Half way through the Journey@IIMS

The memory, of the day I walked in at IIM Shillong campus, is still afresh in my mind. Even though it was a welcome change from a corporate life of unfulfilled desires, I had my apprehensions. ‘What and whys’ of those apprehensions were ambiguous. The only thing that was clear in my mind was the expectations on the fun quotient of my life. And it was really simple, nothing extraordinary. I wanted to meet some amazing people, find some critical few to hang on to, get drunk, shout, dance, party hard, use a few cuss words, go out on lots and lots of treks, do random things, study a bit and enjoy each and every little moment of student life. Because this will, in all likelihood, be my last shot at it and I did not want to miss out on any single moment.

If I look back, nearly half of my time at IIM Shillong has passed. And the questions that I ask myself today are: “Did I make the most of it?” “Were there any moments that took my breath away?” “Did I find a critical few?” When I close my eyes to reflect, I can feel a wave building inside me which is about to defy my composure. I open my eyes only to realize that they are a touch weary and probably a touch moist. There is a realization that whatever ‘Chris McCandless’ found out after travelling the whole of Alaska had made a lot of sense back then and is perfectly true even in today’s world. He wrote:

“Happiness only real when shared!!”

Of course, sharing is one of the best ways of expressing one’s joy. I remember asking for a critical few with whom I can share ups and downs of my life at IIMS. Half way through life@IIMS, I have got many more than that. I expected a few special moments but got tons and tons of them. And it is not a matter of saying. A lot of memories were created at a frenetic pace. I did not even realize the time as it went by. Come to think of it, I am happy that I have a folder named “IIM Shillong pics” that has all kind of subfolders that have names such as ‘Shillong Peak and Elephanta falls’, ‘Mawphlang Sacred Grooves’, ‘Cherrapunji Trip’, ‘Double Root Trek’, ‘Bonfire’, ‘Diwali’, ‘Independence Day’, ‘Kopda Cup’, ‘Cloud9 after effect’, ‘Sustainability’, ‘Morning Errand’, ‘Outing Bistro and PB’, ‘Winter Campus’, ‘Cult com party’, ‘Ice breaker and PDP pics’, ‘IIMS Bdays’, ‘Golf cup’, ‘Freshers’, ‘Footsteps’, ‘Talent show’, ‘River Island’, ‘Liatlum’, ‘CulCom Super 93’, ‘Guwahati’, ‘Convocation’, ‘Farewell’ and ‘Random’. Of all these memories, the last one is probably the most unplanned, the most unexpected and the most cherished one. These are the ones that constitute time spent at ramp; on the roof top; while campus walks; with best buddies; in stupid fights; in discussing the goods and the bads of relationships; in discussions of deeply sophisticated and yet simple issues; over a cup of tea; in preparation of frustrating exams; in unplanned night-outs; in preparing a PPT for a competition; while playing TT or during a trip to PB for nothing. These seemingly commonplace and mundane activities never get the credit they deserve and yet, they are the ones that make any student life special. I am happy that my time at IIMS was no exception and I got a fair bit of them. Credit goes to ‘Super 93’ and ‘Incredible 106’.

After a two month stint at corporate life, my journey of IIMS life will resume. This time there will be a realization that journey will finish soon. Interestingly, this is something that means different to different people. For some it would be a signal to go out raring to conquer the mighty corporate world. For some, it would be just another step in an always moving life, a step that would improve their lives economically, in all likelihood. Some would like to hold on to this time without realizing that they cannot stop the sand from slipping through the fingers. For me, it will mean some more memories to cherish, some more time to spend with people who are really special, some more time to crib about how life is not fair and some more time to appreciate life at the same time and some more time in the heart of nature in a wonderful place. For there will come a day when I will have to say good bye to my friends at IIMS and close the chapter named ‘IIMS journey’. There would be a void. But hopefully, I will have an interesting and challenging chapter to fill the void. Whatever that might be, the new chapter will never be an isolated one. As always, it will have the best of footprints from a reminiscent past. It will have a few more characters, a few changes in the outlook of the protagonist and a fresh story. In the bigger scheme of things, the chapter of IIMS will definitely rank among the best ones and that is what makes me look forward to the rest of the journey @IIMS!! Hopefully, some things will sort themselves out and speed breakers or the potholes will not be big enough.

