I am what you dream to be
- IIT Delhi
Whats the first thing which comes to your mind when you read the above on someone’s T-shirt. Yes! The person is from IIT, Delhi. Then whats the next thought which comes to your mind – you are not from IIT, Delhi.
The tag line literally spits on you. I wonder what went on inside the minds of the people, who thought of it. May be they were not serious about it but nevertheless, it does show how an Institute’s lingo tag line tries to put down the rest of the world.
Read this
Been there, done that @ IIM Ahmedabad.
Now, what do you have to say about this.
I understand that there is a pride attached to being in an institution but it should not be snobbish enough to put the other person down.
I don’t know what the world thinks but I don’t find it good humour.
I would much rather go with the T-shirt of JNU which has a ‘collage of words’ - of places in campus, which everyone remembers – Partha Sarthy rock, Pink Palace, Ganga Dhaba and many others. It also includes 615 – the favourite bus route of all JNUiites.
I don’t think the T-shirts invokes anybody in the street. Any other University guy would also feel warm as there are similar rememberable places in each university.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Happiness
Who doesn’t want to be happy? – someone praising you/your work, a gift and what not?
Take an example: You are wearing a nice dress - looking good. Someone walks in and says “You’re looking great”. You feel happy - your day is made.
But just think for a moment, the source of happiness is an external source. You do not have control over it. If someone says good- you’re happy, if not – you’re unhappy. If the boss, a friend or your spouse says or writes good things about you – you’re happy. If not you’re not. The point is that your happiness and unhappiness is controlled by others.
As long as you derive happiness out of external sources (other people’s comments), your happiness is not perpetual and sustainable. Perhaps, ‘true happiness’ would come once the source is internal.
And for the source to be internal you have to be true to yourself. You have done good work say ‘Yes! I do good work’. Initially you will find it weird but as you nurture the dead light of inner happiness – true and perpetual happiness would emerge.
Being true to oneself isn’t an easy task as you have to constantly question yourself- Why do I like Allan and not Emmy? Why do I like Rock and not pop? Gradually, you will find that there are plenty of reasons behind what you do and think. Sustained questioning would bring you face to face with your true innerself.
Then you will be in a position to identify your true interests and activities which you need to do achieve perpetual happiness. So, question yourself, find your true self and be happy.
Over a period of time, you would find that there are a lot of things you do to “be there” in the society- because you want to move up the ladder of society.
But remember in another hundred years, nobody is going to remember that there was a person called “read your name here (rynh)” who became the councilor, Vice President, or whatever of a company on earth.
Think of yourself, you must have read a lot about a different people who were President of America or whatever- but after all how much do they effect your life. You move on as usual. They hardly matter to you in day to day life.
So, don’t sacrifice your little happinesses in life in order to “be there”. Do what you innerself says.
And for those of you, who think material things- a car, a laptop- can bring you happiness- You are right!
However, you would realize this happiness goes as you get used to the material. Sharing a joke with your friend, making love to someone, meeting an old friend, also give you equal happiness.
You slog hard to get that car, give away a lot of small happinesses on the way, which are equally important, while happiness just costs a cup of tea/coffee. So, remember to invest in happiness and not in materials.
Take an example: You are wearing a nice dress - looking good. Someone walks in and says “You’re looking great”. You feel happy - your day is made.
But just think for a moment, the source of happiness is an external source. You do not have control over it. If someone says good- you’re happy, if not – you’re unhappy. If the boss, a friend or your spouse says or writes good things about you – you’re happy. If not you’re not. The point is that your happiness and unhappiness is controlled by others.
As long as you derive happiness out of external sources (other people’s comments), your happiness is not perpetual and sustainable. Perhaps, ‘true happiness’ would come once the source is internal.
And for the source to be internal you have to be true to yourself. You have done good work say ‘Yes! I do good work’. Initially you will find it weird but as you nurture the dead light of inner happiness – true and perpetual happiness would emerge.
Being true to oneself isn’t an easy task as you have to constantly question yourself- Why do I like Allan and not Emmy? Why do I like Rock and not pop? Gradually, you will find that there are plenty of reasons behind what you do and think. Sustained questioning would bring you face to face with your true innerself.
