Rules change for Bharat Ratna – How bizarre!?!?!?

Bharat Ratna – jewel of India – is India’s highest award given to citizens of India for their national service. This service earlier included artistic, literary, and scientific achievements, as well as recognition of public service of the highest order – defense personnel.

 As of today – Government of India changed the criteria for Bharat Ratna for providing eligibility for sports persons in India.

 And now, guess which sportsperson has been selected for this – Sachin Tendulkar.

I find it really-highly-extremely bizarre to have sportsperson – especially cricketers – included in this list.

 One of the e-newspaper quoted Mr. Sports Minister:

“I wrote a letter to Home Minister on April 15. The Prime Minister and Home Minister have very kindly agreed now to change the norm. – “in any field of human endeavor””

 HA! Very funny!

 “The move comes amid clamor for conferring of Bharat Ratna on Tendulkar for his outstanding contribution to cricket.”

 “Earlier, it was restricted to areas like “Art, Literature, Science and Public Service”, making it difficult for government to consider names of those, who contributed immensely to other fields, including sports.”

 WHHAATT??? “Making it difficult for government to consider names” – so in 1.21 billion people, government is finding difficulty in looking for people??? Now this seriously questions the ability of this government.

 Let me make it very clear, I like Sachin Tendulkar – for the sportsperson he is – most dedicated, most focused, zero-controversial man, one among a very few people on this planet with such excellent achievements, soft-spoken person. But I really question – does he really deserve Bharat Ratna.

 Since a child – I used to always think that Bharat Ratna is given to those very few people who have served our country – like defense personnel who have put the country first and their lives/families next, like scientists – making India come out of “developing country” tag, like Art/Literature – making the world recognize our talent/culture/music.

 What has these cricketers done? I mean other than making money for themselves, getting into betting, drugs? 

 Why other sportsperson do not get recognized? Now the thought comes down to only this – why doesn’t any other sport in India get as much attention as Cricket does? Are 1.21 billion people fools??

 Somehow this thought of Sachin Tendulkar getting Bharat Ratna doesn’t make me feel good and slowly I am losing hope on the system.

Masinagudi – Travelogue

Being in the IT industry, we are not fortunate enough to take long vacations, we usually look for quick get-a-way from all the chaos. This is one of those places where you can get a quick rejuvenation and get back to your desks with a fresh mind

Masinagudi is a small town in Mudumalai/Bandipur National Park situated nearly 250kms from Bangalore. This town is en-route to Ooty if you take a short diversion towards the National park. This national reserve is on the interstate borders of Karnataka(national reserve is called as Bandipur), Tamil Nadu and Kerala in South India. For more on this reserve, please see the wiki here

We started our journey on one Saturday morning. We actually planned to go to Mysore to visit an acquaintance. So we left Bangalore around 10 in the morning in Skoda Fabia, reached Mysore after short pit-stops for coffee/snacks by 2PM. We finished our meeting by 4PM and decided we would head to Masinagudi for the weekend.

Often the trips are good with prior planning but the trips without planning are among the ones that will become the best memories. Just like this trip of ours. We dint know where we would stay or we dint even know whether we will be allowed to cross Bandipur/Mudumalai Forest. (Please note, you will not be permitted to enter the national park between 7Pm and 6AM as the natural habitat is not disturbed and animals wander out on roads. Thus please plan trips accordingly.

Thankfully we reached Bandipur checkpoint by 6:45PM and was thrilled to pass this beautiful reserve at night. As I always say, in the wilderness, you can find the peace that you miss in the city. The calmness, the slow breeze, pitch dark surroundings, beautiful clear sky makes me forget everything. This is one the things that I was looking for since a long time. No sound of human-created-mess, nothing. Only the beautiful forest welcomed us. What we did next was real fun+scary sh**. My husband switch-ed off the headlights and slow down the car for few minutes. Can you imagine, in a hatch back car, in middle of thick dense forest without no other soul other than us and without light..!! We could get the hang of what this phrase means – sh** my load… LOL.. Then, decently, we decided to switch on the light and carry on to our journey towards Masinagudi.

Before we could pass into Tamil Nadu forest reserve – Mudumalai, we saw couple of cars from the other direction halt. We were scared as to whether there was an accident or was someone hurt or some wild animal on the road that was hurt. If something happens, all you can wait is for the next morning light. Such things happen, your mind is full of all kinds of thoughts. I couldn’t stop thinking what could the reason be for everyone to stop in middle of no-where and dim the head-lights of their vehicles. Hesitatingly, my husband drove few meters ahead and to our surprise we found a small herd of elephants on the side of the road.