Signing off for now,

Tarun

Stanley Ka Dabba - A Must Watch

After a dismal batting performance from Indian Cricket Team, I required something immersing that could take my mind of cricket. Sure, there were a lot of movies and the toughest decision, as always, was to zero in on a good one. Without much of a thought, I went to the Hindi section and started 'Stanley Ka Dabba' (SKD). Little did I know that I would be moved and compelled to write this, for it takes an effort and some sheer class for a movie to get this lazy blogger out of his deep slumber. And, believe me, there was no dearth either the class or the concept when it came to SKD.

Set in a good English medium school of Mumbai, SKD is a story of a talented kid named Stanley, his friends having fat 'Dabbas' (Lunchboxes) and a teacher. The teacher, a villain of sorts, is infamous for not managing his own lunchbox and being dependent on fellow teachers and students (particularly the Stanley lunch box gang) for his lunch. On the other hand, this innocent kid Stanley is helped by his friends during lunch hours. Jealous of Stanley, our teacher somehow always manages a bitter tongue for him. Set against this basic backdrop, SKD manages to move beyond the realms of a simple student teacher tussle. As a viewer, you can always sense bigger issues simmering at the sidelines. You can always tell that there is something more to the script; that the stage is set for a larger show. Eventually, when the final scene unfolds, SKD has the power to move you. Even the so called tough guys will find it hard to avoid a surge of compelling emotions that run through the body and overflow from the eyes. There are a little or no emotive dialogues. But the lack of it does not fail to drive home the point. In fact, it adds value to the communication of the whole idea. It is said that the deepest of human emotions are perceived in silence. No wonder the audience is given the time to ponder over the issue our society so badly faces. 

SKD depicts the ability of Indian Cinema to give a voice to prevailing societal issues in an effective manner. At the same time, SKD is not condemning or restrictive in nature. On one hand where it deals with a problem, it also goes a long way to personify human courage and compassion. Never once in the ninety minutes of run-time, SKD fails to emphasize the importance of human dignity and self respect. All of this is packed in a very simple, easily digestible and effective package that keeps the viewer engrossed. In parts, the movie is also about small-small events that make the school life memorable. The innocence of childhood, the desire to excel and to be accepted is captured beautifully. In fact, there are times when, as a viewer, you  are reminded of your school life and you feel the urge to go back to your school life and add a few feathers to the cap.

Overall, SKD is a powerful and compelling piece of Indian Cinema. It is a canvas where the soul of the art lies in the innocence and the colors are nothing the blacks and whites that define human existence. Undoubtedly, it is among the best movies that Bollywood has produced in recent times. In my list, it ranks with the likes of Udaan and Tare Zameen Par. A must watch !!

Invictus

A short Victorian Poem - Invictus inspired Nelson Mandela for 27 years. Pure, unadulterated, sheer inspiration.

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

- William Ernest Henley (1849–1903).

One month down the memory lane

It’s been nearly a month in IIM Shillong and I am just in love with the green campus we have and the natural beauty of Meghalaya, especially that of Cherrapunji and the areas nearby. I visited Cherrapunji along with my batch mates on the very next day of jaunt to MawPhlang forest. Undoubtedly, Cherrapunji is among one of the best places I have been to. The highlands are as lush green as they can get and their power to transcend you to another level is truly exceptional. Then there are smoky clouds which seem to converge on you and make you feel majestic. The journey itself epitomizes a tourist destination. And the most amazing thing about the trip is that I can still see those exceptional views when I close my eyes. I can see the lush green hills, extremely deep valleys, a beautiful garden, several waterfalls, forests, beautiful wavy roads and those clouds. It is as if somebody has painted the canvas of life with different shades to bring out the best nature can offer. I can just visualise myself looking out of the window of our bus and the breeze rustling through and making me feel free. The very view of a clear sky, untainted by any amount of pollution can be liberating. Those were the emotions that I don’t have the words to describe. I can just feel them. And that was a high of its own kind not experienced by this writer before.

Anyways, I will come back to my campus and will shed some light on the special events of the last month. As expected, none of us missed an opportunity to have fun at any point of time. We had the birthdays of many of eminent personalities of our batch and we celebrated them like anything. But what transpired at Kush’s birthday cannot be discussed on this blog. Nevertheless, more than any single event, it is more of a combination of small-small moments that make life special here. It can be as simple as fighting to get hold of a badminton or table tennis racket or taking a walk in the campus when everyone has gone to sleep or the long discussions. The discussions tend to range from heavy to extremely stupid and silly things. But the essence is in the belongingness rather than the subject of discussion. It has a beauty of its own.