Then you will be in a position to identify your true interests and activities which you need to do achieve perpetual happiness. So, question yourself, find your true self and be happy.
Over a period of time, you would find that there are a lot of things you do to “be there” in the society- because you want to move up the ladder of society.
But remember in another hundred years, nobody is going to remember that there was a person called “read your name here (rynh)” who became the councilor, Vice President, or whatever of a company on earth.
Think of yourself, you must have read a lot about a different people who were President of America or whatever- but after all how much do they effect your life. You move on as usual. They hardly matter to you in day to day life.
So, don’t sacrifice your little happinesses in life in order to “be there”. Do what you innerself says.
And for those of you, who think material things- a car, a laptop- can bring you happiness- You are right!
However, you would realize this happiness goes as you get used to the material. Sharing a joke with your friend, making love to someone, meeting an old friend, also give you equal happiness.
You slog hard to get that car, give away a lot of small happinesses on the way, which are equally important, while happiness just costs a cup of tea/coffee. So, remember to invest in happiness and not in materials.
Children and Parks
I still remember the days when we used to play on the streets. Still remember that dreaded neighbour, who would never return the ball which fell in her compound.
But some days back when I visited the locality, where I grew up, I couldn’t imagine playing cricket on the street – there was no space- cars parked all along. Almost 40% of the road space is now being used to park cars. Moreover, playing cricket or any other ball game around parked cars can damage the cars and hence prohibited. Poor kids!
But I was appalled when I read that a bunch of kids in GK actually got on the roads as they were prevented from playing in the local park. Why? Because playing in the park may ruin the plants in there. Then where do the kids go to play? The MCD, doesn’t have an answer to that although one thing is clear – Children are not supposed to play in the park.
Gradually, the expanding city is putting these questions to its citizens?
Being an educationist and environmentalist over that, I see a lot of similarities between the issue of ‘conservation of tigers’ and ‘conserving parks’. Just as throwing tribal people out of parks cannot save a tiger, similarly throwing children out of parks cannot save the parks.
Agreed, we need to have well done parks, which look good – but what is a park without any people. Actually, who needs parks anway – why do we need parks.
But some days back when I visited the locality, where I grew up, I couldn’t imagine playing cricket on the street – there was no space- cars parked all along. Almost 40% of the road space is now being used to park cars. Moreover, playing cricket or any other ball game around parked cars can damage the cars and hence prohibited. Poor kids!
But I was appalled when I read that a bunch of kids in GK actually got on the roads as they were prevented from playing in the local park. Why? Because playing in the park may ruin the plants in there. Then where do the kids go to play? The MCD, doesn’t have an answer to that although one thing is clear – Children are not supposed to play in the park.
Gradually, the expanding city is putting these questions to its citizens?
Being an educationist and environmentalist over that, I see a lot of similarities between the issue of ‘conservation of tigers’ and ‘conserving parks’. Just as throwing tribal people out of parks cannot save a tiger, similarly throwing children out of parks cannot save the parks.
Agreed, we need to have well done parks, which look good – but what is a park without any people. Actually, who needs parks anway – why do we need parks.
Why is every human being unique?
“Every human being is unique”
The above statement is oft repeated but no one really believes in it. There will be people swearing by this statement, especially educators but none of them are able to logically prove it. People generally give logics like “People have inherent talents, some people may be inclined towards painting, while others towards sports and still others towards academics.”
The above is fair enough but after all how many such interests can you count- fifty- hundred or two hundred, but still it would be difficult to prove the uniqueness of each human being because they are there in millions.
For me also, the statement has created trouble as I was trying to find the ‘uniqueness’ in me. It has been a great learning to decode it and understand it.
A friend of mine came to me, the other day and argued about it. He said, “How can each individual be unique? Look all the people do similar things- going to offices, raising children, partying- they are all the same? May be you can put them into broad categories- extrovert, introvert, aggressive, creative etc. But to say that ‘each one’ is unique, is an exaggeration.”
It was great for him to question the statement – it showed that he was thinking. A lot of us just start believing in statements without questioning them.
I think he rightly questioned the statement – If every human being is unique, why does everybody do the same thing? The facts negate the statement.
