atleast its far better than the cacophonous sounds made by the Americans and the Australians.. Of course there is the Hyderabadi Hindi and Hinglish spreading across India.

Speaking about hyderabad, the bomb blast in the old city shocked the very foundation of this peaceful city. Hyderabad was always confined to the reactionary end of Newton's Third Law reacting to violent disturbances in other regions in the form of petty brawls and occasional stone pelting. But extreme emotions are shared only with the close ones, hence the altercations and hurling stones(??) are as much part as the affection among the hindu-muslim fraternity.. The bomb blast an action on its own was a tragic attempt to disrupt that fraternity. Like Mahatma Gandhi said 'Hindu Musalmaan Bhai Bhai' (bye-bye; by-by was always I thought it to be, making my own interpretations.. Bhai-bye, by-Bhai, where the Bhai would be the mumbai waala Bhai and the other one bid a good bye or gone by!!). Hyderabad always stood to follow that saying in its true form.. An intimacy that is often shown in the Indian patriotic movies with a muslim in a green dress, hindu a saffron one and others or sometimes mother india in a white attire clubbed together to somehow form the Indian flag and if divided, the green would turn greener with envy, saffron turns red with rage and white stained yellow.. The green, red, yellow combination of eh.. em.. oh yeahh.. you guessed it right, traffic signals(!!) depicting chaos and disorder (this reminds me of Indica, Indicabs which are ruling the roads these days.. They can cut you from anywhere scaring the living lights out of you and then flashing a sarcastic note on its back.. 'How am I Driving???' I missed being sandwiched between two Indicabs by a whisker today!!) Getting back, ultimately we are all Indians with our own flaws and foibles, vanities and inanities, nano cultures and zimple english, hinglish, we argue we fight with our neighbours and friends but we shouldnt allow the extra terrestrial and anti social elements to upset the unity that we share.
Jai Hind..!!

With the boundaries of different muncipalities vanishing and giving way to a greater entity, Hyderabad has transformed into Greater Hyderabad, the second biggest city in India next to New Delhi. One region in this city which deserves maximum bit of attention and praise is none other than Kukatpally, the pride of Greater Hyderabad!! Kukatpally stretches from moosapet, sangeeth nagar, kukatpally village, sumitra nagar, balaji nagar, A.P.H.B, vivekananda nagar, bhagyanagar colony, satavahana nagar, HMT hills, jalavayu vihar, pragathi nagar, vasanth nagar, nizampet, jntu and K.P.H.B(Largest colony in Asia when built). Kukatpally was initially recognised as the educational hub of hyderabad with several schools(??) and junior colleges. The first and most famous school in kukatpally, Rao's school now has two branches (in kukatpally iself!!) with its own three storeyed building. (who wants a playground?? we go to school to study.. dont we??) The junior colleges are found everywhere with Sri Chaitanya junior kalasala claiming the maximum number of buildings, where the younger generation struggle (study I mean) to fulfill the dreams and ambitions of their parents, the dream of getting into IITs and major Engineering colleges and not forgetting the world famous(!?!?!) University and Engineering college in the very heart of this region, JNTU.. The big dreams it all starts in kukatpally!!

It was when kukatpally decided to open up to the world that the investors across the globe started diverting their attention to this region in the form of Reebok, Adidas, Tansihq, Sony and major showrooms like R.S. Brothers, Chandana Brothers, Kalamandir, Kalaniketan, Chermas and more in the pipeline bringing in people across the city, state(!!), country(!!!) to visit these shopping malls but the residents of kukatpally still prefer the well-established brands of our own region such as surya selections, pooja selections (the all-in-one showrooms with dress material ranging from inner wear to the lastest fashioned clothes for men, women, boys and gals). Entertainment wise, Kukatpally hosts a total of 9 cinema theatres and a multiplex in the making.. Kukatpally also attracts tourism with places like 'The Gateway of kukatpally' (similar to the Gateway of India in Delhi). Some(??) even consider this to be the 'Gateway of South India(!!!!!)' and the golden(like) statue of Thandra Papa Rayudu with his sword drawn out and the white fort (famously known in the region as the BJP office, though there isnt any office in the location!!). Every year during Vinayaka Chavithi, kukatpally hosts the most plump of the Ganesh's idols in hyderabad(!!) at the white fort (though khairatabad ganesh idol is claimed to be the tallest, Lord Ganesh is very well known for his plumpness than the height). Kukatpally also has a beautiful lake presently known as the IDPL Lake and soon to be renamed as Kukatpally Sagar (similar to Hussain sagar, why is Hussain sagar called a sagar???) where lots of Ganesh idols are immersed every year making it famous like the Hussain sagar.