By now, the reader must be wondering that IIMS is all about fun and all is cool here. But let me just tell you that they make you feel rigour instead of just putting it in a brochure. We have days where sleeping looks like an activity of past. Even the shortest possible amount of sleep looks unachievable. You have got assignments, clubs and committees work and other commitments to honour. Loss of sleep and changes in behavioural patterns is directly proportional to the speed at which a course goes. And the expectations of the instructors should not be talked about. Amidst all this chaos, many of us did not even realize that at least one fifth of many course books have been covered and we are expected to know everything because a surprise quiz or random questions might be round the corner. And it does not end here. A lot many of us wait for the weekends to finish the backlog, only to find that it is already booked with corporate visits, guest lectures or knowledge sharing sessions. In a short span of time, we have had the honour of interacting with chairman of ISRO, Minister of DONER and Chairman NEC, President of HCL, CEO of Hammer communications, Chairman UPSC etc. to name a few. These interactions have a charm of their own. And being a part of an academic legacy, you would not want to miss out on those interactions. So the result is more sleepless nights.

In a nutshell, you need not go to an amusement park to find what a roller coaster means, come here to experience it first-hand. It will be exciting, humbling, encouraging, thought provoking and worth every bit of effort you put in. That is what life is made up of at my Alma Mater. This is Life @ IIM Shillong.

Life @ IIM Shillong

It’s been nearly three weeks since I first stepped in at IIM Shillong campus to become a part of the fourth batch of PGP participants at IIMS. But it seems like a thing of distant past because a lot has happened in these three weeks. I don’t know from where to start. The very first day I spent in hostel was filled with palpable excitement. We were getting to know each other and the topics for fluent conversations were scarce. But first week changed everything. I had heard the concept of hell week at many IIMs but what it takes to experience the same is a different thing all together. Just imagine yourself being bombarded with sessions, assignments, presentations and senior-junior interactions for twenty four hours a day and seven days a week. All you talk about is the next case study or article review or a coming presentation and the constant anxiety of what the future has in store. Sleepless faces were omnipresent so it never took a flash of genius to figure that out. But amidst all the chaos, there was something that was changing every one of us and was making us better at what we need to do. We were actually shedding our inhibitions and it was the time when belongingness and care for one another was being seeded in our minds.

I still remember the days when I was extremely apprehensive about joining IIM Shillong. I had calls from IIMB, IIMI and XLRI in addition to that from IIMS. I was not able to convert the first three and needless to say, I felt devastated. I was in a dilemma that I did not want to handle. But looking at the present moment, I feel happy to be part of IIMS family. I used the word family because this is the feeling that I have observed in the air of IIMS. We are not just a bunch of individuals who are here to compete. We are here to learn from one another and to help one another in becoming the best we can. We are the Incredible 106. Yeah, that’s what we call ourselves - ‘The Incredible 106’.

Destined to do great things in times to come, we have already announced our arrival at the Talent show that got concluded on last Saturday. We had very talented participants in almost all the areas. Dancers did a fabulous job and were backed strongly by the singers and guitarists. Then there was Apoorva, who got a standing ovation for his extremely talented mimicry. The surprise package of the whole event was a fashion show that got the audience really excited. To top everything, we had the batch video made by Rajan. I cannot describe the feelings that the video evoked in our batch. That goes to reinforce my belief in power of movies to evoke emotions. The incredible 106 did not stop at just the talent show. We have been to journeys together and have shared wonderful memories. The time spent at the Badminton court, Common room, Old boys’ hostel ramp and at the birthday parties will probably be the one giving us most cherished of moments in years to come.

Wise people say that in order to appreciate peace you need to experience chaos. Well, I could not just agree more. Three years in one of the most chaotic parts of the nation and now I could not just help appreciating the beauty of Shillong and the peace it has to offer. Today was one of those days when I experienced a profound sense of peace and beauty in one package, all because of a faculty organized excursion to “Sacred Groves” of Mawphlang near Shillong. It was ‘Pandora’ personified in the real world. The clan taking care of the groves have a hierarchical system of their own. Their belief in the deities and spirits of the forest has endured the tests of the time and sustained itself. There is so much to write about these groves that it might require a new post but even then I might not be able to do justice with the actual experience. One has to actually go to the forest and experience it in order to understand how profound untainted natural experiences can be. I just want to experience it again before I die. I want to sit there uninterrupted, close my eyes and sit in silence. Silence can be liberating as well as haunting. Today, it was liberating. I am really hoping for many such experiences as life moves on at IIM Shillong aka IIM ONE (IIM Of North East).