We were enthralled by looking at those elephants there. We stopped there for few minutes to admire the beautiful animals but we decided to move on and not to disturb the habitat.

On reaching Mudumalai forest check-point, the police stopped us for questioning as to why were so late in the forest, why did we reach so late to this check-point etc. After a lot of convincing, we were let to pass the check and go ahead.

We reached Masinagudi town at around 9PM. Then we started our hunt for a place to stay (that’s why I told, there are nice memories of the unplanned trips )

We stopped by couple of resorts but those dint impress us – looked more like a city-type-of-resort. Then we reached a place called as Safari Land. This place is totally eco-friendly. You name it, they have it. The bulb holder made out of bamboo stem, cigarette ash-tray made our of bamboo stem, the ceiling, the doors almost everything made our of bamboo. I was surprised to see the things that can be made out of bamboo. We took the normal-low-cost room which cost us not more than Rs. 2500 (food and lodging included).

Once we got our room booked, we had sumptuous tasty dinner (note: non veg is good here) and had a nice sleep.There are many things that you can do staying in Masinagudi  – visit Ooty that is few hours from here, go hiking – elephant trail etc. Since we dint have much time – our trip was short, we planned to come back to this place and explore things..

The next morning was just beautiful – calm, nice breeze beautiful Sunday morning. Spent some time around the same resort, got ready, had nice breakfast and again started our journey back to the chaos, concrete world…

Things to do in Masinagudi:- RELAX if you are stressed out.. Otherwise some adventure activities..

Enjoyy..

Cheers,
Su

Life’s struggles ….

Found one more of the inspiring short stories — Read on…

——————————————————–

A man found a cocoon of an emperor moth. He took it home so that he could watch the moth come out of the cocoon. On the day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the moth for several hours as the moth struggled to force the body through that little hole.

Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. It just seemed to be stuck. Then the man, in his kindness, decided to help the moth, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The moth then emerged easily.

But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the moth because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the little moth spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the moth to get through the tiny opening was the way of forcing fluid from the body of the moth into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Freedom and flight would only come after the struggle. By depriving the moth of a struggle, he deprived the moth of health.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were to go through our life without any obstacles, we would be crippled.

We would not be as strong as what we could have been. Give every opportunity a chance, leave no room for regrets.

New year . . .

This resort, that i went for a vacation, is in a place called as Trasi – Located about 12 kilometres to the North of Kundapur which is right on the golden sands and amidst swaying coconut trees.

I would say, it is an experience one should go through when you think your life is filled with chaos.

The minute i stepped on this beach, i was welcomed with a nice cool breeze with sun shining bright over my head and not-so-harsh waves.

All i wanted to do was to run and jump into the sea.

But in the end of the hour i stepped in, i was lazily sitting beneath a canopy on the beach sipping on some lime soda.. That is all i wanted to do that day..

All the 3 days of my vacation on this beach, all i did was lazy around on the beach, play in water and party at night.

I also welcomed the new year with stars shining bright, in front of the dark silent sea..

Hmmmm.mmmmm…. I’m lost now, back in that beach, with the breeze, the waves and the campfire dancing to this music.. Well, i’ve no words left in me to describe the best 3 days i’d in this year..

Well, Happy new year….

Cheers,
Su

Portraits

Here is the first attempt by me to start clicking on portraits. Please have a look and let me know what you think.

http://myphotogalleria.wordpress.com/

The Big Rocks Of Life – Short Stories Series

I came across this short story, found it interesting and inspiring. Read on…

—————————————————————————————————————

One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said, “Okay, time for a quiz?”, and he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth Mason jar and set it on the table in front of him.

He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?”.

Everyone in the class yelled, Yes! The time management expert replied, “Really?”. He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.

He then asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time the class was on to him. “Probably not”, one of them answered. Good! he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel.

Once more he asked the question, “Is this jar full?” “No!” the class shouted. Once again he said, Good! Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim.

He looked at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?” One eager student raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!”.

“No”, the speaker replied, that’s not the point. “The truth is, this illustration teaches us that if you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”

“What are the ‘big rocks’ in your life, time with your loved ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others. Remember to put these ‘big rocks’ in first or you’ll never get them in at all.”

So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question – What are the ‘big rocks’ in my life Then, put those in your jar first.

Thought for Mind …

Here is another list of quotes, that i came across. Have a look and let me know what you think …

Have a good day ahead.