Kukatpally is also famous for the sale of marbles and granites. It is rumoured that Shah Jahan imported marbles from kukatpally for making Taj Mahal(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). To share the fame and pride of kukatpally, Hi-Tech city connected itself in the form of a direct road to kukatpally and thus bringing in chunk of traffic and exorbitant land prices. The Highway that connects North and South India runs through the heart of kukatpally, the journey to states like Karnataka, Maharastra, Chattisgarh starts from kukatpally in the giant delux volvo buses. This region has the potential to rise and reach greater heights thereby making Greater Hyderabad gleam with pride!!

P.S: The second part of Trip to God's own country will be delayed as the author is awaiting some photographs of the trip which will arrive soon!!

Greetings!
Just when I was getting vexed with the lacklustre life I was living, the news of my cousin's marriage shone brightly down upon my monotonous life like the summer sun. It was all bright and sunny (though I dint feel the heat then!) and I was all excited as I was on for a trip to kerala, God's own country!! Kerala has always been a wonderful destination for vacations, with beautiful places, greenery all over, beaches and much more, but my visits to kerala was always limited to meeting my close, distant, direct, indirect, known, unknown and soon to be known relatives scattered all over the state. This time I have taken a firm decision to reserve two days of the ten days of my stay for an outing. With that decision in mind I landed in kerala the day before the marriage. I met the groom who was all excited and tensed with the scorching sun shining upon his bald head like a nimbus. Thinning hair, expanding tummies and risk of diabetes are some warning signs of getting married for most men.

The marriage was at a distant location and we had to go there in a private bus. The bus was racing through the very narrow and curvy roads, trees on both sides with overgrown branches that slaps you across your face reminding you of the admonition, "Do not peep out of the window". We also witness road blocks and diversions thanks to the strike happening at that place. A strike because the supreme court was not just to karnataka and karnatake was not just to tamil nadu and both in turn were unjust to kerala, so lets make the life of our own people miserable and show that we are not be sidelined. No wonder a four year engineering course takes fives years to complete in this state. Strike because there is no food, strike because there is no water, strike because.. well there is no strike!! The marriage was simple and quick followed by a delicious 'sadhya' (lunch) served on banana leaves. Now it was time for me to go to my father's hometown which was some 100kms away from this place.

A qualis was arranged for us to get there and I got into the front seat next to the driver all set for another ride. I was astonised to find that a total of 11 members were planning to take a ride along with me in the same vehicle. So I was accompained by two gentlemen in the front seat, who were much beyond the average human size with forearms that of popeye, bluto's pot belly and plump bottom. I was virtually the Olive Oyl in that state with long legs jam packed on either side of the gear box. My left knee was the DJ of the vehicle changing the song at every possible turn or bump on the road. My eyes were fixed on the road looking at every possible road sign. Every road sign had a story of its own. Some of them(green ones) were good to me as it showed.. "Trishur 53 km and then Trishur 51 km", some(yellow ones) were really bad as they read "Thrishur 51 km" and later would change their mind and say, "Thrishur 54 km (hahaha)". Some were even mocking at me "Have a pleasant trip!!" After a while the DJ couldnt take it anymore and put an end to the music. The driver stopped the vehicle and everyone felt that it was a matter of common sense (which unfortunately is not so common these days) that what we intend to do was not humanly possible. Two wise gentlemen then took an excellent initiative of commuting by bus and the rest reached the destination congested but contented.

After a day's stay at my father's place I found myself again in a super fast bus on the narrow roads, greenery everywhere, slapping trees and lovely gals (famously known as kerala kuttys) with long hair well oiled and plaited, sandalwood paste on their forehead. I reached my mom's place where I got a chance to visit the famous (rather infamous) elephant whose long cherished dream to make it to the newspapers was finally met, in a grand way. He is called 'Uma Maheshwaran' and he holds a distinct record for runing non-stop for 3 hours, where he preferred a straight path to the narrow curvy roads, trampling everything that came across his way. He loves to play with humans though he has his own distinct style of playing by swinging the person on his tusks and throwing him as far as he possibly can. I met most of my relatives where all that I do is put up a big broad smile....
Relative: "Deepu, you have changed.. You became fat!!"
Dee: Smile
Relative: " so what are you doing?? "
Dee: "working"
Relative: " Working!!! Where?? Saudi?? "
Dee: "hyderabad"
Most of the job seekers in kerala, with the highest literacy rate and the higest rate of unemployment move to the Arabian peninsula for jobs.
Finally I get some time for myself and then we plan a trip to Munnar......

I am a super hero I am no less mortal
I am a king, with riches and fame
I am a poster in every teenager's room,
I am an idol for every other dreamer
I am God, I am worshiped all over.

I am a super hero I am no less mortal
I cannot err, I should not fail
For I am no mortal, I am no immortal either
I am killed, my effigy burnt
My funeral conducted, if I fail
My family tormented, my assets torn down
I turn a traitor, everytime I fail

I am a super hero I am no less mortal
I am Sachin Tendulkar, I am Yuvraj Singh
I am Mahendra Singh Dhoni, I am Rahul Dravid
I am made to win, I cannot fail...