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

I remember this poem as the first poem in my English book when I was in school. Back then, I was too little to realize the depth of this brilliant poem. But now whenever I feel like tired, this piece of poetry helps me to regain my strength and motivates me to keep going. I just love it. Here it goes!! Enjoy!!

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

- Robert Frost

Bleed Blue - World Champions 2011

April 2, 2011 will go down as one of the most celebrated day in Indian Cricketing History. A long twenty eight year wait of a nation obsessed with cricket is finally rewarded handsomely. The men in blue have done it. They exhibited hunger, passion and full commitment to the job. In fact, it has nothing less than an exceptional display of skill, integrity, team effort and courage to win the most coveted cricketing trophy. The tears of Joy, the roar of victory and a set of overwhelming emotions were at the display when the final line was crossed, when the final ball was lofted towards the long on boundary for a six. It was a six that will remembered and cherished for a long time. The years to come might fade the visual representation of the view but it wont be able to touch the feeling and the experience that this victory has brought. It was a feeling beyond words and believe me, it is not an over statement.

Looking back, one can say that the 'Men in Blue' were always tipped off as the favorites to win the cup but nothing came easy for them. They played against a spirited Ricky Ponting in the Quarter finals. Definitely, it was some brilliant display of bowling that restricted Australia to two hundred and sixty. But a team like Australia always had a reputation of asphyxiating the opposition in chasing this kind of a score. That was why it was not easy and required composure from likes of Yuvraj and Raina to see India through. The reaction of a pumped up Yuvraj was enough to decipher how badly he wanted to win. A win, at that level, meant that India was getting ready for what was declared as 'The Mother of all Clashes' - India v Pakistan. The media was having a field day. They had the got the best story of the world cup. Corporate India was supposed to be on an official bunk. Projectors and Big Screens were being set up to witness what could be a golden day in history for Indian Cricket. So was the excitement, nervousness, anxiety and hope among the supporters that a defeat was unacceptable. This was supposed to be a true test of composure and ability to handle the pressure. After a lot of nerve wracking and nail biting moments, Team India managed to emerge as victorious and registered a date with the destiny.

So it was today, the final of ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, where India needed to perform and win it for Sachin, for themselves and for more than a billion Indians. Today just reaffirmed the reputation of India as a cricket crazy nation and it is quite evident that there is nothing as Cricket that has the ability to unite and uplift India as a nation. And Men in Blue did it. The 'Captain Cool' and the 'Second Wall' answered the call of the duty and made the country revel in moments that will last a life time. Thanks a lot for all the efforts that you guys put in and congratulations for the victory at the biggest stage. Enjoy Team India !!

Revel in the moments of glory because you guys are the deserving champions. You did it !!!

Helping Hands

This year has been an erratic one till now. I experienced a lot of different events and emotions in just 15 days. Most of the fascinating experiences were attributed to the Helping Hands Event, an endeavor to help poor people fight winter by distributing Blankets. It was something that was initiated last year by a group of motivated individuals. The idea was to generate as much money as possible from people working in different companies and to use it for getting the blankets for poor people. I was lucky enough to be part of the initiative for a very brief period. But that brief period was enough to motivate me for this year’s task.

Last year, a total of 170 blankets were distributed and this year, we all wanted to take it to a new level altogether. We started by informing as many people as we can through our social circle. We floated a mail introducing our co-workers about the cause and asked for the support they can give to the cause. I was hopeful as well as nervous when I wrote that mail. A lot of new faces had come up in my project since the last effort and I had no idea how they would respond to the mail. But at the same time the network had grown bigger. We had Alcatel Lucent, TCS, SatyaPual, Flour Danial and a few others aboard the ship and that meant that even the smallest of trickle at any of these places could lead to the avalanche we were looking for. After all, we needed all the help we can get.

