SASTRA University

I've decided to go local in nature now !!! My new blog has SASTRA UNIVERSITY in its full view and I'm sure you'll love it.

some video

ROCKY

"Let me tell you something you already know. The world aint all no sunshines and rainbows, its a very mean and nasty place and it dont care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanetly if you let it. You, me or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it aint about how hard you hit, its about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take and keep moving forward ..."

The Long Road

Life is all about interpretations. You see a child playing in the sand and you interpret that he’s dirtying his clothes and troubling the people around. At another point of time you see the same child doing the same naughty things and you interpret that he’s going to become an architect when he grows up. The simplest of the things of this world are often the most difficult to interpret. For instance, how do you interpret a smile! At times it is a grin or a jeer while at other times it is the innocence of the child which is within all of us. The interpretation of the things that happen in the world outside is nothing but a reflection of what happens inside you. When you are happy the whole world seems to be singing in harmony, the crying babies sound like music, even the dullness of silence feels like a thoughtful moment of peace. When the tables turn and the happiness in your heart evades you the whole world is turned upside down. Playing kids seem to mock at your pitiable self, the singing birds start feeing like a disturbance and the silence that you always wanted now engulfs your heart and drags you down to the hollowness of your own self.
I often take to the road when I’m in stress or disturbed. Following the road behind my college in the dusk hours, casting long shadows as I stamp my shoes on the tar which is broken at many places generates a kind of symphony which is difficult to describe.
I was walking around with a long face yesterday and I knew that I needed to cheer up. Happiness after all is the prime goal of any creature. When the noises started becoming muffled and the dust from the moving vehicles started to settle down I knew exactly what I needed to do. I changed into shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt, put on my shoes and hit the road down the village. The thumping of my shoes was initially sounding like an old drum which was being banged by a reckless child but as I started tiring myself, sweat tricking down my forehead, the rhythm of the thumping started resonating with that of my heart. Each step was now taking me to a place which seemed like a wonderland. The feeling of losing your self, the control over your body with each step and depleting with each step that you take never escapes you. It is like moving into a trace which is self induced by your self and keeps on getting bigger and bigger.
I kept moving into the converging roads which were now becoming darker with each step that I took. I saw a truck load of hay about 200 meters away from me and resolved to make it the turning point of my run. I was determined to beat the dark; with each passing second the dark engulfed the hay and with each step that I took it grew bigger and shone better. As the light started failing faster I put in more efforts to run faster. I won the struggle in the end. I stopped there for a while and let the smell of the hay fill my lings and sink into my mind. It was the smell of success, the smell of achieving the goal that I had set for me. It was the smell of happiness.

KUMBH @ ALLAHABAD

I read a blog recently which had something to say about KUMBH MELA at Allahabad. I've seen the ways of the world change over some 2 decades around the KUMBH site and I've seen the MELA change in certain ways as well. But, the thing which never changes is the fact that it still draws in huge crowds who are tied together by their common fath in whatever that land stands for them. A rough estimation says that this year more than 3,00,00,000 people took their ablutions in the holy waters over the period of a month.

I've seen huge heards of people come to KUMBH each year. Heads laiden with heavy luggage (for the whole month). Babies, women, children, elderly ... all move around in one inseparable block. The stories that the bollywood has about lost brothers in the Kumbh are infact true!!! Just one sight at the organized chaos and you would be pulled towards it, being afraid at the same time.

INDIA ???

Well, this is ironical! My friend was filling out a from for his pasport in the Thanjavur office (through an 'agent') and under the country section he was made to write ... 'NORTH INDIA'!!!

HUNGER !

This was surprisingly a good new for me. There's a child helpline which works in a very special way, it collects left over food from parties and gives it to more deserving people. The number is 1098 - child helpline. Hope you are able to help a child the next time you throw a big party.

SASTRA CS CULTURE ...

!!!

I wish to bring an observation to the notice of all. It is neither an opinion nor does it necessarily wishes to mould your opinions in any way.

I was sitting in the waiting room of Chennai's Egmore railway station having nothing else to do and too tired to do anything, this last weakend. I had had a long day and had walked a lot of Chennai trying to find out more about the city; my body had started complaining and my neck demanded a certain motion out of 'Baba Ramdev's lessons' to find its place. The moment I raised my wricking neck I found the most bedated person's picture in front of me in that big hall. Clad in blue and conspicuously decorated with fresh looking fake flowers, he did look like a man commanding the respect that everyone gives him and his ideas for the Indian society.

I panned the whole of the hall smoothly as my newly found doctor-cum-spirutual teacher, Mr.Ramdev, had instructed me to do. Something struck me after completing one full circle! I went again counter-clockwise and was amazed to find out one thing, the picture of the gentleman in blue was the only picture in the whole room! No other national leader (or shall I say, nation builder) found a place on those walls!