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet."

This was quoted by William Shakespeare in Romeo and Juliet. This quote will not hold its place in today's world where Everything's in a name... A name has a surname, given name, assumed name, family name, full name, half name, code name, pet name, nick name and everything is in a bloody name. Like for example take my name, Deepu which according to the standard naming conventions (listed somewhere!!!) is not deemed to be called a full name. It can be a half name, a pet name, a nick name whatever(there are gender concerns too as deepu tends to sound more feminine).. My friends have chopped my half name further and call me Dee... Thanks to the SMS language that has taken the world by storm, some even call me D!! So deepu being feminine and incomplete was always accompanied by Valathara and Ashokan (my dad's name)

Sir: "Whats your name??"
Dee: "Deepu"
Sir: "!!! whats your full name?? "
Dee: "Deepu is my name sir.. Valathara Ashokan Deepu"
Sir: "ok.. You are Ashokan Deepu"

Dee: "Hello, This is Deepu joining the call"
Someone: "Oh.. I thought deepu was a girl"
Dee: "!@#$**"

The most recent problem I faced with my name was in my passport. The name details in my passport was inappropriate. My surname column was empty and the given name had my full name 'Valathara Ashokan Deepu' (You know Deepu cant live alone!!). I was told that to get a visa you ought to have a surname. Its the surname, the family's pride that you carry with you when you go abroad. So to make my ancestors gleam with pride I went to the passport office in secunderabad. The passport office was surrounded with lots of agents sitting with type writers, xerox machines, web cams n digital cameras to serve the public. As soon as I parked my bike near the office I was escorted by three agents to their place. One of the dudes looked at my passport, knew what the problem was and started filling a form. Once again the surname column was empty and in the given name he put my name as Valathara Ashokan Deepo (Yo!!). Probably he felt Deepu was obsolete and Deepo was the in thing. After some request he finally agreed to change it back to Deepu. The form was complete, photos were taken, copies were made and finally I asked him what am I doing with this form?? He said this is for the E.C.N.R (emigration check not required) and thats the most important thing I need now. 'what about my surname? ' (I knew my ancestors were watching me!!) He was silent, shocked and kept staring at me......

He came out of the shock and took me to another agent, perhaps the most important man around the passport office with a demeanour which hints that he is most eligible person to be the next prime minister of our country. After studying my passport, he concluded that its not a trivial issue. He explained the difficulties using passport jargon and told me that the issue can be resolved and I can get a fresh passport immediately if I pay him 2000 bucks failing which, it will take a long time to get a new passport. 'How long is that long time??' '15 to 20 days' (15 to 20 days!!! Anything can happen.. India might lose to Sri Lanka, the agitated Indian mob will burn down the passport office along with the homes of the Indian players. My passport will turn to ashes and my ancestors will curse me!!!) I thanked him for his wonderful suggestion (and wished him good luck for the elections!!) and headed into the passport office with a new form, a new photo, new copies, a surname.. The new passport will be given to me in a week's time.. Shakespeare might have not faced the problems that I have gone through or he would have given a second thought before quoting that.

"whats in a name??? Deepu, Dee, D!!
Everything's in a name!! Surname: Valathara Ashokan Given Name: Deepu (male)"

Greetings!
Here's another masterpeice from the number one brand in sports equipment, Nike. It was always known for its exceptional creativity in the advertisement segment. For the first time Nike has come up with a major cricket commercial outside America. Its an awesome video potraying Cricket (Very much Indian) being played on the top of a bus stuck in a traffic jam with an excellent background song!! This commercial video full of nuance captures the true spirit of Indian cricket, galli cricket taken to the level of being played on the top of bus and truck with players fielding on the top of cars and hanging on traffic signal post. As usual there isnt much of the sportswear endorsed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib3WSzJyqVQ

Apparently this is all part of Nike's Cricket World Cup push and its major attempt to tap into the Indian market. Nike has also become the official apparel sponsor for Team India and it recently unveiled the new national team uniform.

Nike has signed a five year contract for which the company paid BCCI a sum of 169 crores. Though internationally No 1, with dominance of huge margin which even led to the No 2 and No 3 players in the world to merge (Adidas buying over Reebok), Nike has not really made its presence felt in the Indian market with only 15% of market share and Reebok commanding 40% market share and Adidas 20%. The company has planned to strike it hot with cricket in its arsenal and World cup around the corner.

This surely speaks volumes about the realisations of major compaines around the globe of the potentials of the Indian economy which is growing steadfast. Good luck for Nike, Good luck for Team India with a brand new apparel, lets hope the Indian spirits are high and firing in the world cup as shown in the video.. India.. Just Do It!!