Just a day after dropping the mail, I saw funds pouring in faster than my anticipation. The response was overwhelming to say the least. Soon we crossed 10k mark from my project and then it was 20k in two more days with more than 70 people coming forward alone from my project. Similar responses were seen from Alcatel Lucent and other companies. It was wonderful. By Thursday, the date we were planning to purchase blankets on, we had generated more than 70k from all the sources combined together. Stage one was doing handsomely. Now, we had to move to stage two and buy blankets at the best price we can get. This led us into the hearts of the Cloth Market in Chandni Chownk, Delhi. Wandering through the narrow streets of the market, we finally zeroed in on a retailer who had quality blankets at a decent price. After a time consuming but a fairly satisfying selection, we got over four hundred blankets in 68k. Finally by 11 in the night, we had the blankets in our warehouse and the satisfaction of a job well done in our hearts.

We had already started with distribution by giving out six blankets while coming to Gurgaon from Chandni Chownk. More hands came forward to help us on Friday. Some took the blankets to Faridabad, Noida and Delhi while the others kept the pace up in Gurgoan. One part of the process was to roam around at night and give the blanket to the one who needs it. It was an instant success just because of the support that we were offered from all the sides. Second aspect of the distribution was to target strategic locations and gather people there from nearby areas. The biggest challenge that we faced in this process was to identify the one who really needs a blanket and is bound to use it. We knew that we cannot eliminate misuse altogether but we aimed to minimize it by taking all the precautions we could. We made sure that people use the blanket while taking them. The packing material was collected by the volunteers and was disposed of properly. Availability of monkey caps and ear covers (we got some more funds after purchasing blankets) turned out to be a boon in final distribution process. This increased our reach and also helped us to control the crowd where things were bound to go haywire. By Sunday, we had distributed majority of our stock and felt great about it.

Personally speaking, the distribution was one hell of a roller coaster ride. There were many moments when I felt that I need to be more thankful for what I have instead of cribbing about what I don’t. On Friday night when we were near Sheetla Mata Temple, I saw a man, physically handicapped, lying in the shade of a tree with a very thin blanket as the only cover against the freezing winds. I went towards him and covered him with a blanket. All he said to me is that it was pretty cold and he needed the blanket badly. I left the spot after giving him the blanket. But I could not help wondering about the sorrow and pain that plagues our world. Life did not seem to be fair at all. My problems seemed inconsequential as compared to that of such people. Needless to say that it was a reminder of the fact that I need to learn gratitude and that I must appreciate the gift called life. I also realized that what I am doing is not everlasting and does not constitute even a fraction of what needs to be done. Of course, I felt good that at least some people will be helped by the blankets. But at the same time, my actions were too small than what I can actually do and their scope was too narrow than the actual need of such people. When I met a man running an NGO specifically for the upliftment of slum kids by providing them with education, I felt the long vision of such a work. It is something that I would like to associate myself with. It would be like teaching them how to make their own blankets. It would be great. Anyways, blanket distribution was a great learning curve and an eye opening experience for me. Hopefully, i will be able to do more stuff for people who need me.

Signing Off,

Tarun

A Great Poem - Solitude

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;

Weep, and you weep alone.
For the sad old earth must borrow it's mirth,
But has trouble enough of its own.
Sing, and the hills will answer;
Sigh, it is lost on the air.
The echoes bound to a joyful sound,
But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;
Grieve, and they turn and go.
They want full measure of all your pleasure,
But they do not need your woe.
Be glad, and your friends are many;
Be sad, and you lose them all.
There are none to decline your nectared wine,
But alone you must drink life's gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;
Fast, and the world goes by.
Succeed and give, and it helps you live,
But no man can help you die.
There is room in the halls of pleasure
For a long and lordly train,
But one by one we must all file on
Through the narrow aisles of pain.

- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Let the Audit Begin.

14 October,2010.

Ladies and Gentlemen, believe me it's true. Your ears are not betraying you. Yeah, it's true, Delhi has successfully hosted the nineteenth commonwealth games and got a pat on the back as well, even from the die hard critics. Against all the odds - which were more than of considerable size - Delhi once again proved to the world what we Indians are already aware of. What exactly?? Well it's simple.. We are known for our ability to improvise at the last moment - The Great Indian Jugaad. Nobody can match an Indian to raise the level at the last moment to get things done. It might be shoddy or even hollow from the core, but things generally get done. Anyways, lets just be more fair and objective in the analysis.

