Flashback - Part 1 - Parties

Yes Finally! I have the time and the mood to write upon probably the most interesting 3 months of my life. It has been filled with so much activity. It all started with my brother's marriage, after that came the farewell parties, last day at work, bachelor parties and my journey to Mumbai. What happened after that, well I'll keep it for another post.

The most amazing week was the last week of May. My brother got married and entered into our lives an amazing person, who I have started to respect a lot.

June was a total roller coaster ride. Starting two weeks were pure, unadulterated (?) fun. It began with me lazing around the office in what was supposed to be the last few working days for some time to come. I wouldn't have called the knowledge sessions as fun at that time, but looking back, I cannot help but laugh my ass off. I kinda have this talent to explain things to others at the same time trying to understand it myself.

Soon it was time for my last day as an IBMer. I would say it was a good journey, where I learnt some new things. Whether it was what I was really looking for in my first job? No. Was it regrettable? No. It was somewhere in the middle. Looking back, I feel I never had the motivation and certainly felt that I was not even working at my 20% capacity. Did I have fun? Of course. I made amazing friends who I'm sure will last a life time. Immediately following the last working hour, it was time for my farewell treat. We went to an amazing restaurant (keep forgetting the name... Nidhi, need ur help)and had a wonderful time. It rained cats and dogs that night. The timing was such that it felt it was something to do with my quitting IBM, it was somewhat symbolic.

Vaayu came calling one fine Sunday evening. It is one of the best lounge bars I have ever visited. Amazing ambiance. But more importantly I was with my best friends. The happy hours helped us get more intoxicated, nothing else. The sheesha was good, but what made it better was the experience of fighting for it :-) The walk on Richmond Road, where everyone is trying to lead the others and no one knew where they were heading. Burgers after "stuff" is one thing that I highly recommend everyone. That evening will stay in my mind for a long time to come.

Next party was a first of its kind of everyone involved in it that day. It was my friend Kashyap's Bachelor Party. The party was supposed to be in the night, so Aditya and me decided to give farewell party to our BMS friends + a extremely special guest in the afternoon. Following the lunch, Kashyap went to drop his fiance and the rest of us headed to our farm house, the location of the party. Although Kashyap knew there would be a party, little did he expect what was in store for him. We had decorated the entire farm house with color papers and balloons. We had party hats and hooters. We had music, darts, cards and of course the "fun stuff". To top it all, Aditya had got his laptop to complete a Bachelor party custom, albeit virtually ;-) After the cake was cut, darts played, dinner was served, it was time for photos and what I like to call the "Advice video" to Kashyap. It was an unforgettable party. Hopefully this trend continues and improves from virtual to reality ;-)

Soon it was time for me to leave. What people say about packing "its never complete till you actually leave" is true. My "last minute" packing took up a whole bag :-)
The train journey was really boring and tiring. But I have learnt my lesson - never travel in a train Sleeper Class for a journey more than 5 hours. Its just not worth the money you will be saving by not traveling in 3-tier AC. 24 hours later I was in Kurla Station. And after tough negotiations with an overly aggressive auto driver, I reached my "home" at 4:00 PM on 18th June. My first experience as a Bachelor away from home was the most horrific experience I have ever had in my life. That is for another post...

Cheers
Madhu

August 15th

This date will stay significant for generations to come. How much will it matter to our heart, is a completely different topic. I did, as I have been doing for the past 15 years on this day. Got up late, saw the flag hoisting, admired the red fort, stood up and respected the national anthem, had my breakfast and slept blissfully. Later I saw the film Gandhi, my 6th or 7th time. It amazes me every single time. I know I am no expert on the Mahatma and his values, but I do consider that I am a Gandhiji literate. I have read several books on and about him, including his autobiography. Greatest man I have ever known. Its sad that it took a Britisher to make a film about the greatest Indian. The first time I watched the film, I had goose bumps in the first 10 minutes. The funeral scene is to this day the greatest gathering of people in a single shot. A world record 300,000 extras appeared in the funeral sequence. About 200,000 were volunteers and 94,560 were paid a small fee (under contract). The sequence was filmed on 31st Jan 1981, the 33rd anniversary of Gandhi's funeral. 11 crews shot over 20,000 feet of film, which was pared down to 125 seconds in the final release.

Foreign commenter described the Mahatma on that day.

"Died as he had always lived, private man, without wealth, without property, without official title or office. Mahatma Gandhi is not a commander of armies nor a ruler of vast lands. He could not boast any scientific achievement, nor any artistic gift. Yet men, governments, dignitaries from all over the world have joined hands to pay homage to this little brown man in loin cloth who led his country to freedom. In the words of General Gorge C Marshall, American secretary of state, Mahatma Gandhi has become the spokesman for the conscience of all of mankind. He was a man who made humility and simple truth more powerful than empires. Albert Einstein added, generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth."

I have read books on why Nathuram Godse committed that heinous act. I am not only convinced that he was wrong, but also his accusations were baseless. It is ironic that Godse was given the first capital punishment in FREE India for killing the person who was a staunch opponent of capital punishment and promoted ahimsa. By doing what they did, India proved itself to be too immature to follow the great principles of the Mahatma. I still feel India has another 20 years to go before we can call it a mature democracy. Godse believed that Mahatma was solely responsible for partitioning of India and he thought that Mahatma was pro Muslim and in the long run would do more harm to the causes for Hindus. But how can anyone accuse Gandhiji for being not being a secularist when he was the only person at that time preaching equality of all religions. The desire for power between Jinnah and Nehru was the basic reason (among more complicated reasons) that split India. No other person was more saddened by this than Gandhiji. His views satya and ahimsa were revolutionary. From the time he started Satyagraha in South Africa to No co-operation movement to Quit India Movement and finally to Independence, everything was a ground breaking idea, reaching to the common man. By rejecting being part of either government, he displayed character which is alien to humans. The only other person who comes close to his greatness is Mother Teresa.

I started writing this post to keep my activities updated. But I have ended up getting emotional on the greatest man to live on Indian soil.

Long live his ideas...

PS : If anyone hasn't read his autobiography "My experiments with truth", I strongly suggest you to read it. Its amazing how you improve your personality with turning of each page. Truly inspiring.

@Home

I know, I know... it has been ages since I have written here. I have been super duper busy with my new life, new place, new friends, new lifestyle and of course the most important studies. There are literally 100 things on my to-write list. But I haven't found the enthu to post in Mumbai. Now that I'm in Bangalore I again feel like posting. Must be something to do with Bangalore's amazing weather [;-)]

I hope this will be the first post of many things on my mind... Certainly hope to be more regular from now on...

Cheers
Madhu