“Home is where the heart is”

“Reality keeps ruining my life.” ~CnH

“The best gift you can give is a hug: one size fits all and no one ever minds if you return it”

“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one”

“Honesty is the best policy”

“Change is the only constant”

“Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend”

“The secret of creativity is knowing how to hide your sources”

“An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind”

“The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do”

“Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory”

“Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what”s right”

“A day without laughter is a day wasted”

 

Insensible Ads

So when I switch on television, I do it with the intention of getting entertained, but not get irritated. But ultimately I end up getting irritated, because  obviously one would get irritated with an IDIOT BOX…! Whatttaaa IDIOT !!!!!!!

What makes me an idiot watching this idiot box?!?!????

Dumb-insensible Advertisements(Ads)…..

For instance, Bollywood’s heart-throb, questions you whether you’d this choco-biscuits? And before you could even react – W-H-H-A-T? he would start dancing for some lame tune saying that i should try it…!!? OKAY…. Like i would ! huh?!

Then there is this king of Bollywood - comes for this paints-ad where he tries to convince you real hard but unfortunately it doesn’t impress at all. I would get my home painted from that paint company but i wouldn’t want Mr. King to convince me too hard.

Those products that i used to like once upon a time but unfortunately the ads have spoilt it all by asking film stars to endorse them.

Then there is this one ad where one famous Bollywood actress, keeps waiting for her man over a candle light dinner and he turns up late. So she looks into her watch (chrono) and then her eyes turn like that of a cat – chrono watches ad…! Uffff!!! Sick !

Why don’t people who endorse products see what kind of ads they are doing and why can’t the producers/directors take a minute of their time and do something creative rather than doing something for the heck of it…!

There are really some neat ads that makes an imprint on you, I don’t deny it all.. Yet most of them are insensible – which convey nothing nor try to sell the product.

Having some big shot actor or actress wont make the product sell, I don’t know when people will realise that !

Till then we will be seeing a lot of INSENSIBLE ads on our idiot box..

Jaago Grahak Jaago…!!!!!!

Cheers,
Su

Google Alerts

Today i came across something called as Google Alerts (through a friend) – they are alerts that you get through email about specific content that happens in WWW. Hmm… interesting isnt it??? Here is the link if it sounds interesting – http://www.google.co.in/alerts?hl=en&gl=in

Well, i will judge whether this is good for me or no only when i get the right content that I’ve signed up for. Also, one question that stays in my mind is that – does the alerts work the same way as the google search – i ask this because, until and unless you give the “RIGHT” search word/phrases in google search, you will get all kinds of CRAP.

Hmm let me wait and watch and i will update this blog post as to what i think.

Till then, have fun and have a nice week ahead.

Cheers,
Su

. . . . . . . Sleep . . . . . . . . .

What is the only thing that you
can do it over and over again
every day and night,
without getting bored??..
Thats – sleep …

What is the best cure along with
a good laugh, as per
a doctor’s book – an Irish Proverb??..
Thats – sleep …

Ogden Nash(Read This Vibrant Exposé) wrote ~~
_______ is perverse as human nature,
_______ is perverse as legislature….
So people who go to bed to ________
Must count French premiers or sheep,
And people who ought to arise from bed
Yawn and go back to _____ instead.
And what’s that fills the blanks above??..
Thats – sleep …

Dalai Lama said “____ is the best meditation”
And thats?!?
Thats – sleep …

Ohhh… here it ends, my frantic phrases – one may wonder, what is wrong with me… I would say “Hey nothing is wrong with me buddy, I just had a thought in my mind and i wanted to share…”

So here it goes, what i think…

Since two days, starting from tuesday, i’ve been sleeping – as i wasnt keeping well. I’d fever and caught a cold. I slept these two days like i’vent slept for ages. All i did was eat my breakfast, lunch or dinner and then go back to sleep.

By the end of these two days, i was thinking – wow i’d an amazing sleep and i’m sure i wont feel sleepy ever again in the next two days. But i was wrong as i always am.

After i’d my dinner, i couldnt help but sleep.

Now comes the question – have you ever wondered – no matter how much you sleep, there is no time in a day or night that you wont feel sleepy again. But it is not the case with other basic chores of a human being – eating(cant eat more than 2-3 times a day), working(can only work 8Hours max and remember how agitate you will get if your manger asks you to work an hour more), etc etc. But why sleep?!?

Now, read my first few phrases again and think..!!!!

Sleep . . . . !%!%!%

Cheers,
Su