Lets first concentrate on the positive aspects. One of the most important aspect of the organization was the security of all the delegates and sport persons and safe congestion free transport. It goes without saying that Delhi was spot on in that area. Over 7000 policemen made sure that Delhi is not shamed by any uncalled for unfortunate event. Moreover, most of us who are well acquainted with the never ending traffic jams of NCR found the roads to be well managed and traffic police on its heels in order to keep the things moving. Another areas where games won accolades were the opening and closing ceremonies. Opening ceremony was applauded as befitting for showing India as a united nation treasuring its diverse culture and the closing ceremony was meant to exemplify the advent of India as a global power which can not be neglected in world affairs.

Once madam president and prince Charles jointly declared the games as open, there was no looking back. It was action time and we saw some arrangements were not able to withstand the tests of time. Games website which is the first point of contact for many games lovers was disappointing to say the least. For a IT giant such as India, it was a piece of cake to build a simple site for games. Believe me, we are capable of handling much complex systems than a simple dynamic website. Anyways, barring a few such major glitches the games went more smoothly than any Indian could have imagined. We even managed to grab the second spot and 101 medals. The performance of Indian players is something that we must be proud of. Well, now the show is over. What next??

What do i mean by what next?? Isn't it simple to understand that life goes on and we should resume our busy lives with same pre-game conditions. This is the general notion that has ruled Indian hearts for so many years. Time and again we have let corruption off the hook, specially when it was staring us in the face. Lets try something different this time. In all the merrymaking, lets not display how shoddy our memories have become. Lets not forget the blatant corruption and apparent dereliction of duties that plagued the games from start. If we keep the fire alive and spread the message, we might be able to force the government to take strong steps. By strong steps, I mean exhaustive and transparent investigation by an independent and competent authority and tangible punishments to the guilty.

In order to accomplish this gigantic task, Media needs to rise to the occasion. We all know the power that media holds in a free country such as ours. But it needs to realize that this power gives birth to an equal amount of responsibility. The responsibility to do what is right and at the right time. And it does not take a genius to figure out that the time is right. Government needs a prod or may be a slap and media, with all its power, can simply oblige. Let the Audit Begin !!

Inception

"Your mind is the scene of the crime".

Inception was one of those movies that I was desperately waiting for. Being a Christopher Nolan movie, it was highly anticipated and much hyped. Before going for the movie, my expectations were high and so were the apprehensions that come bundled with an over hyped movie. But Inception made to list of those rare cases where a movie delivers what is expected out of it or probably more.

(No Spoilers)

Right from the start Inception keeps you occupied. There is too much happening and you consistently try to solve the puzzle that it throws at you. A story unfolds within a story. By the time you figure out the first one, the second one is in the process of giving way to another one. The first of half the movie goes into building the framework and laying out a detailed description of the phenomenon that rules the movie. And the second half is too hot to handle. Just imagine yourself completely glued to the seat, constantly formulating answers to all that Inception had to offer. The second half is packed with all the ingredients that make Inception ever more special. There is enough action and special effects to make any Sci-Fi feel proud; enough thrill and surprise to keep your mind occupied and more than enough complexity to challenge you. Moreover, the emotional depth that the main protagonist has exhibited makes Inception stand apart from similar kind of movies. Barring a few scenes where the set up looks absurd, Inception does not offer even a single dull moment. Well, there is always a scope for improvement J…

Anyways, let me come to the artistic side of the movie. The phenomenal blending of the background score makes the whole presentation very engaging. As usual, Christopher Nolan delights the viewer with his uncanny skill and imagination in storytelling and direction. Leonardo DiCaprio, once again, has proved his ability to understand the intricacies of the situation and to devote himself to the character he is playing. Michael Caine, though plays a small role but, is as composed as the Alfred in The Dark Knight. Ellen Page charms like the smell of the fresh air with her little assignment. Joseph Gordon-Levitt rises much above his role of a confused and grieved lover in ‘500 days of Summer’. Overall, the cast delivers all that is expected from a Nolan movie.

After watching the movie, I wanted to know what Mr. Masand had to say about Inception. In a nutshell, he described Inception as a movie that challenges its audience and expects them to dive in for a mind boggling ride. And I just couldn't agree more. I hate to say this but I do feel that you need to watch this movie twice to understand all the subtle things that make it really special. It might remind you of Memento and Matrix, but it goes into an even deeper and more swirling matrix. If you want to see a movie that is simple and unsophisticated action, then please don’t watch Inception. You will come out of the hall with a frustrated and tired mind. But if you have the willingness to try something new & weird and you are bored of the mundane movies that have nothing to offer except archaic concept of love, then Inception is made for you. Go and judge it for yourself. You may or may not like it, but you will have an experience of different cinema and that is the USP of the Inception.