The truth is that a lot of the uniqueness in this world remains in the air. Let me explain this.
The factor, which makes human beings unique is their mind and thought process- yes!
Every human being has a different brain- different thinking. And everybody admits that. You would also surely agree with this.
At the mental level, everyone thinks differently – even a piece of furniture evokes different thoughts in the mind of different individuals.
Each incident and experience generates some thoughts in a person’s the mind, which are not shared with anyone as they are thought to be inconsequential. Its also true that many of our thoughts are half baked, irrelevant and probably nonsense- but nevertheless they are different for each individual.
Its only when you start nurturing these thoughts that subsequently your unique thoughts get processed.
The problem is that most of these half baked thoughts are not given importance and they vanish in thin air. You do come back to them but rarely do you remember them properly.
Moreover, never are such thoughts put on paper or expressed in any other form (paint, sing etc). Hence, the unique thoughts of an individual remains in his/her mind and never come out. The individual also doesn’t respect his/her own thoughts. The result is that the individual keeps to the normal societal routine of going to office- raising kids and so on.- the society as a whole reflects monotony.
Its only when these thoughts come out that the uniqueness of the individuals come out. If an individual writes, draws, speaks, sings and above all take action on these thoughts, the uniqueness of the individual comes out. The people of our society whom we call unique- the actors, writers, painters, thinkers, politicians or whatever, are the one’s who got a chance to express their thoughts.- and the world gave importance to their thoughts.
If you don’t believe me just try it out for a month and you would find your uniqueness yourself. Take a piece of paper and start jotting down your thoughts- whatever non sense or sensible. Gradually you will find a pattern among your thoughts and you will you’re your own theories of life. Initially, you may find that all that you think and do is non-sense and perhaps for pleasure but later you would realize the potential- ‘the true uniqueness’ inside you.
For the rest of the world to realize your uniqueness may take some time but let me tell you that you have “arrived”. Remember uniqueness is in the expression- in any form- may be expression in a medium, which hasn’t even been thought of.
.
The above statement is oft repeated but no one really believes in it. There will be people swearing by this statement, especially educators but none of them are able to logically prove it. People generally give logics like “People have inherent talents, some people may be inclined towards painting, while others towards sports and still others towards academics.”
The above is fair enough but after all how many such interests can you count- fifty- hundred or two hundred, but still it would be difficult to prove the uniqueness of each human being because they are there in millions.
For me also, the statement has created trouble as I was trying to find the ‘uniqueness’ in me. It has been a great learning to decode it and understand it.
A friend of mine came to me, the other day and argued about it. He said, “How can each individual be unique? Look all the people do similar things- going to offices, raising children, partying- they are all the same? May be you can put them into broad categories- extrovert, introvert, aggressive, creative etc. But to say that ‘each one’ is unique, is an exaggeration.”
It was great for him to question the statement – it showed that he was thinking. A lot of us just start believing in statements without questioning them.
I think he rightly questioned the statement – If every human being is unique, why does everybody do the same thing? The facts negate the statement.
The truth is that a lot of the uniqueness in this world remains in the air. Let me explain this.
The factor, which makes human beings unique is their mind and thought process- yes!
Every human being has a different brain- different thinking. And everybody admits that. You would also surely agree with this.
At the mental level, everyone thinks differently – even a piece of furniture evokes different thoughts in the mind of different individuals.
Each incident and experience generates some thoughts in a person’s the mind, which are not shared with anyone as they are thought to be inconsequential. Its also true that many of our thoughts are half baked, irrelevant and probably nonsense- but nevertheless they are different for each individual.
Its only when you start nurturing these thoughts that subsequently your unique thoughts get processed.
The problem is that most of these half baked thoughts are not given importance and they vanish in thin air. You do come back to them but rarely do you remember them properly.
Moreover, never are such thoughts put on paper or expressed in any other form (paint, sing etc). Hence, the unique thoughts of an individual remains in his/her mind and never come out. The individual also doesn’t respect his/her own thoughts. The result is that the individual keeps to the normal societal routine of going to office- raising kids and so on.- the society as a whole reflects monotony.