What this means is beyond my explainations, would love to get some opinions on that !!!

THE MISSING RIDE !!!

I landed in Chennai in the morning and looked around for my usual rickshaw ride from Chennai Central to Egmore; heavy bags on my shoulders and a long journey's fatigue in my head and body. I gave up my search after 15 minutes, found no trace of any rickshaw. I prefer the slow moving transport over the faster ones because of certain reasons. First, its a welcome escape from the monotonously irritating drone of the auto-rickshaw and its dangerous speed in heavy traffic. Secondly, its one of the best ways to explore the alien city; you can just roll over the whole place at an observatory pace. Then, there's the social aspect of the ride. Keeping alive the rickshaw helps in reducing the pollution and gives employment for the low-skilled people. I agree that this slow pace is not recommended for the local citizes and busy commuters, this one's for the tourists. All people visiting the city must opt for it over any other transport; after all this is what you are there for, 'seeing places' not running past them.

It was sad for me this time in Chennai; I had to miss my rickshaw ride and board an auto-rickshaw!!!

NEWS BREAKDOWN

There is need for a committee which would monitor the various news channels that have bloated the TV screens across the nation. The local news channels have made the powerful tool of jounalism another mechanism of advertisement for the people in power. The people behind such news channels have full control over the content of the news that goes out to the people making the whole set-up a mere mockery of the game of power. The news 'items' are properly salted and roasted to suit the local taste which is mostly in search of 'masala' even when it comes to news. In such a senario keeping a proper check on the various local channels is very essential. If there exist monitoring bodies for movies which evaluate the contents of the cinema then having a similar body for news channels is mandatory, since news by its nature is considered to be made up of facts alone and a misreported news report can have disastrous repercussions.

Even more sorry is the state of the national news channels like 'sahara samay'. It has a national reach with reasonable number of viewers across the nation. This particular news channel is bare mouthpiece of the Sahara India Pariwar and all the people associated with it which includes prominent personalities like Mr.Amitabh Bachan. If there was a need for a medium to showcase the special relationship that is shared between the people associated with Sahara, an entertainment channel should have been the appropriate choice. Camouflaging the real incentives under the banner of 'news' is highly irresponsible and is more likely to be an effort to misguide the people.

This environment could lead to unnerving circumstances. Media is a power and all powers must have their restraints.

Students' Politics !!!

It is a troubled times for the people of Uttar Pradesh. The centre would not want to inturrupt in the dilapidating state of affairs in the state because the deteriorating conditions would mean a disgust created for the state government across the state's electorate which could be liquidated to massive vote support in the elections which are round the corner.

For the ruling state government, Samajvadi Party and its allies, its highly difficult to handle the situation without violent protests to which it is extending its full support. The burning of effigies of Lucknow University VC are a clear indication that the state government is going to use muscle power to overcome the crisis situation. Any person with a sane mind and a reasonable insight into the university politics would encourage the decision of the VC to with hold the elections considering the fact that the state government has been continually providing succour to the so-called (and self-proclaimed) student leaders. The ideological and moral assistance has now since some time advanced to making arms available to the students in a bid to silence their opponents. This disturbing fact has infact been justified by the self-styled students benefactors on the pretect that its a necessary measure towards their safety. The pictures of these 'student' leaders quite vocally convey their agendas. While most of them are in their late 30s, none seem to be fit enough to be called a student by any means.

There was a breath of fresh air provided by the Allahabad High Court on the issue of University elections some time back which incorporated some simple measures to ensure free and fair elections in the varsities. The ruling could also be interpreted as guidlines for a near-perfect student organization. The salient features of the ruling included important key points like, contesting students must be under 25 years of age, they must not have criminal records, the total expenditure on the election must be minimal, only hand made posters were allowed, etc.

The student fraternity has never been divided on the issue of elections, all are in support of it. The point of debate has always been the inclusion of goons and hard-core criminals and seasoned politicians in the student election arena under the candid disguise of a 'student leader'. The situation can improve only by the interception of the students themselves but, the big question remains, Who would bell the cat? With more and more of the current generation having a repulsive attitude towards the potent field of politics, it seems fit to question if the situation would ever improve.

AMMI JAAN

hmmm ... this is the sort of post which is begging to be posted and i'm sure after puttin it up on the server i'm gonna regret it ... i have an announcement to make ... i'm soon starting a story of my own (a humble effort) ... its called "AMMI JAAN" ... stay tuned ... the link would appear soon at this place ... i know story stuff would be a lot of commitment but i cant stop myself now, i've written down a few pages n i want people to read it !!!