I will go with 8.5 of 10 for Inception.

Two years of Irony

The clock had struck twelve and officially a new day had begun – 30^th June 2010. Exactly two years ago, I was being inducted into TCS in an Initial Learning Programme (ILP) at Trivandrum. A week into the programme and realization of my mistakes had struck me. It was shocking, frustrating and confusing to find myself in a place where i thought I would never go. But there was no time to waste or to brood over past. I had to move on and pessimism had to go to make room for hope and optimism. Thus, a plan was in put action that would make sure an early and successful exit from TCS. Plan was an unambiguous one and all efforts to make it successful were unadulterated and synchronized. But the results were ironical. The exit strategy was supposed to work but it did not. Consequently, I found myself in TCS after two ironical years.

Looking back, I do see a lot of anguish, pain and hopelessness in these two years. I find it hard to remember the number of times I felt like a loser. Perhaps it was a reality check. But it does not matter anymore. Whatever it was, the good it has done must be taken into account e.g. I never knew I had the courage to go on and on even after feeling uninspired and I had no idea about my ability to fight till the last moment. I had never restrained and disciplined myself so much. These two years have tested me in many aspects and have made me resilient.

Moreover, I have come to a better understanding about what drives me and satisfies me. I do realize that nothing can satisfy me more than a fully exhausting, dedicated effort towards something meaningful even if I don’t get the desired result. The hard work that goes in pursuit of a Goal energizes me and helps in saving me from the negativity that a failure brings with it.

Well, irrefutable fact of life is that the bigger and painful the fiasco is, the more it toughens up you for the game called life. And something called ‘HOPE’ keeps driving you towards a purposeful goal.

Hmmm.. I must sleep now. Once again, I have poured more than I initially set out to do. If I have to recapitulate the whole thing in one line then i would just refer to this dialogue:

“The night is darkest just before the dawn. And the dawn is coming” – The Dark Knight

:) Signing off.

-Tarun

PS: Next time I go to an Interview, I will say that I am passionate about the dialogues of the movies that really captivate me.

Greenland and Global Warming

Someone like me, who is obsessed with his own little world and its vicissitudes, hardly finds time to explore what lies beyond his little world. But when I do, the feeling that comes with this newly acquired knowledge is of unadulterated satisfaction, achievement and amazement. At such times, I feel that vastness of this planet earth is beyond comprehension by a mere mortal and all that I can do is to explore it and admire it. One such moment of exploration happened on this weekend - courtesy National Geographic magazine. I read two wonderful articles about Greenland and impact of global warming on its geography, economy and future. I would like to share some of the most fascinating aspects from those articles:

1. Greenland, the largest island on planet earth (except continents), has some 80% of its land buried under ice sheets which can go as deep as 2 miles. It is one of the world's least densely populated nations. It is largely dependent on other nations for even the most of basic resources like fodder for sheep and wood for buildings. Its economy is largely dependent on sea food exports, which are not consistent enough due to unpredictable weather conditions. Greenland also attracts its share of tourists but numbers are not very high, owning to lack of proper conditions for stay and costly travel expenses. Fjords, that dissect the land and pop up many small streams, make it impossible to travel by land.

2. Although Greenland is an autonomous country but it is still considered as a part of Kingdom of Denmark, which controls its foreign policy and pumps hefty amount of money to help the anemic economy of Greenland.

3. Greenland has always been a hot spot for many glaciologists, who want to study Global warming in action. Increase in pollution in other areas has adversely affected the melting patterns of ice in Greenland. In general, ice has a tendency to reflect most of the light that falls on it. Its albedo is high. But with air containing all kinds of impure particles, volcanic ashes and by products of industrialization, the ice that is melting turns black in color. Resulting tar like liquid, also called cryoconite, has lesser albedo and absorbs higher amount of heat, which in turn melts more ice and sets off a chain reaction. If all Greenland ice melts sea level will rise will inundate coastlines around the planet.