Its only when these thoughts come out that the uniqueness of the individuals come out. If an individual writes, draws, speaks, sings and above all take action on these thoughts, the uniqueness of the individual comes out. The people of our society whom we call unique- the actors, writers, painters, thinkers, politicians or whatever, are the one’s who got a chance to express their thoughts.- and the world gave importance to their thoughts.
If you don’t believe me just try it out for a month and you would find your uniqueness yourself. Take a piece of paper and start jotting down your thoughts- whatever non sense or sensible. Gradually you will find a pattern among your thoughts and you will you’re your own theories of life. Initially, you may find that all that you think and do is non-sense and perhaps for pleasure but later you would realize the potential- ‘the true uniqueness’ inside you.
For the rest of the world to realize your uniqueness may take some time but let me tell you that you have “arrived”. Remember uniqueness is in the expression- in any form- may be expression in a medium, which hasn’t even been thought of.
.
President Pratibha
The other day I saw a photograph of our President, Pratibha Devi Singh Patil along with the Olympic Gold winner Abhinav Bindra. The photographer got some award. The lady had placed her hand on the chin and cheek of Abhinav, just as any granny would do with her grandchildren.
When Pratibha was chosen as the President, a large number of people in the country thought of it as a joke. How could a lady, whom nobody knew, become the President?
People just saw it as something which brought down the esteem of the Office of the President. I was in the same group.
But after looking at that picture, something changed in me. It reminded me of my grandparents and others too, who show immense love for their grandchildren. They never interfere too much in the day to day upbringing of the child by parents - but are always there for advise on critical issues.
And actually that’s what the Office of the President needs to do. Let the government run the nation and as a grandparent give advise on critical issues.
The concept of President has been directly lifted from the British constitution with the Queen acting as the President. Isnt it good to have a grandma as the President rather than the sulking Queen? What better is the Queen in giving advise to politicians than a Grandma?
With the President serious of environmental management practices on Raisina Hill - I am sure Grandma takes it all!
Attention!
Here arrives the President…err…Grandma
When Pratibha was chosen as the President, a large number of people in the country thought of it as a joke. How could a lady, whom nobody knew, become the President?
People just saw it as something which brought down the esteem of the Office of the President. I was in the same group.
But after looking at that picture, something changed in me. It reminded me of my grandparents and others too, who show immense love for their grandchildren. They never interfere too much in the day to day upbringing of the child by parents - but are always there for advise on critical issues.
And actually that’s what the Office of the President needs to do. Let the government run the nation and as a grandparent give advise on critical issues.
The concept of President has been directly lifted from the British constitution with the Queen acting as the President. Isnt it good to have a grandma as the President rather than the sulking Queen? What better is the Queen in giving advise to politicians than a Grandma?
With the President serious of environmental management practices on Raisina Hill - I am sure Grandma takes it all!
Attention!
Here arrives the President…err…Grandma
The matinee show
A few months ago I was in Amritsar. With my worldly matters finished by noon and an evening Shatabdi to catch- had a few hours to kill all by myself. A film at the nearest cinema hall seemed to be the best option- would have loved company.
Caught a rickshaw to the nearest theatre. Being the garrulous kind,ly struck a conversation with the Rick guy about where he lived and the discussion meandered. In a few minutes we were at the place.
Just as I got down to pay the rick guy – I asked him out of the blue, “Do you watch movies?” He said “No sir”. “Why?” I asked. “If I watch movies, where will I find the time to run my rickshaw and earn money”
He had a point and I had no answer for that.
Suddenly, an idea struck me. I said “Why don’t you come with me to watch the movie?” He was a bit taken aback. I said “Seriously I mean it.” After some deliberation he was on board. He parked his rickshaw at the car park and I grabbed two tickets for the balcony as the security guard watched , highly amused.
The guards gaze seemed to question my intelligence and sanity. Getting in the hall with a rickshaw wala was a different feeling – a mixture of philanthropy, embarrassment and adolescent excitement. We were wearing the shirt of the same colour, though he had the long towel to wipe his sweat after pulling a tough ride.
It was interesting to note his reactions to buying popcorn and looking at people around. “Accha theatre hai” he said. “Used to watch a lot of films,after bunking school. Everything stopped once I got married. Had to earn money and raise kids”. We continued discussing his school life as we entered the hall.