JAIL CREATIVITY

Nagpur jail has envisioned an extraordinatry event. They have decided to call it an essay competition; I dare say that it is much more than that! It is a sign of trust towards the jail inmates; trust on the fact that the people living on the fringes of society doing things that the society disapproves of may still have some plans for the betterment of the world.

If u ever read it ...

The more that I try, I fail miserably. Whatever I do I'm not able to understand you. One day I think that I know you through and through and the very next moment you seem to be a total mystery. I've cherished it when you said "I'm like you!", but I'm sure that I'm not such a complex personality. Yes, I love you. Sometimes, I feel like you know that, it shows in your smile and in the way you look at me when you are surrounded by your friends. But, at times it seems like you never knew me, or that I never knew you!

A number of times I try to talk to you, try to make little, harmless conversations, stupid conversations. But, I'm not good at conversations, its you who's king of words that hurt, words that smite, words that seem to become part of my personality, words that I want to listen to again and again ... but, you never speak now! I mean your eyes are so silent these days. The words that you say to me are so hollow, the feeling so empty.

I can't think of a reason why you are so dear to me, 'coz I do not know what is between us. I miss you when we don't meet, and I get irritated when we do. This is wierd, I know. But, those times that we fight are impinged in my memory as moments which mean to me the most. Maybe, we are just two totally differently people who are somehow together. I'm a social disaster while you are admired in all places, I'm an indoor stupid guy while you are an outgoing brilliance. But, one thing is common, both of us are headstrong, both of us think that we are clever and both of us hate to make the first move. Yet, when I'm looking for a passionate heart and a patient ear for my feelings I always think of you! I love it when you talk and love it when you listen. And best of all is when we just sit together, say nothing, just sit and do nothing. At those times there are no expectations, no arguments, no doubts just honest warmth of your touch and the assurance that you'll never leave me. But, now I'm lonely and sad.

Of luck and its ways ...

well, i've never had that feeling that luck was not on my side!!! all i did got its proper rewards and i never complained. but, lately (from last night to be specific) i've lost all my charms, all i'm planning to do is turning out to be a disaster!
I tried booking the tickets for my journey and the train(which is the most important one on its route) got cancelled. I ordered my fav stuff in the food joint and it got over right then... loads of other examples tell me that i've lost all my luck now ... God is the only saviour now ... I've watched just my luck almost 25 times now; could this all be its effect ??? I'm confused and defeated...

Diwali "gifts"

Happy Diwali to all my wellwishers!

It is a very miserable condition that I'm in right

now. I'm sure that all of you have at some point of time in your life, been in the miserable condition

that I'm in these days. I'm surrrounded by people who forget to return things and I have a very bad

memory! It's not that those people take away things with immoral intentions; all are angels in the

true sense, but it's me who needs a better memory.

Recently, I have discovered that there are

infact a lot of stuff that has gone missing from my possession; stuff that I gave away myself to

people in need and now when I'm in need both partys involved in the transaction have forgotten

it.

The things that I do remember, I list down here, in chronological order of them being taken

away from me-

• CD R/W (taken along with a movie; neither have come back)


• LAN wire (5m in length; I borrowed it from a friend myself)


• Permanent marker (blue ink)


• BOOKS




1. The city of falling angels


2. Illusions


3. Blink


4. Animal Farm


5. The life of Pie




• Umbrella (of a rather offensive color)

HANDICAP !!!

I got ready for a function. Put on a very decent attire, which usually is missing in my outlook. Sat down to eat in the mess. A gentleman was seated beside me. I was absorbed in the mental preparation of my speech when he suddenly decided to get up. I normally don't eat much before I go on to the stage. This gentleman realised this fact that I was not being fair with my appetite and decided to help me out with it. In his hurry, he sprinkled my neat self with the leftovers on his plate. I tried to dodge this shower of kindness in matrix style but could not save myself. Now, this polite and concerned man took time out of his busy schedule and acctually said sorry. What more could I say ? While I was still bemused as to how this angel had said sorry for such a petty thing, like some heavenly wonder that he was, he disappeared.

This is not an isolated event. I have many such angels around me ! People who like to empty the whole can of milk for themselves, those who fight over a couple of bananas or a cup of ice-cream. How can I ever tell them that what they are doing may be divine for their souls but is a snob on the face of the entire society and is as inhuman as farting can be when they are waiting in a movie theatre for their favorite star.

Such people are handicaps! Much like a blind must not be called a blind, such people should not be called handicaps. Moreover, if it is a physical handicap we may aid the person by prosthetic means but such mental handicaps should not even be insulted lest they become desolate and sink down finding out how miserable a being they are!!!