4. Another interesting aspect of Global Warming on Greenlandic ice is formation of superaglacial lakes. These lakes, formed by rise in temperature around the region, vary in composition and size. While it may take days for a small pond to acquire the status of a lake, it generally takes only a few hours for a lake to be sucked by a Moulin - a vertical hollow shaft in sheets of ice. In 2006, a team of glaciologists documented the draining of a two-square-mile lake into a Moulin, where 11 billion gallons of water disappeared in just 84 minutes.

- Courtesy National Geographic - June 2010 issue.

I hope the reader enjoyed the information as much as i did. For more, get hold of the main source. Cheers!!

Australianism Prevails

"Australianism, means singleminded determination to win - to win within the laws but, if necessary, to the last limit within them. It means where the 'impossible' is within the realm of what the human body can do, there are Australians who believe that they can do it - and who have succeeded often enough to make us wonder if anything is impossible to them. It means they have never lost a match - particularly a Test match - until the last run is scored or their last wicket down." - John Arlott

The semi final between Australia and Pakistan was a true exhibition of the attitude known as Australianism. It was sheer class, mental strength and ‘never die' spirit that zoomed Australia into the Final of the competition. Once again, Australians proved themselves and delivered the goods when it mattered the most. It was just another match where the result could have easily gone against them but they snatched an improbable victory from their opponents.

After the match, I kind of felt sorry for Pakistan. Although they played poorly throughout the tournament but they performed really well in the Big Match. They batted superbly to host a Target of 192 in 20 overs and followed that with an excellent start. They did all right things that a team does to defend a high total. They got rid of Warner and Watson early and reduced Australia to 67/4 in 10 overs. Their spinners bowled their heart out to make the chase look impossible. Australians looked on the verge of being knocked out of the world cup. The edge was becoming thinner and thinner with each passing ball and an Australian defeat looked inevitable. But as one would expect from them, The Australians held on to that thin edge. They had that last ray of HOPE that never leaves their sides till the last ball is bowled. The task was arduous and they pursued it relentlessly. White started the onslaught with his lusty hitting and gave Australia the momentum they were looking for. But even after his marvelous innings, the goal looked far way from their reach when they required 48 runs in 3 overs with 6 men down. Their hopes were lingering on one Batsman who has been the epitome of consistency, Mike Hussey. Mike Hussey had delivered most of the times when the team required him and he did not disappoint his team mates this time as well. Some big sixes, superb running and cool batting reduced the equation to 17 of last 5 balls with Hussey on strike, already playing the innings of his life. Pakistan employed their best bowler in Ajmal to contain the deadly hurricane but things fell apart for them miserably. Couples of sixes, a sliced upper cut to fetch a boundary and final blow over mid wicket for a six were all that Australia required to pull out one the best international T20 chases. Hussey completed a miracle and expressed Australianism yet again.

Kudos to the spirit and attitude that form the core of any Australian cricketer and sets him apart from rest. And all the best to England for final game because they will need all the luck they can afford. There is no doubt in their ability and form but they will have to produce something special to stop the Australian juggernaut. No matter who wins in the final, we can be sure of one thing that the final will be played among the two best performers of this World Cup.

In a Traffic Jam

Yesterday would have been just another day in my already not-so-happening office life had I were not saved by a lunch party. As usual, the break from office was more than welcome. The food was delicious and Sandeep's witty one liners kept everybody happily occupied. Anyways, this post is not about those one liners or that delicious food, but it is connected with something that happened during the course of my journey back to office.

Having been lived in Gurgaon for more than a year, I don’t get surprised by everyday traffic jams. And same was the case when we got caught in a bad one. Once again, I found Murphy's Law apposite for a Traffic Jam. (Murphy’s Law for Traffic Jam - The row, you just left to get into a seemingly faster one, starts moving faster than the one you just came into). While I was occupied in observing the chaotic system, a friend said, "What's that!!” I turned my neck ninety degrees to my left and witnessed an unexpected scene. For the first time in my life I saw a group of nearly twenty Muslims performing their Namaz in a public place as a single entity in total harmony. It is quite likely that many will find this event a commonplace and mundane one. But to me, it was a symbol of freedom of expression. And what I felt, after watching that scene, is a tough thing to explain. I experienced tranquility amidst all the chaos and a feeling of admiration for those people. In that very moment, that single moment, I felt extremely proud to be living in such a country where all the colors and shades are accepted and respected, where you are free enough to be yourself, where love has been the way of life. I wished to see a world where that harmony will be perpetrated unconditionally.

Well, that was one traffic jam that, for a moment, made me laugh from inside.