The movie was hardly entertaining - Both of us didn’t like it. “There were no songs, no action. Bakwaas” he said. It was a horror film.
After the show the guy dropped me at the Railway station, right in time for the Shatabdi. I paid him for his service and we both went our own ways.
Watching a movie is a regular affair for me but this movie was different both for me and for him, I guess. But must admit, the real life movie was more interesting than that on the screen. The End.
Caught a rickshaw to the nearest theatre. Being the garrulous kind,ly struck a conversation with the Rick guy about where he lived and the discussion meandered. In a few minutes we were at the place.
Just as I got down to pay the rick guy – I asked him out of the blue, “Do you watch movies?” He said “No sir”. “Why?” I asked. “If I watch movies, where will I find the time to run my rickshaw and earn money”
He had a point and I had no answer for that.
Suddenly, an idea struck me. I said “Why don’t you come with me to watch the movie?” He was a bit taken aback. I said “Seriously I mean it.” After some deliberation he was on board. He parked his rickshaw at the car park and I grabbed two tickets for the balcony as the security guard watched , highly amused.
The guards gaze seemed to question my intelligence and sanity. Getting in the hall with a rickshaw wala was a different feeling – a mixture of philanthropy, embarrassment and adolescent excitement. We were wearing the shirt of the same colour, though he had the long towel to wipe his sweat after pulling a tough ride.
It was interesting to note his reactions to buying popcorn and looking at people around. “Accha theatre hai” he said. “Used to watch a lot of films,after bunking school. Everything stopped once I got married. Had to earn money and raise kids”. We continued discussing his school life as we entered the hall.
The movie was hardly entertaining - Both of us didn’t like it. “There were no songs, no action. Bakwaas” he said. It was a horror film.
After the show the guy dropped me at the Railway station, right in time for the Shatabdi. I paid him for his service and we both went our own ways.
Watching a movie is a regular affair for me but this movie was different both for me and for him, I guess. But must admit, the real life movie was more interesting than that on the screen. The End.
Metro toy train…real life connect
Was interesting to read the news about Delhi Metro launching its toy train considering the market around. Even more interesting was the news that Metro train - toy was quite popular among children. Something they saw in real life and then emulated it as a toy. I always missed the real life connect in toys since childhood.
Toy cars never really were my interest in childhood. While my friends were busy flaunting there new ‘Hot Wheels’- I was happy with building blocks. The limos never fascinated me, I never saw them on the road in real life.
None of the vehicles which I saw on the road were available as toys- No Fiat, No Ambassador (The cars of my childhood). And foremost, none of my favourite Indian LP trucks- a vehicle I wished to possess. Instead the western trailer trucks were all around in the market.
Generations of children have grown up ever since with the westernized limos. Vroooom…
Years later… I was really awestruck last winter, to see the toy version of our very own CNG auto rickshaw of Delhi. The toy was an amazing piece of work. The thing had been made to the finest details with the fare meter, the tags of Green Delhi etc. right in place- well researched!
Finally there was a toy car err… auto, which was Indian in look and feel- one I could identify with.
Just loved it – picked up immediately and put it on my workstation. Glad that Indian automobiles were now being put forth as toys to our children. An auto is something any child in Delhi can identify with.
Wondered whether it would be bought by middle class children to sustain itself in the market. Doubts vanished when I saw the auto perched on top of the book shelf in Sunita Narain’s office. At least similar minded adults were in for it- the product would survive.
Then started my search for an Indian LP Tata toy truck . The hunt led me to the bye lanes of various locales in Delhi and the country but couldn’t find any. After much research, I got a very crudely finished Tata truck at a roadside shop in Mehrauli. Can’t tell you my joy- Its still there on my workstation. Not too happy about the details- no quotes on the bumper.
Last week’s visit to the local toy shop, swept me off my feet - the ‘new products shelf’ had a range of Indian automobiles, I had never thought of. But somebody was thinking.
Out there was the ‘well researched’ LP truck. Apart from that was the utility jeep carrier, the three wheeler load carrier- all of them- from the same company which produced the autos. Surely, the auto was a hit with the kids. Also present was a range of Indian cars – Maruti van, 800, Santro, Ford Ikon and what not.
But our very own CNG DTC bus is still missing from the list and children have to make do with the sleek British buses. Anybody listening! It will sell like hot cakes. Apart from children, environmentalists would buy it to promote public transport. The Metro toy train is anyways a hit.
Toy cars never really were my interest in childhood. While my friends were busy flaunting there new ‘Hot Wheels’- I was happy with building blocks. The limos never fascinated me, I never saw them on the road in real life.
None of the vehicles which I saw on the road were available as toys- No Fiat, No Ambassador (The cars of my childhood). And foremost, none of my favourite Indian LP trucks- a vehicle I wished to possess. Instead the western trailer trucks were all around in the market.
Generations of children have grown up ever since with the westernized limos. Vroooom…
Years later… I was really awestruck last winter, to see the toy version of our very own CNG auto rickshaw of Delhi. The toy was an amazing piece of work. The thing had been made to the finest details with the fare meter, the tags of Green Delhi etc. right in place- well researched!
Finally there was a toy car err… auto, which was Indian in look and feel- one I could identify with.
Just loved it – picked up immediately and put it on my workstation. Glad that Indian automobiles were now being put forth as toys to our children. An auto is something any child in Delhi can identify with.
Wondered whether it would be bought by middle class children to sustain itself in the market. Doubts vanished when I saw the auto perched on top of the book shelf in Sunita Narain’s office. At least similar minded adults were in for it- the product would survive.
Then started my search for an Indian LP Tata toy truck . The hunt led me to the bye lanes of various locales in Delhi and the country but couldn’t find any. After much research, I got a very crudely finished Tata truck at a roadside shop in Mehrauli. Can’t tell you my joy- Its still there on my workstation. Not too happy about the details- no quotes on the bumper.
Last week’s visit to the local toy shop, swept me off my feet - the ‘new products shelf’ had a range of Indian automobiles, I had never thought of. But somebody was thinking.
Out there was the ‘well researched’ LP truck. Apart from that was the utility jeep carrier, the three wheeler load carrier- all of them- from the same company which produced the autos. Surely, the auto was a hit with the kids. Also present was a range of Indian cars – Maruti van, 800, Santro, Ford Ikon and what not.
But our very own CNG DTC bus is still missing from the list and children have to make do with the sleek British buses. Anybody listening! It will sell like hot cakes. Apart from children, environmentalists would buy it to promote public transport. The Metro toy train is anyways a hit.
Dated- 20/11/2011 - Now I have found my craze reach the T3 Delhi international Airport. Saw this at the first shop at the domestic departure.
Cross Road
Remember the last time you crossed a road - may be in C.P Outer Circle. Its quite a task. And then we curse the urban planners to have not thought of pedestrians and sub-ways.
Just as I was driving to office as usual, I gazed at the people standing on the road divider. People stressfully looking at the long line of cars, trucks etc. eager to pick a small gap in and cross the road
.…And I applied my brakes. Not a single person stepped on the road as I stopped. There was one elderly gentleman in the front to whom I gestured to move on. And the entire herd of people were on the road crossing it. Although the second lane drivers were not as much sanki as me, but still the herd managed to cross the road.
Interestingly, the person behind my car didn’t honk – perhaps he guessed what I was trying to do. It worked. And I am happy that atleast as a responsible driver I can do something apart from cursing the government and urban planners. I enjoyed it and continue to do so on Delhi roads. Try it.
Just as I was driving to office as usual, I gazed at the people standing on the road divider. People stressfully looking at the long line of cars, trucks etc. eager to pick a small gap in and cross the road
.…And I applied my brakes. Not a single person stepped on the road as I stopped. There was one elderly gentleman in the front to whom I gestured to move on. And the entire herd of people were on the road crossing it. Although the second lane drivers were not as much sanki as me, but still the herd managed to cross the road.
Interestingly, the person behind my car didn’t honk – perhaps he guessed what I was trying to do. It worked. And I am happy that atleast as a responsible driver I can do something apart from cursing the government and urban planners. I enjoyed it and continue to do so on Delhi roads. Try it.
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